We are at the midway point, the point you begin prioritizing what is left to do.
We already dropped Le Conciergerie, because it was closed due to the greve (strike). Plus, my “froid” is sapping my strength.
Let me know if any of the following are not worth the time:
Versailles
Visit Left Bank
Go up in Eiffel tower
Rue Cler (fromageries, boulangeries, chocolatiers)
Montmarte
Catacombs
Rodin museum
Orangerie (Monet, which we saw in Chicago 25 years ago)
The Pantheon
Les Invalides (Napoleons tomb)
17 responses to “Midway”
The catacombs are awesome. Awesome, I tell you.
I would also do the Left Bank and Montmartre. And the Eiffel Tower if you like going up and looking out.
The rest? Eh.
Magpie – right now Gary s asking ” but what does she like about montmarte? Does she like to go to bars? The Moulin Rouge?”
I went up the Eiffel Tower. I liked it, but I liked going up to the top of the Arc de Triomphe more.
As for Versailles, I went and was glad. At the time, the Hall of Mirrors was being restored, quel dommage pour moi. But the grounds are beautiful and so it Le Petit Trianon.
The others I don’t know about. But anyplace with cheese and chocolate sounds good to me.
Have you bought a scarf yet? You must buy a scarf!
Becs – in the 80s, I wore scarfs. I had the pins and the clips and they looked great in the morning. Then at night they’d be all askew.
I loved Versailles and had a great time walking the grounds. But it takes forever to see, and I was there for 5 hours and I think I still missed some things.
The catacombs are AWESOME, especially if you like the macabre (which I do). Also, I was told at the top that I couldn’t take pictures down there, but there weren’t any guides. They just let our group wander around by ourselves and find our own way out.
The rest is a preference thing. I skipped the Rodin museum because I’m not a fan. I went up in the Eiffel tower and it was nice, but I liked just seeing the Eiffel tower more than going up to the top. I also didn’t care for Montmarte.
One thing I skipped and later regretted was The Pantheon, for sure.
Going up the Eiffel Tower is like going up the Empire State: you’re high, the view is great, but the focal point is missing. I liked Montmartre for its ambiance. Versailles was closed – still sorry, but it does take a long time and there’s a lot of walking. Les Invalides – meh, echoey building, grand architecture, big tomb. Rue Cler and Catacombes sound like you. Art and sculpture: lovely in small doses.
But you have been to Notre Dame and Sainte Chappelle and Saint Sulpice, yes? Yes??
Oh, and dear Heavens, woman, just look at all those French women around you and their fling it everywhere scarves. Buy a scarf. You’ll be glad. You’ll wear it with your winter coat and people will say, “Oh, that’s nice. Where did you get that?” and you get to say:
Paris!
If you skip the catacombs, I will be sorely disappointed. It’s so you. My dad loved Versailles.Buy the scarf, you’ll love the attention.
skip the tower and do the catacombs and Mont Marte. Versailles is lovely, but lots of walking.
The Rodin museum has The Thinker, and it’s quick. You can squeeze it in easily.
Faythe – you know we just decided against les invalides and the pantheon as they are both tombs, and it isn’t like you can see the actual bones. Obviously we are still going to the catacombs.
Big dot – I just read about “Paris syndrome.” small doses indeed.
Becs – Seconds ago I talked Gary out of Jules Verne with your review. I owe you.
Hot mom – whoa. That is SO me.
Kristin – Gary saw you can rent a golf cart at Versaille!
Silk – I don’t know why I think I’ve seen it before. Perhaps it was on loan? I did miss the Chavez to see Venus de milo’s back.
CHAVEZ? Try chance.
I am a TOTAL fan of Versailles. I wonder if my comment is too late. Also, Sacre Couer in the Montmarte is super beautiful. I may be spelling it wrong, but I’m too lazy to go check. I’m a lazy French writer.
Versailles. Versailles. Versailles.
Montmartre is cute…but it’s CROWDED and art-sy types will approach & ask to draw you CONSTANTLY. I don’t like crowds and I don’t like being approached, so it wasn’t for me. :(Your food pictures are great!!
Yes, sometimes you have to wonder what’s going on in the iPhone’s vast, electronic, spell-checking brain.
Tami – no, the plan for today ( when it starts, we slept from 7 to 3 am) is to see catacombs and Versailles. Just maybe not every inch of Versailles.
Erin G – I might just hate montmartebecause it is a hill. Plus we have both really turned against cobblestones.
Big Dot – Erie. (see? That wa true.) add to that the fact that when I fill up my comment window I can type but I can’t see it.