Paris Revisited - Making Plans

Here's another Paris In July post. You can find more bloggers posting on Paris at Thyme for Tea and Bookbath in their right hand sidebars.

(If you haven't been a longtime visitor, you can also find lots of my earlier Paris posts in the labels column on my right sidebar, too!)

I'm planning another trip to Paris next year. We're not sure when but my friend will leave his apartment in July 2012, so it will be sometime in the spring.

What a fine time to visit! When I was there in 2009, it was June and simply lovely.

Well, Rick has never been and he's going if I have to drag him there! (He really does want to come, but it's not exactly the best time in the world for an independent businessman!) I know he'll have some things in mind to see and experience, but there are a few things I hope he'll take in and I wanted to share those with you, too!

Sainte Chapelle. What a joy! My favorite of the churches on Ile de la Cite.

The stained glass is magnificent, but if you really want an experience, catch a concert here. We saw a Vivaldi concert and it was simply unforgettable.

The Musee du Moyen Age (Middle Ages), aka Cluny. Coming to this amazing museum with its pre-Renaissance art was as much a spiritual experience as some of the churches I visited.

It includes the Lady with the Unicorn tapestries, beautiful glass and ruins.

We might stop for a break in Place des Voges. This beautiful square is surrounded by 18th century homes, one of which is Victor Hugo's. I didn't see that when I was there -- Rick might enjoy the Hugo Museum, after reading "Les Miserables" (unabridged, thank you very much) this spring.

Of course we'll stop at a boulangerie for lots of bread and a patisserie for treats!

Without a doubt he will want to go to the sheet music district -- I envision him playing guitars in one of the luthier shops -- and buying lots of music!

I think we should feed the birds at Notre Dame.

And, while we're so close, shop at my favorite department store, BHV. If we're lucky, we'll catch the soldes (sales), but that would need to be in June.

Ina Garten and Julia Child were fond of Cafe de Flore -- Yes, it's grotesquely overpriced, but I think we should at least have tea or a glass of vin rouge in their honor, don't you think?

We'll definitely walk along the River Seine.

While the bouquinistes stalls alongside the river aren't the best buy, they are most certainly fun to look at.

I'll try to get him to one of the marches aux puces (flea markets). The things you see in Europe differ greatly from American items.

And while I think we both may want to go to the Louvre (I missed that), I'll also recommend the smaller, Impressionist-filled Musee d'Orsay.

He'll definitely want to ride the Parisian Velibes, which are bikes you rent out in one location and return in another (I'll give that a pass.)

And I'll want us to take a romantic evening ride down the Seine on the bateaux mouches. I'll pass on the dinner cruise, but to see Paris by night on the water would be lovely. Touristy, yes. But lovely.

We'll run out of time before we know it! Visit some of the other Paris in July posts -- you'll find wonderful things about books, art, places and more!