My 4th trip to Paris, France!

This trip will be my 4th trip to Paris. I stayed for 2 weeks, and have divided the pages by Week 4 and Week 5.

Week 4:

I purchased a non-stop flight from Seattle to Paris through Air France and left Seattle for next day arrival in Paris.

Day 1

I made arrangements to stay in the same apartment as last year, on Rue Vivienne. Since the apartment was vacated on Friday instead of Saturday morning, the owner, Samantha, was allowing me to check in at noon.

I took the Roissybus from Charles DeGaulle Airport (CDG) to Opera. Since I still had a bit of time, I stopped and got a couple of chocolate croissants and wound my way towards the apartment.

I was still a little early, so I walked through Passage Vivienne. I saw a crepe restaurant and decided that I would go there for dinner tonight.

At noon, I checked in to may apartment and visited with Samantha for a few minutes after learning all the instructions. The comments provided by Samantha and others provide a lot of good tips.

After I quickly unpacked my two bags, I grabbed my Safeway cloth shopping bag and headed for the nearby new Monoprix. I was able to get toilet paper, laundry detergent, wine, bread and cheese to get me through the weekend.

Then I headed for my favorite ice cream place Berthillon for framboise and chocolat (raspberry and chocolate). On the way, I passed by the Horolage (clock) on Ile de la Cite. My ice cream was so delicious!

I walked up by Centre Pompidou and through Les Halles and then through an area of Passage Vivienne that I had not seen before, and returned to the apartment.

I went to La Creperie for dinner and had crepe suzette, which are crepes with orange marmalade, lemon and orange zest and grand marnier that was lit. It was pretty good.

I came back to the apartment and took a little nap. Then, I just relaxed and read some of the brochures and house journal and watched a little CNN. before going to bed.

Day 2

I was out of the apartment by 9, and at one metro stop was able to get my Carte Orange metro/bus/RER pass for the week. I purchased 3 zones, because that included Meudon and Rueil Malmaison and would make it easy for my trips there.

The Carte Orange will be discontinued in June. It is being replaced by the Navigo Decouverte. I like the Navigo much better. It is a swipe card, versus the little ticket. It is much easier to swipe on the metro or bus then pull out that little ticket, as well as the little tickets being easier to lose. The Navigo case and card with photo can be used for years, and you just recharge the card at a machine or at the booth.

There is a small art fair in Montparnasse on Sunday, so I went and walk through that for a little while. Then I found the statue of Balzac by Rodin

I walked past the Luxembourg Gardens and over to Rue Mouffetard, one of the oldest market streets in Paris. That was great fun and very crowded on a Sunday morning. I bought some cheese, raspberries, some chocolate, a couple of pastries, a bagette, chocolate croissants, olive tempenade and finally a panini for my lunch. Again, my Safeway cloth shopping bag came in real handy.

I took my supplies back to the house and finished my lunch. I had several options open for the afternoon, but decided to go to the Camille Claudel Exhibition at the Rodin Museum. I just couldn't wait to see the collection of her work, especially since she is my favorite sculptor.

I had to stand in line for 2 hours, which was very hard on my back, but it was worth it. I was not allowed to take pictures, which was somewhat disappointing, but the exhibit is fabulous!! She was so good!

When I finished, I decided to head over to Berthillon for ice cream again. It was so good! In one of the shops near there I found some Framboise Conficture (raspberry jam).

I walked around the Chatelet area, just looking at the different architecture and shops and trying to explore some new places on the way back to the apartment.

Day 3

Today I took a practice trip out to Rueil Malmaison. I wanted to make sure that I could find the bus and the right bus stop and see how far it was to the office where I was going to meet my co-workers.

Once I had found everything, I went to Chateau Malmaison. The chateau was very interesting. Napoleons' Josephine spent a lot of time here. I really enjoyed the chateau. I like the clocks, and especially the astronomical globe.

I left the chateau and walked over to Bois-Preau. The chateau was closed, but I walked through the park.

