Travel Journal: Essential Paris
What can one say about a city that has drawn lovers for centuries and still remains alluring?
There's beauty everywhere -- but also a taste for the good life, in food and wine, art, fashion, and the simple pleasure of strolling on foot.
If you're planning on a trip to Paris, be sure to add Eileen’s 10 essential Paris locales and attractions to your “can’t miss” list — take your pick and enjoy!
1.Gerard Mulot
Indulge your sweet tooth at this wonderful pastry and macaron (which are just fabulous!) shop. Pick up Club Sandwiches to go there, some pastries, and have lunch at the Luxembourg Gardens - just don’t walk on the grass! Not exactly like an American club, the sandwich had ham, cheese, apples and nuts - delicious!
2.The Left Bank
3.Musee Nissim de Camondo
The saddest and one of the loveliest must be the the Musee Nissim de Camondo, a wealthy Jewish family who failed to recognize the reach of the holocaust. Read on for more info.
4."Chez Paul" Cafe
There are many of these cafes around town – a good place to grab a sandwich, salad or other bite. The nicer rooms will be smoky – forcing Americans to sit together in the nonsmoking area. This is the cafe that has just opened in DC, but the food is better in Paris.
5.The Eiffel Tower
The second elevator has reopened after being repaired. Book online for tickets.
6.Hang Out at A Jazz Club
Jazz is a vibrant part of the city's nightlife, evidenced by some 600 concerts each month, far more than anywhere besides New York.
7.Napoleon’s Tomb
Everyone should go to see Napoleon’s tomb at Invalides to get an idea of what empire meant to the French. My boys are military junkies, so we also enjoyed the military museum, but you don’t need to see it all. If you go, look for the Marquis de Lafayette’s simple camp tent, and contrast that with Napoleon’s tent with its imperial trappings. Also look for Napoleon’s stuffed horse.
8.Musee d’Orsay
Located on the Left Bank, this is where you will see Courbet and the Impressionists.
9.Musee Carnavalet or Sainte Chapelle
(The windows are absolutely glorious!)