Over winter break we did some traveling to visit friends and Europe a little bit. The big trip we had planned was our trek to Paris. We would like to tell you all about our trip to the City of Love and give you a little advice along the way, just in case you ever want to travel to Paris yourself one day!
Let's start off with planning. It is a good idea to not only make a list of must-see sights, but also to book your tickets in advance, especially if you are travelling by train. Otherwise you might find yourself sitting in a McDonalds for a few hours. You have to reserve a seat on trains in France, and it is possible for those trains to sell out.
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At least we booked our hotel ahead of time. We don't play around when it comes to sleep. We arrived in Paris, bought a couple metro tickets, and took the subway to our hotel. We stayed at the Studio Hotel, which ended up being less than a block away from the metro station and about a half an hour walk from the Eiffel Tower. The staff was also really friendly and helpful, and there was free WiFi in the downstairs lounge, so we could Skype with Amy's family when we arrived. It was also super affordable and the beds were amazingly comfortable. We got a bit attached to those beds and were reluctant to leave.
At least we booked our hotel ahead of time. We don't play around when it comes to sleep. We arrived in Paris, bought a couple metro tickets, and took the subway to our hotel. We stayed at the Studio Hotel, which ended up being less than a block away from the metro station and about a half an hour walk from the Eiffel Tower. The staff was also really friendly and helpful, and there was free WiFi in the downstairs lounge, so we could Skype with Amy's family when we arrived. It was also super affordable and the beds were amazingly comfortable. We got a bit attached to those beds and were reluctant to leave.
The main thing that we usually complain about when it comes to hotels is not having enough pillows. Our funny and pleasant discovery: after leaving a folded up blanket that we used to bolster one of the pillows under said pillow, the room service gave us an extra pillow and spread the blanket across the bed. We repeated this technique the following night, and the pillow fairy came again. So, this is something to try out if you don't want to bother the desk staff.
A quick note on metro tickets: you can buy tickets in bundles of 10 or 20, which we would recommend. You can share them with your travel buddy or group, and they will save your feet from a world of hurt. Once you have your ticket, go up to the turnstile and insert the ticket into the slot. The doors will then unlock so you can push through the entrance. If you have a suitcase you're pulling behind you, get yourself through the turnstile first, and then pull your suitcase through - not the other way around.
A quick note on metro tickets: you can buy tickets in bundles of 10 or 20, which we would recommend. You can share them with your travel buddy or group, and they will save your feet from a world of hurt. Once you have your ticket, go up to the turnstile and insert the ticket into the slot. The doors will then unlock so you can push through the entrance. If you have a suitcase you're pulling behind you, get yourself through the turnstile first, and then pull your suitcase through - not the other way around.
On our first full day in Paris we took a walk to the Eiffel Tower and then walked down to Notre Dame. Beware: this walk is much longer than it looks on a map. It took us the good part of a day to make the trek. However, along the way we also got to see the bridges with Love Locks, including the Pont des Arts. We also hit up one of the many Christmas markets that were still running in the city for some quick brunch.
Of course, the Eiffel Tower is a must-see when you go to Paris. It is one of the most iconic structures in the world. However, do be careful around that area, since there are tons of pickpockets and other scam artists looking out for naive tourists. Ladies, keep your purse in front of you where you can see it. Also, if someone comes up to you wanting to use your finger to make you a nice bracelet out of string, just walk away.
While we were walking to Notre Dame, we decided at one point we really needed a break. We crossed the river to where we saw a few restaurants and began looking at the menus outside to get a sense of the types of food and the prices. We quickly realized that the restaurants we pegged as expensive on first glance were pretty typical. Paris is, in general, expensive, so just pick a restaurant and go with it. And try the escargot. It's tastier than you'd think.
The line outside Notre Dame was long, but it moved quickly, and it just gave us a chance to gaze at the architecture. The inside was beautiful and peaceful. We were lucky enough to be there during a mass, which just added to the ambiance. If you are visiting Paris, consider adding Notre Dame to your must-see list, but take note of the silence policy if you are traveling with children. Also take note: there is no entrance fee!
On our second full day in Paris we walked past the Eiffel Tower down to the Arc de Triomphe. This structure offers a beautiful view of the Paris skyline, a much better deal if you want to take photos with the Eiffel Tower in view. There was, again, a long line, but it moved fairly quickly. Admission runs from 6 to 10 Euros, but you can get in free if you are under 25, which is the case at many sites in Paris! Be prepared to walk up and down a lot of stairs.
