To ask what's good about Paris?

[oldlaundbooth]

Off for a mini break in a couple of week's time.

After reading the heart-breaking thread about why everyone hates Paris AIBU to ask if there's ANYTHING good there?

Last time I went it was just me and DH and we were in lurve so maybe I have rose-tinted specs on but I remember it was fabulous.

Restaurants? Cafes? Parks? Markets? Places to stroll? Museums?

Our closet metro is Chateau d'Eau.

[Patapouf]

I love it, would move back in a heart beat. Only wierdos hate Paris

Architecture, food and cultural activities are second to none IMO.
Go to the Marais, try an eclair from eclair de genie, get a lamb pita from Miznon (all just off rue des rosiers)
Try the hot chocolate at cafe de flore or get a takeaway one from angelinas (opposite the Tuileries) as its half the price of sitting in and stroll through the park and people watch.
The grand mosque on the left bank has absolutely gorgeous gardens and a cute cafe with mint tea, lokum and baklava, plus it's right next to the the jardin des plantes which is gorgeous.

One of my favourite views is from the roof of Printemps departments store, it's free to go up and the shop has loads of lovely things you can get in the UK.

[prettybird]

I love it.

I love the way it is a living city, where people live, love, eat, walk, talk. Where there are boulangeries and patisseries on every corner. And a Tabac.

Where they turn an old railway station into a fabulous museum (the Musée d'Orsay).

Where they have the guts to build an extension to a gigantic ex-palace-now -museum as a glass pyramid right in the middle (the Louvre).

Where in the middle of the Ministry of Justice is the most exquisite painted and stained glass chapel (Sainte Chapellle).

Where you can sit in a cafe opposite Notre Dame and watch the people go by while you have soupe à l'oignon. (my favourite café, Café Panis).

....I could go on......

[ForalltheSaints]

Musee Marmatton, where you can see Monet's Impression, Sunrise
Musee d'Orsay
Easy to get around
Good food

Lucky me has a friend who lives there also.

[LaurieMarlow]

People in the UK are seriously weird about Paris. The vitriol is inexplicable to me.

What's good about Paris? Well, the stunning architecture, abundance of fabulous art, amazing cuisine, great shopping. I could go on and on, but just as a starting point, y'know.

Enjoy your mini break.

[bcngran]

Lovely lovely place, I always feel so happy when I go there, makes you remember how good to be alive. And my son and granddaughter live there too so for me it really is a happy place,... (but my son is always moaning about how hard it is to live there...traffic, public transport, pollution... although people who live in big cities generally do that, some of the time at least)

[BennyTheBall]

Who hates Paris? It's news to me.

The Marais, Orsay, Notre Dame... Easy to get around, not far away - I love a little jaunt to Paris.

My dh works there quite often so I sometimes hop on the Eurostar on a Friday to spend a weekend.

[BertieBotts]

Paris is LOVELY! I haven't read that thread, how boring. Don't listen to them.

It's so pretty and French and just real and lovely. I love Paris.

[ridemesideways]

Sacre Coeur de Monmartre. All lit up on a hot summer's night.

[gentlydownthestreammm]

If you like jazz, check out //www.parisjazzclub.net - click on 'agenda' to see what live jazz is happening in Paris the dates you are there. You usually have to pay for entry to bars with live music on Fridays and Saturdays, but there's a good amount of free stuff ('entree libre') during the week. If you like jazz, message me and let me know your dates I might be able to give you some tips.

Also generally, the Marais district is great for moseying around, people watching, sitting in bars and watching the world go by. Check out the area around the Picasso museum.

I don't think the Champs Elysees is that great, and it's hideously expensive, so stay away.

Luxembourg gardens lovely for strolling in.

Try doing a walk from Notre Dame > Hotel de Ville >Louvre>Tuillerie Gardens > Concorde > Invalides >Eiffel Tower. With lots of stops in bars along the way.

Drink kir, it's often the cheapest drink in most bars and is very French and delicious.

[beardsrock]

Thanks for the info everyone.

You guys are better than the guidebook!

