CHAMPS-ELYSEES..FIVE STAR DREAMING and other Paris, France Things to Do Tips

WHEN IN PARIS THE CHAMPS ELYSEES HAS TO BE HIGH ON YOUR LIST OF MUST DO'S. WITH THE ARC DE TRIOMPHE AT ITS SUMMIT THE CHAMPS ELYSEES IS ONE OF THE GREAT AVENUES OF THE WORLD AND A REAL FEAST FOR THE EYES..AND THE CREDIT CARDS.
FIRST CALLED THE GRAND COURS OR GREAT WAY IT WAS LATER RENAMED CHAMPS ELYSEES.
THIS WIDE TREE LINED AVENUE IS ALSO USED FOR MILATRY PARADES AND NOT FORGETTING THE FINISHING LINE FOR THE TOUR DE FRANCE. HERE ON THE AVENUE ALL THE MAJOR FASHION STORES HAVE OUTLETS SUCH AS GUCCI..LOUIS VUITTON AND PRADA TO NAME BUT A FEW.
THERE IS ALSO A MASSIVE VIRGIN MEGASTORE AND NIKE STORE PLUS A BRAND NEW ADIDAS PERFORMANCE STORE.. BUT ONE OF MY FAVOURITES IS A TRAVEL AGENTS WHICH HAS A GIANT AQUARIUM..A MUST SEE. IF YOUR FEELING PECKISH AND DONT WANT TO PAY BIG BUCKS TO HAVE LUNCH ON THE AVENUE YOU COULD TRY A GOOD OLD MACDONALDS.. THIS IS THE ONLY MACDONALDS IN THE WORLD WHERE THE FAMOUS GOLDEN ARCHES ARE WHITE.. SO WHEN IN PARIS MAKE SURE YOU TAKE A STROLL DOWN THIS LOVELY AVENUE AND DO A LITTLE FIVE STAR SHOPPING...OR IF YOURE LIKE MYSELF A LITTLE FIVE STAR DREAMING....HAVE FUN.

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Address: CHAMPS-ELYSEES.
Directions: TAKE METRO TO CHARLES DE GAULLE ETOILE COME OUT AT THE ARC DE TRIOMPHE AND WALK DOWN ONE SIDE AND UP THE OTHER.

THE CHAMPS ELYESSES IS PROBABLY THE BEST KNOWN SHOPPING AVENUE IN PARIS, BUT JUST RUNNING OFF IT IS AVENUE MONTAIGNE. HERE YOU WILL FIND ALL THE LUXURY FASHION HOUSES THAT PARIS HAS TO OFFER... EVEN IF YOUR LIKE MYSELF AND DONT HAVE THOUSANDS OF POUNDS TO SPEND ON TOP OF THE RANGE SHOES AND SUITS IT IS STILL NICE TO TAKE A WALK DOWN THE AVENUE AND DO A LITTLE WINDOW SHOPPING AND WONDER TO YOURSELF WHAT YOU WOULD DO WITH A TWO THOUSAND POUND PAIR OF SHOES...STILL ITS NICE TO LOOK INTO THE WORLD OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS AND DREAM A LITTLE.
SHOPS HERE INCLUDE ..JIMMY CHOO..PRADA..GUCCI..NINA RICCI..AND VALENTINO.
AND THE HOTEL PLAZA ATHENEE IS ALSO HERE, THIS HOTEL FEATURED IN THE TV SHOW SEX AND THE CITY. THIS IS WHERE CARRIE STAYED WHILE SHE WAS IN PARIS...LUCKY GIRL.

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Directions: JUST OFF THE CHAMPS ELYSEES.
OR USE METRO ALMA MARCEAU.

