Paris Things to Do Tips by lmkluque

Compagnie des Bateaux Mouches Bateaux Mouches Review

I have been on submarines, nuclear and not, battle ships, aircraft carriers, ferries, harbor cruises and even sail boats, but none of these was as exciting nor offered the beautiful scenery as my trip down La Seine on a Bateaux Mouches!

When visiting Paris you absolutely must take a cruise down the "Grande Rue" of Paris, La Seine! This is a relxing way of experiencing the city. Many sites, famous and not so famous come into view, creating a desire to see more and more of Paris.

One sight I did not expect was a miniature Statue of Liberty looming up out of the waters of la Seine!

Fondest Memory of Paris:

The Islands in the middle are connected to the main land on either side by beautiful old bridges. Later I went back to the Seine, I crossed many of those bridges and though I got lost several times I never felt anything but awed at the things I saw.

There were bookstores, outdoor cafes, guards standing at attention, refreshing fountains and parks to rest in, old and beautiful buildings, people strolling along the quay and a great little restaurant that I stop to have lunch at.

Later I found out the names of some of the places I had been to such as the "Left Bank" in the Latin Quarter and other places, such as the restaurant, I never did get the name of. I wish for you such unforgettable experiences!

Address: Pont de l'Alma Rive droite, 75008 Paris

Other Contact: info@bateaux-mouches.fr*

Phone: (33) 1 42 25 96 10

Website: http://www.bateaux-mouches.fr/en

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur Montmartre - Sacré Coeur Review

Basilique du Sacre Coeur is one of the most recognized Catholic churches in the world. It is located high on the butte Montmartre of Paris and there are at least one hundred steps to get there from the Metro stop.

Most people forget that Sacre Coeur is a beautiful place for Catholics to worship and their purpose for making the journey is the spectacular panoramic view of Paris, also they come to see the famous artistic area known as Montmartre.

Climb the steps to Sacre Coure, and when you do, thank God you survived the ascent and for the breathtaking view of Paris.

Fondest Memory of Paris:

Finding out (before the ascent,) that I didn’t have to climb one hundred steps to see Sacre Coure. I could simply ride up in a Funiculaire!

Address: 35, Rue du Chevalier de la Baqrre, 75018

Directions: Metro stop: Jules Joffrin + Montmartrobus (stop "place du Tertre") Pigalle + Montmartrobus (stop "Norvins") Anvers - Abbesses + Funiculaire

Website: http://sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/us/index.html

Cafe Cloisier Des Lilas! Literary Paris Review

When visiting Paris you absolutely must ride the Metro in search of your image of this most romantic city!

I did and found many surprises along the way; learning to use the Metro, learning to get lost, and encountering beautiful streets that I would not normally have seen.

Fondest Memory of Paris:

On my first visit to Paris I wanted to find the bars in which great "expat" American writers hung-out together during the early part of the twentieth century.

I spent a day on the Metro searching and covered at least a quarter of Paris.

I found Le Select, and Le Dome. two of Hemmingway’s celebrated haunts, but felt too nervous to enter either establishment. I was alone you see, and wasn’t sure if it would be appropriate for a woman to enter without an escort--something about the outside of each place unsettled my nerves. (Later, I read in a guide book that both were quite respectable places! So much for my instincts.)

When I reported to my friends that my search was a flop, they took pity on me and introduced me to Cloisier des Lilas. They showed me the very place Hemmingway sat, creating some of his famous works. His own flat was too cold in the winter to work so, he borrowed the warmth of Cloisier des Lilas.

This French brasserie opened in 1847 and from the beginning attracted literati and artists. Of course, now, as it seems so upscale and I wouldn't expect it to be a place to attract the impoverished writer to sit just near the pillar all day writing the great "American novel" on scraps of paper.

However, it seems that I was wrong. The hopeful writer is still drawn to this place. Walking in the steps, or in this case, drinking at the table of the great writers of our world might help to pop out another classical novel.

Address: 171, Boulevard du Montparnasse, 75006

Directions: Located on the corner of Boulevard du Montparnasse, and Boulevard St. Michel next to the rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs, and the Avenue de l'Observatoire.

