Gay Old Par-eee

FTA69 · 05-01-2017 08:04PM #1

I'm after booking some dirt cheap train tickets from London to Paris there and am about to let herself know, the romantic devil that I am. The only problem is that I haven't a notion what to do there. I mean, I know it's an amazing global city of heritage and culture and all of that jazz but most of the stories I hear about it involve throngs of tourists marching up and down the Champs Elysee paying €14 a pint. I went there once as a young kid and all I remember are queues at Eurodisney and a load of Algerians shouting abuse at my my mam and aunt.

Has anyone been there and can recommend some stuff worth seeing or doing aside from the usual tourist trail?

The Backwards Man · 05-01-2017 08:13PM

Ah, Paris, the Bundoran of France

whiskeyman · 05-01-2017 08:27PM

The best time to go is in the the Spring...

Or so I've read.

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000 · 05-01-2017 08:28PM

Thought Gay Byrne had died.

Still, the old wanker can't have too long left.

Falthyron · 05-01-2017 08:30PM

Try to make your way out to the palace at Versailles. Beautiful place to visit. There should be a bus that will get you out there, its not far from the centre of Paris.

Sacré Coeur is a must as well.

Wonderful city, enjoy!

bonzodog2 · 05-01-2017 08:31PM

Are you in Seine, OP?

quadrifoglio verde · 05-01-2017 08:33PM

Avoid the tourist traps and Paris is amazing. I've had a 3 course lunch with wine 500 metres from the louvre for 20 Euro.
Now the menu was in French, but there was an English one available. They only realised we weren't fluent French speakers when it came to actually ordering stuff.
A tip for identifying if it is a tourist trap is the main menu outside will be in English. Or the same importance will be given to the English menu.
Eat where the Parisians eat and drink where they drink and it's suddenly no more expensive than Dublin

Ted111 · 05-01-2017 08:39PM

Paris, I remember every detail. The germans wore gray, you wore blue.

Annasopra · 05-01-2017 08:50PM

The other thing is OP. French people love Irish people. Keep telling them you are Irish not English and you will get a fairly warm reception.

Richard Hillman · 05-01-2017 08:52PM

Bus Tours ftw

jamesbere · 05-01-2017 08:53PM

Are you going to you know, nudge nudge wink wink

Do it

The Moldy Gowl · 05-01-2017 08:54PM

jamesbere wrote: »

Are you going to you know, nudge nudge wink wink

Do it

Is he going to make cringey comments?

CelticRambler · 05-01-2017 08:56PM

When are you going? How long are you staying?

Depending on the second, you should look into getting yourselves a Paris Visite travel pass (you only need the city-centre version, unless you decide to go to Versailles (which isn't in Paris, nor is Eurodisney

)

The catacombs are worth a visit (if you're not afraid of dark holes and skull-eyes looking at you!).

The inside of the Arc de Triomphe has a great staircase - and there's a good view of the city from the top. You might get killed trying to get across the road to it, but where better to die in your lover's arms? :pac:

If your lady is into shopping, call into the Galleries Lafayette. Lovely architecture, and lovely shop windows too.

Assuming you've got a while yet before you go, watch a bunch of films set in the city (especially Amélie) and go location-spotting. The travel pass comes in really handy for that. Can also use it on the ordinary busses so you can carry on touring if it's raining.

**Don't** promise a trip to the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower - they're plagued with wild-cat strikes, so no guarantee you'll get in/up on any particular day (and the Louvre is always closed on a Tuesday) (and the queues are desperate).

I wouldn't be bothered with Notre Dame either - a dull tourist warehouse (even when Mass is being said) and infested with Roma pickpockets beggars disenfranchised persons. :rolleyes:

A walk by the Seine might be possible, but the banks flood in mid-late spring, in which case you'll have to stay up at street level.

The best way to experience Paris is usually "randomly" - jump on a metro, get off at a stop that sounds interesting, walk around for a bit, buy a baguette, jump on another metro/bus, repeat until it's time to go home.

AlekSmart · 05-01-2017 09:00PM

FTA69 wrote: »

I'm after booking some dirt cheap train tickets from London to Paris there and am about to let herself know, the romantic devil that I am. The only problem is that I haven't a notion what to do there. I mean, I know it's an amazing global city of heritage and culture and all of that jazz but most of the stories I hear about it involve throngs of tourists marching up and down the Champs Elysee paying €14 a pint. I went there once as a young kid and all I remember are queues at Eurodisney and a load of Algerians shouting abuse at my my mam and aunt.

Has anyone been there and can recommend some stuff worth seeing or doing aside from the usual tourist trail?

Try taking a Bus Line 38 for a start,it travels through much of the Quartier Touristique....and its WAY cheaper too.

If it's a good clear day then visit The Montparnasse Tower,one of Paris's tallest structures with an amazing 360 view...and a fraction of the cost or queue time.

Another good visit is the Sewer Tour,Musee des Egouts..fascinating history of the development of the City.

There's also the Catacombs of Paris,if you prefer the dark dry underground !!!

Spanish Eyes · 05-01-2017 09:01PM

Go to Pere Lachaise Cemetery. Visit Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrisons graves. Sounds grim, but it's fascinating.

Take a train to Versailles (mentioned earlier). The opulence is sickening when the people had nothing to eat except cake. But it is stunning.

