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If you were to stay for two days in Paris...

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If you were to stay for two days in Paris...

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Old Jun 5th 2003, 4:33 pm
  #1  
Patrick V .
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Default If you were to stay for two days in Paris...

Let's say you will have the opportunity to stay in Paris for two days
and this will be your first time there.

What places would you visit?
what would you do in order to get the best out of that visit?
In general, what would your schedule be?

Patrick
 
Old Jun 5th 2003, 6:40 pm
  #2  
Mike Jacoubowsky
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Default Re: If you were to stay for two days in Paris...

    > Let's say you will have the opportunity to stay in Paris for two days
    > and this will be your first time there.
    > What places would you visit?
    > what would you do in order to get the best out of that visit?
    > In general, what would your schedule be?

Patrick: Just two days in Paris?

#1: Stay away from the Louvre. It's the ultimate time-toilet, and deserves
a minimum of half a day all to itself (preferably more, possibly spread out
over several days).

#2: You gotta do the Eiffel Tower, unless you're sure you're going back
again soon. ESPECIALLY if it's a clear day. If you're scared off when you
see outrageously-long lines, those are invariably for the elevator that
starts at the very bottom. If you walk up the first two flights (quite a
walk, by the way), the lines for the elevators that go to the very top are
typically pretty short. Late evenings, by the way, are excellent times to
avoid long lines, and the night views are spectacular.

#3: Rodin, Monet or Picasso? Choose one and visit the relevant museum.
You won't be sorry.

#4: Take one of the "Red Bus" tours. Costs $24 for one day and does a loop
through a good chunk of the city, allowing you to exit the bus and catch
another when you wish (they run about every 20 minutes or so). Great way to
get an overview of things. On your second trip to Paris you'll skip the
organized tour bus in favor of mastering the Metro!

#5: A cruise on the River Seine is a nice way to cool your heels from all
the walking and take in the sights from the river.

#6: People watching on the Champ Elysees can be fun, and if you're into
shopping, it's an interesting place to start (although it's not the center
of Paris fashion by any means). If you're out late at night, you won't be
alone... the Champ Elysees is an incredibly busy sea of humanity until
sometime past midnight.

#7: Walk a neighborhood. I found Fodor's Paris to be a pretty decent
guidebook for the various areas, but don't worry much about having a
destination per se. There's something interesting everywhere.

Hope this helps-

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com


"Patrick V." wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Let's say you will have the opportunity to stay in Paris for two days
    > and this will be your first time there.
    > What places would you visit?
    > what would you do in order to get the best out of that visit?
    > In general, what would your schedule be?
    > Patrick
 
Old Jun 5th 2003, 9:03 pm
  #3  
Mxsmanic
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Default Re: If you were to stay for two days in Paris...

Patrick V. writes:

    > What places would you visit?

That depends a lot on individual preference, but the Eiffel Tower and
Notre-Dame are very popular. The Louvre is nice but takes too long to
see. Montmartre and Sacré-C½ur are very scenic, particularly in nice
weather. The Champs-Élysées is good for window shopping and people
watching. A boat ride is relaxing and scenic.

About the only sure thing that you'll get from a two-day visit, though,
is frustration from not having stayed a lot longer.


--
Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.
 
Old Jun 6th 2003, 3:02 am
  #4  
Cb
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Default Re: If you were to stay for two days in Paris...

Unlike the other posters, I would NOT discourage you from spending, say,
half a day at the Louvre. What I would do is get up very early before it
opens, wait in line and get in before the crowds arrive. In half a day, you
should be able to cover the most "popular" attractions like the Mona Lisa,
Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace and the like, and it would still
be memorable. However, as an alternative, I would go to the Musee d'Orsay,
not too far from the Louvre across the Seine. This is a much much smaller
place and you can easily wrap your arms around it, not to mention that it
has a wonderful collection. Also if you're visiting Notre Dame, don't miss
St Chapelle church with its beautiful stained glass. I would suggest you go
to the top of the Eiffel tower twice, once in the daytime and definitely
once at night to see the City of Lights. Two totally different experiences.

"Patrick V." wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Let's say you will have the opportunity to stay in Paris for two days
    > and this will be your first time there.
    > What places would you visit?
    > what would you do in order to get the best out of that visit?
    > In general, what would your schedule be?
    > Patrick
 
Old Jun 6th 2003, 4:08 am
  #5  
Jcoulter
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Default Re: If you were to stay for two days in Paris...

Patrick V. wrote in
news:[email protected]:

    > Let's say you will have the opportunity to stay in Paris for two days
    > and this will be your first time there.
    >
    > What places would you visit?
    > what would you do in order to get the best out of that visit?
    > In general, what would your schedule be?
    >
    > Patrick

If you have time for only a little museuming, I cannot reccomend highly
enough the Musee d'Orsay, especially if you like impresionist art. plan on
three to four hours, but they are hours so well spent. Rodin museum is nice
but there is a lot of Rodin at the Orsay.

