bugger
, I had started a long description of what I think is worth doing in Paris, and lost my draft, so I'll start over again (after having had another coffee!)
in Paris, you have to remember that shops are closed on Sundays, but in the touristic area - and that museums are closed on Tuesdays.
First of all, you should expect loooong queuing lines at the Eiffel Tower and at the Louvre (up to 2hrs at ET), and then I guess it's all depending on what you're interested in...
if you're into contemporary art, then it's Beaubourg (tube station hotel de ville, les halles, chatelet) great view from the Georges restaurant upstairs, from there, you can stroll through the Marais (very old/jewish and now gay district) great restaurants, Picasso Museum... then, on a Sunday, you can walk on the river banks which are closed to cars, they become the paradise of bikes, roller bladers (and strollers). Talking about roller blading, if you're really, really, really good at it, every Friday night, there's a huge parcour around Paris, that runs up to 1am/2am, 20/25kms, great fun (several thousand people rolling on the cobble stones....) if you're interested, pls pm me, will send you the details.
to me what's really worth the trip is Versailles, you should allow a day (half a day for the castle, half a day for the gardens)
les Invalides is the most beautiful building in Paris or at least my favorite (that's the golden coupole to be seen in many tv ads - St Laurent perfume Parisienne for eg), it's home to the Army museum and to the grave of Napoleon the 1st (we had 2 Napoleons), but just the building itself... from there, walk across the Alexandre III bridge, to the Champs Elysees (one always goes up the Champs Elysees, never down) to the Arc de Triomphe.
Now there's shopping... it all depends on your budget of course. Luxuary: avenue Montaigne and rue du Faubourg St Honore (as it happens, rue du Faubourg St Honore is just 5 min walk from Olympia, Mr Husbands...) the most convenient are I believe the department stores (Galeries Lafayette and le Printemps) they're both next one to the other, and by coincidence, on the other side of Olympia, also 5 min walk...
I guess you would want to go to Montmartre (to me not really worth the climb, but if you've seen movies taking place early in the 20th century...) just be careful with your belongings - especially at night, tube station anvers and then, climb! unless you're lazy and what to take the cable car...
for restaurants, you can have the best and the worst as everywhere else in the world. if you want to dine at the Eiffel Tower restaurant (it's called le Jules Verne, it's an Alain Ducasse restaurant, you have to book now for September, outrageously expensive 200euros + wines, I'm going there in July, could tell you if worth it then). if you let me know where you'll be staying, I could give you the names a few restaurants nearby.
I believe that, just sitting at the terrasse of a cafe, sipping a coffee and watching people walk by is the greatest way to rest from walking.
our tube is really easy to use, really less expensive and more reliable that the London one. I've never been on a bateau mouche (I know, it's a shame isn't it) but hear it's great.
the 2nd most visited place in Paris is Jim Morisson's grave... intriguing is it not?
and then, there's LC at the Olympia....
anyhow, please feel free to pm me with any 'special' request, I'd be happy to help
Christelle
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