Breathtaking Tour Eiffel and other Paris, France Things to Do Tips

"I'm a man... the kind of man who built the Eiffel Tower out of steel and brawn." (Ron Burgundy)

This magnificent monument works on many levels. You see it all the time when you're walking in the city, but seeing it up close and then making your way up the elevators to the top is a great experience. During the day, it's nice. At night, it's spectacular. When the strobe lights go off around 22:00, it's a sight to behold. But, when you're at the top and the strobes go off, it's kind of unsettling... in a fun way.

I don't know how it would be in the busy Summer months, though. It was packed at the top when we went and it took about an hour to go the three levels. It also took forever to get back down. I'd suggest topping out at the 2nd level if the line to go to the top is outrageous.

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Address: Trocadero
Directions: You can't miss it!!!

We went in the afternoon the first time and were so frustrated with the tour groups and millions of people in the Louvre that we left after quickly seeing the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. It's so huge and overwhelming that it makes it that much more frustrating when there are hordes of tourists bumping into you.

So, I woke up early one morning and went straight to the site. I had to sprint with the other first-comers to Mona Lisa, but it was nice to have it almost to ourselves. After truly seeing the overrated little painting (there are 5 or more better paintings in the room it's hanging), I enjoyed the Grand Hallway practically alone. There are a bunch of Da Vincis in the main hallway as well as dozens of fantastic Italian Renaissance paintings. I also enjoyed the French Romanticism paintings and the historical ones, particularly the crowning of Josephine. Napoleon was one pompous dude, but he was merely following in the footsteps of the country's history. See Versailles and you'll see pomposity at it's best (worst?). There are also a couple of Michelangelos that give you a glimpse to perhaps the greatest sculptor of all-time, too.

Enjoy the Louvre... by getting there a step ahead of the pack of tour groups or risk being engulfed by them. And, stand your ground when they follow you. I stood in front of the Michelangelos while Japanese tourists shot photos of it. I could tell they were pissed that I was in their shot and the tour guide seemed to want me to move, too... but I have every right to enjoy the art as well.

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As with the Louvre, the Musee D'Orsay is best seen first thing in the morning. I was alone with Monet and Van Gogh for much of the time I was in there. I could really get up close and personal and enjoy the colors of the Monets and the long brush strokes of Van Gogh. I really enjoyed the Van Goghs - probably 'cause he was crazy. Impressionist art is abound here. Enjoy!

There are also some really great sculptures including the one by Camille Claudel. There's a young girl trying to hold on to an older man (her mentor and lover Rodin?) who is with an older woman. Appartently, she was the young girl. Rodin has a few in there, too, that shows his greatness.

What separates D'Orsay from the Louvre, however, is it's relatively compact size. It's manageable in a few hours and the wide open floorplan from being a transformed train station gives you the space needed to breathe when the hordes start piling in.

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Directions: Métro: line 12, Solférino station; RER: line C, Musée d'Orsay station
Website: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/

Notre Dame is the central point of Paris. You'll find yourself walking by it time and again. Oddly, you'll be using it as merely a reference point by the third day... but when you first come up to it and see it's grandeur, it's awesome. Climb the stairway to the top and see Paris through the eyes of the gargoyles. It's spectacular.

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Address: Ile de la Cité

Approaching Centres Pompidou, you'll immediately notice the huge structure sticking out like a sore thumb. After seeing the Louvre and D'Orsay and being in the old city, the blue and red spaceship-like Centres Pompidou will either be unsettling to you or be a fresh look at Paris going forward into the 21st century. Admittedly, I was not keen on seeing Modern Art in such a classical city, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I actually enjoyed it. Picasso is a headliner, but there was plenty of good modern art that worked for me. I don't really like Modern Art, so this was a surprise. Yes, there was the head-scratching is-this-art? stuff but the good work more than made up for it. And, the structure is interesting on its own, going up the glass bubble elevators is a unique experience in the City of Lights. Best of all, after climbing stairway after stairway, you'll appreciate not having to use your leg muscles.

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Walking through the underground tunnel and coming out to see the Arc de Triomphe lit up in the evening is an exhilerating feeling. You're in the middle of a busy street while cars whizz by. You must climb the stairs to the roof of the Arc to see the City of Lights from the eyes of the monument. You won't be disappointed.