I would concur on the boat tour but take time to be (assuming you are
traveling with a loved one) one of the kissing couples on the bridges that
the tour boat pax love to cheer! Make them feel that they have been to
Paris. (of course further PDA should be left to the young who can
occassionally be seen on the banks being slightly more frisky than a kiss.
 
Old Jun 6th 2003, 4:30 am
  #6  
Terry Richards
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Default Re: If you were to stay for two days in Paris...

"Patrick V." wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Let's say you will have the opportunity to stay in Paris for two days
    > and this will be your first time there.
    > What places would you visit?
    > what would you do in order to get the best out of that visit?
    > In general, what would your schedule be?
    > Patrick

I agree with the posters that suggested the Musee d'Orsay. It's much more
manageable than the Louvre.

There's pictures of both on our web site:

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~kragsdale/France4_B.htm

Terry & Kathie Richards
 
Old Jun 6th 2003, 10:37 am
  #7  
Daniel Paik
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Default Re: If you were to stay for two days in Paris...

In article ,
Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
    >Patrick: Just two days in Paris?
    >#1: Stay away from the Louvre. It's the ultimate time-toilet, and deserves
    >a minimum of half a day all to itself (preferably more, possibly spread out
    >over several days).

well, personally i did paris in one day and didn't feel rushed at all.

i'm not the type to walk through every single room in the louvre and
study each and every piece of art so i walked through, looked closely at
the pieces that caught my eye, looked at the mona lisa, and got out of
there in about 2 hours.

on another trip (where i spent 4 days in paris), i spent about 6 hours
in the louvre but got bored.

on my first trip to paris (which was really only one full day), i went
to:

louvre, eiffel tower, place vendome, tuileries garden, place de la
concorde, champs elysees, arch de triomphe, place de l'opera, centre
georges pompidou, eiffel tower, notre dam, jardin du luxembourg,
sorbonne, and pantheon.

i took the metro everywhere.

pics and commentary of how i filled it all up in one day without rushing
myself:

http://www.hanguk.com/~danpaik/photo...ris/paris.html

and yes, i stopped off for dinner at a small restaurant at centre
georges pompidou, sat in the park at the tuileries garden and listened
to some live music, etc...it was not running from one place to another.

Dan.
--
RVD...The Whole F'n Show
i was bored one day and ended up making http://www.hanguk.com/~danpaik
"you pencil neck geek" - Classie Freddie Blassie RIP
 
Old Jun 6th 2003, 4:55 pm
  #8  
Susan Wachob
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Default Re: If you were to stay for two days in Paris...

Last year, we did a long-weekend in Paris (from San Francisco)- only a
bit more than 2 days actually there. It was rushed but lots of fun. We'd
been there a number of times, so we chose Paris because we didn't need
to do everything- just the things we really loved. To the best of my
recollection, these are the things we did:

The D'Orsay (museum). It's such an incredible place- one of my
favorites- especially if you like the Impressionists. Be sure to have a
bite to eat in the upstairs cafe with the magnificant clock.

An evening cruise on the Seine.

Ste. Chappelle Where the royal family used to worship. The upstairs-
all gold and deep blue- is breathtaking!

Browsing the bookseller's stalls along the Seine.

We also spent some time in the Louvre concentrating only on the specific
area we wanted to see that trip. If you do go, I'd recommend you look at
a guide before you go, pick one or two areas and limit yourself to that.
You can't possibly see all of it and will find it exhausting to run from
one big-name thing to another.

You probably want to see the Eiffel Tower. If so, go in the evening when
it's dark- shorter lines, incredible view of the city.

I'd suggest avoiding Montparnasse- (tacky touristy and not very
interesting).

Have a wonderful time and do NOT try to cram a whole bunch into the two
days. You'll be miserable (hot, tired, exhausted, frantic and cranky)
and not enjoy the time you're there.

Susan


"Patrick V." wrote:
    >
    > Let's say you will have the opportunity to stay in Paris for two days
    > and this will be your first time there.
    >
    > What places would you visit?
    > what would you do in order to get the best out of that visit?
    > In general, what would your schedule be?
    >
    > Patrick
 
Old Jun 6th 2003, 10:00 pm
  #9  
Pete
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Posts: n/a
Default Re: If you were to stay for two days in Paris...

    >
    > #3: Rodin, Monet or Picasso? Choose one and visit the relevant museum.
    > You won't be sorry.
    >
Picasso, Mike? You must be joking! It is a waste of the poster's
time. This museum was created solely to provide Picasso ex-wives with
a tax write-off - they've donated only inferior pieces to the museum,
and it shows...
 
