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FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: Pete Velcro on May 21, 2010, 09:54:04 AM

Title: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Pete Velcro on May 21, 2010, 09:54:04 AM
Not Paris, Texas; Paris regular.

Any cool tips would be totally appreciated!
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Pat K on May 21, 2010, 10:01:21 AM
I know this great barbecue place that you HAVE to try, with the BEST barbecue you've EVER TASTED...


(Just kidding. I don't know anything about Paris.)
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: akaJudge on May 21, 2010, 10:54:14 AM
one of my favorite experiences in Paris was the musee marmottan.  Tons of Monet's work, including the painting that supposedly gave birth to the impressionistic movement.  I like impressionist art, though.
http://www.marmottan.com/uk/index_uk.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mus%C3%A9e_Marmottan_Monet

The statues in front of the national opera house affected me quite a bit, too, which was weird.  I'm not really an art guy.
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Emily on May 21, 2010, 10:57:01 AM
Eiffel Tower!
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: yesno on May 21, 2010, 11:15:03 AM
Hey, I'm making my first trip to Paris (and then to Geneva) in a few weeks, too.  (Mostly work-related, but I'll have some free days.) So add some Geneva tips.
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Sarah on May 21, 2010, 12:15:58 PM
I visited Père-Lachaise with Michel Dansel, author of Au Père-Lachaise: Son Histoire, Ses Secrets, Ses Promenades, and it was a great treat.  It won't be the same with just the book, but touring the cemetery with a copy in hand should still be grand.

I particularly loved the Musée Rodin, not just for the art but for the building and the grounds. 

The best tour I went on in Paris followed the remnants of the wall Philippe-Auguste built around the city during his reign.  The tour involved stops in people's apartments in buildings that had been erected around the wall.  If anyone is still conducting that tour, take it.

It's fun to visit every one of the Métro stations with Art Nouveau entryways.  Your quest will take you all over the place, and you'll see lot of neat stuff on the way.

In general, just walk and walk and walk.  And if you happen to end up on the rue de Fleurus (which you may, because it's one of the roads that takes you to the Jardin du Luxembourg), say hello to no. 43 for me; that's where I lived. 

Most important, eat and drink a great deal.
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Sarah on May 21, 2010, 12:20:49 PM
Oh, you should also go to the Ile St-Louis and have some sorbet at Berthillon. 
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: SJK on May 21, 2010, 12:44:45 PM
Oh, you should also go to the Ile St-Louis and have some sorbet at Berthillon. 
Seconded. OMFG. Good. Go!

I didn't spend a lot of time in museums, however the Musee D'Orsay and the Natural History Museum are two I enjoyed a great deal. The later also attached to the Jardin des Plantes. The Jardin Luxembourg is another favorite stop. Because my idea of fun is eating and then going to see movies, Paris abounds with theaters large and small showing every kind of film you can think of and even the ones you can't. So, take it all in. Relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Eat well...learn a few simple phrases(perhaps you are fluent?!). It's one of my most favorite cities on the planet.

I'm close enough, I'll try to return this summer if time and work allows.
Good Luck!
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: akaJudge on May 21, 2010, 12:52:15 PM

In general, just walk and walk and walk.


This is no joke. Wear the best shoes you can get for walking.  Stop at lots of cafes and brasseries.
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Christina on May 21, 2010, 01:13:22 PM

In general, just walk and walk and walk.


This is no joke. Wear the best shoes you can get for walking.  Stop at lots of cafes and brasseries.

Wow, how cool ... I too am going to Paris, probably in Sept, though. I actually don't want to do much museum-y stuff. I basically want to walk around, eat stuff, and buy cool crap. Any advice like that would be swell.
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Sarah on May 21, 2010, 02:17:04 PM
As long as you don't go in August. 
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Pete Velcro on May 21, 2010, 03:08:28 PM
YesNo, we're just doing Paris for a week, then home. That is unless there's more unexpected volcanic activity.

I'm about to cry. I love the FOT.  Thanks everybody! I'll be sure to take pics with my marathon t-shirt on!
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: yesno on May 21, 2010, 03:36:17 PM
Are you there between June 13 and 18?
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Pete Velcro on May 21, 2010, 04:01:08 PM
Are you there between June 13 and 18?

We're leaving tomorrow and coming back on the 31st, all full of sorbet.
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Sarah on May 21, 2010, 04:50:16 PM
It's a wonderful city, PV.  My favorite of the (not very many) I've lived in.  I hope it still smells like coffee, Gauloises, and diesel fumes.
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Marcel Gonsalves on May 21, 2010, 04:51:31 PM
Are you there between June 13 and 18?

