Well, it sounds as though you are going to be traveling and making your last stops in Paris and London soon. In the honor of your traveling, here is a list of places I recommend visiting while in Paris and London. I'm sure you'll be checking out the big tourist attractions (ie Eiffel Tower in Paris), but here is my list of off-beat but essential places of interest. Paris You are staying very near Notre Dame according to the hotel info you gave me. Lucky you! There are some gems right in the heart of Paris, where you are staying. There are lots of little things to do right around Notre Dame, besides seeing the Cathedral itself. I highly recommend doing souvenir shopping in that area. The souvenir shops are right beside the cathedral. It shouldn't be hard to miss. -Notre Dame is located on Ile-de-la-Cite, and right across the way is a smaller island: Ile-Saint-Louis. It is one of the oldest spots in Paris and has a lot of older things. YOu could spend an entire day walking around that area. It's so cool! You definitely get the feel for Paris there. - Want the best view of Paris? It's not from the top of the Tour Eiffel. You actually get a better view from one of two places: Monmartre and Centre Pompidiou. Monmartre is a neighborhood on a hill in Paris. Have you seen Amelie? That's where she's from! There is so much to see there. If you're up for a good walk, walk to the top of Monmartre and walk around the neighborhood. While you'rte up there, definitely check out Sacre Couer. It's a beautiful cathedral at the top of the hill. And of course, check out the Moulin Rouge, which is located in Monmartre (get off at the Metro station Pigalle for Moulin Rouge if you just take the Metro there). Centre Pompidou is the modern art museum in Paris, and the building itself is worth seeing. My friend called it the "insdie-outside" building. Check it out: www.centrepompidou.fr/ - Visit the Luxemburg Gardens. It is the quintessential European garden! You'll instantly be taken back to 17th century Paris. It's so beautiful! They usually have live music and decent prices in the café. - Place de la Concorde: it is the place where all the beheadings took place during the French Revolution, but today it is a very happening spot in Paris. All around the area is the high-end typically rich Parisian shops. It is where the Champs-Elysees begin. - Take at least one walk along the Seine river. It's so beautiful! All these places are accesible by the Metro. - Up for a museum but don't want to walk around the Louvre? Check out the Musee D'Orsay. It's the 19th century museum of Paris. So if you love Monet, check it out. - Eat 3 crepes with nutella in one day. ;)
And the comment has a length limit, so the London post will be separate. I apparently wrote too much for the one comment section.
And we continue onward....strwbrrybelle4July 7 2006, 02:52:40 UTC
London I don't know where you are all going in London, but here are a few suggestions. London is like a treasure hunt. There is so much to see, you just have to often fight to find them all! First of all, if you have the time, get a 3-day tube pass. It's a little pricey (12 pounds, or $24), but it takes you ANYWHERE. It's unlimited use of the tube and the buses. Make sure to get it only for zones 1 & 2 if you do decide to get it. Also, pick up the magazine called Time Out. It is a weekly publication that lists all the FREE events going on in London that week, along with other sweet deals. It think it's 2 or 3 pounds, and you can pick it up pretty much anywhere. Just ask. It's worth the investment if you are looking for some free concerts and events. So here are my picks: - Camden Town: on the north side of London is Camden Town. Every weekend, they have this HUGE outdoor market. It was probably my favorite part of London. You can haggle your way to some great deals and be exposed to some interesting characters. I walked around it alone, but just be careful around that area. It's also a great place to get food. Any food from around the world is there. They even had a strawberris and cream stand! And we all know how much I love strawberries. ;) There's a tube stop called Camden Town. - According to the info you gave me, you are staying right by Buckingham Palace and St. James Park. Excellent access to the city! There are some really cool things around there. Really cool shopping. - If you are up for a walk, and the weather is nice, walk around Hyde Park. It's so beauitful around there and not too far from where you are staying (maybe a 20 minute walk?). There's so much to see. - On the southwest corner of Hyde Park lies Royal Albert Hall, where the London Phil plays. They often have a lot of free concerts (like every Friday at noon in the summer). It's a cool place to see. - Want to see a museum? Some cool FREE musueums include the British Museum (where the world's largest collection of stolen goods are held), the Tate Modern Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. All are excellent FREE choices. - You HAVE to see the British Library. As a musician, it is a must. In their rare books collection (which is FREE), they house some of the oldest and rarest manuscripts: Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler, and others. I about wet my pants looking at them. They have interactive replicas so you can virtually look through them! They also house other important documents: Da Vinci's notebook and the Magna Carta. It's really cool. -Want a cool view of the city? Take a ride on the London Eye. It's 11 pounds but definitely worth the view and the 45 minute ride (I did't do this, but others who did swore it was really cool. They all got some cools pics). I'm sure you'll be doing a lot of touristy things in London, and will be doing stuff your family wants to do, but here is a list of things I really liked and think you would enjoy. London is all about how you make it. There's so much to do and see.
As far as food is concerned in both places... In Paris, any where you eat (ie a cafe) is a good choice. Stay away from the pricey ones, though. If you walk a block or two more you're bound to find a cheaper cafe. Any place is good. London is prciey. Most places are over-priced and aren't that great. In my opinion, the place to get cheap lunch is at a deli called Benji's. They are all over London, so just keep your eye out for them. Between 3-4pm every day, sandwichs are only 1 pound! Ask the locals where to eat. I did that a few times and found some GREAT and inexpensive places to eat. Also, try Soho. They have cheap shopping and the best prices at restaurants.
Let me know if I can suggest any other places or if you want me to clarify on anything else. Hope this helps! Can't wait to catch up with you!
