Parisian Dreams

Paris is full of History and amazing things to see. You will not be able to see everything, so I recommend you select the places you want to visit as a priority. (read more)

Here are a few things that I think could be considered a must-see:

1. La Tour Eiffel. If you want to go on the Eiffel Tour, I recommend you book the ticket in advance; this might save you some precious time.
2. L'Arc de Triomphe
3. Notre Dame de Paris and l'Ile de la Cite: Notre Dame burnt a few years ago, so you might not be able to see the inside of the building. However, this area is an excellent place to visit.
4. Les Bateaux Mouches: These are the boats on the Seine River. The ride lasts around 1 hour, and you can book tickets in advance. It gives you a good overview of some iconic monuments and bridges from Paris.
5. Le Musee du Louvres: The building itself is worth seeing! The architecture is amazing. The museum is really big, so you want to prepare in advance the works of art you want to see (La Joconde, la Venus de Milo, Le radeau de la Meduse…, etc.). You might have to queue to see the Mona Lisa. I would recommend buying the tickets in advance.
6. La butte Montmartre and the Sacre-Coeur: From the top of the hill, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the city. This district is also known as the Painter's neighborhood. 
7. Versailles and the Royal Gardens
8. Rue de Rivoli: a prominent street in Paris, with many things to see (le Louvres, Jardin des Tuileries, many shops, …), that goes up to the city center. 
9. Place Vendome and Rue du Faubourg Saint Honore: this is where the luxurious jewelry and shops are located.
10. Les Galeries Lafayette and Printemps

Some nice districts:

1. Le Marais is one of Paris's most popular quartiers. It's famous for its old-world charm, narrow cobblestone streets, hidden courtyards and tranquil gardens, cheap and hip bars, pretty cafés, and lots of fashion stores.
2. Le Canal St Martin: it's the trendy neighborhood of Paris
3. Rue Montorgueil: The Rue Montorgueil neighborhood is a vibrant pedestrian area in the heart of Paris. One of Paris' permanent market streets, Rue Montorgueil boasts some of the best meat and fish markets in the city, along with renowned pastry shops like La Maison Stohrer, cozy bistros, boutiques, and bars diverse enough to please hipsters and traditionalists alike.

Nice Parks:

1. La menagerie du Jardin des Plantes
2. Jardin du Luxembourg
3. Le bois de Vincennes
4. Les Buttes Chaumont
5. Jardin d‘Acclimatation

Some places to discover if you have time:

1. Les Puces de Saint-Ouen
2. La Defense (and its mall "les four temps”): is the business district of Paris
3. Chatelet les Halles
4. Museums: Quai d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou, Palais de la Decouverte

Good to know when traveling to Paris:

1. Learn a few French words like Bonjour, au-revoir, s’il vous plait, merci. People expect you to use Bonjour/Au-revoir when entering or leaving a restaurant, a store, or any place you go to (not doing it might be perceived as rude). Moreover, using French words will be perceived as a sign of respect.

Write a few common sentences on a piece of paper and show it if needed: French people might not always understand spoken English but would be more comfortable reading it

• Bonjour = good morning/afternoon
• Au-revoir = goodbye
• Merci = Thank you
• S’il vous plait = Please
• Desolee, je ne parle pas francais= sorry, I don’t speak French
• Je cherche … = I’m looking for
• A droite = on the right
• A gauche = on the left
• Tout droit = straight ahead
• J’aimerais = I’d like
• Pourrais je avoir une carafe d’eau s’il vous plait = Could I have a jug of water please? (a “carafe d’eau” usually implies tap water, but you can confirm by saying “de l’eau du robinet s’il vous plait” = tap water please)
• L’addition s’il vous plait= the check please
• Ou sont les toilettes? = Where are the restrooms?

