Walk from Pyrenees metro, as I did today back to the 5th, via Parc de Belleville with its elevated views of central Paris, rue and then bd Belleville with the market on the median strip (the sight but not the buzz spoiled somewhat for bourgeoise sensibilities by the vendors' parked white vans), a short detour down the upper section of Oberkampf and then a long walk up and around Pere Lachaise cemetery.

Just to clarify a bit more about your comment on Saint Denis, there is ALSO an area of Paris called Saint Denis and parts of it are kind of seedy-XXX theaters and such. But even that area of Paris is okay during the day and close to some really interesting areas of Paris.

Also, I just sent a friend coming to visit a link to the list of best baguette winners in Paris. That alone would keep me busy for six days :)

http://megzimbeck.com/2010/03/map-th...ttes-in-paris/

AA - how was your trip last month? We loved Rue des Petit Champs!

Liz, it was really, really good. A few ghosts, but the good far outweighed the bad. I'm working on a trip report.

The apartment felt like home. We met Sheila and Bruno ... so nice to put faces to the names after all these years.

E

PS, someone(!) left two bottles of wine behind, so we left a couple more for the next guests.

Jpie (et autres)
I've heard multiple times about the baguette contest, and knowing the love of food over there, I'm sure there has to be other competitions.

Looking for links!

Le Grenier à Pain Abbesses(coming in at #1) was our local bakery of choice during our week's stay last month. The baguette de tradition and the ficelle were absolutely amazing.

If anyone makes a project out of trying all ten, do post your findings! I miss good bread.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ic-dancing.cfm

cut and paste the above link for information about Rue Mouffetard, this is such a wonderful local experience my husband and I alway's try to make sure and get there

Someone also left a bunch of credit cards in the bedroom drawer! (mainly loyalty cards but also my health card - Sheila found them last week!)

Aren't they lovely people? Looking forward to your TR and glad the good tipped the scales.

Thank you again for all the suggestions! Ok I'm game to try out the top ten for the baguette contest. Im in Paris for a total if ten days (4 on my own, six with parents) so I will eat one per day. Wish me luck that I can find all these bakeries. I will report back!!

Loving these suggestions, I agree with so many of them.
Schnauzer

The St. Denis basilica is in the suburb of St. Denis. The street in Paris known for its street walkers is the rue St. Denis. Two different places entirely.

O Chateau - 2-hour wine workshop - a must if you like wine
Segway tour
One hour cooking class and lunch at the Ritz 55E http://www.ritzparis.com/section/ins...te_f.asp?id=10
Musee Marmottan
Cheese tasting tour
Lenotre, 10 rue Saint Antoine, 14e - take-out pastries, deli, candy,... terrific
Guided bus tour to Giverny and Auvers-sur-Oise (all day)

Michel, these aren't competitions as such-just good lists:

Here is a link to a really old NYTimes article on searching for good croissants. Great article, but if you want to cut to the chase and find the places they are on page 5-the last page of the article:
http://tinyurl.com/456d8qe

And here is a more recent list I like from Travel & Leisure:
http://tinyurl.com/4gbyu77

And not to forget Chocolatiers: http://tinyurl.com/258la3d

Last but definitely not least, check out this site about the best patisseries in Paris. Piccolina, you may have to make this a waddle across Paris tour :)

If I find any of the official best ofs, I will add, but for the moment I feel full just looking at these!

http://tinyurl.com/2bla7qt

second:
Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
A lovely spot only about 20 min. by RER

Cluny (Nat. Museum du Moyen Age) and the concerts there (mid-day).

Second the idea of a chocolate crawl.

Do the Passages. The Guide Michelin has a good article on these strange and delightful places.

Ouch! How could I have forgotten to recommend the classic thread?:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...o-in-paris.cfm

AJPeabody--Thanks!

oie mentions my new favourite, the musee marmottan, which as you are interested in the orangerie, may well interest you as well, as it houses a permanent exhibition of the works of Monet.

it is close to the bois de boulogne, so you could combine your trip to the bagatelle garden, if that's where you are going.

jpie - thank you so much for the article link - will need to make my own "best of" list!

oie - thank you for the ritz lunch suggestion but unfortunately they dont have a cook and lunch for the dates i'm there! :(

Thank you everyone for your inputs - these are priceless!