Paris Itinerary May 10-19 - feedback please
 

We have been to Paris before. This trip we want to concentrate on the gardens and the food. It will be May and we hope everything will be in bloom. I want to buy carnets and a Navigo pass for the week. Assistance with evaluating whether to go to Giverny or Canal St. Martin would be helpful (we love Impressionism). I would like to use buses as much as possible, the metro stairs are a killer for me. I have downloaded the Paris interactive bus map. We are lucky, the #69 bus runs along the street where our apartment will be. Let me know what you think - any suggestions for close by restaurants, cafes, bistros, etc. would also be helpful. Thanks!

DAY 1 - (FRI) Arrive in Paris, # 69 bus Rue Cler - Grocery Shopping,
DAY 2 - (SAT) RER C line from Musee d'Orsay - Day trip to Versailles, pack picnic lunch
DAY 3 (SUN) - Take #69 bus to Marais, lunch at Sasha Finkelstein, visit Pompidou Center in p.m., Jacques Genin (133, rue de Turenne),, #65 bus to Place de Vosges (Victor Hugo house), #65 bus to #69 bus tea at Angelina's
DAY 4 - (MON) BUY NAVIGO PASS, Take #69 bus to Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, Rue Cler, Hotel des Invalides, Musee de Quai Branley
DAY 5 - (TUES) Take #84 bus to Pantheon, Jardin du Luxembourg, Rue Moufeetard, #47 bus (Cardinal Lemoine) to Jardin des Plantes, #63 bus to Rue de Bac
DAY 6 - (WED) AM Mom - cooking class, Lissi - Catacombs
DAY 7 - (THURS) Day Trip to Giverny OR Canal St. Martin
DAY 8 - (FRI) Take #69 bus west to #28 bus - Arc du Triomphe, Champs Elysee, Grand Palais, Rue du Fauborg
DAY 9 - (SAT) # 69 bus - Jardin des Tuileries, Louvre, Musee L'Orangerie, Rue Montorgueil

If the choice is between Canal St Martin ( we we liked) boat and Giverny( which we loved)....Giverny!!

I forget where your apartment is, but I certainly wouldn't take a bus to rue Cler to go grocery shopping. You can do that anywhere. And it looks like you're going to rue Cler later, anyway.

I didn't realize the Canal St-Martin had anything to do with Impressionism, but perhaps it does. In any case, I'd choose Giverny. And I already suggested this on another of your posts, but if you love Impressionism, go to the Ile des Impressionistes (and have lunch at the Maison Fournaise).

And for gardens, you might want to read this: http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/06/29...anted=all&_r=0

St. Cirq, on our first day, we are arriving early in the morning and probably won't get access to the apt until 2 or 3 p.m. We are staying in Rue de Grenelle, right on the #69 bus line which goes to Rue Cler. Was figuring we can drop off our bags, catch a bus (we will be tired), have brunch, grab some food for the apartment for the week.