London and Paris
rose
to London and Paris. We would be interested in hearing
about restaurants, hotels (quaint), side trips, etc.
Thanks.
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Jack
<ellenrN...@princeton.edu.invalid> wrote:
>My husband and I are planning a 2-week vacation in October
>to London and Paris. We would be interested in hearing
>about restaurants, hotels (quaint), side trips, etc.
>Thanks.
For your Paris stay and side trips only one site contains all you need
to know. Visits, addresses, walks, ideas and that's
http://i.am/jack_travel
Just a click and you'll see if I bluff ;-)
Jack
My Paris,daytrips from Paris, Provence, Cote d'Azur, valley of the
Loire, Belgium and Holland posts are open again at
http: http://i.am/jack_travel WITH pictures and at
http://home.mminternet.com/~nowhere_man
J J MIO
PARIS 1999
THURS FEB 25 Arrived in CDG at 8am. Passed through customs, picked up our
bags and found an ATM where we obtained French francs. The information booth
was only feet from the ATM and, after speaking with the attendant, we
determined that the best way to the hotel was by taxi. The prices for Metro,
bus or cab were all close to 170FF ($30) I had a copy of a web map showing
the location of the Hotel Saint Roch (25, rue Saint Roch, Paris 75001; tel.
011 331 42 60 17 91) and we began a speedy ride. First arrondissement. A
triple was available and we squeezed into a minuscule elevator for a ride to
the 2nd floor (our 3rd). Our room, overlooking the street, was clean and had a
tiny closet and bathroom and a TV. The price was 504FF ($90), a special price
below the usual 625FF. After unpacking we left for a 30 minute walk to Notre
Dame. One block away was the St-Roch Church. Not much to look at but worth a
stop. An item in “Access Paris” said to look for bullet holes in the church’s
facade. Two hundred years ago the Royalist troops took a stand on the church
steps and were defeated by a 27 year old soldier named Napoleon Bonaparte. Ten
days later he was named commander-in-chief of the home forces.
FRI FEB 25 The Musee du Louvre is the largest single building in Paris,
the largest palace in Europe and the largest museum in the Western world.
There was a long line into the Pyramid but it moved quickly and we were soon
inside the museum. Immense. We rented earphones and followed a map
identifying many of the highlights.
Bought 10 metro tickets (aka ‘cartel dix’, pronounced deece) and caught the
train to the L’Arc de Triomphe. Megan and I walked 150 steps up to a museum
and another 50 to the top of the monument. It doesn’t look so high from the
bottom because it’s so huge (164 feet high, 148 feet wide). Magnificent view
of Eiffel Tower, Montmarte and Eglise Dome.
SAT FEB 27 Telephoned for a cab which quickly and 15 minutes later we were
in the 7th arrondissement at the Hotel Turenne. (20, avenue de Tourville
Paris 75007; 331 47 05 99 92) (hotel.ture...@wanadoo.fr) Our room,
$100 for a triple en suite, was on the 6th floor. Typically small elevator
but a larger room and bathroom than the Roche, and a Bohemian view of the tops
of the neighboring buildings. Put our clothes away and took off. First we
stopped at a sidewalk stand and bought sandwiches which we ate on a bench in
Parc du Champ-de-Mars. On our left was the Ecole Militaire, the military
school of Napolean. On our right was the Tour Eiffel. What a place for a
picnic lunch.
On our return from the Eiffek Tower we came upon the rue Clerc market.
mentioned highly in the Rick Steves books. Only 2-3 blocks from the hotel. Ate
dinner that evening in the Brasserie de L’Ecole Militaire, a block from the
hotel. The waiter was chatty and friendly and when we asked if Megan could
keep a demitasse cup, he waved his hand for us too hide it in our pocket. Nice
waiter. Megan had raw oysters. Said her dad “would be proud of me”.
SUN FEB 28th Breakfast at the Le Cafe du Marche **$, 38 rue Cler, in the
marketplace we found yesterday Then to Montmarte First stop, Abbesses Metro
Station, a 300 foot underground station with an elevator to the ground level.
