Places a tourist MUST visit in Paris

First, the most famous are definite spots you want to lay your eyeballs on and hang out for as long as you can. The Louvre...try to spend a few short days there, 3 hours max I'd say, then trot off to see something else. This is often nicer rather than one long horrid torturous marathon, trying to see so many masterpieces at once you'll not remember any of them! (if you're interested, leave a comment and I'll give you the best way to avoid the long lines that can ruin a tourist's summer day in Paris). Plus some days the Louvre is open late, go later in the day, after you've seen other places. Check out masterpieces, then have dinner at the "good" restaurant there, then go back to see other masterpieces in a different wing! (A inexpensive, noisy, food court is there, as well as a tiny sandwiches-to-go place)

Although, seeing the Mona Lisa can be quite a disappointment to many, often because the crowds are so enormous, you can't get close enough to the lady to actually see her!

The Eiffel Tower (again, later, I'll give you the name of a much less expensive cafe on the tower so that you don't go into hundreds of euros in debt for dinner at their more famous truly LA DI DA restaurant there); the famous street, the Champs Elysees with it's Arc deTriomphe...It's more beautiful to me from a distance, because once you're actually strolling along, it's very touristy in the shops' merchandise and you can't truly enjoy the French architecture. But, many of the streets that spoke OFF of this thoroughfare are absolutely breath-takingly lusciously "Parisian."

Most USA tourists are willing to look at many more paintings and sculptures in Europe, and a city like Paris, than they'd ever explore in their own country...so, after the Louvre, I'd make the Musee d' Orsay a must see. A former train station, the placement of a museum inside this facility is amazing, if you're into architecture...and how can you NOT be into architecture, if you really want to spend your money going to Paris? And, just walking along the river Seine from, say, the Eiffel Tower, to this incredible art museum will definitely let you know you're in Paris! AND, if you're really into French artists, impressionism, and you're going during the spring/summer/autumn months...a trip to the artist's Monet's home, Giverny, is a must. Take an organized tour if you're traveling alone.

BUT, if you're going to Paris to feel like you're in the heart of fashion, fashion, fashion...Montaigne Avenue is the place. Very close to the Place de la Concorde plaza (which is at one end of Champs D' Elysees) is the avenue of haute-est of haute couture. No Donna Karen or Brooks Brothers or Ralph Lauren shops here (although those are on another great street for shopping!)...Montaigne is the ultimate, Chanel, Dior, Yves St. Laurent, etc. Just watching the women who walk this short little three block street is an amazing experience in CHIC, CHIC, CHIC.

Unless you've taken great pains with your own wardrobe, it's hard NOT to feel like a pathetic, boring shoddy haircut, poor hair color, dreary britches and shoddy topped, lack luster shoes, tourist from the oh so un-chic USofA. But watching them is a lesson you can't even get on Madison Ave. in NYC!

And, very close to the Place de la Concorde and Avenue Montaigne is the beautiful pair of buildings, the Grand Palais (Large Palace) and the Musee du Petit Palais (museum of the small palace). it would be impossible to take a bad photographof these two buildings, which are right across the street from each other, from a bridge crossing the Seine, or across the bridge on "the left bank." The Petit Palais is a lovely museum experience...tourists are flocking in huge droves, especially in the summer months, to the Louvre and the Orsay...here you can really stroll and enjoy a beautiful beautiful afternoon; the exhibits, the building, the lack of crowds! If you want to get out of the city a bit, and you want to see something touristy famous, go to Versailles. But, my advice is to go instead to Fontainbleau, the 'versaille" before they built the "versailles." If you saw the Marie Antoinette movie with Kristen Dunst or the Ever After movie with Drew Barrymore...or you're into a fantastic palace with much less crowding, this is your place.

And last, for this hub, take a Seine River Cruise. The sights you'll see along a very short trip will astound! And seeing it all from the river, with great narration of the sights and sounds (in English!) is a great way to see sooo much of Paris AND get off your feet for a bit!

Now, eating in Paris, in and around the places mentioned above! Magnifique! If you want to discuss places to eat near the sights, let me know.

OH, the museum pass is wonderful, convenient, no lines, saves money....BUT only if you're the museum type. There's so much to do there that has nothing to do with all the famous museums!

Plus, what time of year? Where are you staying? How long? (My favorite is a wonderfully darling, quite cheap, place right behind the ultra-exclusive Hotel Crillon, just off the Place de la Concorde, and just a block from an English book store that's open until 11pm, great place to find American magazines, etc. while you're there! It's also just a bloc off the Rue de Rivoli is one of the most famous streets in Paris, a commercial street whose shops include the most fashionable names in the world.

So, leave me a comment about the kinds of things you think you'd enjoy seeing/doing. Are you into food, or just want a budget slice of pizza to aid your budget? Into fashion? Museums? Palaces? Historic home tours? Antique shopping? AND when you're planning on visiting.

Look forward to helping you...it's my favorite city! OH, and it went smoke-free in February 2008!