Strolling Through Paris

Hotel Buci is a charming hotel in the middle of Saint-Germain des Pres, a trendy neighborhood in Paris. The area is teeming with casual outdoor cafes and cute boutiques.

The hotel rooms are very modest in size, but contain all of the amenities. The cozy decor includes a selection of small paintings by local artists.

At night, the front door to the hotel is locked for security, requiring guests to buzz for entry. The rooms are actual keys on tasseled key chains, which can be left at the front desk.

You can have WiFi access through Orange, a paid service. You can pay by credit card on the website or purchase an access card at the front desk.

The hotel is located on a very small street, so some cab drivers have difficulty in locating it. It's advisable to carry a map or remember the major cross streets.

Musee d'Orsay is a museum that is much more manageable in size compared to the Louvre. The museum has a range of sculptures and paintings.

One of the areas I enjoyed most was the pointillist paintings. They had several studies by George Serat for his work, "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte."

Near the museum's cafe, you can access an outdoor terrace. It offers a scenic view of Paris, including the Seine and the Louvre.

I spent an afternoon wandering through the Jardin du Luxembourg. This park is gorgeous, with grassy areas and flowers. It is well designed, with modern and classical statues peppering the area. There is an open exhibit of metal sculptures (mostly of people) near the museum.

Locals also relax in the park. I spent some time watching a bocce ball game.

There is an abundance of chairs and benches, so you can easily find a place to relax in the sun or shade.

I was surprised that the walking paths are made up of fine gravel covering a dusty path. So, my sandaled feet got quite dirty as I walked around.

When I paid €10 and entered Musee du Luxembourg, I wasn't sure what to expect. It is located in the Jardin du Luxembourg, so I decided to explore a new museum. This museum is very small on a single floor. Containing only paintings, almost all of the work is very modern. I felt very calm walking through the museum and was inspired to stop and enjoy individual works. You can easily take in the entire museum in 30 to 60 minutes, depending on your pace.

The Louvre is a very famous and extraordinarily large museum. It contains mostly European sculpture and paintings, with only a brief look at art from other regions. It's important to note that all of the descriptions are written in French. If you intend to take in more than the name of the artist and the date, be advised to go on a guided tour or take your own materials.

Once again, walking through a museum, I found myself enjoying the architecture of the building as much as the art. From the outside, the museum is extremely impressive, with another contrast of historic building and a modern glass pyramid.

Among the most notable exhibits is the Mona Lisa. It is by far the most crowded area of the museum with people literally pushing their way toward the painting to get an up close view. As others have said, try not to look disappointed when you see it. The painting is much smaller than most people imagine it to be. And, after all the hype (especially currently), and the fact you've seen it printed in books, it may fail to excite you.

Since the Louvre is so gigantic, I would recommend planning to see a few main areas, rather than spending an exhausting day in the museum. You can always go back!

The Eiffel Tower is a beautiful landmark of Paris. It's located within a healthy walk of the major museums. I went during the late afternoon, but I expect it would be worth another visit at night. At night, the Tower illuminates with sparkling lights.

It's definitely worth the cost and the wait time to take the elevators to the very top of the Eiffel Tower. There are three levels where you can stop to take in the views. I recommend stopping at each level and walking around all four sides of the tower. There is a map that points out some of the major sites that are in view.

It's also worth walking around the four sides of the tower on the ground. Some views are more lush and others are more urban, with concrete and city surroundings.

At the base of the Eiffel Tower, you'll find a bunch of little stands selling snacks, drinks, and ice-cream.

During the hot weather, there are water sprays, amusement park style, covering the crowd to keep everyone cool.

You can purchase postcards here and have them postmarked from the Eiffel Tower.