This was my first time in paris as an adult and my husband's first time. We were there for seven nights. Now that I think back it feels like a dream, like it never happened. I think one week in not enough specillay if you fly from the west coast. By the time your Jet lag is gone,it is time to come back. We arranged with prime time shuttle and the driver was late picking us up form Irvine to take us to LAX. He was so clueless,but we finally made it to the airport. We were flying with air tahiti nui and I believe when you fly with smaller companis you deal with less lines and headache. Every thing went smoothly and our flight was delayed a little bit.It took about 11 hours to get to CDG. The food on a plane was OK and even though we didn't sleep at all, the eleven hours went by quickly. We arrived around 9 a.m. and every thing went very smooth and quick and we were early for our blu van shuttle. I called them and asked if they could send a driver and within half an hour a driver was there. It seemed all the drivers were late form half an hour to one hour. We hit the worst traffic and were happy that we were not sitting in a cab. We finally got to our hotel around noon. Our hotel was in a great location on bd raspail(7e) close to the orsay,louvre,rodin and border of the 6e. After we unpacked we went out to see what is around. We walked to the orsay and by the seine all the way to rue bonaparte . We walked down and checked all the galleries and our first stop was piere herme. We were impressed with the place and got emotion ispahan(6.90e) and montebello(5.80e). The ispahan was delicous but for around $10 it better be. We got some panini and walked to this cute square with a fountain and ate. We then walked to the louvre and bought our 4 day museum pass. We then went to Jardin des tuileries and walked around and wished that we could live in Paris. We walked back to the hotel and passed out. Of course I was up in a couple hours looking at my map and planning our next day. I Only had two nights of good sleep. The rest of the time, I was either to excited or too tired from all the walking to sleep.
Wed 5/3
We were up early and went to a bakery on rue du bac and picked up pain au chocolat and apin aux raisins and went back to hotel and had our breakfast. The pain chocolat didn't taste like butter and that place went to the black list!! We walked down bd st germain to Sorbone area. We visited the Pantheon and walked to rue monge to kayser bakery. We bought pain au chocolat(good),croissant aux amande(OK),fig bread(tasty) another bread with walnut and some yellow spice. We had lunch at Louis vins. They had a english menu and a french one. This was the only place we ate that had an english menu. We got the two course menu for 23e I believe. I got the beef cheek and foie gras and beef skirt with cambert sauce. My husband had the mushrooms and egg and cod and povoncal veggies. I liked my beef better than his cod. The cod was cooked a little too long and it was very salty,but since the veggies were not seasoned it was Ok together.We then walked to ile de la cite and visited Norte dame and went to ile st louise. We had the best ice cream of our life at Berthillon. I had the gianduja and caramel(double yum) and my husband had meil praline and cassis(YUM). I could eat that ice cream every day. We also went to this cute shop pylones and bought couple cute items and bought some jam from another place on the ile. We went back to ile de la cite and visited st chapelle. What a magical place. I think that day we walked for around eight hours. Of course I didn't get much sleep because I was too tired!!

Mmmm, Berthillon cassis! One of my favorites.

I leave in less than a month and can't wait. I try to eat ice-cream as much as I can so I'm sure to eat lots from Bertillon! I'm pretty much the same with yummy bread; in fact, I'll probably live off these two things the entire time. Bread and ice-cream; that's what I'm talking about!

Thursday 5/4
We went to the Louvre and it is amazing how big it is. We actually took the steps all the way to the first floor and bcause of all the walking the day before we were tired already! We walked around and were very impressed with the beauty and the paintings. We ended up in the grand gallery and went through the italian and spanish paintings and all of a sudden not knowing we ended up in front of Mona lisa. Wow, that was an amazing feeling, seeing her for the first time. It was very emotional. I don't understand people who say they were not impressed!The funny thing is the Today show was at the louvre this morning and I was so sad and I had tears in my eyes seeing paris. I just love paris with all the beauty ,art,food,style,politeness and elegance. We were at the louvre for two hours and two hours is all you can do,because is so tiring. We walked by the seine on the way to our lunch at le comptior. We waited about ten minutes and we were seated outside. The lunch menu is so long and you have so many choices. I could eat there at least once a week. I wish we had a place like that here in Orange county. We started with a very tasty saucisson and then I had saint -jacques(scallops) and my husband had the osso bucco. Every thing was delicious and the best time to go is after two. We finished our meal with two delicious cafe. It tasted just like greek or turkish coffee. For dessert we went to Amorino gelato and after our experience with Berthillon this was just OK. I felt it was too sweet and the flavors were not as intense as berthillon. After that We went to jardin du luxembourg,that place is so beautiful. We walked all over and took some pictures. We walked by st sulpice and we loved all the cows all over town and took lots of pictures. We tried to go to gerard mulot wed,but they are closed on wed. so we went there on thursday and bought the tastiest baguette we ever had. It tasted so rich almsot like pop corn! not like the tasteless ones we get in this country. I also got my usual pain au chocolat and pain aux raisine. Our last stop was Orsay and we stayed there until nine p.m. It was an amazing place,but I wish they had more Van gogh. We were there for abour three hours and coverd most of the musee. We were so exhausted and walked to the hotel. Thank god it only took ten minutes.