It was three short blocks to the bottom of the funicular, the shortest,
steepest metro line in Paris. The funicular took us to the church steps, which
was crowded with people. Mass was still being said in the Basilique
Sacre-Coeur and many people were praying while hundreds of us tourists walked
through the church. Still a beautiful mass. Located the entrance to the
tower and began a two part, 200 step climb up the turret to the top of the
church. Only room for one person at a time and no turning back. At one
point we looked down upon gargoyles used as rain spouts. On competing the
return we found ourselves back in the interior of the church. After leaving
the church area we came St-Pierre-de-Montmarte. It claims to be the oldest
sanctuary in Paris, built 16 years before Notre Dame and is the church where
Dante and St. Ignatius worshipped. The only item of note was the tomb of
former Queen Adelaide. We were out quickly and saw the adjoining “smallest
cemetery in Paris” where the sculptor Pigalle and the navigator Bougainville
are buried. But it was closed and we could only look through the gates. In
the front of the church was a square of street artists, Place du Tertre,
encircled by cafes with sidewalk tables. All full. One artist offered to
sketch Megan for 300 FF ($52) but that was more than we wanted to spend. We
talked about finding a restaurant on the square sidewalk and she told us to try
a less expensive place down the hill. A place with a “windshield” in front.
She meant windmill. After a couple of false turns we located a building with a
large shabby windmill. The outside appeared rundown but the inside was not.
The matre’d wore a clearly expensive suit and the waiters, tuxedos.
Surprisingly inexpensive, 60FF per person for an excellent lunch. Total bill
$37 We continued down the hill on rue Lapic past the windmill, Moulin de la
Galette, a windmill seen in paintings by Renoir and other impressionists. We
also passed an apartment house once lived in by Vincent van Gogh and his
brother Theo. Shoddy neighborhood. At the bottom of the hill we came to
Cimetiere de Montmarte containing the graves of writers and painters. Among
the graves we saw the tombs of Emile Zola, Degas (aka de Gas), Alexander Dumas
and Adolphe Sax. One block later we were in Pigalle at the Moulin Rouge where
we caught the Metro to return to the hotel. We departed at the Varenne station
when we saw replicas of Rodin sculptures on the platform. We began looking for
his museum. When we finally found it. It was 4:30 and the museum closed at
5:00 so no one was allowed into the building-but we were allowed to walk
through the garden. It containing some of his most famous works: the Thinker,
a replica of the Six Burghers of Calais, a huge elaborate door, and scads of
other works. Impressive outside, wonder what the inside held. After resting
we washed up and headed for dinner.
MON MAR 1 Ate breakfast at a sidewalk cafe one block from the hotel.
Wonderful crepes cooked by the owner at his window grill. 194FF $33 . We
walked two blocks in a light, windy rain to the Hotel National des Invalides
and the golden Eglise du Dome. The highlight of the Eglise Dome was
Napolean’s tomb, a magnificent seven coffin (one inside the other) monument.
We did a quick tour of the Musee of Weapons and walked over the elegant Pont
Alexandre III, up one block to the Place de la Concorde (formerly de la
Revolution where 1343 people were taken to the guillotine) and to L’Orangerie
to see the paintings. Closed until next year.
Took the metro from Concorde to Isle de la Cite to see Saint-Chappelle, a
church built for royal worship. Built by Louis IX to house the Crown of Thorns
which he had purchased. Spectacular stained glass windows with scenes from
the bible. Passed through the flower market in Place Louie-Lepine and finally
found the Concergerie. It looked like a ‘nothing’ square until we entered the
building. It was a huge prison at the time of the revolution. Contained a
replica of the cell of Marie Antoinette with a four foot high partition that
separated her and her jailers but still allowed them to watch her. The other
prisoners either slept in individual cells or with many others on a straw
covered floor. It depended on their finances. After leaving the prison we
took the Metro to Ecole Militaire and rested until dinner. Read about a
place in “Access Paris” called Auberge du Champ de Mars and walked 3 blocks to
18 Rue de l’Exposition. We thought it was wonderful. The husband is the
chef and the wife is hostess. She saw our Paris Access and borrowed it to read
to her husband. Megan and I had rabbit (delicious) and Megan tried escargot.
LONDON SEE & DO
*Orig Lndn Sightseeing Tours 6 starting points (Vic Sta. Picadilly, etc)
9:30-5pm A good introductory tour of the highpoints of the city. Can get off
and back on.
