Valentine's Day in Paris Paris Paris, Paris, Paris. Finally, this long-awaited trip comes!
the day of departure is scheduled for Saturday, February 12, from Malpensa to CDG, at 6.30 am.
of course decide to go the night before to stay overnight near the airport, to avoid absurd to make up early in the middle of the night.
I found a motel in 15 minutes by car from Malpensa. We were then at the "Green Motel" in Vergiate. Booking on the internet I had a discount, we paid double the EU 60.
Motel is not bad, but perhaps a bit '... how to say .. bleak? Perhaps it is not the right word, was neither dirty nor had nothing particular. But the room we saw that it was tailored to the meetings at the hour of loyal customers. I do not ever forget the shower of glass that overlooks the bedroom. I took a shower with the lights out, it was too ridiculous! And 'everything was still beautiful, I had never seen a place like this! Despite this we come back, and an excellent base for those who must take a plane is cheap, it's clean and does his duty.
In the morning we leave around 4 and parking your car at JetPark, too booked via the Internet (4 days outdoor parking lot at 29 Euro). Hurry to register a car shuttle brings us straight to the terminal 2.
The plane is on time and in less than no time we arrived in Paris.
To get to our hotel (or the center of Paris), take the RER line Blue In practice, the signs inside the terminal at the top, you have to follow the PAR TRAINS, taking you straight to where you need it.
immediately exploited by our Paris Visite that has proved very useful during travel. We highly recommend to evaluate the purchase if you decide to come to Paris. Ours was for zones 1 .. 6 and 5 days. Already
our emotion was on the train to the stars. We laughed and talked among ourselves, with so much emotion in his heart.
The train stops at the station we needed, St. Michel-Notre Dame, a short walk from our hotel (Hotel Europe Saint Severin I'll discuss later).
We already knew that we would not have the room ready, so leave your luggage at the hotel and go to our new adventure ... but not before he had tasted a great Pain au Chocolat, caught in a cute barettino doorstep ...
loads of adrenaline (and a few more calories) we headed to the subway ...
Understanding how the subway is easy and intuitive. Very little is needed to understand the mechanism. Without this, everything becomes easier and also much more comfortable!
Saturday, February 12 Arc de Triomphe, Champes-Elysees, Place de La Concorde, Jardin des Tuileries, LA MADELINE The arc of
Trionto rises prominently before us. A great coming and going of cars across the roundabout where you place, lots of people who are immortalized in front of one of the symbols of Paris. The Arch is a really beautiful and is sorry not to go down, even to see the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the eternal flame, symbol of all the French soldiers who have died without a name in the First World War.
Map in hand we take the right direction to go all Champes-Elysees on foot. I'm so excited, there are many shops of the largest and most famous names in world, let's go across the street for a taste 'of the taste of the French Haute-Couture. Obviously just enjoy, not to eat voraciously.
For both of us seem to be on a cloud of happiness. We make millions of photos and there seems to be exactly true in Paris, that city so desired.
walk to Place de la Concorde where other emotions we face. The great obelisk, the Ferris wheel, the giaridni Tuileries, the French view, the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Emotions priceless. And no one will never go away. The Ferris wheel
attracts us so much. After being up on the pier in Santa Monica does not want to miss this one.
Sure, you can not really say that this ride is cheap, but it is definitely worth credetimi. The ride on the Ferris wheel costs 10 EU (per head, of course) to 3 / 4 laps, but the show you see them around in this all pays off. Like two children with the logo of a favorite toy we took lots of photos, we're thrilled, we were told what it was worth it, we fell in love even more. Of course, it is not very high, but it's a thrill. Beautiful views of the gardens of the Tuileries, which certainly in the spring with the flowering must be incredible. When they got
do some other photos of the gardens and away, toward the Madeleine, by foot.
La Madeleine has a structure typical of a greek temple, in the past has been used under the rule of Napoleon as a monument to the reputation of the army.
Inside is really nice, the weather a few pictures and we are on the march again, this time to find a place to dine.
The idea was to go to Harry's New York Bar, but the prices are really too high for our standards. We opt for a little place near the Madeleine, near Via Daounou: sandwich, drink and dessert cost from € 7 to 8, dependent on the sandwich choice. We ate and we rested a bit 'because the day is not over yet!
We head to the nearest underground station, right in front of the Opera. Another wonderful texture, which I shall not want to photograph and which never fails to enchant me ...
