First of all, I want to give a warm round of %26quot;thank yous%26quot; to everyone who has ever posted on this site, your questions and answers really helped!
One week is really not enough to see everthing, I still feel like I barely know Paris, but will be going back one day.
We stayed at one of Isabelle%26#39;s Apartments, The Beaubourg. Looked just like the web site. It was nice and quiet and really centrally located. I was able to walk to Notre Dame for 8am mass every morning. Only time we used mass transit was to and from the airport. Not sure if anyone else would be crazy enough to walk from the 4th ard. to the Eiffel Tower and L%26#39;Arc Du Trioumphe in one day but we did, that was a bit of a hike but worth it. Everyting else was pretty close by, including a really good Chilean bar/cafe Cap Horn... they had some really good empanadas, pisco sours and mojitos, check them out.
The best part was having a washing machine as we were able to bring just carry-on luggage.
The Beauborg neighbourhood is nice. We found a great cafe, right across from the Pomideau Center on Beauborg (Paris Beauborg, I believe it%26#39;s called) Service was very good and prices were reasonable.
We were right around the corner from a Monop too which came in handy.
The ring scam is real! We has 6 people in one day try it on us. The friendship bracelet scam is real as well. When going to Sacre Couer keep your arms firmly to your sides, they will try to grab your wrist.
That said, all the stories of rude parisians, don%26#39;t believe them, so many people were very helpful when we obviously looked lost, though I did my best to speak French, even when they spoke English to me.
The food was amazing, though nothing like Julia Child had prepared me for. French food isn%26#39;t nearly as complicated as she makess it out to be. Also, was surprised meals weren%26#39;t that expensive. And for all my fellow vegetarians, I was able to eat well every place we went and we went to regular restaurants. You%26#39;ll be fine.
Clothing, at least for men, didn%26#39;t seem to different from any well dressed guy in the States, though most guys were wandering around with pants so tight that not too much was left to the imagination. Can%26#39;t be too comfortable.
We went to a choral concert at Notre Dame Tuesday night... the acoustics in that place are amazing! A recording wouldn%26#39;t be able to do it justice.
We were just so amazed by the beauty of Paris, it%26#39;s amazing that it%26#39;s a real place. We can%26#39;t wait to get back!
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Thanks so much for your report! So glad you had a wonderful time.
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Sounds like you had a special trip, I can hear the wonder and joy in your report. Nice also to get confirmation that Isabelle%26#39;s apartments are OK from someone who is obviously a genuine traveller, as there has been some discussion re that on TA.
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Thanks for your post. We are leaving in 10 days and I can%26#39;t wait. I am now going to make sure Notre Dame is on the list for Tuesday evening!
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Anne, not sure if they have a concert every Tues. Check the website. I did notice flyers all over the city for various concerts in other churches so look around.
We did go to the Sunday evening mass, it is televised on the French Catholic Channel. I had goosebumps through the whole mass. There is also a 10AM(?) Gregorian chant mass that many people in the forum say is moving.
This trip for me was my 40th b-day so it was part a celebration of life and also a pilgramige, I must have hit well over 10 churches, all of which really moved me.
Lynn, glad you were able to capture the wonder and awe, I thought I was rambling and cut my post short, but it really was just an amazing experience, it%26#39;s hard to write rationally. The history, art and spirituality that is Paris is so huge I can%26#39;t imagine anyone not getting emotional.
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Another convert (smile!) Isn%26#39;t it just amazingly wonderful! It appears that you, among many others who came before you, were only able to get yourself to leave by promising yourself that you would return again someday. And so you will.
I%26#39;m glad you enjoyed your trip.
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Thansk for trip report,, I always enjoy reading about them!
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Welcome Home! Sounds like you had a wonderful trip to Paris. Thank you for taking the time to give us a trip report.
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Glad you had a great trip. Now that you have returned home you must begin planning the next one..........sigh.
As a fellow vegetarian it is always good to hear that you were able to get some yummy food. I also agree that we have found the french people very helpful despite our failing french.
Thanks for the post.
Trish
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