Phone: 01.40.51.34.50

Website: http://www.closeriedeslilas.fr/

See All You Can See! Place de la Concorde Review

You must see everything possible in the time you have to spend in Paris. Here we are at the Place de la Concorde. Behind us you can see Hotel Crillon, on our right is a direct line of site to the Arc de Triomphe, on our left is the Jardin Tuleries and in front of us is the River Seine. Imagine, everywhere I went there was something beautiful, famous or historical to see.

Hotel de Crillon is located at Place de la Concorde and has an interesting history from 1775 when the architect Louis Troud completed the project until 1909 when the Mansion was combined with adjacent buildings to create the largest and most luxurious Palace in Paris. The hotel was once owned by the Count of Crillon, who lent his name.

Prices for a room or suite of rooms begins at 490 Euros and moves upwards to 1250 Euros for a night's stay. Of course, this includes, buffet breakfast, a box of homemade chocolates, a bottle of champagne, flowers and daily newspapers.

I didn't include this in the Accommodation section because I believe that most people who could afford spending the night at Hotel de Crillon, wouldn't be looking on travel sites for a place to stay.

However, this is the perfect place for those of us who, sometimes have an opulent dream and would think it reasonable, to save up for and splurge on such a luxurious experience.

Can you see in the photo I'm thinking, "When I win the lottery I'll come here to stay and invite my friends for lunch in The Patio, Tea in the Winter Garden, dinner at Le Ambassardeurs Restaurant or cocktails in Bar le Crillon!" I am very generous in my dreams.

The best of my dream of Paris was that I was included in all I saw!

Address: %10, Place de la Concorde: 75008

Phone: 011 33 1 57 00 50 00

Website: http://www.crillon.com/

Grand Boulevards and Architectural Feast Grand Boulevards Review

Paris deserves every extravagantly enthusiastic opinion or review given it. I realize that some people may have a negative comment or two, but I disregard any disparaging remark. An ordinary walk down almost every street is enchanting.

While in Paris there were several times that I was on my own, usually searching out something that I needed or wanted to find. Each jaunt was filled with unexpected pleasures.

As I waited for friends to pick me up after work, at the hotel which my granddaughter and her mother stayed in, I wanted to get something to eat. It was about three in the afternoon and the hotel's restaurant was no longer serving, so I went out to in search of a meal. It turned out to be a difficult task, because too many cafes and restaurants also didn't serve between lunch and dinner hours.

However, along the way, I saw markets with fresh fruits and vegetables displayed on sidewalk tables, bakeries offering bread I couldn't get at home, as well as deli's full of meats and chesses. Of course, I noticed all these, especially, because I was hungry. I did find one cafe open for business and stopped there. No luck! They weren't serving either. I was given and esspresso and enjoyed watching the people walking past.

On other searches I found interesting bookstores, walked past heavily guarded palaces, through beautifully trimmed parks, along the quay beside Le Siene, over ornately decorated bridges, and everywhere, there were narrow streets, wide boulevards, and buildings of the most impressive design. Later, I found out the import of what I had seen and where I had been, but at the time it didn’t matter, I simply enjoyed. Had I known the name of those places I might have missed the surrounding beauty.

Over the years I had heard of "Quartier Pigalle." It's a bad area that should be avoided. I ended up there several times, including during the late evening and thought it was safe enough. Though an older part of the city, it was actually charming, especially when I thought of all the great artist who had lived here over the years developing their craft..

We can rattle off the "must see" sites of Paris and each one has it's charm, but just a casual stroll around the city will seduce any romantic soul. Treat yourself to a stroll.

Address: Any of the fabulous streets of Paris!%c

Jardin des Tuileries Jardin des Tuileries Review

This is a rare view of the Tuileries Garden. The picture isn't a joke.

It isn't SNOW, it's DIRT!

The Jardin des Tuileries was under reconstruction when I was there last and all the plants were gone. The few trees left had no leaves. I was so happy to be in Paris again that I didn't notice all this until my film was devloped at home!

We walked around, took pictures and found a popular restaurant that had walls of glass. We ate a nice lunch, while viewing the activity outside in the "garden."

After lunch we went over to the rue de Rivoli looking for a bookshop that would have an American book written in French, as a gift for a Belgian friend. It seemed that while much of my time in Paris was spent in search of one thing, it was filled with many surprises, more than I would ever have expected.

Address: Place du Louvre

Directions: Metro: Tuileries,Concorde

Website: http://www.louvre.fr