The line outside Notre Dame was long, but it moved quickly, and it just gave us a chance to gaze at the architecture. The inside was beautiful and peaceful. We were lucky enough to be there during a mass, which just added to the ambiance. If you are visiting Paris, consider adding Notre Dame to your must-see list, but take note of the silence policy if you are traveling with children. Also take note: there is no entrance fee!
On our second full day in Paris we walked past the Eiffel Tower down to the Arc de Triomphe. This structure offers a beautiful view of the Paris skyline, a much better deal if you want to take photos with the Eiffel Tower in view. There was, again, a long line, but it moved fairly quickly. Admission runs from 6 to 10 Euros, but you can get in free if you are under 25, which is the case at many sites in Paris! Be prepared to walk up and down a lot of stairs.
From the Arc you can take a lovely strole down the world-famous Champs Elysees. This is the place to go if you want to do some serious shopping in Paris. Just don't go in the Disney Store on a Saturday. You might get stuck in the crowds and not make it back out.
At the end of the Champs Elysees during the holiday season is another wonderful Christmas market. We really enjoyed the Christmas markets in Paris. They seemed to offer more variety than the ones in Germany. That being said, we mainly went to Christmas markets in small towns in Germany, so we might have a skewed perspective. While exploring the Christmas markets in Paris, we bought some souvenirs, such as a Christmas ornament and a cute Eiffel Tower watch, as well as food, including beignets, crepes, wings, fries, and a genuine German bratwurst.
We ended our day with burgers, fries, and chocolate cake at the Frog Pub at Bercy Village. Oh yeah.
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Our next day started with a French brunch at the Cafe du Rendez-Vous, which was so amazing. Orange juice, bacon and eggs, baguettes and croissants with butter... What more could you want? Oh yes, the hot chocolate. Unbelievable.
We then went to wait in line for the Catacombs. And wait in line we did. For three hours. Bring a book, but don't drink too much water while in line, since there are no bathrooms in the building. Once inside, be sure to take some time to read the posters in the history exhibit before heading on to the main attraction. The Catacombs are a little creepy, but very interesting.
Take note: the Catacombs do not exit where they begin. At the end of the Catacombs, walk to Av. du General Leclerc, and if you need to go to the bathroom at this point, hit up the local Starbucks. Then be sure to stop at the crepe/beignet/churro stand on the corner. The owner is over-the-top friendly, yelling "Bonjour!" at every passerby. We stopped and bought a bag of churros with dark chocolate sauce.
After the Catacombs we decided to beat feet for Versailles. Make sure you're there early enough to buy a ticket. Even though the palace is open until 5:30, the ticket office closes at 4:50. However, even if you are too late, you can still take a lovely walk around the gardens, which are open until 6:00. Our last note about Versailles: if you leave with the masses at closing time, the train station will be CRAZY, so be prepared to witness some gate jumping and other attempts to beat the crowd.
Finally, we took the train back to the center of Paris and took a look at the Eiffel Tower all lit up against the night sky. At night the area is just as busy as during the day, and we ran into another scam: the classic three cups game. Onlookers merely see a chance to double their money by guessing which cup the ball is under. However, Jesse noticed there were also three men working the crowd, looking for easy targets who had their eyes on the game. At the very moment that Amy turned to Jesse to ask how exactly they were making money off this game, Jesse said, "We need to get out of here." He had been jostled by a stranger moving through the crowd.
On our last full day in Paris we headed to our last stop: the Louvre. After taking the obligatory tourist-y photo, we walked to the back of the line to get in... and walked... and walked. As it turns out, everyone decided to go to the Louvre on this day, because it was going to be closed over New Year's. We ended up waiting in line about two and a half hours. Moral of the story: buy your tickets in advance or just don't go around the holidays. Also, if you are under 25, you don't need to buy a ticket, so there is no use standing in the line to buy a ticket; head straight for the express line.
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The other thing you need to know about the Louvre, is that you can't possibly see everything in one day if you want to take your time and appreciate the art. This place is huge. So decide which types of art you want to see, what pieces you don't want to miss, and focus on those aspects of the museum. Also, don't be afraid to ask for help with directions, because it's really easy to get turned around.
