Scratch the Baltics… now going to Paris

[dolmansaxlil]

We had a complete change of heart and decided to avoid heat by trying travelling during my March Break rather than July. So we are going to Paris for 7 days in March. We haven’t been!

We already have our hotel booked on Rue Cler and have a pretty good itinerary sketched out. We love all art museums so that has our mornings pretty much locked in so we can do first entry to the Louvre, L’Orangerie, D’Orsay, and Musée Marmottan Monet. Hotel Des Invalides (Rob is ridiculously excited about the military museums there). We will do a food tour in Le Marais and in Montmartre for two evenings. Possibly an evening concert at Sainte Chappelle. At this point we are trying to eliminate what we won’t have time to see rather than looking for stuff to do! But I know many of you have been and I think maybe @jon-nyc lived there for a time so throw any great tips my way!

[jon-nyc]

Only two things come to mind for you to consider -

Musee de la Musique - it’s a little out of the way but lots of cool old instruments if you like that kind of thing

The Catacombs - really needs to be seen to be believed. Quite literally millions of bones and skeletons stacked and arranged in the most curious of ways. I think it’s over 6MM remains all transferred from overflowing cemeteries in the 18th and 19th centuries. There’s nothing else like it in the world to my knowledge. Lots of stairs to access it. Over 100.

If this were twenty years ago I’d give you restaurant recommendations… but I don’t dare now.

If it’s warm you might consider a boat tour on the Canal St Martin. Lots of history and architecture. And it’s not a big time commitment

[dolmansaxlil]

Thanks, John! We have already planned to go to the Catacombs. We went to the Sedlec Ossuary when we were in Prague, and the Catacombs sound like a similar idea on a larger scale. I looked at Musee de La Musique but I think it’ll have to wait until another trip - but it’s on my list of things to consider if the weather is truly terrible one day so our afternoon non-plans of wandering whichever neighbourhood aren’t ideal! I love the Canal St Martin boat tour idea! I’ll look into that. Thank you!

[Steve Miller]

Sounds like a great trip!

[wtg]

Chocolate. A friend travels to Paris every few years and brings me back the most fabulous chocolate. I don't have a specific recommendation for a shop but I know there are many!

[CHAS]

@wtg I am with wtg on that.

[Bernard]

A few things I remember most about my week in Paris: Notre Dame, a concert at St. Chappelle (a magical place), the Latin quarter at night, and a day trip to Versailles.

[AdagioM]

Loved Versailles. And the Eiffel Tower, because I love all things iconic.

[dolmansaxlil]

@steve-miller You know, I’ve never had a bad one!

@wtg I have an Apple Maps Guide I’ve started with different places folks have recommended or that I’ve found while poking around online. About 1/3 of them are chocolate shops To be honest the reason I have so many is because I adore hot chocolate so it will replace gelato for my mid day travel treat! I am sure I won’t be able to resist picking up some solid chocolates as well though!

@bernard I’m so happy to hear that the concert at Sainte Chappelle was memorable! I will definitely book it now that I have confirmation that it’s a good experience. I am always a bit nervous about how touristy these little concerts in amazing venues will be (and usually book them anyway!) To be fair, we have only had one bad experience (Vienna Musikverein) and the venue was so stunning (and the acoustics so brilliant) that it was still worthwhile to go!

@adagiom We won’t be climbing the Eiffel Tower but I’m very excited about seeing it in general! I read Eiffel’s Tower by Jill Jonnes and that added to my desire to visit. Right now Versailles is one of the places we have left off our list. We didn’t want to give up a full day in Paris for it and while I know Versailles is THE palace to visit, palaces in general are never our favourite. We will save it for a second trip!