BEEN TO NOTRE DAME QUITE A FEW TIMES ON OUR VISITS TO PARIS, SHOULD IT BE TO LOOK INSIDE OR JUST PASSING, BUT SOMETHING WE NEVER GOT AROUND TO WAS CLIMBING THE TOWERS. SO WE GAVE IT A GO, THIS IS HOW WE GOT ON...THE QUEUE TO CLIMB THE TOWERS IS TO THE LEFT OF THE CATHEDRAL AS YOU LOOK AT IT, FROM HERE YOU START YOUR CLIMB TO THE TOP. THE WINDING STAIRCASE TAKES YOU UP TO YOU REACH YOUR FIRST STOP..THE GIFT SHOP. FROM HERE YOU CLIMB SOME MORE THEN YOU COME OUT ONTO THE CHIMERAS GALLERY AND YOUR FIRST REAL VIEW OUT OVER PARIS, AT THIS POINT YOU ARE SOME 46 METRES OFF THE GROUND. THIS IS A GOOD SPOT TO TAKE SOME PICTURES OF THE PARIS SKYLINE AND NOT FORGETTING THE FAMOUS GARGOYLE'S. FROM HERE YOU MAKE YOUR WAY ROUND INTO THE BELFRY OF THE SOUTH TOWER. HERE A WOODEN STAIRCASE LEADS YOU TO THE GREAT BELL. THIS MONSTER WEIGHS IN AT 13 TONNES. THE BELFRY IS MADE OF WOOD SO THAT IT CAN ABSORB THE SOUND OF THE GREAT BELL, AS THE VIBRATIONS WOULD CRACK AND DESTROY IT IF IT WAS MADE OF STONE.
FROM HERE IT IS UP MORE WINDING STEPS TO THE TOP OF THE SOUTH TOWER AND THE BEST VIEWS OF THE SEINE AND ITS MANY BRIDGES. ANOTHER PERFECT SPOT TO GET THAT ALL IMPORTANT SNAP. WHEN YOU ARE UP HERE YOU MAY HAVE TO WAIT A BIT TO GET BACK DOWN AS YOU USE THE SAME STEPS TO GO DOWN AS YOU DID TO COME UP. BUT THAT SAID YOU NEVER WAIT THAT LONG PLUS YOU HAVE THOSE GREAT VIEWS TO KEEP YOU BUSY AND THE FEELING THAT IT WAS WORTH ALL THOSE 422 STEPS TO GET THERE. ENJOY.

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Address: Place du parvis de Notre Dame , 75004
Directions: Métro: Cité; RER: Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint Michel-Notre Dame

WHEN YOU COME TO PARIS, ONE THING YOU WILL DO A LOT OF IS WALKING..
SEEING ALL THE WONDERFUL SIGHTS OF PARIS CAN BE HARD ON THE OLD FEET.. SO WHEN YOU NEED TO REST UP I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER PLACE THAN "SQUARE DU VERT GALANT"
SET ON THE VERY POINT OF ILE DE LA CITE, THIS LITTLE OASIS OF PEACE IS THE PERFECT SPOT TO REST UP AND CATCH YOUR BREATH..
WE FOUND THIS TO BE A LOVELY SETTING JUST TO SIT AND WATCH THE WORLD GO BY..AND WITH THE SEINE FLOWING LAZILY BY YOU REALLY DO HAVE REMIND YOURSELF THAT YOUR IN THE VERY HEART OF THE CITY.
IF LIKE THE DAY WE WENT AND ITS A LOVELY SUNNY DAY THIS LITTLE PARK MAKES THE PERFECT SPOT FOR A PICNIC.. OR JUST TO READ YOUR BOOK.
THEN WHEN YOUR READY TO HIT THE SIGHTS AGAIN BOTH THE LATIN QUARTER AND THE LOUVRE ARE ALL WITHIN EASY REACH.... PERFECTION !
SO FOR THE PICTURE PERFECT PLACE TO PARK YOUR FEET...
THIS ONES HARD TO BEAT !!!

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Address: ILE DE A CITE
Directions: METRO CITE OR PONT NEUF.

