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Paris

Paris: Again and again

The food looks so goodMore Photos

by Kathy

A January 2000 travel journal

Last Updated: January 17, 2001

Journal Usefulness Rating 3 out of 5
Journal Usefulness Rating
11
Reviews
15
Photos

Paris is a city that you can visit again and again. It is like London because there are so many things to do and its easy to get around. You can do it fairly inexpensively or you can go first class. There are hotels in 5 star category and very expensive restaurants, or you can stay at an inexpensive hotel and eat in the Latin Quarter or Montmartre. The museums are wonderful and its just great to sit and have a glass of wine and watch people.

The food looks so good
This is our second trip to Paris. The first time we did all the main things. This was just a short trip so we did some new things. The hotel 'Champ De Mars' a very good location 2 blocks from the Eiffel Tower near the Rue Cler. The room was very nice cost 450.00 francs very reasonable. We went to the Picasso Museum. This was interesting, a lot of his unknown things. Then we walked by the Pompideau Centre and looked at the sculptures in the fountains.

Quick Tips:

The Orsay Museum is well worth the trip if you like Impressionists and they have quite a bit of Van Gogh. The restaurant there is also very good.

The Montmartre area is also very nice. Since it was January it was getting dark at 5PM and Sacre Couer was lit up.

There are a lot of very good restaurants there. Also we picked 'Le Durer' the special was 89.00 francs per person, total with wine and coffee was 278.00 francs. The Eiffel Tower was lit up so after a nice dinner you can walk safely around there.

Best Way To Get Around:

If there are 3 or more I would advise taking a taxi to and from the airport but if you want to save a little money and depending on time you can take the train. Around the city the best way is the metro.
nice decor
We had a nice small room with a double bed and armoire and a bathroom w/ toilet and shower.

The location was great. 3 blocks from Eiffel Tower. The Rue Cler was steps away and the Metro was also steps away. Lots of cafes and restaurants close by.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on November 4, 2000

Champ de Mars
7, rue du Champ de Mars Paris, France 75007
01 45 51 52 30

Derby Eiffel

Hotel

We had a nice room for 3. In Paris it is hard to find hotels that have rooms for 3. This was 750 FF with the exchange rate it was more than 100.00 US. But the exchange rates have gotten better, this was 2 years ago. The room was standard nothing spectacular. They had a small (very small elevator). They had breakfast (not included) but it was served in the dark basement, so we didn't eat there.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by Kathy on November 12, 2000

Best Western Derby Eiffel
5 Avenue Duquesne Paris, France 75007

Le Durer

Restaurant

This is a very small restaurant and even though I listed the prices as $10-$20 I think it may be lower. They have menu posted in front and they have prix fixe dinners with soup, entree and dessert for a very good price. This is the best onion soups I have ever had. They also have good house wine. Again there are a lot of restaurants in this area but I can't remember some of the names and I didn't take a card, but I don't think you can go wrong with any place around here.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on November 21, 2000

Le Durer
19, Rue Yvonne-leTac Paris, France
01 46 06 03 02

Musee De Orsay

Activity

Mark
Orsay is an old train station converted to a museum that hosts mostly Impressionist paintings. I really like this better than the Louvre. Sisley,Monet, Manet,Degas, Pissaro and Van Gogh are all here as well as a number of these artists' sculptures.

They also have a very good cafe. The Cafe serves quiche and pizza and sandwiches. Museum is closed Mondays.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on November 21, 2000

Musee d'Orsay
62, rue de Lille Paris, France 75343
+33 (1) 4049-4994

Musee Picasso

Activity

This is an interesting museum. We went there the day we got to Paris as it is small and won't overwhelm you like some of the big museums. There are a lot of his earlier and more unknown stuff. Closed Tuesdays.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Kathy on November 21, 2000

Musée National Picasso Paris
Hôtel Salé Paris, France 75003
+33 (1) 42 71 25 21

Eiffel Tower

Activity

Cloudy day in January
Of course what trip to Paris would be complete without a trip to the Eiffel Tower. I actually liked the 2nd highest view as the highest is a little to high to see anything.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on November 21, 2000

Eiffel Tower
Champ de Mars Paris, France 75007
+33 (1) 44112345

Musee Rodin

Activity

This is a small museum, with the famouse "THINKER." There are also a lot of smaller sculptures that are very interesting. This is good to do the first day when you are still tired and don't want to kill yourself walking around one of the bigger museums.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on November 21, 2000

Musée Rodin
77, rue de Varenne Paris, France 75007
+33 (1) 44 18 61 10

Sainte Chapelle

Activity

This church is overlooked for Notre Dame and I think even though it is smaller, it is prettier. All the stained glass windows tell a story. They do have cards in different languages that explain each window. This is a beautifully restored Gothic Church.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on November 21, 2000

Sainte-Chapelle
4 boulevard du Palais Paris, France 75001
+33 (1) 5340 6080

Sacre Coeur

Activity

View at Night
This is also another beautiful Church. Worth going to at night, or at dusk. We even went to Mass there.

Since it is up high you take a tram called a funicular railway up there or you can walk. You can use one of you Metro carnet tickets for the tram. We took the tram up and walked down. There are also tons of good restaurants in this area. (I have a review of one.) They are all very reasonable and have the menus posted.

Montmarte area shouldn't be missed!!!
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Kathy on November 21, 2000

Basilique du Sacré-Coeur
35, rue du Chevalier-de-la-Barre Paris, France 75018
+33 (1) 53 41 89 00

But is he really dead?
This is actually a beautiful cemetery. The cobblestones, lush vegetation and originality of all tombs make it most interesting to just walk around and read the inscriptions on the tombs. They have maps at the entrance but of course most people come to see the Grave of Jim Morrison. Just follow the crowd. Also in the cemetery are other famous Parisians: Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas and Moliere.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Kathy on January 17, 2001

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise
16, rue du Repos Paris, France 75020
+33 1 55 25 82 10

About the Writer

Kathy
Kathy
Northern Va Suburbs of DC, Virginia

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