After that it's the usual stuff, but I like the Luxembourg Gardens, and around Les Invalides and the Marais.

Depends on what you like and if it's your first time visiting. There is just so much to see.

namloc1980 · 05-01-2017 09:07PM

Loads to do but avoid the tourist traps as much as possible. When you actually going OP?

Parchment · 05-01-2017 09:09PM

As mentioned if you or your lady friend are into shopping/fashion Galeries Lafayette is a gorgeous place to visit. Make sure to visit Isabel Marant there - her stuff is true Parisian style. Ugh - im jealous!

FTA69 · 05-01-2017 09:23PM

I'm off in early March and will be staying in a small flat in the city centre. The cemetery idea is class, I love graveyards and also the catacombs. Some great ideas in this thread keep them coming! We have two nights and a day there so should be plenty of stuff to do. We wouldn't be mad into the old fashion couture now, are there any particular parts of town worth a nose?

Spanish Eyes · 05-01-2017 09:24PM

namloc1980 wrote: »

Loads to do but avoid the tourist traps as much as possible. When you actually going OP?

Agreed, but if it's a first time visit, EVERYTHING possible should be on the list! I echo the hop on/off bus if a first timer. Then you can decide what to see or not.

A carnet of tickets for the metro/bus is useful too. Ten tickets one use each.

Second and subsequent times you visit, then you can be more discerning about off the beaten track.

Spanish Eyes · 05-01-2017 09:31PM

FTA69 wrote: »

I'm off in early March and will be staying in a small flat in the city centre. The cemetery idea is class, I love graveyards and also the catacombs. Some great ideas in this thread keep them coming! We have two nights and a day there so should be plenty of stuff to do. We wouldn't be mad into the old fashion couture now, are there any particular parts of town worth a nose?

First time visit and you have a short enough time really, so get a hop on hop off bus ticket. I know some snort and sniff at them, but for a quick visit they are great to get your ball bearings!

Lovely time to visit too I might add, before the madness of Easter and the buds are on the trees too. Ah Springtime in Paris.

Some great cafe culture + studenty (ahem pretentious Americans on sabbatical types!) around the Sorbonne. I liked it, but take it with a pinch of garlic lol.

Have a great time OP.

Parchment · 05-01-2017 09:32PM

The hop-on hop-off bus is a great starter in any city and i say that as a very regular traveller. I love the bus tour, it helps you get your bearings and get a feel for a city.

Wellyd · 05-01-2017 09:37PM

Definitely head to Versailles. It's so over the top but I loved it. Don't spend all your time in the Chateau either head out to the grand and petit Trianon they're so pretty. I loved the view from the top of the sacre coeur but my god the amount of pickpockets there was ridiculous. It was worse than any of the obvious touristy spots. Definitely get a carnet of tickets for the metro it really is the best way to get around the city.

Canard · 05-01-2017 10:15PM

I like the canal saint martin a lot, it's probably not the best option for such a short visit but it's quite picturesque to walk along

biko · 05-01-2017 10:17PM

Brandenburger Tor, it's amazing in the spring

Spanish Eyes · 05-01-2017 10:20PM

Canard wrote: »

I like the canal saint martin a lot, it's probably not the best option for such a short visit but it's quite picturesque to walk along

That's a hidden gem alright. But as you say for a first time visit, there might not be enough time!

Are you from France? Just wondered.

evolving_doors · 05-01-2017 10:29PM

Salvador Dali museum near montmarte

Canard · 05-01-2017 10:56PM

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

That's a hidden gem alright. But as you say for a first time visit, there might not be enough time!

Are you from France? Just wondered.

I'm not actually, but I live in Paris! Still loving some of the touristy areas

ArmaniJeanss · 05-01-2017 11:53PM

CelticRambler wrote: »

I wouldn't be bothered with Notre Dame either - a dull tourist warehouse

Have to disagree with this, Notre Dame cathedral is fantastic (and free).
One of the most atmospheric buildings I've been in, its ultra goth with the low lighting, candles, continuous organ music, tombs and statues of people who died grotesquely. All its missing is Vincent Price reading Poe in a corner.

jimmy blevins · 05-01-2017 11:56PM

Try reading "down and out in Paris and London" for some inspiration.

Mr. FoggPatches · 05-01-2017 11:59PM

FTA69 wrote: »

I'm after booking some dirt cheap train tickets from London to Paris there and am about to let herself know, the romantic devil that I am.

Get her a ticket too. You'll be a hero.

cbyrd · 06-01-2017 12:18AM

CelticRambler wrote:

The catacombs are worth a visit (if you're not afraid of dark holes and skull-eyes looking at you!).

Definitely worth a visit but check times first as it's tours are timed so not always available.

CelticRambler wrote:

The inside of the Arc de Triomphe has a great staircase - and there's a good view of the city from the top. You might get killed trying to get across the road to it, but where better to die in your lover's arms?

230 odd medieval steps to the top but so worth the view! You could spend hours watching the mentaller drivers!
And don't attempt to cross the road! There's an underground passage for tourists, the cops will kick your ass if you try to cross the road.

The thing with the tourist areas ( like the Eiffel tower or Versailles) is if you want to see it get there very early in the morning. The city is full of atmosphere. I love it.

Gay Old Par-eee

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