WHEN IN PARIS MAKE SURE YOU TAKE A WALK ALONG THE WONDERFULL PROMENADE PLANTEE... MEANING "PLANTED STROLL" THIS UNUSED RAILWAY LINE HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A 4.5KM ELEVATED PARK HIGH ABOVE THE BUSY PARIS STREETS.
THE PARK RUNS FROM OPERA BASTILLE TO BOIS DE VINCENNES AND IS A REAL JOY JUST TO STROLL ALONG AND ENJOY THE PEACE AND QUIET RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE CITY !!
AS YOU WALK ALONG YOU CAN ADMIRE BOTH THE PLANTS AND TREE'S OF THE PARK AND ALSO THE LOVELY APARTMENTS THAT OVERLOOK IT...SOME EVEN HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO THE PARK.
I FOUND MYSELF DREAMING OF LIVING IN ONE AND BEING ABLE TO WALK IN THIS WONDERFUL PARK EVERY DAY !!! AWW THE SPELL PARIS CASTS.
ALSO AS YOU WALK DONT MISS THE STUNNING ART DECO POLICE STATION..YOU WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM SPOTTING IT AS IT HAS 12 HUGE MARBLE TORSOS !!
BENEATH THE PARK ON AV DAUMESNIL THE OLD DISUSED RAILWAY VIADUCT HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO A SHOPPING AREA..THIS AREA IS KNOWN AS "VIADUCT DES ARTS" THE ARCHES OF THE OLD VIADUCT HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO TRENDY SHOPS AND CAFE'S.. HERE YOU WILL FIND VERY UPMARKET ART AND CRAFT SHOPS.... THIS WHOLE 1.5K SECTION IS A JOY TO WALK ALONG AS THE SHOPS AND CAFE'S BLEND PERFECTLY WITH THE ORIGINAL STONEWORK OF THE OLD 19TH CENTURY VIADUCT.
ALL IN ALL I THINK BOTH THE PARK AND THE VIADUCT DES ARTS ARE NOT TO BE MISSED ON YOUR TRIP TO PARIS..
AT THE MOMENT PROMENADE PLANTEE IS THE ONLY ELEVATED PARK IN THE WORLD.

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Directions: YOU CAN USE EITHER METRO STATION GARE DE LYON OR DAUMESNIL.

WHEN YOU ARE VISITING THE "VIADUCT DES ARTS" MAKE SURE YOU DONT MISS THE ART DECO POLICE STATION... THIS HAS TO BE THE COOLEST POLICE STATION IN THE WORLD !
SITTING ON THE CORNER OF AV DAUMESNIL AND RUE DE RAMBOUILLET, THIS STUNNING BUILDING HAS TWELVE HUGE MARBLE TORSOS SITTING ON ITS ROOF.
THESE ARE REPRODUCTIONS OF MICHAELANGELOS "THE DYING SLAVE"
I FOUND THE BEST PLACE TO GET A PHOTO WAS FROM THE GARDENS OF PROMENADE PLANTEE.

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Directions: SERVED BY METRO STATIONS GARE DE LYON AND DAUMESNIL

SOUNDED A BIT STRANGE TO VISIT A CEMETRY WHEN YOUR ON A CITY BREAK, BUT I HAVE TO SAY I FIND THIS PLACE VERY INTERESTING AND HAVE MADE ABOUT THREE VISITS TO IT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. PERE LACHAISE IS THE BURYING GROUND OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS AND AMONG THE 800.000 BURIED HERE YES 800.000 ARE THE LIKES OF OSCAR WILDE, CHOPIN, AND THE ROCK STAR JIM MORRISON..TO NAME BUT A FEW.
MANY OF THOSE BURIED HAVE TOMBS AS BIG AS SMALL HOUSES AND REALLY HAVE TO BE SEEN TO BELIEVED. AS I SAID I ENJOY THE WALK AROUND THIS CEMETRY AND A REAL INSIGHT TO HOW THE OTHER HALF DIE... SORRY BAD JOKE.. THERE ARE FIVE ENTRANCES INTO THE CEMETRY, THE ONE WE USED WAS ON BLD DE MENILMONTANT RIGHT WHERE WE CAME OFF THE METRO.
THERE IS A PLAN OF THE CEMETRY AS YOU COME IN, OR DO AS WE DID AND BUY A MAP FROM A MAN AS YOU GO IN..TAKE IT FROM ME YOU WILL NEED ONE AS THIS PLACE IS HUGE AND THE CHANCES OF FINDING A PARTICULAR GRAVE WITHOUT A MAP IS ABOUT NIL. MAKE SURE THAT YOU WEAR A COMFORTABLE PAIR OF FLAT SHOES AS THE COBBLES CAN BE A BIT SORE ON THE FEET. ENTRANCE TO THE CEMETRY IS FREE. WHEN WE WENT IN JANUARY THE OPENING TIMES WERE 8.30-5.30 MON TO FRI AND 9AM-5.30 SAT AND SUNDAY. THESE TIMES RUN FROM NOVEMBER TO MARCH.. TIMES CHANGE SLIGHTLY THE REST OF THE YEAR.

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Directions: WE USED THE METRO TO REACH IT GETTING OFF AT METRO PERE LACHAISE.

