Planning Out What to Do for 5 Days in Paris... Advice?
Jun 8th, 2010, 01:04 PM
#43
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
sap,
Paris does have a certain romantic charm to it, non?
I come cheap, tours are free...just airfare and accomms.
I have a long list of things I still need to do in Paris, and happily it keeps me coming back. My long term dream has Paris in it, somehow...
If the stars align, back there this fall.
Paris does have a certain romantic charm to it, non?
I come cheap, tours are free...just airfare and accomms.
I have a long list of things I still need to do in Paris, and happily it keeps me coming back. My long term dream has Paris in it, somehow...
If the stars align, back there this fall.
Jun 8th, 2010, 01:16 PM
#45
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,215
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh my gosh Michel and others! The suggestions you gave are amazing. I am booking this thread for my trip. Haven't been yet, but wouldn't it be fabulous if she had a drink at Bar Hemingway at the Ritz?
Jun 8th, 2010, 01:37 PM
#46
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fashionista, what a great thing to know about, the umbrella boutique! Such great details from everyone. I suspect that in a city like Paris there are so many serendipitous discoveries... hopefully I'll have some new ones to post after my trip, as well.
Jun 8th, 2010, 02:18 PM
#47
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Ritz...yes, that has to be on any list. I've wandered around the front of the hotel (Place Vendome) to look at the high end jewellery stores, and watched 'society' come and go from there.
On main street Ile St Louis there is a shop called Pylones that has the neatest little household items. Not far from the chocolate shop that is another stop. BHV, which is touted as the place to go for household/hardware items, is on my list.
In rambling around Left Bank came across little (probably 15' x 4') that sold only Petit Prince items. My friend had mentioned that she was reading book as part of learning french, so stocked up on all sorts of items for her.
That's one of the neat things about Paris, you come across these places that sell items you would never see anywhere else...and I'm not a shopper BTW
On main street Ile St Louis there is a shop called Pylones that has the neatest little household items. Not far from the chocolate shop that is another stop. BHV, which is touted as the place to go for household/hardware items, is on my list.
In rambling around Left Bank came across little (probably 15' x 4') that sold only Petit Prince items. My friend had mentioned that she was reading book as part of learning french, so stocked up on all sorts of items for her.
That's one of the neat things about Paris, you come across these places that sell items you would never see anywhere else...and I'm not a shopper BTW
Jun 9th, 2010, 04:18 AM
#50
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For day 3, Montparnasses is not so close to the Marais, so perhaps it is worth exploring somewhere else. I would consider having a walk around Bastille or perhaps even Belleville (sure this is not popular with some, but this area, IMO, has real character and some great little Algerian, Tunisian etc cafes). Some ideas for exploring the Marais here. http://www.parisbyphoto.com/tours/mtour
I will try to visit Belleville this weekend and find the name of a great bakery I visit there and post it here (I know where about it is, but do not know the name plus want an excuse to go there and buy some of the delicious bread!). They have some amazing breads, Algerian, Egyptian, Tunisian and more. All filled with a variety delicious stuffing. The thing often overlooked in Paris is food from ex French colonies or protectorates. The variety is just amazing and can be a lot cheaper than your usual French food.
For day 4, if you are going to check out La Batobus, as suggested by Cathinjoetown, you can find some info on the stops here http://www.parisbyphoto.com/tours/batobus/
I will try to visit Belleville this weekend and find the name of a great bakery I visit there and post it here (I know where about it is, but do not know the name plus want an excuse to go there and buy some of the delicious bread!). They have some amazing breads, Algerian, Egyptian, Tunisian and more. All filled with a variety delicious stuffing. The thing often overlooked in Paris is food from ex French colonies or protectorates. The variety is just amazing and can be a lot cheaper than your usual French food.
For day 4, if you are going to check out La Batobus, as suggested by Cathinjoetown, you can find some info on the stops here http://www.parisbyphoto.com/tours/batobus/
Jun 9th, 2010, 05:05 AM
#51
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you parisbyphoto, great info and your site is amazing!
Being a vegetarian, I was hoping to find some "non-Parisian" food, figuring it would be easier to eat in some of those places (such as Moroccan, etc.) So this is good to know about.
Being a vegetarian, I was hoping to find some "non-Parisian" food, figuring it would be easier to eat in some of those places (such as Moroccan, etc.) So this is good to know about.
