TRAVEL Hawaii Albuquerque Paris

Paris I can hardly wait. Get the tickets! This is it ! The vacation of a life time ! Paris must be very high on my list of " favorite cities " throughout the world. Maybe at the top. Few other places has so much to see and few cities can draw one back, year after year. (In the past twenty five years, I have visited Paris on business or as a tourist at least 25 times.) Here are some of my suggestions as to how to get there, where to stay, and what to do. Speaking the language will make the trip much more enjoyable, but isn't necessary if you are willing to be patient, make some mistakes, and laugh at yourself, often. When to go. Paris can be cold and wet in the fall , winter, and spring. I like Paris in August,when a large number of the parisians are out of town on their month-long vacation. Next best is July or September with June, and May also acceptable. Avoid northern Europe, overall, from mid November to mid march. It's just too cold and nasty to be comfortable as a tourist. Airport. Either of the major airports of Paris are acceptable. Roissy-aeroport Charles De Gaulle is the newest, and easiest to drive out of. Aeroport d'Orly is within town and very difficult to drive to, or from. Both are served by the Metro, but I recommend a cab to go to and from your hotel. The fare is reasonable and a cab sure makes it easier. The Flight. Go as direct as possible. The trip is long (maybe 7 hours from New York) and because of the time difference, you will probably arrive in Paris early in the morning, very tired and needing sleep. Hotel. I won't recommend a specific hotel , just an area of the city to stay. Here it is. The Louve Museum area.We all have our own expectations in hotels and my choise would not suit you. See a recent Michlian Guide in your public library for hotel listings , locations, and prices. As a word of caution, remember, hotels and every thing else in Paris is expensive. Also, there are no new hotels in the heart of the city so don't expect to get a Holiday Inn type room. The rooms will be old, modestly furnished, and for some, the bath and toilet are down the hall. Tranportation. The easist way to get around in Paris is by cab. You may , however, have trouble communicating with the cab driver. He won't understand english, and rarely tolerates poor french, so write your destination on a card for him (in french if possible). The Paris Metro (subway) is excellent and, easy to learn. Just get a map of the many rail lines and jump aboard. A third alternate for the more adventurous traveler is to ride the local busses. I like to do this myself because you get a beautiful view of the city as you ride, and you are part of the real life of Paris. Bus line routes are on signs at almost every stop, and folders are also available. Don't try to drive in Paris. Drive only as you come into , or leave the city with a rent car from the airports. That will be tough enough to satisfy even the most adverturous traveler. Sights. The reason you came. Here are my favorites.(The place names are spelled in french to help you get started right.) Famous structures and locations Eiffel Tour Arc de Triomphe Avenue des Champs Elysees (the main drag) Hotel des Invalides (Napolean's tomb) Palais Royal (gardens) Opera (great architecture) Museums Musee du Louvre (classic art) Musee d'Orsay (18th, and 19th century art; Monet, Dega, Cezanne,etc.) Center Georges Pompidou (National Museme of Modern Art; Picasso etc.) Churches Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre Madelene Shopping Rue de Rivoli (tourist type stuff) Printtemps (a general department stoor) Rue Cler (vegetable market street), about 1/2 mile from the Eiffel tower) Other Jardin des Tuileries ( beautiful, large, garden and ponds) Place de Tertre (artist's colony near Sacre-Coeur) Place de Concord (famous oblisque from Egypt) Place de Vendome (hotel Ritz, very expensive shopping) Jardin du Luxembourg (famous garden, pleasent and relaxful) University de La Sorbonne Bateau Mouche (the "fly boats" that take passengers on the Seine river) Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise ( one big, unusual resting place) Day trips out of Paris Chateau de Versailles (by metro, rent car, or bus tour) Fontainebleau (by rent car or tour bus) I suggest you get a map and plan to see about four or five of the sites in one general area, in one day. Paris is a very large city and you will get more walking than you want, at best. Ride cabs for short hops, ( one or two miles ) and the metro or bus for trips across town. As an example, this would make an interesting five or six hour trip (plenty for one day). Avenue des Champs Elysees Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tour Hotel des Invalides (Napolean's tomb) Rue Cler (if time allows, and preferably in the morning)

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