About This Trip
We took this trip for our honeymoon in 2010. We flew standby on Southwest Airlines to Philadelphia and then to flew on Air France to the Charles De Gaulle airport. Our trip was 6 days. We stayed at the Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel and Conference Center. This was in the Montparnasse arrondisement and a little off the main city center which was nice. There was a very convenient metro station right by the hotel and a little bakery a block away that was a great way to start the day with a little quiche and cafe au lait. The Paris Metro is amazing in its organization and efficiency.
I took French in high school and college, so I knew enough vocabulary to get around. I had to brush up a little on conversational phrases. We didn't encounter a lot people who didn't speak any English, but we were respectful enough not to assume and tried our best with French. We found most of the Parisian people who we interacted with lovely and welcoming. We went in June and the weather was perfect. I didn't make notes of many of the places where we ate, but on the whole the food was great.
Day 1
We took a boat ride on the Seine river, courtesty of Bateaux Mouches. This was an great way to get oriented and get the lay of the land, and it gave us our first looks at the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum, Musée d'Orsay, Pont des Arts, le Grand Palais, the Hotel des Invalides, and other sights.
Our next stop was the beautiful Sainte-Chapelle Cathedral. St. Chapelle is a Gothic-style medieval chapel that was built in the 13th century. It is known for its stunning stained glass windows depicting biblical scenes. The chapel was commissioned by King Louis IX to house important Christian relics.
After St. Chappelle, we visited La Conciergerie. La Conciergerie served as a royal palace in the past and later became a prison during the French Revolution. It is particularly renowned for housing prominent political prisoners, including Marie Antoinette. I highly recommend listening to this podcast episode and maybe reading up about the poor, ill-fated Marie Antionette before you go.
Because my husband and I like to pack a lot in one day, we decided to tour Notre Dame Cathedral and the Ile de la Cite and Ile St. Louis next. The views from the top of the cathedral are well worth the 422 stair walk up. Photos do not do the stunning Gothic architecture justice. The adjacent Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis offer charming streets, quaint cafes, and picturesque views of the Seine River, making them perfect spots for leisurely walks and exploration in the heart of Paris. The adjacent Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis offer charming streets, quaint cafes, and picturesque views of the Seine River, making them perfect spots for leisurely walks and exploration in the heart of Paris.
Day 2
We took a stroll along the Champs-Élysées and explored the magnificent Arc de Triomphe. If you like shopping (I do not) this is the place to be! Afterward, we made our way back to the Eiffel Tower to see it up close and enjoyed a picnic lunch nearby. Our next stop was the Musee Rodin. The sculpture gardens there were the highlight of the day (the most famous statues in the Rodin Gardens are "The Thinker" and "The Kiss"). Continuing our tour, we visited the Musée de l'Armée, the Dome Church, and the Hôtel National des Invalides, all of which offer fascinating insights into military history. The Dome Church is the final resting place of many renowned figures, including Napoleon Bonaparte.
Day 3
We started the day by visiting the Musée de l'Orangerie. It showcased beautiful artworks and provided insights into the art movement of the time. Afterwards, we strolled through the Jardin des Tuileries, enjoying the serene atmosphere and well-manicured gardens. It was a nice break from the city.
After that, we explored the Musée d'Orsay, which houses an impressive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, including masterpieces by Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh. And then to, on to the museum of museums - the Louvre. The Louvre is exceptionally big - so we did make a bee-line for the highlights including, the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace, and the Code of Hammurabi. After that we took in what we could and relaxed the rest of they day like you're supposed to in Paris.
Eric and I aren't big on super nice restaurant four course meal type of places, but on this day we did choose a nice restaurant in the evening.
Day 4
This was the hottest day of our trip, and since we are in the year 2010, we did not have helpful cell phones to know things like "this place that you found in your travel book closed two months ago." So, Day 4 was a bit of a mess. We started with a journey to see the Sacre Coeur and took the funicular up to the top for the views. The views were beautiful but this experience was extremely crowded. I think it was also trash day and there were overflowing trash cans everywhere - which I'm sure you can imagine the smell of in summer. We then went on a wild goose chase trying to find a Picasso museum that no longer existed (and along the way there, Eric stepped in dog mess). We toured a couple of fine but unremarkable little museums and then decided cut our losses and just grab some drinks (In hindsight, I really wish we had done Versailles on Day 4.)
In the evening, we visited the Eiffel Tower again to see it lit up at night.
Day 5
My favorite day (except for my sandals which were a very poor choice; bring good footwear for these cobblestones.) We started by visiting des Catacombs, an underground ossuary filled with human bones. It was fascinating to see the carefully arranged skulls and bones, offering a unique perspective on the city's history and mortality.
Next, we wandered through the Père Lachaise Cemetery. Famous personalities like Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, and Edith Piaf are buried there. We sought out the Kissing Wall, where visitors leave red lipstick marks as a sign of affection. We also discovered Victor Noir’s grave, which is believed to bring good luck to couples trying to conceive if you rub a certain part of it (we have two kids now, so I guess it worked?).
We headed to Canal St. Martin in the afternoon. The tranquil atmosphere, along with the shimmering water and passing boats, provided the perfect setting for us to relax and enjoy our books and the 3 dollar bottle of wine we picked up on the way. (I don't know if it's still this way, but Paris has the best cheap wine!)
Day 6
We flew out on Day 6 (standby again, we got the last two seats on Air France to Houston, and then had to drive back to Dallas, but I would still call it a successful nonrevenue experience).
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