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03-15-2007, 06:13 PM
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Optimism Lover
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Must See Paris/Barcelona Sites?
Going to Paris/Barcelona in less than 3 weeks now and I was wondering if any of the avid travelers (i.e. BB73) on the board recommend any must-see spots besides the obvious.
I've never been to either but besides the Sagrada Familia, Parque Guell, Eiffel, Arc, Louvre...I was kind of hoping for some suggestions. Going with the G/F, so a restaurant with good food and a quality ambience wouldn't hurt either.
I've been doing some research online, but there's no advice like personal advice imo. Any words from the wiser?
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03-15-2007, 11:55 PM
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Legend
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cornerback6
Going to Paris/Barcelona in less than 3 weeks now and I was wondering if any of the avid travelers (i.e. BB73) on the board recommend any must-see spots besides the obvious.
I've never been to either but besides the Sagrada Familia, Parque Guell, Eiffel, Arc, Louvre...I was kind of hoping for some suggestions. Going with the G/F, so a restaurant with good food and a quality ambience wouldn't hurt either.
I've been doing some research online, but there's no advice like personal advice imo. Any words from the wiser?
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Go to the Champs Elysees and hang out in one of the outdoor cafes. Watch the people walk up and down the avenue and you may see a model or two as some very exclusive shops are on the street. But remember to order wine as it as cheap as water over there. I ordered Heineken and it ran me about $9 a bottle. A pitcher of wine was something like $2. As far as food you really can't find a bad restaurant. Ask your server or hotel desk clerk as they usually (the hotel especially) have some very good recommendations. Just make it clear to them that you are not interested in any touristy type restaurants but the local mom & pop type restaurants. Oh almost forgot there are some tour boats that travel down the Seinne River you see Norte Dame and the miniature Statue of Liberty we sent the French to Thank them for their friendship and the big lady in NY Harbor. And don't forget Versailles.....
Last edited by Wingate1217; 03-16-2007 at 12:01 AM.
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03-16-2007, 08:49 AM
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First we take Michigan--then the whole world!
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You already mentioned the Eiffel Tower. I hear it's...
[oh God you're going to hate me for this...]
...an eye full !!!
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Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you. But Michigan always sucks. 
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03-16-2007, 09:11 AM
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Crazy Bearded Fool
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Just north of Paris, about 35km I believe, is hallowed Marine Corps ground.
Belleau Wood
The cemetary there and surrounding woods are beautiful. |
03-16-2007, 11:44 AM
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Loves Buckeye History
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I'd recommend looking at Rick Steves' books (or PBS videos if you can find them). He picks out highlights and tells you the best way to see them, without having a huge book to read. We went to Versailles, and because of some inside info in his book, we used a side entrance and avoided standing in line for 2-3 hours. April is a good month for avoiding the worst of the long lines, but the popular spots will still be crowded. He also suggests itineraries for different lengths of time - like 3 days or 7 days.
I like to check out paperback guidebooks from the library and take them along on the trips. That way you have maps and restaurant choices with you all the time.
Some things are musts if it's your first time there. The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame (including going up top to see the gargoyles), L'Arc de Triumph. If you have any appreciation of art at all, the Louvre is a great place.
The rest of it really depends on your personal preferences. I enjoyed walking through the oudoor sculpture garden at the Rodin museum, but that might not be your thing. Some people want to see Jim Morrison's gravesite, while others couldn't care less. Some are interested in seeing the human skulls lining the walls in the catacombs, some aren't.
In Barcelona, seeing the fountains of Montjuic at night is a worthwhile event. Just walking down La Rambla, a main boulevard in the city, is something I'd recommend, there are street performers and cafes along the way. If you're interested in museums, Barelona has a fine Picasso museum, and in Figueres (almost at the French border), there's a Salvador Dali museum that's very unique. There is also an old section of the town that's interesting to walk around.
How many days do you have in each city?
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03-16-2007, 12:17 PM
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Certifiable
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BB73
Some people want to see Jim Morrison's gravesite, while others couldn't care less.
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Even if you couldn't care less about Jim Morrison, I'd recommend visiting Pere Lachaise anyway. Maybe I have an overly morbid interest in cemetaries in general, but this one is fascinating. Frederick [censored]ing Chopin is buried there, too.
If you want more church/architecture kind of stuff, in addition to Notre Dame, you may want to check out Sacre Coeur, Saint-Sulpice (yeah, the one from Da Vinci code), and Saint-Chapelle.
If history is more your thing, check out Les Invalides. There's another church there, plus a military museum and Napoleon's tomb.
I personally think one of the most enjoyable things to do in cities with good public transportation is to buy a subway day pass, hop on, and just jump off at random locations and wander around for a while. I've found some of the best little cafes, restaurants and shops that way, and I think you get a better feel for the "normal" life there, since you can get away from the touristy areas. So, go out riding on the Metro for a while.
Oh, and make sure to get some crepes from a street vendor. mmmm...
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03-16-2007, 12:34 PM
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Let It Rock
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