some notes from the road
Oct 21st, 2004, 01:03 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
some notes from the road
Days 1-4. Paris, France.
Hotel- Hotel Familia, 11 rue des Ecoles,5th.
flight Air France from Washington Dulles.
Flight was uneventful (but packed).Air France frequent flyer card doesnt seem to do much,or nothing that is apparent.Food and service were very good. I do not like the new 777s which seem to be more crowded less legroom and fewer loos in economy. thanksfully i had some very nice people sitting next to me.Arrival in Paris in the pouring rain, and shuttle was right there waiting for me.
I stayed at the same hotel last year but reserved a double room for single use as the single room was far too small.i specifically requested a room facing rue des ecoles and hotel staff was very accomodating, though if you are arriving first thing in the morning from the us the room is virtually guaranteed not to be ready.
there is a diner (breakfast in America) a few doors down the street which the perfect answer to a transatlantic flight that gives little in the way of breakfast. average prices and friendly service, frequented by tourists as well as american expatriates who can be a great source of information and tips. good place to have a late night cup of coffee as well.
i like the neighborhood,internet connection a couple of blocks up the street on rue monges.lots of sightseeing and metro stations right closeby (maubert and Cardinal lemoine) best way to get into town is either with the shuttle or the cheaper way is going to St Michel station on the RER2 from Charles de Gaulle. Hotel is still far enough from the louder areas of Latin Quarter where all the restaurants,bars and souvernier shops are around St. jacques.
with 4 days i was advised a carnet was a better idea than the carte orange. i bought the pass, just make sure that the pass you buy does cover all regions,since trips to carles de gaulle and versailles are not covered on all of the carnets.Paris metro is very easy to navigate but are a real pain when coming in with lots of baggge as you have to go down hallways and up stairways ad infinitum.travel light!!!
save a bit of money by buying panini or crepes (from 2 euro on up)when you are sightseeing. i bought a 3 day museum pass and even having been to paris last year i saw plenty of things i hadnt seen before.
Some enjoyable things-St Chapelle for its awesome stained glass windows and upper chapel. Madelaine, for its neoclassical simplicity and elegance. Sacre Couer (metro Anvers) was lovely and had a wonderful view but was packed to the rafters with tourists.
Versailles-make sure you allocate plenty of time. You will see the Statue of Liberty from the train on the way out there. Versailles was awesome. i took the guided tour that they offer there, but entry to the gardens is a separate ticket. no way you will be able to see the whole place without spending the whole day there. The hall of mirrors,even under restoration, is incredible. i had expected more of a disturbance to the hall of mirrors as 60% of it is under restoration, but they have done a tasteful job of it and it is an unforgettable sight. the gardens (even in october) as magnificent, but bring good walking shoes as you will not have the horsies that Louis XIV did to get around the gardens. There is a little tram going around, though i cant remember the cost and it seemed to me might have lessened the experience of exploring the gardens, they were fabulous.
art museums-i didnt get to the louvre this time as i had done a good trip of it last year. The Musee dOrsay was very nice, though my taste in art tends more towards the older stuff, the museum was lovely..well laid out and very light and nice architecture. i didnt see the floors with the furniture stuff, just the paintings and sculpture.
invalides-the army museum was very well done but after a while became a bit repetitive..seeing what particular unit looked like throughout history just got old..but a good exhibition of weapons and history. napoleons tomb quite impressive.would have loved to see Musee Rodin, which was a close walk from invalides but was late in the day when i was there and closed the only otehr day available.
my favorite square,,of course, Place de la Concorde...the views of paris and its monuments is wonderful. A very nice view is also over the Sully Bridge going to the Bastille area, the view of notre dame is super!
lets see, some that were only ok..musee jacquemart andre...close to the champs elysses (supposedly). though it was a nice mansion and the owner was obviously quite wealthy and had great taste..to me it was only so so. Arc de Triumphe part of the viewing platz is under renovation so we were not able to go up at all, last year i remember very nice views from there.
by the way, the Paris tourist office that was last year just down the Champs Elysses about a block from the Arc de Triumphe was permanently closed.
Parisians were friendly in their own way, unfailingly polite and very patient will imperfect command of their language. With only average preparation in the language department i was easily able to get around, order stuff and had no real communication difficulties. the french were at first reticent about speaking english but were eager to help once my french started failing.
Definitely one of the most beautiful cities in the world and one that multiple trips never seem to cover.Spring must be exquisite.
having spent 4 days there this time i got to see a lot and did not feel overly tired or overwhelmed and definitely will be going back to visit again in the future.
