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Mickey: I was thinking of doing some sightseeing.
Ellen: Sightseeing? In Paris?
Mickey: Sure. You got any stuff here?
Ellen: Yeah, we got some stuff. Want to see the Eiffel Tower?
Mickey: The Eiffel Tower? That's here?
I've travelled quite a bit for professional reasons, but only in the states, Canada, and Aruba - I've never been to the Old World. Because of some great fares offered by American Airlines (I landed round trip to Paris from Houston for $400) right now, I decided to take a little holiday and spread my transatlantic wings.
So... experienced travellers of Europe and European Spurstalk members, I pose the question... is there anything (aside from the obvious things) I should make a point of doing while in Europe? I will be "backpacking" (in the American sense... meaning I'm only taking a backpack... staying in Hostels, etc.) and I was thinking of spending a few nights in Paris and hopping over to the train station and grabbing whatever looks like a decent fare to another destination.
I arrive in Paris in the wee hours of Feb 11 and depart on the afternoon of Feb 18. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Mickey: I was thinking of doing some sightseeing.
Ellen: Sightseeing? In Paris?
Mickey: Sure. You got any stuff here?
Ellen: Yeah, we got some stuff. Want to see the Eiffel Tower?
Mickey: The Eiffel Tower? That's here?
Go to Strassen, Luxembourg and tell me how much it's changed since 1978!
Can you afford a Eurail pass?
Go visit my cousins in Compobasso, Italy.
The wife suggested Europe for our one year anniversary trip. I laughed and suggested Hawaii. It was an easy choice.
If I ever go to Europe, I want to see London. That place looks rad.
I'm sure I can... I don't know if that really presents that good of a value for me though since I've only got 7 days. I guess I need to look what kind of packages they have available... maybe a 3 country deal would work... I've heard Brussels is really cool, and I'd like to check out Germany or Amsterdam.
In 1978 it looked like the inside of a testicle from my perspective. You mean different from that?
Now I really feel old!
Bad idea. You might as well save your money and go get sick now.
Beware of lice!
Depends on what you want to do. If you only want to go to 1-2 places and stay awhile, they're not worth it. If you want to try to hit 3 or more places, then one of the packages may be worthwhile.
The tradeoff, of course, is that you spend more time on the train than on the ground.
The other thing is, do you speak any languages? You can get by anywhere with just English, but it's a lot more fun if you're somewhere you can converse.
I've been to Germany a few times on business the last few years and can recommend both Berlin (history, culture, some partying) and Munich (lots of partying, plus history and culture). I've never been to Prague, but everyone I know who has raves about it (exchange rate is supposed to be terrific there, too). Getting there may require too much time on the train, though.
I have many friends who say the hostels are great... guess I'll find out. I've stayed in some pretty rough places in my days though... I'm sure I'll be okay.
I'd love to go to Munich, Shoogar, because that is where my father's family is from - but I think it will be too much train time, unless I can get a night train and get a coachette and sleep there. I'm planning a trip for Oktoberfest in the next 2 years though (maybe even this year), so I'll get my fill of Munich then.
Prague probably is too far... I'll probably stick with Western Europe.
The joys of no hair!
Smoke some herb and bang some Frenchies.
I was in Munich during the spring Bock season. It was outstanding and the natives say it is better than Oktoberfest (which they say is for tourists). I've never been for Oktoberfest, so I can't compare.
Kick a mime's ass.
Have you been to Frankfurt? That seems to be the most accessable by rail from Paris.
Visit the Eiffel Tower.
Eat their croissants and other baked goods.
I heard in TV in Europe is more lenient. My friend told me he was just browsing through the channels and he just saw Porn on a regular channel.
Well, there you have it. Find a hostel with a good cable feed.
My advice if you go to Amsterdam- When in Club Vandersexxx, make sure you know exactly what you are pronouncing.
OK 7 days is not much time so stick to Paris and its immediate surroundings.
Here's a few things that I like to do while there:
- Breakfast, go to the local bistro and order caffe au lait (coffe with milk) and a croissant - the true breakfast of champions.
- take the Metro (best way to travel in Paris btw) and go to Gare de Lyon, from there take a nice long walk to the Bastille -> Hotel de Ville -> Louvre -> Place de la Concorde -> Champs Elysee -> Arc de Triomphe -> Avenue Kleber -> Musee de l'homme -> Eiffel Tower. This walk should take you the better part of a whole day, it takes you by most of Paris' historical landmarks (I've only mentioned a few here) feel free to stray from that path and do it slowly taking in all the sights and sounds. Have lunch in a cheap bistro and try the local food. If the walk is too long you can abort at any time and take the Metro to your next destination.