We decided we wanted to see the big names: the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, the Napoleon suites and the crown jewels. By the time we got in the door, we were so tired from waiting in line, and then we had to fight through the crowd to see the Mona Lisa, so it was a good thing we had a list of goals.
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We spent one more lovely night in Paris and then headed off to visit our friend Ursula the next day.
So don't forget if you are travelling to Paris: have a travel plan and book tickets in advance. And if you are under 25, it is the perfect time to go, since you get into so many sights for free! All in all, we had a wonderful time in Paris. We were surprised how much we enjoyed the city, how clean everything was, and how friendly the locals were. We would definitely go again.
Until next time,
Amy and Jesse
At the end of the Champs Elysees during the holiday season is another wonderful Christmas market. We really enjoyed the Christmas markets in Paris. They seemed to offer more variety than the ones in Germany. That being said, we mainly went to Christmas markets in small towns in Germany, so we might have a skewed perspective. While exploring the Christmas markets in Paris, we bought some souvenirs, such as a Christmas ornament and a cute Eiffel Tower watch, as well as food, including beignets, crepes, wings, fries, and a genuine German bratwurst.
We ended our day with burgers, fries, and chocolate cake at the Frog Pub at Bercy Village. Oh yeah.
Our next day started with a French brunch at the Cafe du Rendez-Vous, which was so amazing. Orange juice, bacon and eggs, baguettes and croissants with butter... What more could you want? Oh yes, the hot chocolate. Unbelievable.
We then went to wait in line for the Catacombs. And wait in line we did. For three hours. Bring a book, but don't drink too much water while in line, since there are no bathrooms in the building. Once inside, be sure to take some time to read the posters in the history exhibit before heading on to the main attraction. The Catacombs are a little creepy, but very interesting.
Take note: the Catacombs do not exit where they begin. At the end of the Catacombs, walk to Av. du General Leclerc, and if you need to go to the bathroom at this point, hit up the local Starbucks. Then be sure to stop at the crepe/beignet/churro stand on the corner. The owner is over-the-top friendly, yelling "Bonjour!" at every passerby. We stopped and bought a bag of churros with dark chocolate sauce.
After the Catacombs we decided to beat feet for Versailles. Make sure you're there early enough to buy a ticket. Even though the palace is open until 5:30, the ticket office closes at 4:50. However, even if you are too late, you can still take a lovely walk around the gardens, which are open until 6:00. Our last note about Versailles: if you leave with the masses at closing time, the train station will be CRAZY, so be prepared to witness some gate jumping and other attempts to beat the crowd.
Finally, we took the train back to the center of Paris and took a look at the Eiffel Tower all lit up against the night sky. At night the area is just as busy as during the day, and we ran into another scam: the classic three cups game. Onlookers merely see a chance to double their money by guessing which cup the ball is under. However, Jesse noticed there were also three men working the crowd, looking for easy targets who had their eyes on the game. At the very moment that Amy turned to Jesse to ask how exactly they were making money off this game, Jesse said, "We need to get out of here." He had been jostled by a stranger moving through the crowd.
On our last full day in Paris we headed to our last stop: the Louvre. After taking the obligatory tourist-y photo, we walked to the back of the line to get in... and walked... and walked. As it turns out, everyone decided to go to the Louvre on this day, because it was going to be closed over New Year's. We ended up waiting in line about two and a half hours. Moral of the story: buy your tickets in advance or just don't go around the holidays. Also, if you are under 25, you don't need to buy a ticket, so there is no use standing in the line to buy a ticket; head straight for the express line.
The other thing you need to know about the Louvre, is that you can't possibly see everything in one day if you want to take your time and appreciate the art. This place is huge. So decide which types of art you want to see, what pieces you don't want to miss, and focus on those aspects of the museum. Also, don't be afraid to ask for help with directions, because it's really easy to get turned around.
We decided we wanted to see the big names: the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, the Napoleon suites and the crown jewels. By the time we got in the door, we were so tired from waiting in line, and then we had to fight through the crowd to see the Mona Lisa, so it was a good thing we had a list of goals.
We spent one more lovely night in Paris and then headed off to visit our friend Ursula the next day.
So don't forget if you are travelling to Paris: have a travel plan and book tickets in advance. And if you are under 25, it is the perfect time to go, since you get into so many sights for free! All in all, we had a wonderful time in Paris. We were surprised how much we enjoyed the city, how clean everything was, and how friendly the locals were. We would definitely go again.
Until next time,
Amy and Jesse
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