Trocadero, Eiffel Tower, PARC DU CHAMP DE MARS INVALIDES
take again the meter and this time stop at Place du Trocadero. I think this heart has stopped beating for a few seconds. Just around the corner of the output meter and a wonderful view emozionantissima opened before us: the Eiffel Tower, so near, so wonderful, so impressive.
I mean, the heart has stopped and his eyes were shining there. Do not believe our eyes. We set out to do the typical picture of this square, where he poured a large crowd that was protesting against something. Do you believe that I can not remember protesting against what? I was too immersed in realizing our dream. Start
to come down a few drops of rain but do not let ourselves be intimidated. We go down and head right under this magnificent tower.
Up close is even more beautiful. I never, ever thought it would please me so much.
Under the tower there are many sellers of souvenirs, too insistent at times, but there curiam them.
go down again, past the Parc du Champ de Mars, and we make it up to the piada Dome des Invalides.
decide to take a ticket (9 EU but if you pay it exhibited the Paris Visite 7EU) and enter this extraordinary building that really leaves us in the mouth of discovery. The golden dome is truly magnificent. Under this dome, the remains of Napoleon right here, where once the soldiers came to pray.
All around there is a beautiful museum, we decided to visit only the area devoted to the First and Second World War, the fatigue began to be felt right.
's around 16 when I decided to return to the hotel. We walked a lot all day and we're exhausted. The room is ready, rest ', take a shower and decide to leave early to pick a restaurant right here in the Latin Quarter.
There is plenty of choice, this area is full of restaurants and people trying to get you (the famous thrown in) that, frankly, a bit 'annoy us. We opt to dine
Happy Resturante to act on the rue St. Severin. There are many menus to choose from (so all the restaurants!) A starter, a first or second course and dessert. We chose a menu from 15 EU with a bottle of San Pellegrino 1 liter to 5.50 EU well. 35.50 EU total expenditure. We have found good, the room is warm and friendly and the dinner excellent. After dinner
little stroll to explore the neighborhood and give us a nutella crepe with coconut, 3.50 EU. I would say that is excellent is an understatement.
go to bed early, we are really exhausted and tomorrow another day super full.
We both have eyes and heart to continue to smile remembering the wonderful day just passed. We say goodnight to Paris tomorrow for another wonderful day in this fantastic city ...
Sunday, February 13 PLACE HOTEL DE VILLE, Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle and CONCIERGE (ONLY FROM OUTSIDE), Marais, Place des Vosges, MAISON DE VICTOR HUGO, THE PLACE TO BASTILLE PLACE PIGALLE. Today we granted an hour of extra sleep. We woke up around 9, we are preparing to go down and start a new adventure in Paris.
For breakfast we stopped in the same boulangerie yesterday morning, the "Salon de The" where they make a Formula Duo 7.90 EU that includes: 2 hot drinks (tea, coffee, cappuccino, juice etc ...), 2 orange and 2 ou pain chocolat or croissant. It seems convenient and I would say very good, will be our solution for breakfast every morning in Paris.
Take the metro and fled towards Place Hotel de Ville, which has a meaning for us a bit 'special. In our reading group we have just read "The Last Day of a Condemned Man" by Victor Hugo, and this is where death sentences were carried out. The building is really huge and beautiful, the architecture I love it. Before him on the pizza there is a huge skating rink where we discover that the afternoon would have had a party for Chinese New Year on ice!
The most characteristic and that really excited me is was just in front of carousel horses, seemed to be in a picture!
time a few pictures and the way to the goal as expected: Notre Dame.
Live is even more superb in that picture. E 'mervigliosa this cathedral in front of us and when we ask how they did it to build such a gem in 1100, where all the technology we have now of course there was.
When we get is all the more exciting. There is a feature in progress and the visit makes it even more special.
Inside there is also a model of the construction of this Cathedral, and partly answers our initial questions about his birth. Moreover, we show that around the nineteenth century this cathedral was in absolute decline, and designers studying French to overthrow it. E 'Victor Hugo was with his novel "Notre-Dame de Paris" to increase the interest in this cathedral and it does not fall in his unhappy fate. Notre-Dame was saved by a fund-raising and its subsequent restoration.
Once again, thanks to Victor.
After the visit we go out and decide to climb the Leaning Tower to see Paris from the view of the Gargoyles. The climb is 8 and EU must do. There are 422 steps in a spiral staircase, in the end we had quite a nice breath.
The view is absolutely magnificent and they seem to live a long Gargoyles that are expressive. They are almost a little 'fear, seem motivated by a moment.