Restaurants:

1. In France, service is included in the price. Therefore, you are not expected to tip. If you have appreciated your waiter/waitress, you can leave a little something (in cash), but once again, No obligation; it's only if you want to
2. Check opening hours. Often, restaurants are closed during the afternoon. Usually, French people have lunch between 12 pm and 2 pm and dinner around 7 pm to 10 pm. Some might also be closed on Sundays or Mondays.
3. Avoid restaurants near tourist attractions: they will charge you more, and the food will not be great.
4. Ask for tap water ("Carafe d'eau"); it's free and absolutely safe to drink.
5. If possible, make reservations in advance. An app named "La fourchette" (the fork) allows you to book restaurants online.

Subway ("Metro")

1. Do not rent a car in Paris; use public transportation. You will be stuck in traffic with a car, and parking will be a nightmare and expensive.
2. Visit the RATP website. RATP is in charge of public transportation in Paris (bus, subway, RER—regional trains). You will find maps there, as well as information regarding tickets…
3. Be careful; subways close at night. Usually, they close around 0.30 am/1 am and reopen around 5.30 am. 
4. Do not throw away your ticket before leaving the station. Indeed, you need to keep it as proof that you paid for your ride, and you will be fined in case of control if you don't have it.
5. Be aware that there are a lot of stairs in the subway and keep this in mind when traveling with your luggage.
6. When using the escalators (moving stairs), stay on the right-hand side so that people can overtake you using the left-hand side.
7. Avoid using your phone while in the subway, especially if you are standing near the doors. It's a common trick from pickpockets to take your phone while the doors are closing.

Disneyland

1. There are two different parks. Double-check which access you get when buying your tickets.
2. Avoid getting there during weekends and Wednesdays (kids in France do not have school on Wednesday)

Sometimes, the restaurants outside the park (located just before the gates) are cheaper than the ones inside the park…for the same dish! It might be worse to check on the websites if you have Here's the rewritten text:

When planning a trip to Paris, it's essential to consider a variety of must-see attractions and experiences. From the iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame to the charming neighborhoods of Le Marais and Canal St Martin, there's something for every type of traveler. In addition to the main attractions, it's important to brush up on French etiquette and language, as well as tips for navigating the city's public transportation and dining scene. With careful planning and a spirit of adventure, a trip to Paris can be a memorable and enriching experience. 

The weather

1. If you want to check the weather, you can visit the website Meteo France (that's the national weather forecast organization)
2. It's pretty common to have rain at this time of year, so I recommend you bring an umbrella.
3. It can also be a bit chilly, so plan on bringing a coat with you.
4. Remember to bring a power adapter (220-240 volts)
5. Avoid the people coming to you in the street to ask you to sign a petition or give you a bracelet. These are tricks to either rob you or ask you for money.
6. If you want to buy bottles of water, buy the brand "Crystalline." It's much cheaper than Evian or Volvic, for the same quality. 

Enjoy your time there. Take the time to wander the streets and have a coffee at a "terrasse."

Bon voyage!

*March 30th-Thursday arrives early...City Tour in the afternoon...Eiffel Tower/ The Louvre/ Champs Elyssee/The City Districts... Notre Dame/Dinner in the Hotel or Neighborhood...

*March 31-Friday Debbie/Soraya(D/S) go to Disneyland... Pat goes to Museum D'Orsay/ Palais Tokyo/Explore the Streets...

*April1-Saturday, D/S & Pat visit Soraya's Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes/ Galeries Lafayette/Street Scenes/Exploring each area...Decide where to eat dinner...

*April 2- Sunday, Possibles: Eiffel Tower/Large Street Flee Market/Marais Area/Rue de Rivoli

*April 3- Monday, Debbie will decide this day... (maybe Versailles... other sites?)... We will meet Chie in the evening, and we all go to the " Moulon Rouge"...

*April 4- Tuesday, D/S will meet Chie and her group at the Louvre... later decide other places to see...Pat visits last time sites/ pack... Evening: D/S, Pat, Chie and Karter go to a Black restaurant for diner or take the Seine River Cruise with dinner...(Let us decide which?)

* April 5- Wednesday, Pat departs Paris...D/S and Chie decide your day/evening...Pack...