Q & A

Subject:16th birthday in Paris

Question: My daughter will turn 16 in March 9th of next year. Her French is fair. I promised to take her to Paris for her birthday and see the sights around/near Paris. Where are the places that you would suggest I take her if we had from 1 week to ten days vacation? Should we wait until April/May/June?? We are all fit and active and want to see as much of France as possible with Paris as the main attraction. We will be flying from Ft. Myers, Florida, USA.

Answer: Here is my list of personal favorite sites to see in Paris, most are free, Pére Lachaise cemetery, it makes a nice walk, in the back are very beautiful memorials, some for the Jews killed during WWII others for the French resistance, and has lots of famous people buried there, La Fontaine, Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison. The Musée d'Orsay(www.musee-orsay.fr), was once a train station, is smaller than the Louvre, that makes it less overwhelming and you can just about see everything in a day. The view of Paris from Sacré Cœur, it as so makes a nice walk as there as some squares that have street painters. The Jardin du Luxembourg and Jardin des Tuileries Parks(Next to the Louvre), are nice places to have lunch in. Both have an amazing amount of a public chairs that are just asking to be sit in.

As for day trips out of Paris, I would suggest either Chartres(A touristy yet small town with a very beautiful church, http://www.ville-chartres.fr/anglais/index.html) or Versailles(http://www.chateauversailles.fr/). Both can be easily be gotten to by train from Paris and can make a nice day trip. Versailles is astonishing and should not be missed. It gives you an first-class example of French architecture and garden layout, and you understand why there was a revolution.

As for when to go, I would suggest that you go at a time that is good for you. I say this because, in April or May it could rain everyday, and in June or July, Parisians leave on vacation, leaving Paris to the tourist, but it will be very hot and prices are at the highest. If you really want to get adventuress, you could take the train, France has a very good train system(www.sncf.fr), you could be in Burgundy or Loire Valley in under an hour and a half.

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