Paris
Right now Mike is on his way to China. After visiting me, he is going to go to Paris for a conference. I wish I could go with him! Instead, I sent him a list of my favorite things to do in Paris. I am attaching parts of it below. If you have been to Paris (which I know that many of you have!), please click on the COMMENTS link at the bottom of the blog and let us know what your favorite things to do in Paris are! (Mathieu & Joe: this means you!)
1. Montmartre is a nice area. Is means "martyr mountain"-- its a big hill in
Paris, on top of which is the basilica for Saint Denis (Sacre Coeur, I think).
Saint Denis is the patron saint of Paris. I don't remember why he was killed but
they beheaded him. He then carried his head down the mountain and into town.
Montmartre is where the movie "Amelie" takes place. There are lovely stone
streets (with steps) that wind around and up and down the hill through pretty
apartment buildings and cafes.
There is a cool little museum full of work by Salvadore Dali. If you like him, its worth checking out.
2. The Pompideu Center is a nifty modern building with all the plumbing & pipes
outside (in rainbow colors). Inside are exhibits of contemporary art. When I was
there I saw one of performance artist/photographer Erwin Wurm called one minute sculptures. He had his friends do crazy poses that leave you questioning purpose and form. It was fun. Outside the Pompadeu are a bunch of neat fountains.
3. The Luxembourg Garden a big park that is full of people on a Wednesday or
weekend afternoon. I've only been to Paris in the summer and the garden was full
of flowers and people hanging out, kids playing, etc. I have no idea what it is
like during the winter. You'll probably walk though it: it seems to be on the
way to things.
4. I haven't been to the Musee D'Orsay but if you want to see impressionist
paintings (and anything more recent), thats the place to go.
5. The Louvre would take about a week to go through. If you're interested in old european art, etc, its a good place to go. Its where you'd find the Mona Lisa (which is kind of small) and Venus di Milo (which is big and has a huge butt crack).
6. The Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin) is the college student area. It has some
great cafes and restaurants (do you like egyptian food?).
7. Cathedral Notre Dame is pretty fabulous. Its incredibly tall and has
beautiful stained glass wondows. The facade of the cathedral has big doorways
framed in life-size statues. Be sure to find the one of Saint Denis.
8. If you're interested in seeing people decked out in fashionable clothing and
shopping in expensive stores, there is the Champs-Elysees. At the end of the
street is the Arch de Triumph (kind of cool) and the Paris Opera House (which is
supposed to be neat but I've never been inside).
9. There are creperies everywhere. Be sure to try a chocolate or banana crepe. Yum!
10. And be sure to hang out the cafes. Paris has the best cafes.
When I was in Paris in 2001 with my family, we stayed in the Hotel d'Amelie on Rue d'Amelie. I think its in the 7th Arrondisement (district). Its very close to the Eiffel Tower. There is a good bakery there and the neighborhood is full of cute rich little old ladies. My brother also stayed in the Hotel de Tour d'Eiffel, on the same street. He said that one was good as well. The hotels serve breakfast which is super duper good. Excellent coffee and chocolate croissants (that Jenn & I would stuff into our bags for later)
1. Montmartre is a nice area. Is means "martyr mountain"-- its a big hill in
Paris, on top of which is the basilica for Saint Denis (Sacre Coeur, I think).
Saint Denis is the patron saint of Paris. I don't remember why he was killed but
they beheaded him. He then carried his head down the mountain and into town.
Montmartre is where the movie "Amelie" takes place. There are lovely stone
streets (with steps) that wind around and up and down the hill through pretty
apartment buildings and cafes.
There is a cool little museum full of work by Salvadore Dali. If you like him, its worth checking out.
2. The Pompideu Center is a nifty modern building with all the plumbing & pipes
outside (in rainbow colors). Inside are exhibits of contemporary art. When I was
there I saw one of performance artist/photographer Erwin Wurm called one minute sculptures. He had his friends do crazy poses that leave you questioning purpose and form. It was fun. Outside the Pompadeu are a bunch of neat fountains.
3. The Luxembourg Garden a big park that is full of people on a Wednesday or
weekend afternoon. I've only been to Paris in the summer and the garden was full
of flowers and people hanging out, kids playing, etc. I have no idea what it is
like during the winter. You'll probably walk though it: it seems to be on the
way to things.
4. I haven't been to the Musee D'Orsay but if you want to see impressionist
paintings (and anything more recent), thats the place to go.
5. The Louvre would take about a week to go through. If you're interested in old european art, etc, its a good place to go. Its where you'd find the Mona Lisa (which is kind of small) and Venus di Milo (which is big and has a huge butt crack).
6. The Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin) is the college student area. It has some
great cafes and restaurants (do you like egyptian food?).
7. Cathedral Notre Dame is pretty fabulous. Its incredibly tall and has
beautiful stained glass wondows. The facade of the cathedral has big doorways
framed in life-size statues. Be sure to find the one of Saint Denis.
8. If you're interested in seeing people decked out in fashionable clothing and
shopping in expensive stores, there is the Champs-Elysees. At the end of the
street is the Arch de Triumph (kind of cool) and the Paris Opera House (which is
supposed to be neat but I've never been inside).
9. There are creperies everywhere. Be sure to try a chocolate or banana crepe. Yum!
10. And be sure to hang out the cafes. Paris has the best cafes.
When I was in Paris in 2001 with my family, we stayed in the Hotel d'Amelie on Rue d'Amelie. I think its in the 7th Arrondisement (district). Its very close to the Eiffel Tower. There is a good bakery there and the neighborhood is full of cute rich little old ladies. My brother also stayed in the Hotel de Tour d'Eiffel, on the same street. He said that one was good as well. The hotels serve breakfast which is super duper good. Excellent coffee and chocolate croissants (that Jenn & I would stuff into our bags for later)
posted by Michelle at 9:27 a.m.
1 Comments:
I think you've covered so much of the fun stuff!
11. Walk on the Ile St Louis - the island to the "right" of Notre Date - late at night. Cross all the bridges on the Seine.
12. Go see the "Hotel de Sens" in the Marais, right across from the Pont Marie in the middle of the Ile St Louis - make sure to marvel at the extraordinary turret on the front side. Generally walk in the Marais and get lost in the small streets.
13. Get chocolate at Debauve et Gallais, in the VIIth. Ask to hear about their history. Get "fruits confits" at Dalloyau - right next to the Luxembourg Gardens. Or anything else, for that matter. Bring some back. :)
14. Just enter all the buildings you can. They're often even more amazing inside. Wonder what's hiding behind all those "car sized" doors everywhere on the streets.
Have a great time!
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