Hotel- Hotel Familia, 11 rue des Ecoles,5th.
flight Air France from Washington Dulles.
Flight was uneventful (but packed).Air France frequent flyer card doesnt seem to do much,or nothing that is apparent.Food and service were very good. I do not like the new 777s which seem to be more crowded less legroom and fewer loos in economy. thanksfully i had some very nice people sitting next to me.Arrival in Paris in the pouring rain, and shuttle was right there waiting for me.
I stayed at the same hotel last year but reserved a double room for single use as the single room was far too small.i specifically requested a room facing rue des ecoles and hotel staff was very accomodating, though if you are arriving first thing in the morning from the us the room is virtually guaranteed not to be ready.
there is a diner (breakfast in America) a few doors down the street which the perfect answer to a transatlantic flight that gives little in the way of breakfast. average prices and friendly service, frequented by tourists as well as american expatriates who can be a great source of information and tips. good place to have a late night cup of coffee as well.
i like the neighborhood,internet connection a couple of blocks up the street on rue monges.lots of sightseeing and metro stations right closeby (maubert and Cardinal lemoine) best way to get into town is either with the shuttle or the cheaper way is going to St Michel station on the RER2 from Charles de Gaulle. Hotel is still far enough from the louder areas of Latin Quarter where all the restaurants,bars and souvernier shops are around St. jacques.
with 4 days i was advised a carnet was a better idea than the carte orange. i bought the pass, just make sure that the pass you buy does cover all regions,since trips to carles de gaulle and versailles are not covered on all of the carnets.Paris metro is very easy to navigate but are a real pain when coming in with lots of baggge as you have to go down hallways and up stairways ad infinitum.travel light!!!
save a bit of money by buying panini or crepes (from 2 euro on up)when you are sightseeing. i bought a 3 day museum pass and even having been to paris last year i saw plenty of things i hadnt seen before.
Some enjoyable things-St Chapelle for its awesome stained glass windows and upper chapel. Madelaine, for its neoclassical simplicity and elegance. Sacre Couer (metro Anvers) was lovely and had a wonderful view but was packed to the rafters with tourists.
Versailles-make sure you allocate plenty of time. You will see the Statue of Liberty from the train on the way out there. Versailles was awesome. i took the guided tour that they offer there, but entry to the gardens is a separate ticket. no way you will be able to see the whole place without spending the whole day there. The hall of mirrors,even under restoration, is incredible. i had expected more of a disturbance to the hall of mirrors as 60% of it is under restoration, but they have done a tasteful job of it and it is an unforgettable sight. the gardens (even in october) as magnificent, but bring good walking shoes as you will not have the horsies that Louis XIV did to get around the gardens. There is a little tram going around, though i cant remember the cost and it seemed to me might have lessened the experience of exploring the gardens, they were fabulous.
art museums-i didnt get to the louvre this time as i had done a good trip of it last year. The Musee dOrsay was very nice, though my taste in art tends more towards the older stuff, the museum was lovely..well laid out and very light and nice architecture. i didnt see the floors with the furniture stuff, just the paintings and sculpture.
invalides-the army museum was very well done but after a while became a bit repetitive..seeing what particular unit looked like throughout history just got old..but a good exhibition of weapons and history. napoleons tomb quite impressive.would have loved to see Musee Rodin, which was a close walk from invalides but was late in the day when i was there and closed the only otehr day available.
my favorite square,,of course, Place de la Concorde...the views of paris and its monuments is wonderful. A very nice view is also over the Sully Bridge going to the Bastille area, the view of notre dame is super!
lets see, some that were only ok..musee jacquemart andre...close to the champs elysses (supposedly). though it was a nice mansion and the owner was obviously quite wealthy and had great taste..to me it was only so so. Arc de Triumphe part of the viewing platz is under renovation so we were not able to go up at all, last year i remember very nice views from there.
by the way, the Paris tourist office that was last year just down the Champs Elysses about a block from the Arc de Triumphe was permanently closed.
Parisians were friendly in their own way, unfailingly polite and very patient will imperfect command of their language. With only average preparation in the language department i was easily able to get around, order stuff and had no real communication difficulties. the french were at first reticent about speaking english but were eager to help once my french started failing.
Definitely one of the most beautiful cities in the world and one that multiple trips never seem to cover.Spring must be exquisite.
having spent 4 days there this time i got to see a lot and did not feel overly tired or overwhelmed and definitely will be going back to visit again in the future.
