In 2003, I spent a week in Paris with friends.  We saw as many of the sights as was humanly possible.  Here are the highlights:

Jill's Tips

• Read about Jill's passport woes - scroll down to July 18 entry

• Don't take too much luggage.  Everyone tells you this and we can't stress it enough.  There are many more stairs than elevators in this best of all possible worlds.

• Late July travel means sales are everywhere.  Caveat - you won't be able to return your bargains once you get home.

• Le Tour de France (scroll down for photo), like any major sporting event, is a memory worth making.  Plan for crowds.

• A bicycling tour of Versailles - you and your bike take the train from Paris - is the best way to see the palace grounds.

• Wear the most comfortable shoes you can afford.  We've chosen to affiliate with Sierra Trading Post just because of their great deals on high quality brands like Ecco and Mephisto.

SierraTradingPost.com: save 35-70% on casual apparel, dress clothing, travel gear, outdoor clothing, footwear, home furnishings, and outdoor gear!

Sights

Paris is one big traveler's paradise.  There's something to see around every corner.  Here are just a few of Jill's favorite sights.  Click on the links for more info.  Click on the photos to enlarge them. 

Arc de Triomphe- It took nearly 80 years to build, but almost at once, victorious armies were marching under the arch.  You can climb to the museum and terrace at the top or take the elevator to save your feet.

http://www.paris.org/Monuments/Arc/

Catacombs - Death welcomes tourists too!

http://triggur.org/cata/

Eiffel Tower- Parisians originally hated this "metal asparagus."  Now we all recognize it as the symbol of Paris.

http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/

http://www.paris.org/Monuments/Eiffel/info.html

Hôtel des Invalides - Don't forget to pay your respects at Napoleon's tomb.  This was originally a military hospital.

• Napoleon had an American sister-in-law.  Find out more about Betsy Bonaparte.

• He also dumped his fiancée.  She ended up as Queen of Sweden.  Click here for Désirée's bio.

http://www.paris.org/Musees/Invalides/

Louvre - The Venus de Milo is just one of the many wonders inside this great museum.  The outside pyramids serve as an entrance and a statement of, well, who knows?   

http://www.louvre.fr/

Musée D'Orsay - Impressionism rules.

http://www.paris.org/Musees/Orsay/info.html

Notre Dame Cathedral - Disney fans, students of architecture and gargoyle lovers must rejoice in a visit to this Gothic masterpiece.  Beautifully restored since its days as a stable during the French Revolution, this former site of a Roman temple holds 10,000 people.

http://www.paris.org/Monuments/NDame/

Pompidou Centre (Beauborg) - The most visited museum in France.

Sainte Chapelle- A medieval marvel.

http://www.paris.org/Monuments/Sainte.Chapelle/info.html

Sacré-Coueur- The view from the top is one of the best in Paris.

http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/us/http://www.greenlightwrite.coml

http://www.paris.org/Monuments/Sacre.Coeur/info.html

Seine River - Shades of Edith Piaf, the great French singer.  If you haven't discovered her, don't waste a second.  Just listening to Piaf makes you feel like you're relaxing in a Left Bank bistro.

Sadly, the Seine is polluted, but who goes to Paris to go to the beach?  (Actually, they build a beach in the summer - open from late July to late August.  Just think twice about going in the water.  But do go for the ambience, the concerts and the fun.)

Versailles - Don't miss this day trip.  The cottages, The Queen's Hamlet, were Marie Antoinette's attempt to be one with the people - didn't work, but if we could find her head, we'd give it an A for effort.

Rest rooms were not part of the original construction.  Yuck.

http://www.chateauversailles.fr/en/

http://www.a-castle-for-rent.com/versailles/mirrors.htm

http://www.parisdigest.com/monument/chateaudeversailles-info.htm

Getting There

Deals vary.  Shop these sites (through our links please) to see who has the best bargain.

• Cheaptickets.com
• Travel Deals at Orbitz!

Food in Paris

"I had bad service, but I never had a bad meal."  Jill Kamp

Helpful sites

http://www.paris-touristoffice.com/index_va_v2.html

webcam: http://www.abcparislive.com/

click on the photos to enlarge them

Arc de Triomphe

Catacombs

Jill and Sam at the Eiffle Tower

view from underneath the tower

Napoleon's final resting place

Venus de Milo at the Louvre

Visit our own
Venus Treasures,
the Aphrodite Collection,
to learn more about this Greek goddess

pyramid at the Louvre

Musée D'Orsay

Notre Dame

Sainte Chapelle - bottom photo shows the Bible in stained glass

Seine River

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Marie Antoinette made attempts to live like a peasant at Versailles

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exteriors of Versailles above

interiors below

Versailles - the Hall of Mirrors (above) has been used for international ceremonies. 

• 1871 - King Wilhelm I of Prussia proclaimed Kaiser of unified Germany at the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian War.

• 1919 - Treaty of Versailles ended WWI and set the stage for WWII.

$ Saving Tips

• Buy a one week Metro/bus pass to save on transportation

• Each your big meal at lunch

• Use a phone card to call home

More info

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