My wife and will be in paris for the second time in the 2nd week in March. Be staying at the Hotel grand Leveque. The first time we did get to see the must sites, so what would you do the second time around. Would you leave for day trips or just explore the city somemore. Also what is the weather like in the second week of March.

If you go ino http://www.pariscope.fr, then into Musees" and "Expositions" you'll see a good full list of what's on. Then at your arival airport or station you can buy the current issue of Pariscope on paper or few francs. It will give you many ideas. <BR> <BR>Please write if I can help further. Welcome back. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London <BR> <BR>

I think you should get out of the city at least for a day or two - - go to Chartres, Versailles, Chantilly or Giverny - - just to name a few destinations. <BR> <BR>And in addition to Pariscope, check out www.timeout.com - - of course, none of the listings there now will still be relevant in March, with the exception of this rather quirky new Parisian feature: <BR> <BR>Balloon <BR> <BR>The latest harbinger of the third millennium is a huge yellow balloon, and for a small fee (adults 66F, children 33F-59F), it will lift 30 people at a time to a grand view 150 metres above Paris - weather permitting. The tethered helium-filled balloon - at 22 metres in diameter the largest in the world - is part of the Mairie de Paris' 2000 celebrations, and comes decorated with a map of the globe and a ring of children holding hands. The organisers are not short on feel-good millennium homilies - the balloon, we are told, represents liberty, purity and hope for the future. It's also a money-making exercise and a terrific bit of advertising for its sponsor, Fortis Insurance - but as the ground falls silently away, you'll have thoughts for the view and nothing else. <BR> <BR>Until Jan 1 2001, Mon-Sun 9am-sunset, Parc André-Citroën, 15th (33 1 44 26 20 00) <BR> <BR>For weather, Ben's favorite site (he must have overlooked your question about weather) - - is www.worldclimate.com - - Paris in March is as likely to be unpredictable as you might in many parts of Ontario. It's further north than Durham, but should be warmer, by a little. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex

The weather in March will be unpredictable! If you are lucky it might be mild, but I would not count on that. We were ther once in mid-March and about froze to death, hence we prefer late April! Anyway, take some day trips and see something besides the city, altho with the leaves still off the trees it is not as pretty as later in the spring. Fontainbleau is marvelous and not very far. Chartres is well worth the trip and easily accessible by train. The Loire Valley is fantastic but makes for a long day trip (several tour companies do this one, as well as the other places I mentioned should you not want to go it alone). Epernay and Reims (champagne country) are interesting, and if you did not do Versailles try and get out there. Did you go to the top of the Montparnasse Tower last time? If not, go this time - wonderful view and no where near as crowded as the Eiffel Tower. Take the Metro out to Chateau de Vincennes - last stop on the line I believe and quite interesting. Did you visit the Musee Marmottan? If not, the Monet paintings are fabulous! Just walk around - get away from the main tourist attactions and walk the streets, see real neighborhoods, you get a different prespective that way. Poke around in one of the big department stores looking at all the merchandise - it can be a cultural experience too! Don't feel pressured to be on the go every minute, Paris is more fun if enjoyed at a slow pace - we've been there many times and still find it fun to wander around and do "nothing" sometimes.

Elvira's second tier Paris visitations: <BR>Shopping: Bon Marche (the Bonwit Teller of Paris), BHV (a hardware store like no other), Dehillerin (cooking store - Williams-Sonona, eat your heart out), the paper stores in the Marais. <BR>Museums: Marmottan, Jay-Cognac, Delacroix, Picasso, Dali, Mankind <BR>Historical stuff: Conciergerie, les Invalides, basilique de St Denis (lots of dead royalty) <BR>Walk-about: 20th arrondissement (les villages); 16th arr for le Corbusier buildings and really swell ironwork; Jewish quarter in the Marais. <BR>Eating: pick a mission (one of the Loons picked vanilla ice cream - got it for every dessert to compare and sample) or an ethnic food (Vietnamese, Chinese, African); vow to eat something you have NO clue what it is. <BR>Nightlife: Jazz club; 'off-Broadway' play all in French so you have to guess what's going on (or make up your own script); concert at a small church, or at the Universite or Sorbonne. <BR>Away from Paris: Chartres, Fontainebleu, Malmaison, Champagne region. <BR>

Ramzi: <BR> <BR>A good two-hour adventure is a walk around Pere Lachaise cemetery. Sounds a bit wierd, but its a very interesting spot...lots of ornate memorials, mausoleums....."permanent" home to many famous historical figures...French and others....and a very nice place to stroll around on a Spring Day with its trees, lawns and cobblestoned walkways...and getting there on the Metro/walking will be fun, too...part of the day's adventure. Footnote...I saw in the paper the other day that Cher has bought a plot there...she'll be a neighbor to Jimmy Morrison. <BR> <BR>Another interesting spot..but totally unrelated to Pere Lachaise....just another great Paris destination....is a fantastic deli/grocery store near La Madelaine called Fauchon. It's a super spot for poking around in for knicknack gifts for the lady who's been looking after your cat while you were away. It has a huge selection of exotic jams, candies, sauces, mustards galore, etc. Plus many deli/bakery snacks for you to wolf down on the steps of La Madelaine(across the street) or in your hotel room later. It's a good walking neighborhood, too. Quite near L'Opera(and the adjacent department stores) as well. <BR> <BR>Enjoy! <BR> <BR>Scott