Let's also see the great bell "Emmanuel" which weighs almost 13 tonnes, and the clapper weighs only 500 kg. Awesome!
The descent is much less tiring, grudgingly salute Notre-Dame, and we resume our tour.
We advise you to go there early in the morning when there is a lot less people than in the afternoon!
Our idea at this point was going to see Saint Chapelle and the Conciergerie, but there really was too much too much so we decided to skip a row, we had too many things at stake! Resume
the metro and head to the Marais, a charming and friendly neighborhood at the foot of the Place de la Bastille! There are lots of shops and lots of life we \u200b\u200breally a good impression!
not fail to stop at the Atelier du Chocolat to take two pieces of chocolate I put a small swatch chocolate sprinkled with coconut, Cristian instead a cube of white chocolate with hazelnuts. All at 5.20 EU, is expensive, but good!
We turn to a street on the left and we are in the Place des Vosges, really beautiful: lots of nature, children's games and many benches. In the spring should be a little gem! Let's take a tour of the runs and then we go to visit the Maison de Victor Hugo. The entrance to the apartment only, is free. We have not got the audio guide (if I remember correctly it cost 4 EU) and in the end proved to be the best choice. The apartment is not huge but it's really beautifully designed. During the visit of the actors delighted the audience with some funny scenes, I think from the life of Mr. Hugo. I say think because I understood very little of what they said. E 'was still nice and beautiful to admire the room where he resided one of the greatest writers, poets and dramatists of France. His desk with his books and the place where he wrote his plays, are lasting memories, especially for someone who, like us, love reading so much.
After the visit we head to the Place de la Bastille, with the wonderful column in the middle of July. We look a bit 'around and we see a typical Sunday market in Paris. There we miss the chance and go immediately to see what it is: cheese, fruit and vegetables, fish, clothing, local produce, in short, every stall of this market is really a discovery and a full immersion in Parisian life. Many scents envelop us, let us for a walk and you too will seem to be struggling with the French spending Sunday.
decides to retrace our steps, but this time, always in the Marais, take the exit Rue Mahler to visit the Jewish Quarter. Truly a must with its many restaurants lined up outside with x something to eat. Very typical and full of people! We wanted to have lunch here, but all the places that offered something to eat were filled to overflowing with people waiting. We decide to go eat something in the Latin Quarter!
To leave the Jewish Quarter to the Rue Vieille du Temple go and buy a muffin (or 3 as we did) to Columbus Coffee, you can not miss the showcase filled with muffins will be irresistible! Resume
the metro and go back to the Latin Quarter, where we decide to dine at the Maison de Gyros where with 13 EU (total) take two extra pitas with gyros, fries and all the condiments imaginable and two cans of beer. After we had eaten enough to
well decide to take a trip to the famous Place Pigalle.
I had heard of this street, but honestly I did not expect something like that! A sex shop each store were just side by side! And then all kinds of local hard! Mamma mia! Typical eh, and see nothing to say ... But I think there would come here at night ever!
Go through the famous street and find ourselves in front of the famous Moulin Rouge! How beautiful and how exciting! Where he saw the famous musical with Nicole Kidman this place to me a bit 'remains in my heart! I looked around in search of the apartment where he was staying Ewan McGregor and I think I found!
front grille where there is a huge lift for the air which have not been lacking in the typical style of Marilyn Monroe photos, which we did laugh!
Out of curiosity we looked at the prices and, Valentine dinner show cost more than 185 EU per person, far too out of our budget!
We are now very tired, but today we have really done a lot of laps, so after we stopped to eat our muffins, we return to our hotel.
we recover a bit 'and always go down to dinner in the legendary Latin Quarter, where we decide to stop eating cheese fondue to Saveurs de Savoie. The portion of fondue is always for two people and also take two small bottles of water. Total EU 39, a really good dinner, Cristian was full as an egg!
After dinner you can not miss the usual crepe with Nutella, has become a must for us ... That good! And how we miss you!
to bed early again tonight, tomorrow, we expect the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower on the legendary climb and we look forward to!
Monday, February 14 LOUVRE, ST GERMAIN DES PRES, ST Sulpice, TOUR EIFFEL
For Valentine's Day we reserved our favorite day, starting with the visit of the Louvre. We wake up early, have breakfast as usual barettino then take the nearby metro.
