I was determined to use my camera today! So here you have a TINY drop on one of the plants outside my front door.
I've been totally preoccupied with Italy. I changed our flights after learning that the travel agent had unknowingly booked us at two different airports in London. I was told it was commonplace to transfer between Heathrow and Gatwick in four hours but I didn't like the idea. So, several phone calls and alternate itineraries later, we are now going through one single airport in Paris before continuing on to Venice. The upside is we get to Venice 4 hours earlier, the downside is we now have a 7 hour layover between connections. I'm thinking we'll leave the airport and take the train into the city for a couple of hours. Anyone ever done that in Paris?? Any suggestions on places to explore would be great. We have been to Paris so we're somewhere familiar with the city.
You're taking the train to Venice? We did that a couple of years ago. The first thing we did was hop on the vaporetto to get to our B&B. We hadn't made any other advance arrangements. I recommend Rick Steves' Italy highly. We found great impromptu things to do including an opera at the school and cichetti bars in the evenings. Beware of the "free" water taxis to Murano unless you want to buy Venetian glass. We did it and I have a lovely piece that I don't regret, but it's not cheap!
@dmcoile We're flying Vancouver to Paris and then Paris to Venice but we have 7 hours to kill in Paris. I thought we'd take the train into the city and explore for a couple of hours to pass the time. We've never been to Venice. I have the Rick Steves book. It's great. We're going to five different cities in Italy. I want to go to Burano and possibly Murano but we're going to take the vaporetto and avoid the "free" ride. I found a funky book store I want to check out and also I want a picture in front of the church/library from the Indiana Jones movie plus we'll do the regular tourist sites.
If you leave the airport, you'll have to clear customs, and then on your return, back through security, so your layover might not be 7 hours. I don't exactly remember the metro routes, but Notre Dame or Sacre Coeur are two interesting places to visit. And to photograph. Or if you schedule your time well, the Louvre for a few hours...
@kwind. Sounds great! We only spent three days in Paris so I'm not qualified to suggest much. My favorite memories of Venice were of the conversations we had with locals who were so willing to share stories. You'll find them at the cichetti bars. We caught a Klimpt exhibit that happened to be at the art museum at the time. Also stood in line to go through the Basilica San Marco, of course. The piazza can be a zoo in the daytime, but it's lovely at night after the cruise ships leave port. Have a wonderful trip!
Sounds like you have lots of ideas - we spent a day in Paris and the Notre Dame exit on the Metro proved the best for a walk around and lots of pavement restaurants! This photo is exquisite in focus and reflection! fav
Really nice water drop with an excellent reflection in it... my knowledge of your destination is so old, it is pretty much useless. I am excited for you, though - sounds like an amazing trip!
The RER B line from the airport will take you direct into Chatelet - you can walk around quite a bit of Paris from there - you have the beautiful Hotel the Ville and you can cross the water to the area of St Michel and the student's quarter. It's also close to Notre Dame. From there you could walk to the Louvre, along the Seine - perhaps throughout the Jardins des Tuileries to Concorde as well. 7 hours seems like a lot, but it will pass quickly, by the time you get out of the airport (presumably having found somewhere to leave your luggage - if you have to pick it up - not sure you will have to though, I think you will clear customs in Venice, contrary to how it is in the US), and leave plenty of time for getting back. Chatelet is in the heart of Paris. Sacre Coeur is beautiful, but will take you a bit of time to get there. I'd recommend the new Louis Vuitton Fondation, but to go there you'd need to change trains at Chatelet and take the line 1 metro to Les Sablons. If you're into architecture - it's a fab building. If I can be of any further help - do shout, we know Paris pretty well - this is the third time We've lived here. I have friends visiting at the moment and we're heading off the see the Catacombes this morning and the Louis Vuitton Fondation this afternoon. Happy planning!
Oh dear, it posted too soon - Montmartre I served by Abesses or it's within walking distance of the gare de nord. We honeymooned in Paris and loved it. Just check how long it will take you go get in and out of the airport first. The transfer wouldn't have taken long. Two years ago Dave and I flew into Gatwick from a continental holiday and transferred to Heathrow to fly out to Cincinnati. We could have gone bt train or coach but instead chose to be chauffeur driven. It was great as we had a wonderful history lesson on route.
