A beautiful weekend in Paris

Who loves Paris!  I do!  Living in Groningen makes it possible to get on a morning train and have a late lunch in Paris and stay the weekend.  Two nights at a Flipkey or Airbnb and voila – a beautiful weekend in Paris.  Leaving around 17:00 gives you plenty of time to return home.

Where to stay?  What to do?  Even with no plans, the city of light is a wonder to walk around and stop at interesting cafes and parks.  Altogether, my Paris time adds up to 28 days over 12 years.  Oh, how wonderful it would be to visit once every year.  Autumn perhaps this time?

If you stay in a central area near a Metro station, you have all of Paris at hand and much of it will be walkable.  A riverside walk along the Seine, crisscrossing over the bridges, is beautifully romantic.  In summer, the city thoughtfully provides a sand ‘beach’ and lots of fun for all ages.

The major tourist sites are out of my system so the smaller and more out-of-the-way features draw me in and there’s always a wish list, whether it’s to picnic at Buttes-Chaumont or return home with precious preserves and honey purchased at the markets or Le Bon Marche, or tea from Damman Freres.

Always, always, I keep Metro tickets handy as they do not expire.  If a ticket is too old to work, you can exchange it for a new one.  I buy a carnet of 10.  If by chance your trip is for a week starting on a Sunday or Monday, it is worthwhile to purchase a Navigo 1-week pass which will also allow you to go as far as Versailles.

With Metro stations being roughly 500 metres apart, Paris is ridiculously easy to get around and it’s easy to rest your feet or get out of the rain by hopping on a bus or Metro.  One scenic local bus route goes from the Eiffel Tower through the Marais to the Bastille.  It’s worth it just for the view.

A favourite memory of my last visit to Paris was walking past a flower shop on Rue St. Honore that sold only roses.  When a customer opened the door, the heady scent of roses blew out.  That area is for the well-heeled so it was window shopping only.

My suggestions for a trip to Paris include: joining a walking tour, Pere Lachaise cemetery, the Catacombs (oops, lots of death), Richard Lenoir market on a Sunday, Musee d’Orsay, the Cluny Middle Ages Museum which includes the ruins of a Roman bath, and at least half a day in the hilly Montmartre area, taking the funicular up to Sacre Coeur.

The Notre Dame area is fascinating with features such as the oldest tree in the city, the famous Shakespeare and Company bookstore, and also a nearby plant market.  It is an extremely busy area though and for a quieter pace I enjoy the rue Mouffetard area.  It is one of the oldest streets in Paris and nearby are the ruins of a Roman arena, Arenes Luteces.

Shoppers will love the gigantic department stores Printemps and Galeries Lafayette which are next to each other.  The architecture is most breathtaking from inside.  The restaurant on the top floor of Printemps has a stained glass ceiling.

Winter or summer, it is a beautiful.  I have an image of a misty evening walk along the Seine under the coloured leaves of fall as the streetlights come on.  Perhaps this year!