Two important things have happened this week. I've finally booked a trip to Paris, after years and years of romanticizing about it. And I've finally found the time to write about it. I'm guessing I'll have a lot more to say when I've actually been on the trip, but for now I want to share my Paris List - of must-sees, what I'm daydreaming about, and what I couldn't care less about (or "bof!" as the French say).
The Paris List 1. Ile de la CiteMust-sees:
Pont-Neuf;
Square du Vert-Galant and its romantic tree-lined garden; the exquisite stained glass of
Sainte-Chapelle; the underground
crypte archeologique; and, of course, the
Cathedrale de Notre-Dame.
Daydreaming about: crossing the Seine and dawdling at the
kilometre zero, the symbolic heart of France.
Bof!: the
Conciergerie - Paris's oldest prison - apparently a long queue to see not much at the end of it.
2. Champs-Elysees Must-sees:
Arc de Triomphe for a dusk-time view of the
Voie Triomphale; the gold obelisk of the
place de la Concorde; the Louvre, preferably via a back entrance to avoid the queues, to visit the
Musees des Arts Decoratifs, de la Mode et du Textile, et de la Publicite.
Daydreaming about: the postage stamp market on the corner of
avenues Gabriel and
Marigny and being spellbound by Monet's masterpieces at The Orangerie.
Bof!: the Grand and Petit Palais... well, maybe just a quick peek.
3. Opera district
Must-sees: the passages filled with 19th century arcades; the spectacular
Opera-Garnier; and the church and flower markets in the
place de la Madeleine.
Daydreaming about: stumbling upon the highly commended Art Nouveau public toilets.
Bof!: the
Cabinet des Monnaies, Medailles et Antiques, although I'm sure a certain someone might be pulled in that direction!
4. Les HallesMust-sees: I've been warned that this area is not worth a visit but I would like to venture north to the
rue Montargueil and the traditional grocers, horse butchers and fishmongers still in existence there.
Daydreaming about: ice skating on the site of many Revolutionary executions, at the
Hotel de Ville / Beaubourg.
Bof!:
Les Halles and its horrendous shopping mall.
5. The Marais, Ile St-Louis and the Bastille
Must-sees: the museum of French history at the
Palais Soubise on the
rue des Francs-Bourgeois; the Picasso museum on
rue de Thorigny; and Victor Hugo's house at the
place des Vosges for all things
Les Mis.
Daydreaming about: wandering through the old, secluded
la Marais and the area's lively bars, cafes and restaurants.
Bof!: rien!!
6. Ile St-LouisApparently the most romantic part of Paris for strolls. C'est tout.
7. Bastille Must-sees: the
place de la Bastille, with its column and Spirit of Liberty to commemorate the July Revolution of 1830 that saw autocratic Charles X replaced by 'citizen King' Louis-Phillipe.
Daydreaming about: the bright lights of the
Opera-Bastille and mingling with the ghosts of Piaf and Hayworth at the music halls on
rue de Lappe.
Bof!: the decidedly ordinary budget chain hotel we are staying in, close to
Breguet Sabin.
8. Quartier Latin Must-sees: the riverside
quais and
bouquinistes, selling old books, postcards and prints from green boxes along the riverside from
square Viviani eastwards; the famous botanical
Jardin des Plantes; and visiting the crypt of Voltaire, Hugo and Zola at the
Pantheon.
Daydreaming about:
rendez-vous at the
Jardin de Luxembourg; romantic liaisons in the dead of night at
St-Sulpice.
Bof!: paying 10 euros to see Van Gogh et al at the
Musee d'Orsay.
9. The Eiffel TowerMust-sees: views of the Eiffel Tower from the north bank's museums; chilling at the feet of the
tour; and doing the touristy thing and taking the lift up to the top.
Daydreaming about: seeing the Eiffel Tower lit up at night - every hour for 5 minutes, with a million illuminations.
Bof!: checking out the national war museum and Napoleon's tomb.
10. MontparnasseMust-sees: the 56 floor skyscraper, the
tour Montparnasse, with its incredible views of the city including the Eiffel Tower; and the eerie catacombs - skulls and all - at the
place Denfert-Rochereau.
Daydreaming about: immersing myself in the
boulevard du Montparnasse, once at the heart of the inter-war artistic and literary boom.
Bof!: the cemetery.
11. MontmartreMust-sees: the Montmartre vineyard; exploring the less crowded route to the
Butte and
Sacre Coeur via the
place des Abbesses and the
rue Lepic.
Daydreaming about: Moulin Rouge and the 1920s cabaret of
Le Lapin Agile at
rue de Saules.
Bof!: the touristy and grotty
place du Tertre.
12. And the rest... Must-sees: the trendy areas around the
Canal St-Martin; famous graves at the
Pere-Lachaise cemetery; the wine warehouses at
Cour Saint-Emilion; and a stroll along the disused railway line and viaduct of the
Promenade Plantee.
Daydreaming about: the grotto and temple of
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, and the terraces and waterfalls of
Parc de Belleville.
Bof!:
Bois de Vincennes and the Frank O. Gehry
cinematheque at
Parc de Bercy.
Wish me luck.. and
bon voyage! ;-)