Oct 21st, 2004, 01:06 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,738
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Great report!
I loved Napoleans tomb and Marshall Foch! did you ever see anything so impressive for a dead guy?!
My son will be in Paris alone in March, should I recommend the hotel? He needs under $100 a night.
Thanks for posting this, makes me wish I were there
I loved Napoleans tomb and Marshall Foch! did you ever see anything so impressive for a dead guy?!
My son will be in Paris alone in March, should I recommend the hotel? He needs under $100 a night.
Thanks for posting this, makes me wish I were there
Oct 21st, 2004, 01:58 PM
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
scarlett
thank you. the familia is a two star hotel. the same owner has a hotel directly next door, the Minerve, which is a bit nicer. the neighborhood is super and prices fairly reasonable for paris. Im sure your son would be fine there.
thank you. the familia is a two star hotel. the same owner has a hotel directly next door, the Minerve, which is a bit nicer. the neighborhood is super and prices fairly reasonable for paris. Im sure your son would be fine there.
Oct 21st, 2004, 02:30 PM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,611
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Did you make it to the top floor of the musée d'Orsay?
ALthough I loved the building, I wasn't that impressed with the art, UNTIL I got to the top floor. Room after room of world famous paintings - Whistler's Mother; perhaps 50 Monets (my favorite); rooms of works by van Gogh, Renoir, Manet, Pissarro, and onle I was previously unfamiliar with: Sisley.
It was too much for me to take in, in one visit.
Keith
ALthough I loved the building, I wasn't that impressed with the art, UNTIL I got to the top floor. Room after room of world famous paintings - Whistler's Mother; perhaps 50 Monets (my favorite); rooms of works by van Gogh, Renoir, Manet, Pissarro, and onle I was previously unfamiliar with: Sisley.
It was too much for me to take in, in one visit.
Keith
Oct 21st, 2004, 02:51 PM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,738
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks, Wildfire, I will tell him
Keith, that is the way I felt, it was too much to take in all at once. We go back each time we visit.
Rodin is a must for your next visit, Wildfire. Those gardens! the house! the Gates of Hell!
Keith, that is the way I felt, it was too much to take in all at once. We go back each time we visit.
Rodin is a must for your next visit, Wildfire. Those gardens! the house! the Gates of Hell!
Oct 21st, 2004, 04:59 PM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A very helpful report Wildfire, thank you. If the Paris tourism office is closed on the Champs Elysees did they direct you to another site? Was the musee jacquemart-andre included in the 3 day museum/monument pass? Where did you buy your 3 day pass, I know I bought my last one at the tourist office you say is closed. Your answers will help me next week when I am in Paris. Thanks, Deborah
Oct 21st, 2004, 07:44 PM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Deborah Ann
you can buy the tourist card at any of the museums and many larger metro stations.
the tourist office-they have several other branches, i dont remember where as i didnt really need to go anymore.
the jacquemart adre is included in the museum pass. another museum info that i had forgotten in my original post was the Musee du monde arabe in the jardin des plantes area...they have a special exhibition on the Pharaoh,very very well done, but apparently entry is separate (and pricey..10 euro) but worth it. paying entry to the pharaoh will not get you into the regular museum,cest la vie!
hope this helps. Will answer other question as computer access allows (hotel in bolzano has a laptop in the room) Ciao
you can buy the tourist card at any of the museums and many larger metro stations.
the tourist office-they have several other branches, i dont remember where as i didnt really need to go anymore.
the jacquemart adre is included in the museum pass. another museum info that i had forgotten in my original post was the Musee du monde arabe in the jardin des plantes area...they have a special exhibition on the Pharaoh,very very well done, but apparently entry is separate (and pricey..10 euro) but worth it. paying entry to the pharaoh will not get you into the regular museum,cest la vie!
hope this helps. Will answer other question as computer access allows (hotel in bolzano has a laptop in the room) Ciao
Oct 22nd, 2004, 05:36 AM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think the Jacquemart-Andre is included in the museum pass. You can check at www.intermusees.com . I did like it very much and they have a wonderful cafe within it where you can feel like maybe you actually are living that life for a little while!
As I recall, there is a two for the price of one deal for it if you have the Paris Visite pass (which is often panned on this board as not a very good value).
As I recall, there is a two for the price of one deal for it if you have the Paris Visite pass (which is often panned on this board as not a very good value).
