hi

[kool kitty]

hi i am going to paris in july, has anyone been if people have and want to please could you write back and tell me what it is like. i would love to now peoples veiws about paris.

[ICEMANSAV]

Fantastic, depends how long you are going for. A short weekend can see you take in many sights, but if like me you are going for the food wine and a few sights then you can do anything. if you want to see all the culture I would suggest a longer stay. A walk down the champs delyse ( sp) from the arc di triomphe to the eiffel tower is good, especially doing the Iceman drinking challenge of a pint in everybar on the way, that becomes half a pint fairly early into the embarkment, then a water then a taxi home!

[Kinsao]

I love Paris. Montmartre is great. The side streets *not* all over-commercialised with art stuff!

[Artful]

Gai Pareeeeeeeeee. A magnificent city especially if you are lucky enou to have good weather when you are there; My favourite spot is where Kinsao was talking about - Montmartre and the Sacr� Coeur. The Glass Pyramid is the entrance to the Louvre and is worth a look at for its originality. But the building which I have never forgotten since my first trip is the Conciergerie beside the Pont St Michel and the Quartier Latin.

Then don't forget the cemeteries: P�re Lachaise, Montmartre...

I lived there for 10 years and never ran out of things to do - you have yourself a grand time, kool kitty, when you go in July.

[Little Lady]

I went 8 years ago now for part of trip to france and loved it, the eiffel tower and arc di triomphe were my most memorable parts, and we also went to a square (soory i can't rememeber then name) where there were alot of artists, on top of this huge hill where you could see a whole lot of Paris, fab view. I highly recommend having a crepe (pancakse) when you are there they are divine. Have a lovely time Kitty..........

[Artful]

Little Lady: Place du Tertre in Montmartre next to the Sacr� Coeur

[jno]

Ste Chapelle near Notre Dame. Don't walk on the grass anywhere or you'll get shouted at, they think it's sacred or something.

[lizzierose]

i went and it was bloody lovely. drank an awful lot of expensive coffee but manged to find some decently priced restaurants. really lovely to just walk around. only went for four days so didn't make it to the louvre or the musee d'orsay but it was still lovely, lovely lovely. might go back actually

[KebabMeister]

Pretty much what Artful said.

Must do's: Eiffel Tower, River Seine, Notre Dame, Louvre, Musee D'Orsay, Montmatre/Sacre Coeur, Place de la Concorde, Latin quarter, St. Germain area.... well, basically, everything!!!

The cemeteries are really amazing too, completely different to UK ones and far more fascinating!

The only thing I'd warn you about is the price of beer!  Don't go there expecting to drink a lot because it's very expensive!!!

[tartanwiz]

A fine city but very expensive. In 1986 I paid the equivalent of a pound for an orange in a fruit shop. I still can't believe it. The view from the Eiffel Tower is magnificent, but if you want to visit Versailles Palace get there very early before the 2-hour queues start.

[Artful]

In all honesty, tartanwiz, don't you think you were done? That"s not even paid today nearly 20 years later. You should have refused to pay such a price (or it was a VERY big orange!), just turned around and walked away. Mind you, I know that shopkeepers in England can be the same and try to fleece the tourists.

You still haven't told us how long you are going for kool kitty. Is it on a school trip?

[shivvy]

I agree with lots that have been suggested already eg Pere Lachaise cemetry(graves of Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison etc) and beautiful for a stroll on a spring or summers day.  The catacombs (underground burial sites) are supposed to be really interesting but I was never brave enough to try them!!  Its a good idea to do a boat or bus tour (with commentary) early on in the holiday so that you can get a feel for the layout of the city and a taster of what you might want to see some more of.  You will love it whatever you do as it is a beautiful city.

[shivvy]

I forgot to mention that La Defense is worth seeing.  Although it is in essence a commercial part of the city and therefore doesn't seem to appear on much tourist information, it hosts the most massive archway (with an external glass elevator - v scary) and is lined up with the Arc de Triomphe miles across the city which can be seen on a clear day.  There is a lovely walk down through some interesting new acrhitecture with plenty of opportunity to stop and eat, sunbathe or grab a coffee etc.  Good for 'people-watching'.

Galleries Lafayette is also worth a visit for shopping.  It is worthwhile eating there as the grub is excellent and well-priced.  While you are there, check out the view across the city from the top of the building which is free and spectacular.

Now I want to go back again - I'm off to check out the Easyjet website!!