FRANCOIS EUGENE VIDOCQ (1775-1857) WAS A MAN VERY FAMOUS IN PARIS, BUT LITTLE KNOWN OUTSIDE OF FRANCE.
WHAT MADE VIDOCQ FAMOUS WAS THE FACT THAT HE WAS A MASTER BURGLAR WHO LATER TURNED TO BE CHIEF OF DETECTIVES.
HE WAS THE FIRST UNDERCOVER DETECTIVE AND CREATED THE FIRST MODERN DETECTIVE AGENCY.
HE IS CREDITED WITH INTRODUCING RECORD KEEPING (CARD INDEX SYSTEM)
AS WELL AS THE SCIENCE OF BALLISTICS INTO POLICE WORK.. PLUS HE WAS THE FIRST TO MAKE PLASTER OF PARIS CASTS OF FOOT AND SHOE IMPRESSIONS.
VIDOCQ WAS ALSO A MASTER OF DISGUISE AND SURVEILLANCE.. HE WAS SO GOOD AT THIS THAT HE WAS ONCE HIRED TO KILL HIMSELF !!
WHEN CONAN DOYLE CREATED SHERLOCK HOLMES HE BASED HIM ON VIDOCQ..
VIDOCQ ALSO GOT A MENTION IN DICKENS "GREAT EXPECTATIONS"
SO WHEN YOU ARE OUT WALKING AROUND PARIS AND YOU FIND YOURSELF AT THE LOVELY PASSAGE VIVIENNE PAUSE AS YOU WALK IN AND LOOK UP THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE TO YOUR LEFT, UP THERE AT NUMBER 13 IS WHERE VIDOCQ LIVED.
A LITTLE OUT OF THE WAY PLACE FROM WHERE A ONE TIME MASTER BURGLAR WAS TO CHANGE THE WAY POLICE WORK WAS DONE FOREVER.

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Directions: METRO BOURSE
DOWN R VIVIENNE AND INTO PASSAGE VIVIENNE.

WHEN YOU'RE IN PARIS MAKE SURE YOU VISIT THE MARAIS AREA OF THE CITY.
MARAIS IN FRENCH MEANS (SWAMP OR MARSH) BUT DONT WORRY YOU WONT FIND ANY OF THESE, WHAT YOU WILL FIND IS A VERY NICE AREA TO STROLL THROUGH DO A LITTLE SHOPPING OR HAVE A QUIET COFFEE. THIS AREA HAS BECOME A VERY TRENDY PLACE TO LIVE AND YOU CAN SEE WHY. WE CAME ACROSS PLACE DES VOSGES QUITE BY CHANCE AND WHAT A FIND IT WAS. THIS IS A VERY PICTURE PERFECT SQUARE FILLED WITH ART AND ANTIQUE SHOPS AND SOME VERY NICE PLACES TO HAVE THAT COFFEE OR A LITTLE MORE IF THE MOOD TAKES YOU, BUT BE WARNED IT ISNT CHEAP HERE, BUT HAVE A COFFEE REST THOSE FEET AND TAKE IN THE VIEWS OF THIS SQUARE AND DO A LITTLE PEOPLE WATCHING WHILE YOUR AT IT.
ALSO IN THE SQUARE IS THE HOME OF VICTOR HUGO, IT IS POSSIBLE TO VIEW HIS APARTMENT(VICTOR HUGO HOUSE) PRICES ARE 7.50 EURO FOR ADULTS UNDER 14 FREE. ITS OPEN FROM 10AM-6PM TUE-SUN. SO IF YOUR IN THE AREA MAKE SURE YOU VISIT PLACE DES VOSGES ITS THE PERFECT PLACE TO CHILL AND A VERY PRETTY ONE AT THAT.

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Directions: WALK FROM NOTRE DAME LIKE WE DID OR TAKE THE METRO TO EITHER ST-PAUL OR BASTILLE.

WHEN MY WIFE AND I WERE ON ONE OF OUR MANY WALKS AROUND PARIS WE CAME ACROSS THIS STUNNING ART DECO DOORWAY..
IM NOT SURE OF THE HISTORY BEHIND IT OR EVEN WHAT THE BUILDING ITS ON IS USED FOR, BUT THE IVE NEVER SEEN A DOORWAY QUITE LIKE IT IN PARIS OR ANYWHERE ELSE.
ITS QUITE CLOSE TO THE EIFFEL TOWER ON AVENUE RAPP SO IF YOUR IN THE AREA MAKE SURE YOU DONT MISS THIS STUNNING WORK OF ART.

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Address: AVENUE RAPP
Directions: ON AVENUE RAPP CLOSE TO THE EIFFEL TOWER.