Hi there
Have booked up to go to Paris for the 1st time for our wedding anniversary from 30th April till 2nd May. We%26#39;re staying at the Clarion St James %26amp; Albany in 1st opposite Touleries Gardens. Any comments about the hotel?
We should arrive in Paris about lunchtime on Saturday. Hope to drop bags off at hotel then head along towards the Arc de Triomphe and do a few shops before heading for the Eiffle Tower late afternoon. Have a nice meal and head back to hotel, with maybe a boat trip on the Seine by night (after seeing the Tower light up in the dark).
From the other May 1st thread, I gather that most museums etc will be closed on Sunday 1st, so we hope just to wander the streets, maybe visit Sacre Coeur, and Notre Dame (late afternoon to take in an organ recital) and head to the latin quarter for a nice meal at night.
Monday we don%26#39;t have to leave Paris until about 7pm so we hope to visit the Louvre in the morning, and probably some more shops in the afternoon. Will many shops be closed on the Monday?
Has anyone any other suggestions as to where we could go? I love listening to organ music in churches, although any classical music is most welcome - are there any other places that give free recitals, or even any restaurants that play classical rather than %26#39;pop%26#39; music in the background?
Thanks
Stuart
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Friends of ours stayed at the St. James a year ago and loved it. You are in a great location, opposite Tuileries and a 10 minute walk from Louvre. You are also on Rue Rivoli, which has dozens of tourist shops, many of which are open on Sundays and holidays. Cafe Angelina, a wonderful hot chocolate and pastry shop is a couple blocks from your hotel at 226 rue Rivoli. Even if you are not crazy about hot chocolate, try the Africain; it%26#39;s worth it. It opens at 9 am; we went there straight from overnight flight from DC to Paris while hotel was preparing our room.
Eiffel Tower is open on May first, but get there early if you change plans and go that day isntead; everyone else who cannot go to a museum has had the same idea. Send yourself a postcard from the Eiffel Tower post office; there is a souvenir shop, cafeteria, post office, and small exhibition on first level that are worth checking out, not least because the post office will postmark your card %26quot;Eiffel Tower.%26quot; Be sure to walk to Arc de Triomphe along Tuilerie gardens and Place de la Concorde; the latter is stunning. and Tuileries have pleasant cafes where you can get your bearing with a drink or ice-cream.
St. Chappelle is beautiful and posters outside entrance (just inside main gate, after you go through metal detector) advertise upcoming concerts.
There is a very moving ceremony at Arc de Triomphe on May first. We caught it by chance; ask concierge for time (it was mid/late afternoon).
Trocadero area, across from Eiffel Tower, is also hopping on May first, with lots of outdoor musicians etc.
Most shops should be open by Monday afternoon.
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If you go to Sacre Coeur may I suggest you
go to the square at Montmartre; it%26#39;s just up
the hill a little ways.
The children and their parents are such a joy
to watch in Luxembourg Park. Have a picnic,
relax, enjoy and take it all in.
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May 1st is a holiday weekend and in the middle of Paris%26#39; spring break so there will not be a lot of local families to watch in the Luxembourg gardens on that weekend.
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If time is limited - I%26#39;d spend time at (in this order)...
1. Notre Dame
2. Sacre Coeur
3. Eiffel Tower
4. Ile de St. Louis
5. Latin Quarter
6. 1 hour water tour on the Seine
PS: Save the Louvre for another trip unless you are an art NUT.
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Thanks for the reply%26#39;s so far. I%26#39;ll give some of the suggestions a go. As I said earlier, I%26#39;m keen to hear some organ recitals, so any other suggestions of possible locations of concerts would be welcomed.
Thanks
Stuart
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The weekly what%26#39;s on Pariscope or L%26#39;Officiel do list all (church) concerts. Look under %26#39;concerts classiques%26#39; and then under the day you want to go.
The guides run Wed-Tue, cost under 1E. Can be bought at any newsstand.
The guides also list all opening hours for museums, special exhibits, etc.
For organ recitals check out the Eglise Saint-Sulpice. I believe, the free recitals are between 11 and 12 AM on Sundays (I THINK, it%26#39;s at 11.30).
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