Fabulous In Le City

Bountiful moments of pleasure and excitement await travelers in Paris. It is a cosmopolitan city full of sights, sounds and outstanding cheese. That's right, cheese. Paris smells of cheese. Not the everyday cheddar, but the more exotic... and the bluer, the better. Sample some of those amazing cheeses in street markets. There are quite a few in the Latin Quarter, known especially for the hip vibe, and student central. If you like sweets, do not miss Lauduree. Lauduree is an amazing chocolaterie and patisserie that makes unbelievable pastries and macaroons. Buddha Bar dishes out amazing sushi, intricate cocktails and the best shrimp chips in huge wooden bowls on that side of the Atlantic.

Quick Tips:

Paris is NOT affordable. Be prepared to spend A LOT of money. Try renting a flat for the week, and save some money on your lodging. There are many affordable ways to do it, and many different flats in all of the arrondissements.

Best Way To Get Around:

Le Metro, of course.

The four of us shared a decent-sized room with two bunk beds, and a small table and our own sink. We had a window that opened onto the Rue de Mouffetard, which is a lovely and narrow street with a delicious open-air market right down the street. We visited the Chinese food stand every day for roleaus (vegetables wrapped in rice paper).

The accommodations were scary at best. The narrow staircase that wound up to our fourth-floor room was steep and not maneuverable at all. The blankets were tattered, stained and itchy, the lighting in the room was dismal, and the bathroom was two treacherous flights down, along with the two showers in the joint. I am a hot, steamy shower kind of girl, and this is not the place to relax. The pin-and-needle-y water that is spewed from the showerhead is neither warm nor relaxing, especially when you have to press a button to turn it back on every 10 seconds.

One morning at around 4AM there was a fire alarm. From our top floor "suite" we made it, single file, down the steep, narrow, spiraling staircase to the second floor, in a throng of scared teenagers, when the alarm was shut off. That's right...if there had really been a fire, and it had not been a drunken prank, we might have been outta luck.

Don't stay here. For the same amount of money, we could have rented our very own flat with a clean bathroom, no curfew or mid-morning shut-out, and no life-threatening alarms.

Crepes, Crepes and more Crepes! Yum. Try chorizo, chevre, tomatos, onions and lettuce. Honestly, you will float up into heaven. If you are more into sweet crepes, try banana, coconut and nutella. Nutella is chocolate and hazelnut spread. Split this one with a friend, because it is HUGE, sweet and is the making of a milk commercial.

The decorum in this amazing subterranean lounge is breath stifling and mysterious. It is dark with incredibly low lighting, and candles ablaze. Sexy, ethereal house beats play in the background, fusing techno, Asian chants and Jewish mysticism. We sat in huge chairs on the circular bar level (the restaurant is below, which the bar looks out on) They serve huge complimentary bowls of fluffy, salty shrimp chips that are refilled throughout the evening. I ordered a bellini, which was lip licking good. Along with our drinks we ordered $15 6-piece sushi appetizers. They were delicious, but comparable to that which we eat in CA for $4.50. The mellow engulfs you, and you sip your cocktail, smoke your cigarette, and feel altogether Parisian.

On a rainy afternoon, after trekking from the Eiffel Tower to the Champs, we came upon Laduree. Laduree has 3 different restaurants in Paris. The one we came upon was on the Champs. It is a huge building with mint green awnings, and a palatial feel.

We stepped inside, and immediately were overwhelmed by the delicious scent of croissant, pastry and macaroon. There was a glass case filled with beautiful, intricate cakes and pastries. While you can sit down for coffee and entrees, we decided to buy a few things and sit outside somewhere. The rain had stopped for a little while.

Bryana picked a rose-infused cake with chantilly and raspberry. Sarah picked a lavender macaroon and a rose macaroon. I picked pain au chocolat (a chocolate-filled croissant). And Renee picked a plain croissant and a few different flavors of macaroons (there are about 12).

We went outside, and almost died of sheer taste explosion. Every bite was savored, every crumb licked off fingers. Each was delicate, delicious and amazing. We went back several times during the week, and even brought home boxes of the macaroons to family and friends.

What a hike! The four of us, being somewhat vain and arrogant, knew we could hoof it up the stairs to the top to le tour d'Eiffel with the best of aim. Oh yeah. Let me tell you, it is like the Stairmaster from hell. It doesn't look that way. There is no warning about what you've just taken on. No one tells you. So I will…

Be prepared to sweat, cringe and cough just a little if you aren't a tri-athlete. It's feasible, but it hurts. After the first level, we thought we were done. Oh no, to catch the elevator to the third level, you have to hike two levels. Once you get to the top, it is quite heavenly, if you aren't afraid of heights. Beware the throngs of people, and expect the glaring amounts of graffiti that adorn the top of the tower, but the view is priceless, and the experience worth every breath it takes to climb to the top.

I have been to this museum twice. And let me tell you, each time is like the first. Every postcard, picture in a book, or art class memory you have seen or had is housed within this elegantly converted rail station. It is a beautiful building, and within its walls are some of the most famous Monet's, Van Gogh's and Renoir's you will ever lay your eyes on. The lines can be troublesome, and if it's hailing outside and you are stuck without an umbrella, it can be down right painful (serves us right for going during winter).
Make sure you go to the top floor to see the impressionists, because the rest of the museum can be overwhelming if you don't have all day. Also, take a break in the cafe on the top floor. The Salad Nicoise is crisp and savory, but save room for a slice of berry tart with warm cream. It's better than crème brulee. Yes, I said it was better that crème brulee. Is that even possible? Go find out, and tell me.

The Louvre is like a maze that you go into, get lost, and then thank the lord when you get out of it without starving. Buy a water bottle before you go in, because I will tell you this, it will take you AWHILE.

The Louvre is an subterranean museum that houses some of the most renowned works of times past. There is sculpture, such as the Venus de Milo and Winged Victory, and then there are paintings by Vermeer and Donatello. Of course, not to be missed is Mona Lisa, the most famous work of Leonardo Da Vinci.

While all these things are quite impressive, and the museum, for being such a huge attraction, doesn't take a huge chunk out of your purse, I have done the Louvre slow, and I have done it fast, and both times were equally satisfying. If you only have time for one museum, make it the Musee d’Orsay, but if you have time for two, see the Louvre, and make sure you huddle into the blank-walled room where the Mona Lisa hangs so you can get pushed and pulled with the throngs trying to photograph her cheshire smile.

The Sun King, Louis XIV, built Versailles as an homage to his greatness. And it is quite astounding. This gargantuan castle is situated beyond Paris, just a short RER ride away. With some careful maneuvering and a few snacks, one can get there in an almost painless fashion, without spending the money for a taxi.

The lines are hideous, and can be a complete turn-off if you aren't patient. But the wait is worth it, once inside.

Each room is more lavish than the next. Laden with velvet, gold, mirrors, paintings and extravagance. The Hall of Mirrors, or the War drawing room, is the culmination of the grand tour. It is an incredibly long hall filled with chandeliers and mirrors that is royal enough to put all other royals to shame. While we were there, they were doing some sort of construction and the full effect was lost, but it wasn't very hard to use our imaginations.

Make sure to go outside and take a tour of the manicured gardens. It's easy to imagine dukes and duchesses making their way through the hedge mazes and sitting on the edges of the fountains.

On some Sundays, the fountains are turned on with classical music. Call ahead to find out when that will go on. It would be well worth the planning.