I spent a little time wandering around La Defense when I got off the bus. It was quite easy to get off the metro and follow the signs to the bus stop. I had the information I'd brought from home, so knew the bus number. All I had to do was find the pick-up point which was well marked, and wait for a bus.

The view from La Defense is great! You can look down the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe and beyond that see the Obelisk. It is worth the trip out for that view. The Arch is quite interesting as well. It looks just like a window or picture frame.

I found a Transilien ticket booth and bought my Forfait Losiers for Versailles for tomorrow. This is a great deal. I have access to any building that are open and access to the grounds, my RER tickets to and from the chateau, all in one little package.

I rode the metro again to the Arc de Triomphe, and walked around it and underneath it. After that I walked down the Champs Elysees, the south side this time.

A building down one side street was being remodeled, and they had painted the side with a picture of a building that was morphing, it was very interesting looking.

I went by the Toyota dealer and they had some prototype of 3 concept cars on display, it was fun to go inside and see what the future may bring.

I was tired and footsore, so caught the metro back to Louvre Carrousel. I walked around inside for a while looking at some of the shops.

I went to the apartment and relaxed for a little while, and then went to dinner at the recommended Gallopin. On the way I saw Samantha, and her children Will and Ophelia, and chatted for a few minutes. Cute kids! I had a veal stew that was very good.

Day 4

I'm on my way to Versailles. I made my way via the Metro to St Michel where I could catch the C RER to Versailles.

The train, for some reason, only went a few stops and then we had to get off and catch another one. I was a little confused, and there was an empty train sitting across the tracks, so I asked if it went to Versailles, and the attendant said yes.

I hopped on the train and off we went, it was pretty easy. Some people got off at the main Versailles station, but I wanted Versailles Rive Gauche which was a little closer to the chateau. However, the next stop was not that stop, so I checked the map near the door and I was not on the train to Rive Gauche, I was on the train to St Quentin. So I had to get off and wait for a train back to the main Versailles stop. I had to wait half an hour, but I made it.

By getting off at the main station, I had to walk a little farther, but it all turned out okay, I got to see a little more of the city. The walk up to the chateau is quite amazing. There was a shorter line because I had the Transilien pass, although the tour bus line was closed, so they were in my line, there was only one group ahead of me, so once we got moving, it didn't take too long. My pass gave me access to everything that was open to the public.

I started with my tour of the main chateau. I've been through quite a few chateaus and this is another great one to visit. I could only see the chapel from the entrance, but it is magnificent.

After exiting the chateau, I caught a little tourist train that took me to the Petit Trianon. The train has several stops, and your ticket allows you to hop on and off at the different stops. Samantha, my apartment owner said the little village of Marie-Antoinette that had opened recently, was worth seeing. The Petit Trianon was closed, but this is the best place to get to the village.

The village is cute and interesting. Each building has its own style and usage. I really enjoyed the walk and the sights.

I was going to get on the train again, but ended up walking down to the Grand Trianon which is made of stone and pink marble. Well I love stone and really enjoy seeing the different colors of marble that exist in the buildings of Europe. This is a beautiful building.

I walked around for a while, seeing what I could, and then I was getting tired of walking so, waited for the tourist train, two came by full, so several people complained, we'd been waiting quite a while, and though we could have walked, it was quite a ways. Eventually they sent a train for us and we got back to the main chateau. I walk through one nearby garden, but by no means saw all the gardens and missed the Colonnade completely, but enjoyed all that I did see.

I was ready to head back, so I walked out of the chateau grounds and was heading for the RER, planning to catch the Rive Gauche train. Well, just so you know, there are actually 4 different stations in Versailles, so you have to be careful, but I finally found the Rive Gauche station and easily caught the train back to Paris.

To note, there was only a Take Away Cafeteria inside the chateau grounds, no other food that I saw. So you may want to bring a picnic.

On the way backed, I learned the RER tricks. They are very similar to any train, being that there is a schedule posted, and the Voie (track) name/number. The train is usually given a 4 character name (LILY, VERT) or something, so you have to go to the track, then watch for the train with the correct name for your destination. There are TV monitors that help, and if you are at the right Voie, and the monitor says that the train has arrived then you can get on it. The name of the train was only on the engine, so that is how I missed things on the way out. I have it figured out now, and will put it to the test on Friday when I go to Meudon.

