catbarf on 7/10/2013 at 15:46
I was in Paris a few years ago and I was surprised by how well I was able to get by without having to inflict my mediocre French on unsuspecting Parisians. It's cold enough at this time of year that you wouldn't want to be wearing shorts anyways. You can probably find lists and lists of sights and famous monuments, but I would suggest visiting the local shops, especially for food. Get some local bread and cheeses from a supermarket and have that for a meal. Visit a creperie and try something unique (my favorite was Nutella and vanilla ice cream). Also, make use of the subway system, I remember it being very organized and it makes getting around the city so much easier. Definitely watch out for pickpockets as with most any European city.
If you don't mind me asking, is this a business trip or personal?
Also, the Catacombs are definitely worth a visit.
N'Al on 7/10/2013 at 18:11
A couple of places I remember I enjoyed during my time there:
* Rue Mouffetard:
This is a street in the 5th arrondissement with a good selection of nice restaurants and bars.
* Village Bercy:
Similar thing, but with a small village feel.
* Parc de St Cloud & Bois de Vincennes:
Two large public parks, pretty much at opposite ends of the city. Both very nice if you're looking for somewhere to relax.
Ostriig on 8/10/2013 at 10:10
When I visited Paris, short stay as it was, I was lucky enough to be meeting friends who were pretty much local. One thing that I might suggest aside from the usual tourist to-do list, make some time for a walk around Montmartre. The view is interesting enough, but it's the neighbourhood itself that I found to be very charming, narrow winding streets going up and down, it had a more medieval look to it. The other thing would be, if you're going with or meeting anyone there, check out the quais of the Seine in the evening, drinking river-side seems to be the thing to do. Was down there with a bunch of people, wine and beer in tow, and settled a little further down from the Notre Dame, had a great time.
Oh, also, if you have any interest in arms and armour, check out the Musee de l'Armee, fabulous collections.
demagogue on 8/10/2013 at 12:54
Montmartre is cool when you've read up on the history. There are certain times & places in the world where there's a Golden Age & culture is kicked up to the next level, where the whole scene just breathes world-changing inspiration, and turn-of-the-century Montmartre's art scene was one of those places, although its effect on culture went way beyond just art... Renoir and Degas and Picasso and Matisse were all experimenting and redefining and practically inventing modernity and its new concepts there.
I'm really interested in these times and places where culture is advanced by sheer force of will and experiment, and why it happens there and then and not other places... And Paris is full of places like that.
Renault on 8/10/2013 at 16:19
Thanks for the advise all, I took a bunch of notes to bring along. Sorry, I neglected to mention that I have been there before, I didn't think anyone would really list the obvious stuff like The Louvre or the Eiffel Tower. It was my honeymoon, 14 years ago, so suffice it to say I didn't do as much touristy stuff as you would on a normal trip. Anyway, it's back to the City of Light, taking off in a few hours...
Vivian on 8/10/2013 at 16:50
Last time I was there it was really sunny and I got hammered on shitty red wine just opposite Notre Dame, looking at girls and trying to have a really serious conversation about snakes. I would recommend that. Good vibe.
oh yeah and OBVIOUSLY the catacombs, I mean, come on.
