Just returned from Paris
 

My sisters, niece and I just returned from Paris. Weather for the most part was sunny, warm and 60's. HUGE CROWDS at every major tourist attraction!!!! Rick Steves Book was an incredible asset- especially when we took a two day trip to Arles in the Provence area - which I wish we would have spent more time in. Stayed at the Hotel Lindbergh in Paris - very nice, fairly large rooms in the 6th bordering very close to 7th. Thin walls though. Great access to subway and perfect for walking everywhere. Be sure to buy the Museum Passes - there were lines but we walked right though. The Louvre was awesome as was Rodin's home/garden. Versailles was also awesome - I bet even more so with all the flowers in bloom. Be sure to hop on the little tram that takes you to the two other palaces on the grounds. One minor glitch was the eurail system. The schedule book we received with our passes was apparently outdated so none of the times were correct and we did not know that you MUST have advance reservations for all trains so the rail system can charge you about $8 a person in service fees to make the reservations. <BR>If I did it again, I would spend about 4 or 5 days in Paris and the rest in the south of France. Loved the Mephisto Walking Shoes-after I broke them in - which I bought for over $200 and my sister received her Lands End shoes the day we left for Paris. She wore them every day, without a blister, and only paid $59.00!!! Figures! <BR>

<BR>Julie, please fill be in on the Land's End shoes. Which ones are they? Thanks. <BR> <BR>Your report fill in some gaps for me. thanks.

Julie,<P> My Mom and I are going in May and I am wondering if I should buy the Museum Pass from the US (if yes, where?) or just buy one when we get to Paris?????

Michele, <BR>The museum pass is really easy to buy in Paris. You can get it at the tourist offices in the railway stations (that's where I bought mine), and the airport. Two places in the city that are often recommended to go and buy the pass are the Rodin museum (because it's usually not very crowded), and the gift store outside the Orsay museum. Don't try and buy it at the Louvre since it is always very busy there. <BR>

Many thanks, Bill! The Musée d'Orsay will the place.

We bought our passes at the D'Orsay gift shop - no line at all.

Kathy, <BR>Sorry for the delay, I just got back from St, Louis. I'll forward your question to my sister who can tell you what they were, since I don't know. <BR>YES, buy the museum passes in Paris. We bought ours at the RER station.