*Orig Lndn Walks 20 7624 3978 several walks from listed tube stations
£5 http://london.walks.com
*Courtauld Gallery It was one of the places we kept putting off and were
amazed at the wonderful
Impressionist paintings. Van Gogh, Monet, Cezanne, Renoir, Manet, etc
*Horse Guards This building has the guardsman which everyone stands next to
for their picture. It’s also the starting point for the “Changing of the
Guard”. We saw them much more closely here than at Buckinham Palace.
*Royal Mews On the side of Buckingham Palace, overlooked by many
but we liked the ‘Cinderella’ coaches
*Regent’s Park Another park having the most beautiful of flowers. Tulips in
Spring; roses in summer. If you like flowers, like we do, it’s worth a
visit when they are blooming
*Sir John Soane’s A real ‘sleeper’ museum. Ask the guard to see
Hogarth’s “Rake’s Progress”
*Backstage Tours Varying hours Theatre Royal Drury Lane U=London
Br
*Southwark Cath. Tour this on “An Original London Walk”. Shakespeare’s
brother buried here After seeing this, go for lunch at ‘George Inn’, 17
Borough High St.
http://www.LondonTown.com/ Official Internet Site for London
GALLERIES & MUSEUMS
Nat’l Gallery 2000 paintings M-Sat 10-6; Sun N-7 U=Charing Cross
Coutaud Gallery Somerset House, Strand U=Covent Garden, Temple
Impressionist and Post-Impressionists M-S 10-6
British Museum M-Sat 10-5 Sun 2:30-6 U=Tottenham Court Road
Mus of London Tu-Sat 10-5:30; Sun N-5:30 £4 150 London Wall
U= Barbican, Moorgate
MARKETS
New Caledonia Friday 6-2 The flea market for the die-hards 3/4 mile SW of
Tower Underground
Camden Passage Sat 8-5, Wed 7-4, Thur 7-4 U=Islington, Camden Passage
Camden Antiq Mkt Th-Sun U=Camden
Portebello M, Tu, Wed, Fri 8-6; Thur 8-1; Sat 7-6
Jack (California)
Sea otter6
Rules, London's oldest restaurant, is interesting and the food is excellent.
Lots of history on display. Very near Covent Garden. Reservations advisable.
I enjoyed the Port and Stilton after my meal, although it was pretty
expensive. They bring the whole cheese to your table and you help yourself
until someone else needs it.
The tourist standby Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in Fleet Street still maintains
its quality and interest. Probably a pub before the Great Fire, then rebuilt.
Their Cumberland sausage is very good with nut brown ale.
Larry in Berkeley
Clare Ivatt
http://www.aboutbritain.com/AttractionsLondon.htm
Depending on what you prefer, of course, I can highly recommend of the "big
sights" : Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, The British
Museum etc.
Then there are a few less well known places - such as The Geffrye Museum
(typical UK house interiors), Eltham Palace (a modern 1930s palace), and
Leighton House Museum (a house devoted to Art from the 1800s, and the house
is a work of art in itself).
I Hope this gives you a few ideas,
Regards
Clare Ivatt
Editor, AboutBritain.com
http://www.aboutbritain.com
rose wrote in message <1c31fd54...@usw-ex0110-075.remarq.com>...
Richard Price
>
> My husband and I are planning a 2-week vacation in October
> to London and Paris. We would be interested in hearing
> about restaurants, hotels (quaint), side trips, etc.
I could write volumes... OK, I HAVE written volumes. Here are my very
condensed recommendations for restaurants and side trips:
LONDON (after a very recent visit there last week):
Restaurants: La Tante Claire (very expensive), The Capital (very
expensive), Zefferano (expensive) and Clarke's (moderate). Plus, there
are many wonderful pubs where you can get a hot, tasty lunch in a cozy
setting. We liked the Red Lion and the Audley Pub (in Mayfair).
Side Trips: Oxford (can be done in a day from London by train), Hampton
Court (also a day trip from London by train & taxi), the Cotwolds (will
require a car and at least one night).
PARIS:
Restaurants: Too many to mention. E-mail me directly if you want to
receive my trip report.
Side Trips: Champagne (can be done in a day from Paris via train to
Epernay -- no taxi or rental car needed), Versailles (afternoon trip via
train), Mont-St.-Michel (can be done in one day via a tour or in two
days with a rental car), the Loire Vally (will require a car and at
least one night but probably two or three).
E-mail me for details.
