When in Paris...

Scanning through old emails before dumping/archiving this morning... I came across a fun email to friends who were headed off to France for a visit. It's six years later, but at the time I'd just returned from living in Paris. Still a few good suggestions though. Double check my recommendations since they are pretty dated by now. Here's the excerpt:

First of all, try to eat a meal at Au Vieux Paris and it's next to Notre Dame Cathedral, actually one block north on the Ile de la Cite. The street is called rue Chanoinesse. You can find it on a map.

Go to the Rodin Museum in the 7th and wander in the sculpture garden. Go to the Pompidou Center. Eat lunch in the restaurant on the top floor with a real cool name (you'll understand when you get there) and even cooler (weirder?) decor. Visit the Louvre at least once and wander through the Tuilleries with a warm Nutella and banana crepe. Meander along the Seine at sunset. Get up to Sacre Coeur, less for the church and more as an excuse to explore the neighborhood. Have one of the "artists" on the square do a quick caricature of the two of you. You'll wish you had later. If you want to do some [more] touristy things climb the Arc de Triomphe and check out the Champs Elysee. Also take the elevator up the Eiffel Tower, though the wait is a drag. Visit the Parc Andre Citroen on a warm, sunny afternoon. Get lost in the Latin Quarter, then have lunch wherever you find yourself. Stroll along the Boulevard St. Germaine even if you don't want to shop. Wander in the Luxemburg Gardens on a Saturday or Sunday, especially a Sunday. Watch children sailing boats across the "pond" and men playing chess behind the tennis courts. Afterwards dip into one of the traditional jazz haunts like the Petite Journal...

Eat often and eat plenty. You are both slender. And young. And beautiful. Paris is made for slender, young and beautiful women. Especially if they like to eat often and plenty. Try new foods. Ask questions. Embarrass yourselves. Eat cheeses, the names of which you can't begin to pronounce. Eat dark chocolate. Visit the marche biologique on the Avenue de Raspail (you'll need to confirm the day with your hosts) and look at all the amazing comestibles (10 point word). Maybe even buy the comestibles.

Get out of Paris. Go to Versailles. Expect to spend a whole day. Bring a picnic and eat in the amazing gardens. They forbid it but everyone does it. Have done so ever since the French Revolution. You can take the commuter train out and back. I think it's the RER C, but you'll need to check. Perhaps also interesting to get out to the Chateau de Vincennes on the Eastern edge of the city. Head out to Chartres for a day and night and see what devout pilgrims can cook up for a countryside church. The stained glass will blow your mind. Especially if you take an English language tour with Malcolm. I can't remember his last name. But worth doing. If you still have time, go to Normandy. Anywhere. See the "country houses" (think chateaux) of the French aristocracy. See the landing beaches for the US, the Canadians and the Brits on D-Day. Cool exhibitions and tours. Climb in the Nazi bunkers. Eat galettes and crepes and drink Calvados...