I love wandering round Paris on foot, because no matter where you're going, you can always find a fascinating route to take.

Favourite circuits of mine:
- down the rue de Montorgueil, past the Eglise st Eustache, behind Les Halles and onto rue Rambuteau, and then on into the Marais for wandering, shopping (especially Muji and the funky design stores), and takeaway falafel.
- up rue Mouffetard, onto place Monge, then to the Moorish tea shop at the Mosque, Jardin des plantes and then a stroll along the banks of the Seine through the sculpture garden and past the street artists, ending up opposite Notre Dame
- Montmartre, taking a wide loop from place des Abbesses up to the Sacré Coeur, through the secret garden behind, past the Montmartre vineyard and back to rue des Abbesses for a glass of wine.

Other favourite things about Paris?
- Bastille market on a Sunday morning.
- A trip to the Opera Bastille (yes, I prefer it to the Opera Garnier)
- Jazz at the Caveau des Oubliettes on rue Galande in the 5th
- Sunday lunch at Bofinger
- Omelette-frites at one of the cafés on rue des Abbesses

mclaurie! That was such a good movie and in the museum(house) there is a wonderful sculpture by Camille Claudel that is called The Wave and it has these tiny perfect women cast in bronze and there is this huge wave made of a stone that looks like water!! rising up above them, it is one of my favorite sculptures!
And The Kiss is corny on a postcard but very moving when you are standing right there in front of it, as well as the Thinker, sitting there in the garden, surrounded by roses..although in winter he will be a little cold
And Yes! the Pompidou has a great restaurant called Georges and the views are amazing, but you can get the same views just being on that floor of the museum, without spending quite a bit of money for lunch/dinner.
I wish I were going to France instead of stuck home packing~

Aaah, this is wonderful!! <i>These</i> responses are what make the board what it is and I thank you all for taking the time to reflect on your own trips and what has made them special. I'm cutting and pasting the thread to Word as it grows...well, sometimes just cutting , and it'll come with us to Paris where we <i>will</i> do your walks and see your sights for certain--(and maybe my husband won't grumble so much about my computer time in the future even--nah asking too much).

Contrary to an opinion expressed earlier in this thread, I've spent probably 15-20 hours here since booking this trip last week, (<i>that</i> was what I meant when I said &quot;I've read volumes here&quot; in the original post) pouring over threads, and it was here, with previously posted info from you all, that I learned the metro system (as well as copied off a 26 page reference guide from a link here), decided on mode of transport to and from the airport as well as around the city, decided which museum pass and which metro pass would be most beneficial, alerted myself to some of the problems and took precautions where I could (money belt ordered this weekend, and narrowing in on the waterproof shoes). I had an idea of the basic monuments/museums we had to see on this trip, and want to add to that what you all have found to be fantastic. Some replies confirm areas I'd already leaned toward (Ste Chapelle, Picasso--the progression of his work is fascinating I recall from an Art History class, as is Dali's, but I can do him to my heart's content here),and added more. Confusion seems to reign about yeah or nay for Montmartre and I'm afraid I'm still confused but feel I must see it anyway and decide for myself. What a resource this is! Lily I've been unable to find the thread 100 Best things to do in Paris. Tried variations on that with no luck.

Yes we are very very excited about going. It's something we've meant to do for ages, but out of college you are poor and starting a job, then next thing you know a family is on the way, then the kids are growing up and limited vacation time is spent visiting grandparents in opposite extremes of the US from where we lived, then the kids are in college and you are poor again, then there were weddings to be paid for, and low and behold...next thing you know, you are 60 and just now planning your first trip to Paris! Even this was so spur of the moment mclaurie...sitting around contemplating our first Christmas in 32 years with no &quot;children&quot; at home, we just decided this was the time, and far better to celebrate Christmas in Paris than the two of us sitting in front of our Christmas tree in unChristmasy Floriduh...it didn't sound like much fun!! We'll be with both our kids and their spouses for 10 days in the Grand Canyon and Sedona for Thanksgiving, so the other in-laws get them for Christmas. I <i>hate</i> sharing!! We are thrilled to be going and know that no matter what the weather, it'll be magical spending Christmas there. I am <i>excited</i>!

So thanks for the input so far and if there are others who would like to share your trip highlights, I am all ears. Thank you everyone for being so helpful!

OO I got teary eyed reading your last post. :'(

Did a search &amp; found 2 threads (out of tons)you might like. I think the 2nd one is what Lily was talking about.

Must see vs skippable
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34375535

100 great things to do in paris
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1277898

Don't forget about all the fab posts Degas has been making

Well, I love it when she slinks around that Vegas hotel room wearing nothing but a......oh, I'm sorry. I thought you meant Paris Hilton.

My actual favorite places in Paris are:
Rodin Museum

Ste-Chapelle

Walking in different neighborhoods and just experiencing the joy of being in Paris. It could be the Rue Cler in the early morning or the Marais later in the day. Paris never seems big to me, because each neighborhood is different than another.

Walking into a boulangerie on one of those walks and picking up a fresh ham and cheese sandwich.

I love a little restaurant in the 7th - Clos-des Gourmets - great food with nice owners at a reasonable price.

