| Page Views: 272 Last Visit to Paris: May, 2007 | Second time there just as good as the first by sirgaw - last update: Feb 25, 2008 |
Page and tips still under constructionIn 1990 we spent 6 great days in Paris and loved every minute of it. 2007 a return visit and covered some of the ground from our first visit and got in some new sights. As we regretted not getting to the Palace of Versailles or doing a Seine River cruise on our first Paris visit, these were top of our list for 2007. We visited the magnificent Muse d' Orsay as well as revisiting the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe and others.
Our accommodation was smaller than we had hoped for and we constantly had to negotiate with each other for space. In truth, the room was not much larger than the double bed - add one small bed side table, a small desk that doubled as the coffee making area, a tiny wardrobe (without a door - just a curtain), one chair and a suitcase holder and you get the message on the size. The bathroom was a bit more generous, but lacked a shower curtain, so having a shower meant getting the rest of the bathroom very wet. At least the hotel had a reasonably sized public lounge and courtyard area.
We choose an area in a back street and close to the Montparasse rail station as that station was to be our exit point to Bordeaux, a trip to the Chateaux de Versailles and for the metro station for tripping within Paris. The back streets had all we could want in the way of choices of cafes, restaurants, small shops and well-stocked supermarkets and all at reasonable non-tourist prices. Breakfast was in our room and we would buy enough bread - or better still baguettes - for both breakfast and pre-packed lunch. You can read a separate travel tip called "Save, save" for some ideas
Our first night in Paris was after a very long flight from Melbourne, Australia via Singapore and Dubai. Total travel time was about 34 hours from time of departure from our home to arrival at hotel - and yes we were tired after almost no sleep. We decided on a cheap meal and then our first cultural shock when we got to an internet cafe to let everyone know we'd arrived - the French computer keyboards. If you'd like to see what I mean go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout and scroll down to the Belgian keyboard. |
|  | The first day was a re-visit to the famous Notre Dame and a walk around the Isle de Cite. The city of Paris seemed to be on high alert with elections and most roads were blocked by ready-for-anything riot police - we hoped a couple of Aussie tourists posed no real threat. I had read in the National Geographic of a small park on the Isle de Cite, so we walked there and enjoyed a great view of the Seine. Returned to our hotel and found an inexpensive crepiery for dinner including cider with a mule kick.
Our previous Paris visit included the amazing Le Louvre. Although I would have liked a return visit - and particularly since the release of the "Da Vinci Code" book and film - it was suggested that we should chose to go to the Muse d' Orsay (see tip http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/cb9f9/18308/4/) - and well worth a day visit and I was glad I'd taken the time in the lead up to our trip to improve my fitness level by walking.
We decided to visit the Palace of Versailles on Friday, as we'd been advised that the palace and its grounds are packed at the weekends and particularly when there is a musical performance in the evenings. Earlier research showed that there was a great option of combining a rail ticket to Chantiers, entrance to the palace and audio guide (a must) - glad we did as the package did save money AND made entrance into the chateaux considerably quicker as we were able to use the group booking entrance (see tip and travelogue - Chateau de Versailles - needs at least 2 day visit). We finished our day in Chantiers at an Indian restaurant before returning on the train system back to Montparasse. |
| Birds eye view from the top |
| | Our last time in Paris we visited the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysees. Unfortunately that visit we were disoriented exiting the Metro station and could not find the pedestrian underpass leading to the Arc, so risking life and limb somehow managed to get across the 4 lanes of swirling traffic on foot - even Parisians thought we were crazy. Seventeen years later had taken their toll on our fitness levels and we were not going to repeat that performance - we found the underpass this time and again marvelled at the view from the top of one of the worlds most recognisable monuments (see tip).
We were invited to home cooked lunch by a friend of a relative, who lives in a Parisian outer suburb and the trip there meant 4 different trains (including Metro). When we arrived at Anthony Station we found our tickets would not let us exit the station. Our new friends came to our rescue and talked the station staff into opening the barricades for us. The first words from our contact, "You're not in Paris." We had mistakenly used zone 1 tickets, but my Aussie bush hat helped the turnstile click in our favour. We had a great meal and our first taste of horse meat and afterwards a short tour through the ultra-expensive suburb of Sceaux. The horse meat, well it tastes like steak and was served with Roquefort dressing and grilled vegetables - yummy, although I did commit a culinary fax pax - I tried to eat the barde (layer of bacon fat) used while cooking to keep the meat moist.
Last full day In Paris and a return to the fabulous Eiffel Tower (see tip) a must see feature of Paris. Then the trip we'd missed last visit - a Seine River cruise on one of the many tourist boats that ply the waters of the river. The bridges of Paris are just as impressive from the water line as they are from land.
It was a sad farewell to the city of lights and we hope to return for a third visit - next stop on the trip was to Bordeaux by ultra-fast TGV. |
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craic Fri Mar 14, 2008 19:02 UTC
lovely page - and i bet the van goths were barbaric | Nemorino Mon Sep 24, 2007 09:04 UTC
Glad to hear your second visit to Paris was just as good as the first. |
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