Old Jun 6th 2003, 10:09 pm
  #10  
Mxsmanic
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Posts: n/a
Default Re: If you were to stay for two days in Paris...

Susan Wachob writes:

    > You probably want to see the Eiffel Tower. If so,
    > go in the evening when it's dark- shorter lines,
    > incredible view of the city.
    >
    > I'd suggest avoiding Montparnasse- (tacky touristy
    > and not very interesting).

The Montparnasse Tower actually provides a better view of the city than
the Eiffel Tower, and it is less crowded.

--
Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.
 
Old Jun 6th 2003, 11:46 pm
  #11  
Brenda
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Posts: n/a
Default Re: If you were to stay for two days in Paris...

Patrick V. wrote in message news:...
    > Let's say you will have the opportunity to stay in Paris for two days
    > and this will be your first time there.
    >
    > What places would you visit?
    > what would you do in order to get the best out of that visit?
    > In general, what would your schedule be?
    >
    > Patrick

Don't miss Sainte-Chappelle, don't miss walking Paris, don't miss
sitting at a cafe' & people-watching for a couple of hours, don't miss
a great meal or two. And don't stress out - better to see a few
things & really enjoy then than ticking off everything on your list &
feeling very rushed & stressed out.
 
Old Jun 6th 2003, 11:48 pm
  #12  
Mason Barge
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Default Re: If you were to stay for two days in Paris...

On Fri, 06 Jun 2003 00:33:14 -0400, Patrick V. wrote:

    >Let's say you will have the opportunity to stay in Paris for two days
    >and this will be your first time there.
    >What places would you visit?
    >what would you do in order to get the best out of that visit?
    >In general, what would your schedule be?

Day one: A long trip to the Musee d'Orsay, then see Notre Dame and walk around
St. Germain/Latin Quarter in the evening, finding a restaurant.

Day two: Go to the Arc de Triomphe and toodle (walk or train) down to the
Tuileries. If you like, do a bit of shopping in the high rent district, walk a
little around the Place des Vosges, and have lunch in the Marais. Take a train
up to Montmarte and walk around, ending at Sacre Coeur. You should be
exhausted, especially if you go to the top of Sacre Coeur.

Both of these days start west and head east. If you must go up the Eiffel
Tower, you can do so at the beginning of either one.
--
"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please bring me some coffee."
- Abraham Lincoln
 
Old Jun 7th 2003, 3:00 am
  #13  
Doug Burke
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Posts: n/a
Default Re: If you were to stay for two days in Paris...

Patrick V. wrote:
    > Let's say you will have the opportunity to stay in Paris for two days
    > and this will be your first time there.
    >
    > What places would you visit?
    > what would you do in order to get the best out of that visit?
    > In general, what would your schedule be?
    >
    > Patrick
Visit St. Chapelle. It's just down the street from Notre Dame. The
stained glass is
awesome.
Doug Burke
 
Old Jun 7th 2003, 4:20 am
  #14  
Mike Jacoubowsky
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Posts: n/a
Default Re: If you were to stay for two days in Paris...

    > Picasso, Mike? You must be joking! It is a waste of the poster's
    > time. This museum was created solely to provide Picasso ex-wives with
    > a tax write-off - they've donated only inferior pieces to the museum,
    > and it shows...

An "inferior" Picasso piece isn't something to sneer at, at least not for
me. It was also the most intelligently laid out museum, proceeding in
chronological order, with explanations of what was going on in his life at
the time.

Apparently, I'm as lacking in culture regarding museums as I am in wine...

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
 
Old Jun 7th 2003, 6:02 am
  #15  
Ryan B
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Posts: n/a
Default Re: If you were to stay for two days in Paris...

"Mike Jacoubowsky" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > > Picasso, Mike? You must be joking! It is a waste of the poster's
    > > time. This museum was created solely to provide Picasso ex-wives with
    > > a tax write-off - they've donated only inferior pieces to the museum,
    > > and it shows...
    > An "inferior" Picasso piece isn't something to sneer at, at least not for
    > me. It was also the most intelligently laid out museum, proceeding in
    > chronological order, with explanations of what was going on in his life at
    > the time.
    > Apparently, I'm as lacking in culture regarding museums as I am in wine...
    > --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
    > http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

My favorite of the small art museums in Paris is Musee Marmottan. It is the
Monet museum. If you are into "Impressionism" and Monet in particular you
will love it. It is located in the 16 Arr maybe three blocks from Metro Line
9 station La Muette. This is in the Passy neighborhood. They have the most
famous impressionism painting "Impression Sunrise", by Monet.

Ryan
 


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