Memoir on Paris

Dear Glenda,

Toulon we don't know at all but Paris we know un petit peu.

First off, the Eiffel Tower is fabulous and the highlight of our trip to Paris. Our hotel was a short walk away on Rue Cler and we took every opportunity to sneak up and feast our eyes on this masterpeice. For lunch, hang out with the locals at Parc du Champs de Mars between the Eiffel Tower and L'École Militaire to enjoy your picnic of baguette, cheese and fruit. Bakeries abound for fresh baguettes and, be Parisian, snap off the top and eat it crunchy fresh as soon as you step out on the sidewalk.

We didn't get to go up the Eiffel Tower because, in June, the line-ups were horribly long and not worth the wait. For equally good views of Paris, without the wait, head for the Tour Montparnasse, the ugly sky scraper sticking its head up behind L'École Militaire in the photo I've attached. It's cheaper and has no line-ups. A far better bet. Plus you get to view the Eiffel Tower from the top of the building rather than the ugly Tour Montparnasse if you go up the Eiffel Tower.

The stained glass windows of Sainte-Chapelle are worth seeing, so I believe, but again the line-ups can be long. Buy your tickets next door at the prison where Marie-Antoinette was held before she lost her head. The line-up will be shorter. We viewed the prison but it was a disappointment and next time will do Sainte-Chapelle.

Sacré Coeur is well worth seeing, but it is a little bit out of the way, and you have to run the gauntlet of African con-artists at the foot of the stairs. Tell them you are from South Africa. It worked for us as they eased up a bit and left us alone. Be alert in the underground and at the Eiffel Tower for pickpockets. Don't pick up gold wedding bands lying on the street or the walls along the Seine. It's all a con. M was almost conned near La Place de la Concorde. Good thing he had me to see through the con and save his bleeding heart and our wallet.

Enjoy the museums and tell us all about it when you get back. We didn't do any of the art museums. The weather was too good and I didn't want to be inside. Apart from the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay, the Musée Rodin is very worthwhile. Also, we didn't get to visit Versailles but I've heard it's fabulous and, if you go, make sure you find Marie-Antoinette's little village in the garden. They say it is better than the palace.

Boy, sounds like we need to head back to Paris ourselves to do the things we didn't get to the first time. When you get back we'll have to head to Bob's again (see Bob's My Burger February 2010) and hear all about it.

Bon Voyage!

Enviously yours,
Brenda