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Address: Place Charles-de-Gaulle Etoile
Directions: Metro Line 1, 2, RER A : Charles-de-Gaulle Etoile

I thought Champs Elysee was going to be stuffy like Rodeo Drive in my hometown, but it was nothing like that. Well, it could've been 'cause there were expensive shops such as Louis Vuitton and the like, but unlike Rodeo Drive there was a mix of shops and dining for the rich and the not-so-rich. I liked the Celio shop (men's clothing) and the ginormous Virgin Megastore (note: PSP videos don't work on US hardware and DVDs don't either, unless noted. There's a tiny "import" section of DVDs that will work in US machines, but they're expensive so why bother?) As for food, I had a sandwich at Au Pain once and actually had a burger and fries at the Quick Burger another time. It's a McDonald's knockoff, but we were starving. Oddly, once you walk in the smallish storefront you'll find a huge dining area inside which was quite pleasant. The Peugot store was cool, too. You can get some Hot Wheel-style cars for 2 Euros as an inexpensive gift.

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Address: Look for the Arc and all the people

Sacre Coeur is a Baroque masterpiece with a colorful dome inside and great architecture. The white church is located at the highest point in Paris and has a nice view of the city, although it was too cloudy to appreciate it the day I was there. Located in artsy Montmartre, a trip to Sacre Coeur followed by a stroll through the streets of Montmatre makes for a pleasant couple of hours. Eat a snack or get a coffee at one of the cafes in Place du Tetre where a bunch of artists hang out. Renoir, Picasso and Van Gogh were all said to have lived and worked in this area. Find their ghosts.

If you're too tired to climb the steps in front of Sacre Coeur, find the Funicular - a cool tram that takes you up to the top. If you just got off the Metro or a bus, you can reuse the ticket for the Funicular. I thought it was quite cool, so I took it.

Moulin Rouge is also near here, but further down the hills in the seedier area. The cool windmill and pictures of dancing girls are kind of neat. Besides, it's right near the Metro stop.

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Directions: In Montmartre. Look up.
Website: http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/

On the 2nd floor of this cathedral you'll walk into the most fantastic room of stained glass windows in Paris. Since it's much smaller than Notre Dame, the windows are basically all stained glass. I wish there was more sunlight passing through them, but at least there was enough for me to get how dramatic an effect it has. Very colorful and powerful. I don't know how churchgoers could sit there, though, when it was really sunny. They'd have to have worn sunglasses... which they didn't have back then.

I was happy I brought my mini-binoculars. If you have some, take them. You'll be able to see the intricate details of the windows that are way too high for the naked eye. The gothic arches go up, up and away.

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Phone: 01 53 73 78 50
Address: Boulevard du Palais
Directions: Sainte-Chapelle is inside the Palais of Justice on Ile de le Cité-- a few minute walk from Notre Dame. Métro : Cité, Staint-Michel, or Châtelet. RER: Chatelet -Les-Halles, Saint-Michel
Website: http://www.pbase.com/francist/chap&page=all

I don't know if pomposity is even a word, but walking through the palace of Versailles makes you think that it wouldn't matter to the French royals who built and lived in this egomaniacal place of self-worship. Louis Quatorze wanted to show off the grandeur of France and of himself and he did not disappoint. This thing is absolutely gaudy in every facet of the word. From the statue of him on a horse out front to the numerous paintings of him and his successors stomping all over everyone else to the continuation of the pomposity by Napoleon after they'd revolted, Versailles is every egomaniac's dream home. The main hall is spectacular and rivaled the beautiful palaces in Italy. But, the theme wasn't religious... it was all about Louis and his family. There's Louis conquering Europe as illustrated by a paining of him killing evil enemies with a disdained look on his face. There's painting of someone kissing the hand of a royal (same disdained look). No wonder they overthrew these guys.

Of course, Napoleon continued this disdainment of commoners when he took over years later. The painting of the crowning of Josephine (his wife) is classic egotism. (The better painting of this scene, however, is in the Louvre). Still, you get the point. I love myself. No one is greater than me. I am the ruler of the world!!!

The gardens is surreal as well. It goes on and on and on and on and on. My recommendation would be to see the main hall and some of the gardens, maybe down to the Grand Canal. But to continue on (as we did) to see the Trition area in what seemed like another country is overkill. Although nice, the country homes (as if they needed it) of the royals is way too far of a walk and not really worth it. The gardener's garden (as I like to call it) is so far you think you've exited France altogether.

Versailles, if limiting your scope (similar to how there's no way you can see the Louvre in one trip) is a worthwhile endeavor.

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