Fri 5/5
After having an omelet each and a weak cafe creme at a nerby cafe we went to the Louvre and visited the Napoleon apartments. It is very beautiful and we walked through the french painting section. We had lunch at Carte blanche. I had shrimp with quinoa and cod with veggies. My husband had escargots and saumon and boeuf bbq!! They were all pretty good,but since we had the omelet in the morning we didn't have much appetite. After lunch we walked to palais garnier. That place is so magical and beautiful. We then went to Galleries lafayette and I couldn't believe the great food section. Wow,I could just live in that place because it is food lover's dream. We had two amazing japanese pastry by Aoki. One was cassis and the other chocolate passion fruit. Very delicious. We got bunch of other stuff and had picinic by the tour eiffel. Such an amazing experience. After that we used Bateaux Mouches for our seine cruise and it was great when we passed the lady liberty. We walked all the way back to our hotel and took some nice pictures of pont alexanderIII and the beautiful seine.
Sat 5/6
We picked up breakfast from le grand epicerie(briochette pistache,cannele,croissant aux amande,croquse au jambon,le noix de cobou and pear orange juice). Every thing was delicious the juice was very tasty. We notice they don't have as many selection of juice as we do in states. Most is cocktal not real juice. Le noix de cobou was a combo of cabbage and nice ham and we ate all this in a lovely park near the hotel des invalides. We visted the Napoleon's tomb and musee rodin. I was happy to see a couple of van gogh paintings. We then walked to place de la concorde and walked down Champs Elysees to Arc de triomphe. That was a long walk and I had to stop a couple of times climbing the steps to the top of the arc. We took the subway to the louvre station and realized it has stated raining and we had no umbrella and long way from the hotel. After standing under covers for fifteen minutes we decided to walk and it started raining hard. We went to Gerard mulot and bought a baguette and some macarons. We got cassis,caramel,passion fruit and citron. They were all good exept for the citron. We ended up having dinner at Fish la Boissonier and that was a great dinner. For 28e you can choose two course. What a deal. I started with perche beignet with capers and my husband had vichyssoise. Then I had the most delicious tuna with saffron,pinapple,rasin and cabronet sauce. Every thing went very well together. My husband had the spaghetti with saumon. We had two cafe illy and walked back in a rain to hotel!
Sun5/7
Went to hotel de ville. It was first sun so we went to mussee picasso. As much as we love art we were kind of tired of it and we felt the musee was Ok,but if you had to pay the fee I don't know if I would of gone. we had a pricy brunch at Mariage freres. We picked the love letter menu at 34e. The food was good,but I don't know if it was worth the money.We went to centre pompidou and ended up eating at L'as du fallafel. That place was so packed and it was tasty except for the pita. we didn't eat the pita and they have a good fries . We went back to the hotel and rested for a couple of hours. We left the hotel around 9:40 and walked towards tour eiffel. It took about half an hour and we went to the second level and while we were up there it sparkled. Around midnight we had a very tasty crepe by the seine. What a magical night, we saw tour eiffel sparkle three times that night and walked all the way back to hotel.
Mon 5/8
Our last full day and it was a holiday! We went to Fauchon and had the best pain au chocolat and chausson pommes. We then went to Hediard and picked the tastest and best looking pain aux raisins and tortillons aux noisettes. We walked to rue st honore and every shop on my list to vist was closed. I don't know because of the holiday or simply they are close on mon. I was in tears. Jean paul hevin closed,longchamp closed, pascal bruni closed!! We then walked down bd de la madeline and capucines and went to galleries lafayette food shopping. We bought bunch of stuff from hediard for the family and walked back to the hotel. I told my husband to go up and I went to rue du bac to see if pylones was open. Of course not. I was so sad.I walked to the grand epicerie and bought bunch of stuff for breakfast,lunch on the plane and other goodies. That night we had dinner at Le relais de l'entrecote and we only paid 43.60e for two. You get a green salad with walnut and a tasty dressing and beef rib with frites. It was pretty good and the place was packed with french by 7:30 and a line of people waiting to get in. We walked to ile de la cite and st louise for on last ice cream from berthillon. There was a guy playing accordion by the bridge. It seemed like paris was doing its best to make me love the city even more. We walked all the way back to the hotel and sadly tomorrow was the day to come back to the states.
Return flight tue 5/9
our blu van shuttle was late a bit,but we got one last mini tour of the city on the way to the airport. Our flight to lax took for ever because the vacation was over. Most of the passnagers were french. I think only a few Americans were on the plane. I couldn't believe how easy the cusom was!! I could of brought ham,cheese,what ever. As soon as we sat on the shuttle van I was culture shock that wow what a difference. I wanted it so badly to go back to paris.
Few things to keep in mind:
No body cares what you wear, so wear what ever you want. I saw a lot of french waring American logo and sneakers. You don't have to wear black to fit in. If your hotel has a safe put everything there and instead of money belt wear a light jacket with pockets and put your money and cc in there. That is what I did most of the days.We always felt safe even at midnight, ofcourse we were at the safe area of the city. Try to stay for more than one week if you can. Forget about your diet while you are there. Eat,eat,eat. Once you get back here It is hard to find all that delicious food. The fruit taste so much better there,even though I try to buy mostly organic here. Make sure you go on a seine cruise. The first couple of days was warm,so take a hat. It seemed that every place we ate we were the only American. Even the the plane was full of french .
I like to thank every body for their valuable info. If it wasn't for you guys I wouldn't have such a great trip.

What a trip. I leave Friday and will follow your suggestions for the Louvre. Thanks

We probably passed you somewhere as we were there during your trip and went to the same places. We also love Relais de l'Entrecote and I am now an addict of the fabulous Ispahan!

Glad you had such a wonderful time. Thanks for sharing your trip.