paris
 

Ok, trying to make 2 day plans for Paris before we board our Avalon River Boat.
We are booked for a prestay at the Pullman Paris Montparnasse 19 Rue Du comm Mouchotte. We know nothing of the area but that it is in the Left Bank area and near the metro. We are 4 active ladies that will be seeing the Lourve with the cruise. What should be do for the day we arrive and the next day. Yes, will go the the Eiffel Tower, take pictures etc. Looking for a Wine/cheese tasting, a cooking class, a good shopping area.
And yes some fine French cusine. If we decide to do a night cruise around the city. Which one is not a rip off and has a good reputation for service?
Also, since the Moulin rouge is so expensive and has mixed reviews suggestions on perhaps another show that is very popular.
We are all seasoned New Yorkers and know just how overpowering a large city can be to Tourists. Really would like to avoid traps and do as the natives do.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

There are long lines to go up the Eiffel Tower. Our friends enjoyed the tethered balloon in the parc André Citroën, not as high as the Eiffel Tower but also less of a wait.

Since you will see the Louvre as part of your cruise, you might want to visit the musée Marmottan for its Monet collection or the musée d'Orsay for its more general 19th century collections.

The natives don't go to the Moulin Rouge, same as New Yorkers who rarely go to the Empire building. Enjoy the outdoors markets and cafes, the best way to enjoy Paris

I think you will like the area in general since there is lots of shopping and pretty good access around Montparnasse. There are also a number of street markets there on various days. Here is a blog the details them:

http://www.parisianlocal.com/a-list-...y-of-the-week/

In terms of food, for fine dining, there are a zillion choices but one thing you may not know is that the area is specifically known for crepes because the train to Brittany arrives at Montparnasse and it has a history of immigrants from that region. Here is one of my favorite food blogs for Paris where he talks about that:

www.davidlebovitz.com/2006/03/the-best-crpes/

the Josselin is the one I usually go to in the area:

Josselin
67, rue du Montparnasse (14th)
Tél: 01 43 20 93 50

Here is a link to a self-guided walking tour so you can learn about the history and neighborhood:

http://www.bonjourparis.com/story/me...king-tour-par/

I personally wouldn't wast a meal on the dinner cruise-I would have a nice meal somewhere and just take the bateaux mouche, but others might disagree....

In your hotel's neighbourhood you can glide up to the top of the Tour Montparnasse and look down on the Eiffel and all the rest of Paris. This modern office tower is not much loved but it sure is tall. A fairly lofty admission, too. http://www.tourmontparnasse56.com/index_EN.php#

The advantage of going up the Tour Montparnasse is that you do not see it when looking out over Paris.

Take the Seine River cruise just at dusk on the Vedettes du Pont Neuf. You will see many landmarks and will see the lights come on all over Paris (including the Eiffel Tower. The cruise lasts about an hour - have dinner at a wonderful restaurant when you leave the boat.

Visit the Musee D'Orsay and the Orangerie. Take time to see Sainte Chapelle. You are not too far from Luxembourg Gardens - take a stroll through the park and see Parisiens enjoying their day.

You have such a short time. Unless you have been in Paris before, I would skip the cooking class which will take up the better part of a day.

Bellac - good idea to forget the Moulin Rouge- overated, boring, too expensive.

Try to take you Seine cruise at dusk or in the evening. Have a great time...

Have you really looked at anyone's 2 day tours of Paris. You don't need a wine and cheese tour--you have NO time for a cooking class. LOOK at a tour book and DECIDE what you want to see
Maybe insular New Yorkers--certainly not seasoned travelers. JMO

I took a great cooking class that included shopping in the markets: http://www.cooknwithclass.com/

I can recommend La Cuisine Paris for cooking classes. Their shortest classes are 2 hours long.

I haven't been but I believe O Chateau offers a wine and cheese tasting.

I've done a great wine and cheese tasting with these guys, around 1.5 - 2 hours and very entertaining, and they also offer other programs of 2 - 4 hour duration according to the time you have, such as a candlelight dinner, market visits with cooking after, short desserts classes, etc.
www.lefoodist.com

Have a look too at O Chateau's champagne sunset cruises, a nice way to view Paris from the river and sip a glass of bubbles. Also, the Rodin Museum is a lovely peaceful space with beautiful sculptures. I am also a fan of the Batobus for getting up and down the river in a relaxed way. It stops near many of the big sites eg Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Musee D'Orsay so can help avoid the Metro too.