Richard
Michael Forrest
<exec...@earthlink.net> writes
Richard,
We have to be careful or we will get flamed by jack for encroachment on
his patch (smiley).
--
Michael Forrest
Jim Ley
<exec...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>Side Trips: Hampton Court (also a day trip from London by train & taxi),
Hampton court train station is about 300 yards across a very nice
bridge over the thames from Hampton court if you need a taxi for that
then you might have some difficulty in Hampton court itself.
Jim.
AIPrivrat
that was really inexpensive and it has the added bonus of being around the
corner from the almedia theater.
the london walking tours were all great fun too.
Barb
Fodor's publication and its got a lot of information on some of the more
charming, distinctive hotels in Paris for all budgets.
rose <ellenrN...@princeton.edu.invalid> wrote in message
news:1c31fd54...@usw-ex0110-075.remarq.com...
> My husband and I are planning a 2-week vacation in October
> to London and Paris. We would be interested in hearing
> about restaurants, hotels (quaint), side trips, etc.
Richard Price
>
> Try the hotel guide "Hotels of Character and Charm in Paris". It's a
> Fodor's publication and its got a lot of information on some of the more
> charming, distinctive hotels in Paris for all budgets.
Good advice.
Another good Fodor's publication is the guide called, "Wines and
Vineyards of Character and Charm n France." If you're planning to visit
any winery anywhere in France, this book is indispensable. It lists
EVERY winery, from the most famous to the most obscure. And since you
generally need appointments to visit wineries in France, this book is
especially helpful.
Richard
Icono Clast
three days there, more time than I did in the British Museum. It
overlooks Trafalgar Square.
In article <953856797.25297.0...@news.demon.co.uk>,
"Clare Ivatt" <cl...@excelsiordirect.com> wrote:
> For ideas on what to do in London, have a look at our London page at:
>
> http://www.aboutbritain.com/AttractionsLondon.htm
>
> Depending on what you prefer, of course, I can highly recommend of
the "big
> sights" : Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, The
British
> Museum etc.
> Then there are a few less well known places - such as The Geffrye
Museum
> (typical UK house interiors), Eltham Palace (a modern 1930s palace),
and
> Leighton House Museum (a house devoted to Art from the 1800s, and the
house
> is a work of art in itself).
>
> I Hope this gives you a few ideas,
>
> Regards
> Clare Ivatt
> Editor, AboutBritain.com
> http://www.aboutbritain.com
>
> rose wrote in message <1c31fd54...@usw-ex0110-075.remarq.com>...
> >My husband and I are planning a 2-week vacation in October
> >to London and Paris. We would be interested in hearing
> >about restaurants, hotels (quaint), side trips, etc.
>
>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Icono Clast -- A San Franciscan posting from San Francisco.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Denise Patrishkoff
<ellenrN...@princeton.edu.invalid> wrote:
>My husband and I are planning a 2-week vacation in October
>to London and Paris. We would be interested in hearing
>about restaurants, hotels (quaint), side trips, etc.
>Thanks.
Hi
My husband and I spend the last week of Sept and first week of Oct in
Europe last year. Be prepared for weather to be a little chilly - it
was for us.
In Paris - I would recommend a train trip to Giverny - still beautiful
in October. We stayed in the Villiers area which was really nice -
open air market every day but Monday and a little residential not so
touristy but still close to the Metro. We also went to Versailles on
Sunday to see the fountains and music.
In London - we did the bus tour (great for orientation) - Hampton
Court Palace (train ride) and a bus tour for a day that did Oxford and
the Cotswolds and Stratford-Upon-Avon.
If you like further info - you can email me and I can find some of the
restaurants we liked.
Denise Patrishkoff - Sterling Heights, MI
den...@sisconet.com
Gary L. Dare
L'Alsace, 3 ave des Champs Elysees
Le Matignon, Rond Point des Champs Elysees, Paris 75008
01-42-25-26-26 (west of Place de la Concorde) [8th]
Petit Yvan (lower priced cafe of Restaurant Yvan),
1 bis rue Jean Mermoz, 01-42-89-49-65 (north of Le
Matignon)
La Ferme St. Germain, 5 rue du Dragon, 75006 Paris
01-45-48-94-40 [near St. Germain des Pres]
--
Gary L. Dare
g...@ripco.com
Ripco, Chicago's Oldest Online Information Service