Trip Report: Paris October 2005
 

Just returned from honeymoon in Greece and Paris. We spent three nights, three days in Paris at the end of our trip. It was fabulous! The only downside, we flew Air France and they lost our luggage. Didn't find it or get it to us for 5 days. So we were without clothing, etc... for 5 days and didn't even know if we'd ever see our luggage again. Air France wasn't particularly accomodating and admitted that this is a frequent occurence. So, beware!

Paris was otherwise phenomenal. Perfect time of year. The weather was ideal -- not too hot, not cold. At the most we needed jeans or a light sweater at night. Days were warm and sunny. We stayed in the 6th at Hotel De L'Abbaye. It's a great little boutique hotel on a side street. I thought the location couldn't have been more perfect. Off the beaten path, but a half block from stores, restaurants, patisseries, etc... Very cute furnishings, small rooms, breakfast of yummy breads/croissants, fresh juice, coffee included and served on an indoor green room/garden room. The staff were lovely and it was just comfortable and clean. Rooms are quite small, but served our purposes fine. We loved the Latin Quarter/St. Germain. We spent everyday walking endlessly. We walked along the Seine, to St. Honore, to the Pompadou museum, to Shakespear and Company bookstore, to the Louvre, Notre Dame, St. Sulpice, etc... We didn't have many sites we had to see as we had both been to Paris before so just wondered for hours taking in the city and eating chocolate croissants every few hours!!! We just loved Paris -- what's not to love. I would definitely stay at Hotel De L'Abbaye again and would recommend that neighborhood. We happened upon little cobblestone alleys with brasseries and cafes. It was just delightful. We took a taxi to/from CDG and the hotel. It was pricey -- about 50 Euros. When we left we asked the concierge about other transportation options -- he said with 24 hr. notice you can order a shuttle, but you have no control over pick up time as they pick up several ppl. so you have to be prepared to leave whenever they say. So taxi ends up being far more efficient, though more expensive. We saw a movie and loved the experience of being in the French movie theater. I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Hi P,

I take it that you enjoyed Paris?

((I))

Where did you go to see a movie and was it in french? How was the french movie experience different from the american movie experience?

Pineco - what a wonderful way to start your life together as husband and wife.

Thanks for the kind replies. Opaldog, we saw a movie at Cinema UGC Danton -- it's on blvd. Saint Germain. I found this on google ... http://fr.movies.yahoo.com/agenda/ci...ll1100102.html
We saw Broken Flowers in English with French subtitles as neither of us are fluent in French. I think they usually have about one movie in English of the movies they show. It's usually safest to find a movie that was originally made in English to ensure that it will either be shown in English or have English subtitles. My husband loves old movie theaters and wanted to have that experience. However, this theater isn't an old majestic theater, but it was still very fun. Some differences are vending machines for ice cream and a woman who walks around the theater in a page boy hat with a tray strung over her shoulders selling refreshments. Otherwise it was just neat to be immersed in a typical recreational pursuit with mostly Parisiens on a weekend night. We also went to the movies in Athens -- more beautiful theater, but we misunderstood the woman selling tickets and the movie wasn't in English. We still sat through the whole thing, because it was fascinating to be among Greek people in a beautiful old theater. Even just the previews and ads are interesting. I'm sure with some more research we could have found an even cooler theater in Paris, but we were being spontaneous and it was right near our hotel.

For people looking for English language films in France, look out for "VO" in the listings and posters (= "Version Originale") - it indicates French subtitles with the original soundtrack.

This is important because dubbing is much more widespread in France, so it's much easier to be caught unawares. Dubbed films would be marked "VF" (version française).

Bear in mind, too, that films from third countries shown as "VO" will give you a double language lesson....

Sounds like a fab trip.
By the way, how was the Greece part?
:)
Congratulations.

Greece was lovely as well -- thanks for asking. If you click on 'pineco' you should be able to see my Greece trip report.

Pineco.....if you don't mind, I have a question about Air France and lost luggage. I'm wanting to take their nonstop from LAX-CDG, but worried about lost luggage. What airport(s) did you use getting to CDG from the US? Was it a simple non-stop or did your luggage have to change airports enroute?

We've traveled to Paris during different times of the year and I think October was the best. Great weather and great art exhibitions.And the Brittany oysters arrive - what fun in the brassaries!

Oh, one other thing. I've flown Air France direct from EWR to CDG - no problem with luggage. Also flew AF from EWR to CDG to Florence (with change at CDG) and also no luggage problem.

Congratulations pineco, you stayed in Paris that was my favorite hotel but alas the rates went up. I always suggest it to friends'children for their honeymoon . It'so intimate and quite.

We went to the movies twice by our hotel last month, and were automatically given the 'senior discount' rate! I decided not to be 'insulted' (still in the lower 50's)... :) We had ice cream bars, too!

Marthag -- we flew direct from San Francisco International Airport to CDG, though our ultimate destination was Athens. We had a short layover in CDG before heading to Athens. I believe the glitch was that our luggage made it to Paris, but then didn't make it to Athens. I fly at least five times a year, mostly domestically between SF and NY and have never had lost luggage. So I didn't even consider the possibility. Must say, it put a slight damper on things, though not a tragedy by any means. But in the future, if traveling to a far away destination for a while where I don't have family to easily lend me clothing, I will now pack a hefty carry on with several pairs of underwear/socks, toiletries and a few clean outfits. It was a bummer not having that stuff. At least half of our flight in Athens was in the same boat. And we traveled through Athens airport three different times in total and the lines at Air France (Swissport) lost luggage were always long with the same story of tons of ppl. not getting luggage and no word of its location?