Jun 9th, 2010, 08:24 AM
#54
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You usually get some vegetarian options in most of the restaurants. Some friends visited a couple of weeks ago. We went to a restaurant just around the corner from where I live. It is not a veggie resto, but it does have quite a few vegetarian options for starters and a couple of mains (the starter selection is better). The veggie amongst us was very content. It is a short walk from the eiffel tower, so may be worth a visit when you are visiting.
It is called Le Tournesol. It is not fine dining by any stretch of the imagination, however the food was reasonable and the price was ok. The waiters were very friendly. I plan to take my mother and her friend there when they come over to visit in a week or so.
Check out their website here: http://www.le-tournesol.fr/
It is called Le Tournesol. It is not fine dining by any stretch of the imagination, however the food was reasonable and the price was ok. The waiters were very friendly. I plan to take my mother and her friend there when they come over to visit in a week or so.
Check out their website here: http://www.le-tournesol.fr/
Jun 9th, 2010, 08:52 AM
#56
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,858
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think your plan is very busy, even the first day, but I guess you have more energy than I do. Or else just don't look at things very much. For example, your first day you won't even be there and checked in until perhaps noon, and you'll have jet lag. Your idea of a day taking it easy is shopping, going to a monument, visiting a park and exploring two entire quarters. So I guess it depends how much shopping you do and what you mean by exploring the quarter. I really do visit a lot of historical houses, square, walk for several miles, etc., when I explore neighborhoods (I use the Michelin Green guide for details, perhaps).
IN any case, I agree with the above comment about the day you were on the right bank in the Marais and then suggested adding exploring Montparnasse to that day. It's the opposite side of town and to be honest, I usually stay there and have spent long stays in that area as I attended a couple summer shools there, but I don't think of it as exactly a tourist attraction (which is why I like it). Yes, there are a few things to see there, I guess (like maybe the cemetery, some historical buildings if you were into that, and a few minor museums), but I would think some area over on the Right Bank would make more sense that day. Exploring the Bastille, Oberkampf, Canal St Martin, Promenade Plantee, would make more sense to me.
IN any case, I agree with the above comment about the day you were on the right bank in the Marais and then suggested adding exploring Montparnasse to that day. It's the opposite side of town and to be honest, I usually stay there and have spent long stays in that area as I attended a couple summer shools there, but I don't think of it as exactly a tourist attraction (which is why I like it). Yes, there are a few things to see there, I guess (like maybe the cemetery, some historical buildings if you were into that, and a few minor museums), but I would think some area over on the Right Bank would make more sense that day. Exploring the Bastille, Oberkampf, Canal St Martin, Promenade Plantee, would make more sense to me.
Jun 9th, 2010, 09:02 AM
#57
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks... checked out Le Tournesol's menu -- looks perfect for me. Hopefully I'll be able to find more places with options for me. I don't like to chase down vegetarian-specific restaurants (can be a inconvenient hassle) so hopefully I can find salads and cheese at most places. Then pastries!
Jun 9th, 2010, 10:24 AM
#58
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
CarolM
In response to your food concerns, some days we went to the Monoprix in the Marais and bought things like yogurt, tuna and even a balsalmic vinagrette. We went to Fromage shops for cheese, fruit markets for fruit and salad items, an international market close to Jardin du Luxembourg (Italian, Greek food etc.) and made salads and various sandwiches with baguettes. We had picnics in parks, on bridges and in gardens. Anything on a baguette tasted delicious. Oh and of course we ate plenty of pastries. We usually ate out for lunch which gave us more time to explore at night.
In response to your food concerns, some days we went to the Monoprix in the Marais and bought things like yogurt, tuna and even a balsalmic vinagrette. We went to Fromage shops for cheese, fruit markets for fruit and salad items, an international market close to Jardin du Luxembourg (Italian, Greek food etc.) and made salads and various sandwiches with baguettes. We had picnics in parks, on bridges and in gardens. Anything on a baguette tasted delicious. Oh and of course we ate plenty of pastries. We usually ate out for lunch which gave us more time to explore at night.
Jun 9th, 2010, 10:31 AM
#60
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<<<Just found out the Picasso Museum is closed for renovations until sometime in 2012 >>>
There is a Picasso exhibition soon in New York and another running currently at the Tate in Liverpool. Spect most of the pics are on loan.
There is a Picasso exhibition soon in New York and another running currently at the Tate in Liverpool. Spect most of the pics are on loan.