Get off at Palais Royal - Musée de Louvre, which leads us to the famous inverted pyramid. We already had the ticket so the only row that we do is open, because we arrived a half hour in advance. We had a few people watching and talking with other Italians, we were told that aedicule you pass to reach the entrance selling tickets. Probably, if you buy them, do not file the longest entrance (in practice outside the pyramid).
Shortly after the museum opens at last here, so follow all, we spend the bag under a control type boarding at airports and on. We try now to put our coats (free), the only negative is that scarves and hats do not want them. Patience, still fill my bag of Mary Poppins. Already
Italy had established a path for him to give priority to the Italian paintings French and Egyptian sculpture and area with a little 'of Mesopotamia.
decide to take the audio guide in Italian, which turns out to be a great idea, the chief executives of the stories are really interesting.
I will not dwell too much to describe the Louvre. And 'huge. It 's beautiful. E 'emozionantissimo. The Mona Lisa was a bit 'a disappointment, a small square behind a small glass. The biggest surprise I have it got it from "The Marriage of Cana" in the same room of Giocanda ... This beautiful picture takes an entire wall, is immense!
The French paintings moved me as much as the Italians ... One of my favorite paintings is right here: Liberty Leading the People. Wonderful, like everyone else I've seen pictures of Delacroix. We quickly
also the area of \u200b\u200bEgypt and Mesopotamia, because we were interested to see the Code of Hammurabi ...
say that all the major works we have seen and even more so, so tired and satisfied, on the stroke of four hours at the Museum, we decided to leave.
We do the usual photo at the entrance of the pyramid and see how many hundreds of people are queuing for hours to enter, at 1 pm. Go early in the morning is definitely the best time. Few people in line but also few people in front of the most famous paintings. Absolutely to be taken into consideration.
Tired but happy return to the Latin Quarter where we go to lunch at Chez Suzette. " Up to 15 can take advantage of the offer menu, which is very convenient: we take two savory crepes, sweet crepes two and two glasses of apple juice at 19.60 EU in total. Good and clean and the lady is really nice. Satisfied by
good meal we take the subway and go to St. Germain de Pres, the church where he is buried Descartes. There
excited, even inside, and then almost immediately we head to St. Sulpice, which definitely makes us a better impression. Huge and very beautiful inside out, I think I read that it is the largest church in Paris after Notre Dame. Really great and wonderful!
front of the church are children playing soccer, the sun is finally out and the picture is really beautiful.
With a big heart finally we head towards the Eiffel Tower to take advantage of the tickets that I booked via the Internet.
you should absolutely book from home if he decides to make the climb. The file to make the tickets are really long. As there are still
17.30, we sit on a bench and take 2 goffres (waffles) to Nutella and a little water for 9 EU in total value, chioscetto under the Tower.
The reservation for the 17:30 was not random. I wanted to reach the summit at sunset and turned out to be absolutely the best choice.
When you get to the first floor there is a beautiful only that illuminates everything, the view is beautiful and evocative ... But when we get to the top of the tower out of breath ... We see the sunset, the sky was painted red, a wonderful view, is really exciting, we continue to look and smile, an emotion truly impressive. There seems to be true here, at the top of the Eiffel Tower, to crown our dream. From here you can see what Paris is huge, really huge. We do a lot of photos, then when it starts to do too cold, we begin the descent with the mythical and effecentissimi lifts. When we get down
super surprise, it's already dark and the tower is all lit up: yet another heart sank the day. We decide to go
Trocadero to enjoy the show. As soon as we get time for some pictures and the tower begins to glow and sbarluccicare like a Christmas tree ... It may sound repetitive but I have never felt so strong emotions all at once. The proximity of the person I love has made all the more special and memorable.
After enjoying a little 'of this wonderful view, we decide to go back to the hotel for a shower and a romantic dinner on the night of Valentine's Day.
Our choice for this week falls on a delicious Indian restaurant, practically next to our hotel. It's called SAFRAN and ate divinely: appetizer, beer and sweet, two people in 45 EU. Try it, it's worth really worth it: helpful staff, very charming atmosphere and the people waiting to get to sit down, a good sign for me.
After dinner we went straight to bed, the day was long and challenging and we deserve a little 'rest. Unfortunately, we leave tomorrow, but we think and we fall asleep with my heart happy and chock full of love.
Tuesday, February 15 SACRE COEUR, Montmartre, Galeries Lafayette
Today is the day of departure so that we wake up calmly and quietly do altreattanta luggage (sigh. ..). Our staff are very friendly, allow us to leave all their baggage the day before going to the airport. Really comfortable, at least we should not follow them throughout the day.