@jamibann Thank you so much for all the info. Do you know how long it takes to get the RER B line from terminal 2 to the St Michel station? I can't figure out the schedule. Our bags are apparently being checked all the way through (I'm not sure I believe our travel agent anymore) so I'm hoping for a quick escape from the airport. We have 7 hours in total but I'll want to be back at the two hour mark for our next flight. I know we won't have long but a couple hours of exploring would be fun.
@ceilidh I was thinking Montmartre might be fun too. I remember that area from our trip before. Thanks for the suggestion.
@frankhymus Thanks, Frank. When all is said and done we'll probably have four and a half good hours to explore. We'll need to be back to check in for our next flight.
Your trip sounds so fabulous and the day trip to Paris by train sounds like a good idea. I love how you caught that cool reflection in the droplet in this photo. Enjoy your time abroad!
Good move not to transfer between Heathrow and Gatwick - if the M25 is snarled up you're stuck. 7 hrs won't give you long in Paris but @parisouailleurs would be a great person to advise you.
@judithg thank you Judith! @kwind you have to think that going thru custums can takes some time, I don't know if you have to take care of your luggages between the 2 flights, if so i'm afraid you won't have time to visit Paris. You'll have at least 45mns with the RER between airport and St Michel, plus time to buy tickets, get to the RER, eventually wait for it so it'll be 1 hour. http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/visiting-paris/... feel free to ask any questions you need, I'll be very happy to help.
Isn't 365 great, all this very useful info to read. I can't help you as I've never been to Paris but sure you could have a very nice few hours there. I would just check out the customs bit mentioned by @frankhymus . I know when we go to NZ & we stop off anywhere & you leave the airport it's quite a palaver going through the airport customs. Easy enough to,check about all that online though. Enjoy...I would love to go to Italy but I am off to New York on the 23rd so can't grumble! Lovely droplet!
Such an interesting droplet with its little yellow features inside it. Lovely picture. There's such a sense of excitement here on your pages what with all the talk about your upcoming trip. You've tapped into a wealth of knowledge with 365's Tour Guides!
The RER B line leaves from Terminal 2, and should take about 45 minutes to get to St Michel. Buying a ticket might be your biggest hassle. You'll need to use the self service machines before you go down the escalator to the trains. You don't need to specify the station you will get out at though - just ask for tickets through to Paris. Buy your return ticket at the same time (i.e. ask for 8 tickets if there are 4 of you travelling), to save queueing for tickets on the way back - you never know how busy it will be. The tickets will all read 'Airport->Paris', but they work in both directions. Can't quite recall the cost, but I think it's in the area of 11-14 euros per person. Trains leave about every 10 minutes from the airport and sometimes, if you're lucky, you'll get one that is more direct and therefore quicker, missing out some of the first stations. All stop at the main Paris stations though. I'm pretty sure you are ok with your luggage - if it's checked through in Europe, you won't see it again until your final destination, where you will clear customs. Definitely plan on being back to CDG 2 hours before your onward flight - the security and passport checks can take ages. There are, of course, Air France buses which take passengers into Paris, but in my opinion, these are expensive, and take forever! Also a taxi is an option - but again, you never know what traffic is like, nor how long they will take. A taxi into central Paris would be in the order of 70-80 euros, I think. Hope this helps.
You have 7 hours to kill in Paris ? but as Helene told you I think it's a bit short to do a lot and trafic jam in Paris can be a nightmare...what about focusing on only one thing if you already have been there ? I will go for the new Louis Vuitton fondation..i'v never been and could see it through your lenses ;).
Or a "ride" on the Seine in a "Bateau-Mouche" ? Nice way to see a lot from a boat...
I love the areas of La Madeleine, Tuileries, Opéra....
March 17th, 2015
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
I love the water drop.
@ceilidh I was thinking Montmartre might be fun too. I remember that area from our trip before. Thanks for the suggestion.
Or a "ride" on the Seine in a "Bateau-Mouche" ? Nice way to see a lot from a boat...
I love the areas of La Madeleine, Tuileries, Opéra....