I'll be there then. What's happening?
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: yesno on May 21, 2010, 04:55:31 PM
That is when I will be there.  We should meet up.
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Christina on May 21, 2010, 05:19:55 PM
As long as you don't go in August. 

I imagine it's as fetid there as it is here.
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Sarah on May 21, 2010, 05:26:01 PM
Also sans Parisiens and remplie de touristes.
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: crumbum on May 21, 2010, 06:46:05 PM
If you're interested in modern architecture, check out the new Musee du Quai Branly:

(http://clabedan.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/09/29/musee_quai_branly_1.jpg)

http://www.quaibranly.fr/en/accueil.html (http://www.quaibranly.fr/en/accueil.html)

It's one of the wildest and weirdest buildings to go up anywhere in the world in the past decade or so; it houses indigenous art from all over the world.
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Martin on May 21, 2010, 08:24:42 PM
Don't bother going to the Musée national d'art moderne:

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/05/20/world/europe/AP-EU-France-Museum-Theft.html?_r=2&hp
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Marcel Gonsalves on May 21, 2010, 10:21:39 PM
That is when I will be there.  We should meet up.

You know what? Sure. I'm game if you want to.
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: tenni on May 21, 2010, 11:05:06 PM
Walking really is the best way to see the city. I covered nearly everything I wanted to see in one day, and it was well worth it. Completely gorgeous.

Don't miss having their macaroons! Laduree's is a favourite of mine, though some prefer macaroons from Pierre Herme's. Laduree's have a few locations around the city: http://www.laduree.fr/public_en/maisons/maisons_accueil.htm

Mmmm:
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4580358526_3181479dd7.jpg)
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: not that clay on May 22, 2010, 12:07:12 AM
Oh, you should also go to the Ile St-Louis and have some sorbet at Berthillon. 
Seconded. OMFG. Good. Go!

I didn't spend a lot of time in museums, however the Musee D'Orsay and the Natural History Museum are two I enjoyed a great deal.

I really liked Musee D'Orsay. I didn't know anything about it but my three-day museum pass included it so I checked it out. It was one of the highlights of my trip. The other was this little art bookshop/comic store on the left bank near Shakespeare and Co, but after about an hour of messing around with google maps I'm pretty sure it's gone now. :( 
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Kim Kelly on May 22, 2010, 12:48:15 AM
Walking really is the best way to see the city. I covered nearly everything I wanted to see in one day, and it was well worth it. Completely gorgeous.

Don't miss having their macaroons! Laduree's is a favourite of mine, though some prefer macaroons from Pierre Herme's. Laduree's have a few locations around the city: http://www.laduree.fr/public_en/maisons/maisons_accueil.htm

Mmmm:
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4580358526_3181479dd7.jpg)


Macarons! Macaroons are something else! And not as delicious!
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: tenni on May 22, 2010, 10:17:59 AM
Macarons! Macaroons are something else! And not as delicious!

You are right, but I was using the spelling found on the Laduree's website for continuity. Sorry for the confusion.
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: AllisonLeGnome on May 23, 2010, 12:59:41 AM
Just wondering, does anyone have any experience as a student in Paris?
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Trembling Eagle on May 23, 2010, 04:06:46 AM
do some parkour while ur there

Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Sarah on May 23, 2010, 07:16:02 AM
My student experience took place in '76/'77.  It is, in fact, a testament to Paris's clichéd timelessness (although that's Rome, I suppose) that much that I enjoyed then still exists now.
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: buffcoat on May 24, 2010, 05:21:07 PM
Sacre Coeur.  The church itself.  A magnificent place, truly inspiring to me.

The walk behind it is fascinating but Hold. Onto. Your. Wallet.

I got hit by a pickpocket there, and was very lucky that I had 'er up front.
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: akaJudge on May 25, 2010, 12:09:08 PM
Sacre Coeur is amazing.  Take the tram up!  We walked all the way up (it's the highest point in Paris) and THEN saw the tram on the opposite side.  Also, getting a museum pass and a metro pass is a NECESSITY.  The museum pass allowed my group to bypass the lines at D'orsay.  When we left, several hours later, we saw some of the same people still in line.  The metro pass was very nice, as well.
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Jason on May 25, 2010, 04:07:47 PM
Southern France.
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Pete Velcro on May 30, 2010, 07:55:20 PM

Paris was amaaaazing!

/Users/petermckay/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2010/May 23, 2010/IMG_1070.JPG
Title: Re: What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?
Post by: Sarah on May 31, 2010, 01:01:43 PM
I want to see, but that link doesn't work.  In any case, please tell all, so I can live vicariously.