When I got off the Metro, the little weekly market was still open, so I got some fruit and olives. I also bought some chocolates for the shop on Rue Vivienne.

Day 5

Today began a slow morning, getting up late taking my time, relaxing.

I went to the Rue Montorgueil market and bought some pastries, bread, and found a chocolate shop. On the way back to the apartment I stopped at a wine shop and bought some wine. At the apartment I spent time reading.

About 3:30 I decided to go for a walk east down Boulevard Montmartre. I had only been a block or two east of Rue Vivienne in the past. Shortly it changes to Boulevard Poissonnierre, Boulevard de Bonne Nouvelle, Boulevard St Denis and Boulevard St Martin. This can be a little confusing...having so many names on one street.

There are 2 Portes found along this walk, Porte St Denis and Porte St Martin which are ancient "gates" to the city. Porte St Denis was built in 1672 and Porte St Martin was built in 1674.

When I reached Square H Christine and Place de la Republique, I turned down Rue de Turbigo, past Arts et Metiers, which is a great museum that I visited last trip to Paris.

At Rue Tiquetonne I turned right and found myself back on Rue Montorgueil and returned to the apartment for dinner and the rest of the evening.

Day 6

I returned to Rueil Malmaison and my company headquarters to visit the New Electric World Center and meet with several co-workers.

Day 7

The weather is great today, so I went to Parc Monceau and walked around it. This is a nice park, it has some interesting features, a basin and collonade and a mountain cascade. There is a play area for children at the west end. The park was also the scene of the first recorded parachute landing in 1797.

I walked out of the park and northeast on Boulevard Courcelles. On Boulevard de Batignolles there is actually a wide tree lined pedestrian walk down the center of the street. This is very nice. As you continue walking you can see Sacre Coeur emerge through the trees, a great scene.

I turned down Rue Clapeyron and found the address of the apartment my sister and family will stay at in June. She is renting from www.perfectlyparis.com . There is a boulangerie across the street and that will come in real handy for them.

I returned to Boulevard de Batignolle and walked down the center back to the west heading for Rue de Levi which is another market street. I had thought of renting an apartment near the end of this street, so I wanted to look at the location as well as see what shops were here.

There is a large Monoprix with grocery on the right (heading northwest) and clothing, etc. on the left. This is a great store for general groceries and sundries. I found a patisserie and bought my staple chocolate croissants and baguette.

Again, I'm glad for the cloth grocery bag I have brought and carried with me each day. I have used it almost every time to carry groceries, books, and other purchases.

I dropped my groceries at the apartment, had a little lunch and then caught the RER out to Meudon. This trip went much easier. When I arrived at the Meudon station, I decided to walk rather than take the bus, it was only about a mile or so.

The Rodin Museum in Meudon consists of a house where you can see the dining room, living room and workshop, the tomb of Rodin underneath the Thinker statue, and the pavilion. The pavilion contains many plasters of Rodin's principal figures and monuments as well as some studies of arms, legs, and hands, which are really interesting.

On the return to Paris, I got off the RER at Bir Hakeim and walked to the center of Pont de Bir Hakeim and down southwest on the walkway until I reached the Statue of Liberty replica.

I went from there to Berthillon, but it was closed, so I went to one of the shops nearby that sell there sorbet and had Chocolate Noir (Dark Chocolate) and Framboise (Raspberry). It was fantastic. This is the first time I had found dark chocolate sorbet, and it is my favorite.

At one of the main metro stops, I purchased a 2 zone Navigo Decouvert for next Monday through Sunday. Since it is the first one, I had to supply a picture and buy the case. I like it so much better, because it is a swipe card, and I don't have to keep pulling out the little metro ticket and putting it in the gate and collecting it. Now I just have one swipe and I'm done. Again, this card will replace the Carte Orange this June.