- Go to the Louvre and the centre George Pompidou (they are within walking distance of each other). Even if you don't appreciate art it's worth a look, and you only have to stay as long as you're not bored with it.
- Have a half day walk through Montmartre. Start with Sacre Coeur Church and than walk around, don't be afraid to stray away from the main tourist attractions. You can spend the other half of the day on the Ile de la Cite where you can start at the Notre Dame cathedral and then wander around (this is the oldest part of Paris).
- If you can afford it (it's not that expensive) go see a show at the Crazy Horse Saloon (you'll thank me later for this tip)
- Walk through the Quartier Latin
- Take the EuroStar to London (specially if you can have your return flight from there).
All this attraction are well worth a visit but it's fine to just hang around and do what the locals do. Don't be afraid tom talk to them and ask questions (you'll probably get some nasty answers but also some that you'll remember for ever). Paris has also some of the weirdest (ie Les Bains) and most exclusive night clubs, getting in can be expensive though.
Don't eat at Mc Donald's be courageous enough to sample the local food. There's a lot of inexpensive restaurants (doesn't have to be french cuisine either) in places where students are. Americans often don't realize that even chinese or Italian cuisine in the US is different than in Europe.
Don't go to EuroDisney it's exactly the same as in LA
Good comments, Slov.
A trick is to NOT be English or American (interesting problem there!!!).
To explain. My youngest was on a school trip. They made sure to wear an Aussie-Flag lapel-pin. The French would talk (in English) to them.
If you look like a Pom or a Yank, then you're not gonna hear a lot of answers in English.
Slomo's advice is all very good. Sounds like he's romanced more than one lady on trips to Paris.
There are tons, literally tons, of guide books in the category "walks of Paris". Paris is probably the greatest walking city in the world, compact and densely populated with great streets, buildings, and sights. The big English book store is W.H.Smith, Rue du Rivoli, just north of the Jardin de Tuileries.
So if you butt isn't in walking shape, the walking will kill you. But if it is, walking is absolutely the best way to see Paris. hours and hours of walking, stop for a rest and sandwich in a Cafe or Brasserie, more walking and walking. Any type of weather.
"Don't eat at Mc Donald's"
Well, French "MacDo"s have tons better food than USA MacDonalds.
And just to deepen appreciation of "Pulp Fiction", everybody should order a MacDo "Royale with Cheese", followed that evening by a foot massage.
And don't look for a Burger King. As part of a business deal a few years ago, French Burger King (MUCH better than French MacDo) was shut down in France.
======================
In addition to Slomo's advice, walking along the southern bank of the Seine from Eiffel Tower to Jardin des Plantes, (aka Rive Gauche, Left Bank, "left" being the bank on the left while facing downstream) with sorties over various bridges, is a wonderful day (or week!!).
The French have re-done their Museum of Natural History after leaving it a dusty ruin for decades, and it's fantastic.
When I say Left Bank, I mean the river-level walkway, not up on sidewalks and roads. Most of the yachts and boats are inhabited.
Take one of the river sightseeing boats, Bateaux Mouches, night or day. to see Paris from the river.
Paris Gardens not to miss: Jardin de Tuileries/Louvre, Jardin de Luxembourg, both of which can be visited on the Left Bank tour.
Paris from on high: go up the Eiffel Tower, and up the Arc de Triomphe, and also Slomo's hilltop site of Sacre Coeur. Walking up and down the Champs-Elysees is fun, plenty of stores, like FNAC and Virgin to visit.
If you're into yachts and maritime stuff, the maritime museum on the Place du Trocadero is excellent, as is the high view from there over the Seine to the Eiffel Tower. All "Master and Commander" stuff, it is.
If you like military stuff:
http://www.wtj.com/articles/paris/
<a href="http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?address=&city=&state=&zipcode=&country=FR& le=%3cb%3e%20FR%3c%2fb%3e&cid=lfmaplink2&name=" >Map of <b> FR</b></a>
The biggest problems with Paris is MEGO (my eyes glaze over) because there's so much to see, followed by first-time tourist not having any ing idea of what they'r seeing, followed by foot pain from all the walking.
It's total bull the English or Americans get worse treatement that Aussies. Most French speak English, LOVE to try out their English, and tourism is the biggest French industry, 60+ million tourist to France every year, more tourists than there are French. The tourist season in Paris is 24/365.
If you like theme parks, a day at Paris Disneyland is a lot of fun.
Last edited by boutons_; 01-30-2006 at 08:46 AM.
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