(I'm Old the OP, on another computer logged in as Beardsrock, it won't let me log in under Old after Hacker Gate)

[beardsrock]

These weird people don't get Paris Benny

[gentlydownthestreammm]

Louvre wasn't meant to be crossed out, that was weird.

[Minshu]

I went for a couple of days years ago (with work) - would love to go back and see it properly. What I remember is just how friendly most people were - totally contrary to the stereotype I'd been led to expect!

[GrouchyKiwi]

Go on a Bateaux Mouche (I think that's how you spell it). Paris looks utterly beautiful from the river. We went just before sunset so ended up with a lovely golden glow over everything.

I loved the boulangerie and patisserie, the architecture, the food in general. And in the middle of the city somewhere (we found it mostly by accident, I think) is the church of Sainte Eustache, which took my breath away. It's not as ornate as the more famous churches but it has this incredible feeling.

Enjoy your break!

[Frika]

I used to live over by Chateau d'Eau a million years ago.

When I'm there now I gorge on art and churches, mostly, and last time I was researching a novel, so had a complicated itinerary of historical sites to traipse round, which was lovely. And I have a total love affair with Paris parks, so I spend a lot of time in the Jardins du Luxembourg reading and writing (or, if I'm en famille, in the lovely play area - my three year old adores the elderly carousel where you have to catch hoops on a stick). I'm never all that ambitious when I'm there, I spend most of the time mooching happily around eating grated carrot salad (why do delis elsewhere not routinely stock grated carrot salad?), macarons or something from Glaces Berthillon.

[LoucheLady]

Chateau d'Eau is, um, not the prettiest part of Paris, let's put it that way... but it is close to the centre :-)

[Frika]

Oh, and Chateau d'Eau alarms some tourists because of what they perceive to be marauding, sinister gangs of men running across the street with designs on their handbags or virtue - they're actually touts for various beauty salons begging you to come for a manicure. Annoying, but not actually fiendish!

[austengirl]

Love Paris. Last time I was there was a bit of a let down but that's because I wasn't in charge of planning the trip!

Lots of good suggestions already. If you like modern art, Centre Pompidou is worth a visit. If you don't, just check out the building and colourful fountains. There are many lovely squares to have a picnic lunch in or just watch the world go by. Place des Vosges is one of my favourites.

Canal St Martin is the new trendy area, I believe it's in the 10th arondissement. Lots of foodie stuff. You could download the Paris Pastry app to find the best patisseries in each arondissement.

Have a great time!

[oldlaundbooth]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

I will check out the jazz website gentlydownthestream thanks for that.

We are definitely planning a river trip - and all the foodie suggestions will be taken into consideration, especially the pastry app.

I will be sure to check out Canal St. Martin, we are very close to the 10th arrondisement.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

I lived in Paris for four years.

Get tickets for the Batobus - you can jump on and off, and it works out cheap if you get a two day ticket.

Do the non-touristy stuff - go to the material market - Marche St Pierre and pick up some rather lovely tea towels or curtain tie backs. Stroll through the passages with the twee shops and cute restaurants. Avoid the Champs Elysees. Walk down the Rue du Faubourg St Honore, and also through the Marais. Pompidou Centre, Musee d'Orsay, some of the smaller museums.

I find Paris an easier city to visit than to live in - the bureaucracy drove me spare, the rudeness of the Parisians to people who don't speak perfect French. I haven't been back since I left, and I don't miss it (apart from my favourite restaurant and my local market). London is the wild teenager to Paris's elderly maiden aunt, in my view.

[doughnutslikefannys]

Paris is my favourite city in the world, I love it. We're going back for a "minimoon" in October and can't wait!

[Frika]

London is the wild teenager to Paris's elderly maiden aunt, in my view.

That's absolutely true.

[Hobbes8]

What everyone else said, but also the Rodin Museum is lovely - it's set in gardens with Rodin sculptures all over the place.

[Hobbes8]

Oh and there's an old railway line that's been converted to a park - does anyone know what I mean?

[BudsBeginingSpringinSight]

I love paris. Love it.

I adore the little ilse saint louis..something about that part.
Love all the major sites, the clothes shops...the history the novels..