The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
So I'm off to Paris with my Girlfriend.
Steel-Lion
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hey everyone. How is everything.
I am wondering about the wonders of Paris, as to what me and my girlfriend can do within said city. We are going for a 3 day holiday. And she's definately into the arty side of things. We want to see as much as we can during this holiday. It's also my first time abroad, so I'm a bit nervous.
Thank you for assistance
I am wondering about the wonders of Paris, as to what me and my girlfriend can do within said city. We are going for a 3 day holiday. And she's definately into the arty side of things. We want to see as much as we can during this holiday. It's also my first time abroad, so I'm a bit nervous.
Thank you for assistance
Steel-Lion on
0
Posts
Versailles is a day trip (hop on the rail, go to Eiffel Tower stop and then transfer to Line C I believe), but I'm really glad I used a day there. Gardens are amazing and the whole palace is one big art gallery.
Louvre is a must. Can't go to Paris without seiing the Arc and the Eiffel Tower (neither require spending much time there - you can climb the Arc at night for a great view of the city and spend the day elsewhere). I really recommend Les Invalides. Stunning architecture, a war museum and you get to see Napoleon's sarcophagus.
Always remember to ask for a carafe of water instead of paying 10euro for a bottle. Try and learn a little French (yes/no, do you speak english, hello, etc.). Get the subway map for your iphone if you have one, it's a life saver. You can take the subway everywhere and it is really convenient.
Good luck and have a good trip.
As said above - you've never see everything, so make the most of what you'd really like to experience. The Louvre is AMAZING, and also - too big to see everything in one day (really). I just love the city, and if you're up for a walk, you can mosey all the way from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame.
A river cruise is a great way to see some of the architecture.
As said - learn a few lines of French, they will appreciate it.
Oh, and everyone will assume you're going to propose. Trust me.
It's odd you mention the proposal bit, a lot of my friends are thinking thats what I intend to do...except well, we've only been going out for 6 months and I think that's a tad too soon! :P
How are the catacombs? I think they are in Paris if I recall.
I didn't do the catacombs so I can't speak on that.
Other advice is to go ahead and buy a stack of metro tickets when you get there. I'd say that's the easiest/cheapest way to get around. And to save time, remember you don't have to go to the top of every tourist attraction (Notre Dame, Arc De Triomphe, etc.). Save it for the Eiffel Tower.
Is the other half well aware of this? Given a 3-day romantic holiday in Paris it wouldn't hurt to be very clear about that.
3DS: 0447-9966-6178
Y'know - the catacombs are the one thing I never got around to...
Heh - I did propose in Paris. Surprisingly, I managed to genuinely throw my Mrs off the scent.
Regardless, work in some love time. A full day of sight seeing can be really tiring and result in a pretty vicious case of "Museum Legs". So make sure you plan some nice long, relaxing evenings.
Oh she is very clear on that. There are no problems there, no proposals will happen.
Planning relaxing evenings sounds like a good idea. I'll definately take her to Versailles, I think she will love it there!
Probably not going to help much. I've taken a year of college French so far and I listen to and watch a lot of French media. It is a BITCH to understand if you haven't been around it for a period of time. I'd take a phrase book and pocket dictionary and leave it at that.
The only thing I learned on my trip.
I was warned by my professor way back in the day that this was the likely case if in Paris. The most important phrase you can use at that point is:
"Pardonnez-moi, parlez vous Anglais?"
Parisians are fairly notorious for being snooty and aloof, even to other French people.
This is the complete opposite to my experience.
If you made no effort, they weren't going to make your life much easier. If you did, then they at least would appreciate the attempt.
As with most places in Europe, if you are a) British, or b) American, you're on the back foot because of the stereotypes of tourist from either country. Not assuming that they speak your language while in their country is always a nice start.