I have been to Paris often, and it never disappoints me. There is always something new to discover. Have a wonderful time.

Oh Maitai..........shame on you!

Also, something charming at Christmas is the ice rink at Hotel deVille. Very festive.

Sitting on a bench near the fountain after visiting St.Sulpice church, eating a lemon tart from Gerard Mulot just around the corner. Next time we will try to include the free organ concert on Sundays, I think.

Lunch at Laduree near Place Madeleine...elegant lady nearby delicately wielding knife and fork to cut sandwich.

...when one has survived the seemingly endless flight; found your luggage; found a suitable mode of transport into the City; found your hotel...they let you leave off your bags until you can check in - and outside you go! And you find a cafe. And you sit and order...and then - et voila... you're actually, safe and sound and the realty settles in... I'M IN PARIS! Its a wee-tiny moment - but its real to me!

Mclaurie, you said you love L'ile St-Louis and also mentioned Camille Claudel. That reminds me : I stayed the night of 1st AUG this year at a hotel on the &quot;main street&quot; of St-Louis. Sunday morning, I walked on the deserted streets of the ile. That was a sunny and cool morning. I found on the wall of a (private apartment) building a plate whicg said, Camille Claudel lived here, had her atlier here or both. I don't rememeber the exact words. I stood there for a minute or so and suddenly the door opened and a dark skinned man, possibly the concierge of the building came out. He saw me. He must have thought I was a tourist with a camera on my hand. I looked at him a bit hoping he would tell me to come inside take a look if I was interested. No such luck. But I did catch a glimpse, beyond the door, of a rather big sculpture in the middle of the small courtyard. I wonder if it was one of her works. The building was facing the &quot;rive droite&quot; side.

er .. um... reality not realty...

hmmm...tho, buying some realty in Paris isn't too bad a daydream !!! &lt;GRIN&gt;

that was a freudian slip of some sort

Hands down:

Crepes and Coissants!!! OH my GOSH.. I want some right now!
(oh Musee D'Orsay is pretty decent also....

What I love about Paris is that you see so many people kissing, hugging, embracing, oblivious to the world around them, not caring about what others may think or say. And of course, the french pastries... Also I'm amazed at some of the women, dressed and groomed to perfection. I turn and look as they walk away. Paris is a feast for the senses.

Picking up a banana, strawberry and whipped cream crepe at the little crepe stand at then Rue du Faubourg Montmartre and Boulevard Haussman, then eating it slowly as a I walk up the street past the Opera Garnier then up toward Galleries Lafayette.
Sublime.

Favorite things, let's see . . .

Twinkling lights on the Tour Eiffel.

Shoe shopping on the Rue de Rennes and Rue du Dragon.

Walking down the Rue St. Antoine (toward the Bastille) at twilight. The energy on that street at that time is amazing. People picking up roasting chickens and other things for dinner; people meeting after work for a drink, then kisses all around as they part; Maman calling out to her son who has run too far ahead; delightful!

Strolling from the Place de Breteuil towards Invalides after dark when the Dome is lit.

Daybreak on the Ile St. Louis, shopping for croissants as the man from the fish store gets his delivery and the woman from the flower shop washes down the sidewalk.

The extreme excitement that still overcomes me everytime I arrive in Paris. After 15+ visits it hasn't diminished a bit.

Well, now I'm totally homesick. Can you be homesick for a place that isn't home? Or maybe that's the point, to my heart, it is home. 7 weeks and counting!

Olive, posts like yours are heart warming;
I'm sure you'll love Paris and I wish you the best of trips, do check back with us when you return.
L'Espadon Bleu had the best sole I ever had; ;they called it Sole de Normandie but here in Montreal we call it Dover Sole....
I never made it to chez Fernand but passed by there all the time, we stayed at Relais Christine, we'll be back for sure.
The Italian place at that corner was decent.

Walk to the top of Notre Dame, the crowd will walk straight from one tower to the other. But stop and go into the Bellfry closest to the left bank (it is the only one you can access). As you walk along the slightly narrower walkway that leads to the closed door you'll see gargolyes up close that have been worn smooth by the wind that whistles between the two towers. As you enter the bellfry there is (I think her name is) Lucille- one of the grand bells of Notre Dame.

Oh yes and there is the first time you see a REAL French Bakery, the pastries all look like wax imitiations!

HEADING BACK IN APRIL WHEEEEE!!

Indeed everyone does speak English in Paris &quot;just a leetle bit&quot;
Favorite things - just about anything anywhere - I LOVE PARIS travel there at least 5x a year I have a friend there I visit often and honestly my favorite thing is sitting and people watching or just WALKING WALKING AND MORE WALKING
then the clubs check out Latina Cafe everything from Salsa, to R&amp;B, reggae, pop - its a cool crowd
HAVE FUN!!!!

OliveOyl, you mentioned &quot;Dali&quot; above, so maybe you'd be interested in the Dali exhibit that is just off Place du Tertre in Montmartre.

Espace Montmartre Salvador Dali
http://www.dali-espacemontmartre.com/hten/Page1.html

11, rue Poulbot, Espace Montmartre , 75018 Paris
Metro: Abbesses
Open Daily 10am - 6:30pm 7 &euro;