Well, it sounds as though you are going to be traveling and making your last stops in Paris and London soon. In the honor of your traveling, here is a list of places I recommend visiting while in Paris and London. I'm sure you'll be checking out the big tourist attractions (ie Eiffel Tower in Paris), but here is my list of off-beat but essential places of interest.
Paris
You are staying very near Notre Dame according to the hotel info you gave me. Lucky you! There are some gems right in the heart of Paris, where you are staying. There are lots of little things to do right around Notre Dame, besides seeing the Cathedral itself. I highly recommend doing souvenir shopping in that area. The souvenir shops are right beside the cathedral. It shouldn't be hard to miss.
-Notre Dame is located on Ile-de-la-Cite, and right across the way is a smaller island: Ile-Saint-Louis. It is one of the oldest spots in Paris and has a lot of older things. YOu could spend an entire day walking around that area. It's so cool! You definitely get the feel for Paris there.
- Want the best view of Paris? It's not from the top of the Tour Eiffel. You actually get a better view from one of two places: Monmartre and Centre Pompidiou.
Monmartre is a neighborhood on a hill in Paris. Have you seen Amelie? That's where she's from! There is so much to see there. If you're up for a good walk, walk to the top of Monmartre and walk around the neighborhood. While you'rte up there, definitely check out Sacre Couer. It's a beautiful cathedral at the top of the hill. And of course, check out the Moulin Rouge, which is located in Monmartre (get off at the Metro station Pigalle for Moulin Rouge if you just take the Metro there).
Centre Pompidou is the modern art museum in Paris, and the building itself is worth seeing. My friend called it the "insdie-outside" building. Check it out: www.centrepompidou.fr/
- Visit the Luxemburg Gardens. It is the quintessential European garden! You'll instantly be taken back to 17th century Paris. It's so beautiful! They usually have live music and decent prices in the café.
- Place de la Concorde: it is the place where all the beheadings took place during the French Revolution, but today it is a very happening spot in Paris. All around the area is the high-end typically rich Parisian shops. It is where the Champs-Elysees begin.
- Take at least one walk along the Seine river. It's so beautiful!
All these places are accesible by the Metro.
- Up for a museum but don't want to walk around the Louvre? Check out the Musee D'Orsay. It's the 19th century museum of Paris. So if you love Monet, check it out.
- Eat 3 crepes with nutella in one day. ;)
And the comment has a length limit, so the London post will be separate. I apparently wrote too much for the one comment section.
Reply
I don't know where you are all going in London, but here are a few suggestions. London is like a treasure hunt. There is so much to see, you just have to often fight to find them all! First of all, if you have the time, get a 3-day tube pass. It's a little pricey (12 pounds, or $24), but it takes you ANYWHERE. It's unlimited use of the tube and the buses. Make sure to get it only for zones 1 & 2 if you do decide to get it.
Also, pick up the magazine called Time Out. It is a weekly publication that lists all the FREE events going on in London that week, along with other sweet deals. It think it's 2 or 3 pounds, and you can pick it up pretty much anywhere. Just ask. It's worth the investment if you are looking for some free concerts and events.
So here are my picks:
- Camden Town: on the north side of London is Camden Town. Every weekend, they have this HUGE outdoor market. It was probably my favorite part of London. You can haggle your way to some great deals and be exposed to some interesting characters. I walked around it alone, but just be careful around that area. It's also a great place to get food. Any food from around the world is there. They even had a strawberris and cream stand! And we all know how much I love strawberries. ;) There's a tube stop called Camden Town.
- According to the info you gave me, you are staying right by Buckingham Palace and St. James Park. Excellent access to the city! There are some really cool things around there. Really cool shopping.
- If you are up for a walk, and the weather is nice, walk around Hyde Park. It's so beauitful around there and not too far from where you are staying (maybe a 20 minute walk?). There's so much to see.
- On the southwest corner of Hyde Park lies Royal Albert Hall, where the London Phil plays. They often have a lot of free concerts (like every Friday at noon in the summer). It's a cool place to see.
- Want to see a museum? Some cool FREE musueums include the British Museum (where the world's largest collection of stolen goods are held), the Tate Modern Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. All are excellent FREE choices.
- You HAVE to see the British Library. As a musician, it is a must. In their rare books collection (which is FREE), they house some of the oldest and rarest manuscripts: Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler, and others. I about wet my pants looking at them. They have interactive replicas so you can virtually look through them! They also house other important documents: Da Vinci's notebook and the Magna Carta. It's really cool.
-Want a cool view of the city? Take a ride on the London Eye. It's 11 pounds but definitely worth the view and the 45 minute ride (I did't do this, but others who did swore it was really cool. They all got some cools pics).
I'm sure you'll be doing a lot of touristy things in London, and will be doing stuff your family wants to do, but here is a list of things I really liked and think you would enjoy. London is all about how you make it. There's so much to do and see.
As far as food is concerned in both places... In Paris, any where you eat (ie a cafe) is a good choice. Stay away from the pricey ones, though. If you walk a block or two more you're bound to find a cheaper cafe. Any place is good.
London is prciey. Most places are over-priced and aren't that great. In my opinion, the place to get cheap lunch is at a deli called Benji's. They are all over London, so just keep your eye out for them. Between 3-4pm every day, sandwichs are only 1 pound! Ask the locals where to eat. I did that a few times and found some GREAT and inexpensive places to eat. Also, try Soho. They have cheap shopping and the best prices at restaurants.
Let me know if I can suggest any other places or if you want me to clarify on anything else. Hope this helps! Can't wait to catch up with you!
--Dani--
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