Today it's raining a bit 'but we decided to do anyway around that we set. Breakfast usual (but with the addition of a pain au chocolat in addition, the temptation was too strong), then take the metro towards Sacre Coeur. You
Paris Visite, the funicular part of your card so you just have to go up. Instead you can buy your ticket at the ticket or do the climb on foot.
This church is really huge and beautiful, inside is wonderful and almost mystical. It is located on the highest point in Paris (the hill of Montmartre) and is one of the most visited Paris.
With the rain, the dark sky, this church seems almost alive. They remain just fascinated ...
Always take a ride in the rain in vicolini of Montmartre, with souvenir shops and small restaurants, up to the beautiful square where artists, despite the rain, a number of people equipped with umbrellas showed their jobs. I always use the same adjective, but I can not find a more suitable, so once again I say, very impressive!
For lunch we decide to go down the hill, the house prices do seem too high, the usual tourist traps. At the end, in front of the tram, there is a small bar / creperie called "Le Petit Paris". We stopped to eat, a menu of sandwiches, sweets and a bottle of Coca Cola to 15.50 EU in two. We ate well, we warmed up a bit 'so I guess that does his duty. Excellent muffins and tarte au citron!
After lunch we take the metro back to the Latin Quarter where we take a ride in a giant bookstore where I buy a nice manual with notes of graphics.
's still early but it rains and we are tired. We decide to take a trip to Galerie Lafayette just to see how ... We remain of stone! Plans Plans on clothing, perfumes, handbags, shoes, shoes, short, of everything! Already on the ground floor my head is spinning! How many shoes! The paradise every woman!
The most that we have the strength to do is get to the first floor, where I shall not want to buy a "souvenir" from Tiffany, a lovely heart necklace with the famous "Please return to."
The Japanese are at home here and are obviously treated with the utmost respect and reverence, all with many Louis Vuitton bags, Chanel, Dior, etc ... But how much money they have?
satisfied and happy return to the hotel to pack up and go back to the metro to take the RER B which brings us back to CDG.
Here I have to do a little example ... The line that leads directly to CDG (usually it says in front of the train) always packed with people. So we we did not pass and we went, we waited for the train after. The problem is that the next train does not lead directly to CDG, but stops short, so get off and wait (a little) that the direct distance to CDG. If you have time you can do it, we were super early and we did so (but randomly). When you arrive at CDG
eat and spend the boarding procedures without any problems.
When we stand in line at the gate, the industry professionals EasyJet are many controls on hand baggage, having something to say to two poor unfortunates who had set off from Malpensa Airport with the same baggage. So please, always within the measures imposed by the airlines here in Paris have made checks on virtually everyone!
We start late, we have no understand why, during the trip we spend a bit 'of turbulence, but nothing to worry about.
are already arriving at Malpensa shuttle bus from the parking lot waiting for us and that brings us to pick up the car, where we find the machine already in pole position, started and pretty hot really great service!
We arrive home around 3 am, tired but super happy with this wonderful trip!
personal considerations: Paris is a wonderful city that has remained in my heart. We worship, we lived and we will definitely return. No city was ever so able to enter my heart. So when you go take some
at least 3 full days to do the main things calmly. Do not rush. Paris must be lived and loved from my heart.
Hotel:
The hotel we chose, in the heart of Europe Saint Severin Latin Quarter, has proved excellent. The staff is friendly, the rooms nice and clean, is small, but comfortable. We
for 4 nights we spent 243 EU excluding breakfast. If I had to go back to Paris again this Delicious definitely choose Hotel, located in an ideal location for visiting Paris (2 steps from Notre Dame and the metro station) and convenient to many restaurants and kiosks in the neighborhood. Rated
10, really not to be missed and to keep absolutely into account.
Expenditure Summary: CAR PARKING
MALPENSA 29 EU with JetPark
FLIGHT: EASYJET 114.71 EU in two
HOTEL: 243 EU Europe Saint Severin in two (
Site officiel Hotel Europe Saint Severin - Hotel 2 etoiles Paris - Quartier Latin - Français - Accueil )
PARIS TOURS FOR 5 DAYS ZONE 1-6 + 2 TICKETS FOR ENTRY TO THE LOUVRE: 138 EU in two, by buying it online here:
Charter museums Paris: Holiday with CityCards climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower with elevator 26.20 EU in two, booking tickets directly from the official website
I hope to be helpful, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me!
Some photos can be found here: Click
Monica Baci & Cristian