That's true, I'll admit. Funny how not acting like a stereotypical jackass tourist can have pleasant results :P
I did do the catacombs and it is downright creepy. Essentially you're wandering around in dark caverns where the walls are made up of skulls and bones. Very creepy, and kind of a unique experience. But it's a bit out of the way from the normal touristy stuff, so keep that in mind.
And definately the louvre too (i was on a 36h trip there, so i skipped the louvre).
getting around is pretty much like in any major city (subway.)
for navigation, i suggest the berlitz popout maps, altough my moleskine cityguide served me well there too.
Nice place though, although kind of expensive. Being poor miserable students we resorted to supermarkets quite a lot. They sell proper bread in most of them too.
Sacred Coeur is worth a look as well - it is a church at the top of a hill with a cable car (can be easily walked) that overlooks central Paris. It is very pretty at night with all the lights and I suspect pretty romantic.
Also, on a nastier note - all the warnings about people targeting tourists have some basis in truth. You will be approached by gypsies trying to sell you all sorts of things. Don't even talk to them, just ignore or use gestures. There will also be people trying to sell you train tickets who don't work for the trains - best not to talk to them either. Then there are the small groups of men who loiter around attractions with things like finger traps. Le sigh!
http://www.musee-rodin.fr/welcome.htm
Paris in wonderful no matter where you go though. You'll have a great time!
I forgot about the Rodin Museum. It was indeed very nice and you can see The Thinker and The Kiss among his other works. It's also just a short walk (a block or so) from Les Invalides.
Parisians generally despise Americans.
Sad to say this is pretty true. Only I don't have to pretend. But it was quite shocking to see demeanours change after I worked in that I was Canadian into the conversation.
I got pulled over while in France, (I was doing my "drive round Europe in a VW Kombi" - thing). I was based in London at the time and had recently traded in my NZ License for a UK one as the prior was about to expire.
Anyway... I get pulled over, the policeman asks me a few questions, I apologised and (in BAD French) told him I dint understand and asked if he spoke English. He shook his head and asked for my license. I produced it. He said something else, I apologised again and told him I din't speak French, he asked for my passport. I handed him my NZ passport and he instantly grins and says (in very good english) "Ah, you are a kiwi! How to you like France?"
I thought it was pretty funny. And to be honest, when I drove around Europe, I made sure I avoided areas with UK tourists.
Paris is my favorite city, by far. In all my travels the nicest people I have ever met were here. That's right, NICEST, I'd live there if I could. Three days is not long enough.
Go to the Picasso museum. If you like to read check out Les Bouquinistes (the book sellers) along the river front at the Seine. Maybe visit Shakespeare and Co. if there is a reading.
Speak to your waiters, ask what they prefer just as you would at any nice restaurant here. Ask what is good, don't just eat steak and pomme frites, explore the cuisine, food is actually some of the cheapest entertainment there.
The metro is easy to navigate you can't really get lost.
Beer is fucking expensive, so drink wine, you can get a carafe for eight euro.
What else? Skip the Eiffel Tower, go to Palais Jardin instead. Pack a picnic, get a bottle of wine, some cheese some bread, some fruit from the shops on your block (there will be stores on your block) It's much better to see the tower on the skyline. Load up your iPods with some heavy metal (conversely Neutral Milk Hotel) and take the catacombs tour.
Check out the shows at the Olympia my favorite venue by a mile, only the Warfield in San Francisco comes close.
I could go on. But you don't have enough time.
If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for all of Paris is a moveable feast. ~Ernest Hemingway
buy warhams
Nothing's forgotten, nothing is ever forgotten
Look for interesting sights like this.
You still won't see everything, but you can't spend a couple hours inside the Louvre and be done the way you can with most other museums.
Make sure you see Notre Dam, and the other cathedrals.
When I went to Paris on a day trip in October 09 the Catacombs were closed due to vandalism. If they've been reopened yet they are definitely worth a look, or so I'm told.
The archaelogical display outside Notre Dam is also really cool too.