The start of my 14 day non cruising European tour, 1st stop Paris, arrived at Paris(CDG) airport and took the RER train from the airport to town and then hopped on the metro all on the same ticket, metro is very easy to navigate you can go anywhere with ease. Booked a 4 night stay at Hotel Jeanne d’Arc (http://hoteljeannedarc.com/) great location, easy walk to Notre dame (do not buy the avoid the lines tickets as the lines move quick and it is free entrance) amazing cathedral, walked to Saint Chapelle( 5 minutes away) bought entrance tickets and visited this lovely place, be advised there is always a line. Made my way to the “Louvre” but decided not to go in as it would take a full day just looking opted for lunch at a little self service local place across from the Louvre, lucked out by picking this place that the locals must frequent all the cooks & workers there kept coming out & talking with multiple customers & the actual French tours were evidently bringing their tours there… Food was good & big portions.
Wanting to see as much as possible in a short time I booked 3 bike excursions with Fat tires bike tours (http://paris.fattirebiketours.com/), I have booked with them before and they are always good. Bike tour in Versailles is the ONLY way to see this massive place, the night bike and river combination tour was excellent as the Eiffel Tower is all lit up and began the sparkling/twinkling – this is done for 5 min every hr & it’s lovely. Saw the Arc d’ Triumph but could not climb up as the workers were on strike, walked Champs Élysées a bit but not a great attraction, Hopped back on the metro & over to Sacre-Coeur/ Montmartre… Great area but extremely crowded tons of locals hanging out all over the garden area leading up the hill to the church… Took the funicular up to the church. To celebrate wife’s birthday went to Bistrot de L’oulette (http://www.l-oulette.com/), most excellent. Overall thoughts, Paris a wonderful town pretty compact, biking was a great way to see the town and save your feet. If you plan on doing the museums 4 days is simply not enough.
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