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| Picture taken on top of the Arc de Triomphe, 2010 |
Landing at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport brings such excitement and exhilaration after a long flight. That can quickly fade after waiting to get through customs, using the restroom, getting cash at the ATM, ordering generic coffee at the mini-café at Charles de Gaulle (you know the one), searching for your luggage at baggage claim and fighting traffic into Paris' city center. Ugh.
That's a general plan of attack for anyone who is fresh off an international flight to Paris. But once you get into the city, the fun begins.
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| Pumpkin and Butternut Squash Soup from Mon Viel Ami's November 2014 Lunch Menu - DELICIOUS |
For us, we simply enjoy going for a walk and picking a place for lunch. On our last trip that ended up being a spectacular meal at Mon Viel Ami on the Ile St. Louis featuring poule au pot and the most amazing soup I have ever had. The picture does not do it justice. We also ended up chatting with a chic woman from Deauville who invited us to visit her during our trip. Alas, we couldn't make the trek.
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| Arc de Triomphe at 6:30am |
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| Tomb of the Unknown Soldier |
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| Looking toward La Défense, Paris' major business district, from the observation deck on the Arc de Triomphe |
A few trips ago, after landing at 6am, we wound up being the first people in line for a 234-step climb up the Arc de Triomphe. This set the tone for a spectacular day...and left us with some phenomenal photographs.
Did you know:
Napoleon ordered construction on the Arc de Triomphe in 1806.
It stopped between 1814 and 1826 following Napoleon's abdication.
It was finally completed in 1831. (Tweet this)
I posed the "first fun thing" question in the Fodor's Paris forum and received some wonderful answers. What's interesting is that while many of us have different paths we take getting acclimated to the city whether it's our first or 100th visit, there seems to be a common theme: soaking up Paris on foot. That, in my opinion, is the best way to do it.Napoleon ordered construction on the Arc de Triomphe in 1806.
It stopped between 1814 and 1826 following Napoleon's abdication.
It was finally completed in 1831. (Tweet this)
PalenQ
I like to do a walk from the Louvre straight up to the Arc de Triomphe - passing so so many famous places and having little traffic to navigate in this park-like setting most of the way. Oh I also grab the first pain au choc I see!
paris1953
We check in, store the luggage, and have lunch at La Palette. Then we drop by Galerie Documents to see if there are any goodies to bring home. Lastly, we walk and walk until our room is ready.
DebitNM
After settling in to our apartment in the 4th; we walk to the Seine. Standing on a bridge, looking up towards the Tour Eiffel lets us know we have arrived! We then walk up river for quite a distance and return to our apartment with big smiles on our faces.
burta
We check in, drop our bags, and head for the Trocadero to take in the view of the Eiffel Tower from the Palais de Chaillot. Then we head to have whatever meal of the day the time dictates.
kelsey22
I go to Notre Dame. I also grab a coffee and people watch. My favorite part are the dogs sitting with their people friends.
swandav2000
Coupe de champagne in the Tuileries Gardens. Yes, even if it's 10 am.
Ackislander
Toilet. Baggage and Immigration Coffee certainly, usually two, perhaps more food since I like and need breakfast. It also passes the time so we don't roll right out of CDG into rush hour traffic. Cash machine. Transport to city, which has been variously RER, van service and taxi. This time it will be a taxi. Leave bags at apartment, stroll the neighborhood, eat lunch. Occupy apartment. Nap. Go to Monoprix or Franprix for breakfast things -- coffee, cheese, meat, fruit, eggs. We have been lucky in that three out of the last four places we rented had real boulangeries either across the street or around the corner. The one in the 6th only had a Paul, but they are okay. Dinner in (from a traiteur) or out if we are up to it. Crash
muskoka
Take a taxi to the hotel on Ile-St-Louis, drop our bags with the concierge, walk to the Rose Garden behind Notre Dame, then to our favorite cafe near Berthillon for breakfast, and walk more after breakfast.
denisea
I always want to get out and start walking around Paris...it's energizing. I'm with the previous post about locating a pain au chocolat and a cafe creme. I love a moment in or two in a Paris cafe. We also love to visit Diptyque for candles to enjoy while we are in our apartment (a tradition that started a few years ago at Christmas when they had special edition scents).
Ralstonlan
Car service to hotel or apartment. Unpack, shower, change clothes and make our way to a restaurant for a wonderful lunch and bottle of wine. Do a little shopping for apartment (wine, coffee, cheese,fruit) . I can never nap on the first day, but my husband can. Usually after lunch he will head back and sleep for a few hours and I meander around a park, or window shop and stop for a coffee. Then an early-ish dinner and to bed by 10:00 for a good night's sleep and recover from jet lag. Ooooh...just talking about it makes me even more excited for our upcoming trip to Paris in September! This will be our 6th trip to Paris and our second time renting an apartment. I can taste the pain au chocolat as I write!
PatrickLondon
Quick trip to the supermarket for some tea, milk and biscuits. And fairly soon a look at BHV, particularly the basement.
Happygoin
The first FUN thing I do is buy fresh flowers for the apartment. Always.
lauren_s_kahn
I walk down the Champs Elyees and have lunch at Leon de Bruxelles. Love the mussels there. I'll be doing it again at the end of July when I go to Paris to visit a friend before going to my home exchange near Barcelona.
ssander
My wife and I drop our luggage at the hotel, walk a couple of blocks to Ile St Louis, stand on the quai, kiss, and say, "Wow...we're back in Paris!"
Share Your "First Fun Thing"
I love that. Starting the trip off with a kiss is an excellent idea. Not traveling with a loved one? Kiss a stranger! That's what Paris is for. I'm kidding. Sort of.
What's the first fun thing you like to do when you arrive in Paris? I'd love to know. Please share your adventures in the comments section.
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