Paris & Barcelona

noob
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noob
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 3:24pm
If you have any suggestions for either city, post them here. Our October trip is now happening in September... leaving this Thursday.

On the agenda so far:

Paris

Staying in the 5th Arrondissement (thanks txmxer)
Fat Tire Bike Tour (zj)
Moulin Rouge
Louvre
maybe a day trip to Champagne

Barcelona

Tapas bars & flamenco shows
maybe a day trip to San Sebastian

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flarider
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flarider 8/29/2009 7:06pm
8/29/2009 7:06pm
I have actually done this twice, as you leave the Louvre, walk through Jardin des Tuileries (Tullieries Gardens) behind the Louvre all the way to the end, where it empties onto Champs Elysee' and you walk that (window shopping) all the way to the Arc de Triomphe.

Also a block or so away from the Louvre is Notre Dame, beautiful beautiful place....place close attention to the floors, the ceiling and the workwork around the crypts behind the Alter.
zjbell
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zjbell 8/29/2009 7:12pm
8/29/2009 7:12pm
The Fat Tire Bike tour is awesome. I've been on three different trips and it's always a blast.
flarider
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flarider 8/29/2009 7:13pm
8/29/2009 7:13pm
Oh, and most important...two things...dress well...Parisians dress well, if you dress like you do here, you look like a slob and stand out...."Americano"

Take time, like a few hours, and find a nice cafe with al fresco tables (outside) and just order coffee and sit for hours and watch life go by....just soak in Paris, the people, the vibe....you'll see many many doing the same....they do not rush you away from the table, it's considered rude....you're supposed to take your time and relax and observe....read the paper...whatever....just chill for a few hours in a cafe, you'll thank me


(and no one walks with a beverage...."Americano".....you stop, sit and enjoy any beverage you're having...even if water)
Brent
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Brent 8/29/2009 9:15pm
8/29/2009 9:15pm
When in Barcelona ( did you know that it is supposed to be pronounced " barthalona"?) you have to go down Las Ramblas of course, and you have to see La Sagrada Familia.

This crazy -ass church has been under construction since the late 1800's, and its not going to be finished until 2026!!

damn time and material contractors on the job I guess.

and try the tour of the olympic stadium, its pretty awesome...

The Shop

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JPT
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JPT 8/30/2009 5:58am
8/30/2009 5:58am
Be sure to wear a rubber with Paris, she's been around.
Void Main
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Void Main 8/30/2009 6:11am
8/30/2009 6:11am
Make sure you head south to Sitges. The beetches on the beaches of Sitges are easy on the eyes. Make sure you wear some baggy swimwear.
noob
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noob 8/30/2009 9:27am
8/30/2009 9:27am
flarider wrote:
I have actually done this twice, as you leave the Louvre, walk through Jardin des Tuileries (Tullieries Gardens) behind the Louvre all the way to the...
I have actually done this twice, as you leave the Louvre, walk through Jardin des Tuileries (Tullieries Gardens) behind the Louvre all the way to the end, where it empties onto Champs Elysee' and you walk that (window shopping) all the way to the Arc de Triomphe.

Also a block or so away from the Louvre is Notre Dame, beautiful beautiful place....place close attention to the floors, the ceiling and the workwork around the crypts behind the Alter.
We'll definitely check out Le Jardin des Tuileries... thanks.

Forgot to mention Notre Dame, that's on the top of my list
noob
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noob 8/30/2009 9:30am
8/30/2009 9:30am
Brent wrote:
When in Barcelona ( did you know that it is supposed to be pronounced " [i]barthalona[/i]"?) you have to go down Las Ramblas of course, and...
When in Barcelona ( did you know that it is supposed to be pronounced " barthalona"?) you have to go down Las Ramblas of course, and you have to see La Sagrada Familia.

This crazy -ass church has been under construction since the late 1800's, and its not going to be finished until 2026!!

damn time and material contractors on the job I guess.

and try the tour of the olympic stadium, its pretty awesome...
I'll look up Las Ramblas.

My wife is a big fan of Gaudi... she's taking me to all her favorites. That crazy church is on the list.
flarider
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flarider 8/30/2009 9:43am
8/30/2009 9:43am
flarider wrote:
I have actually done this twice, as you leave the Louvre, walk through Jardin des Tuileries (Tullieries Gardens) behind the Louvre all the way to the...
I have actually done this twice, as you leave the Louvre, walk through Jardin des Tuileries (Tullieries Gardens) behind the Louvre all the way to the end, where it empties onto Champs Elysee' and you walk that (window shopping) all the way to the Arc de Triomphe.

Also a block or so away from the Louvre is Notre Dame, beautiful beautiful place....place close attention to the floors, the ceiling and the workwork around the crypts behind the Alter.
noob wrote:
We'll definitely check out Le Jardin des Tuileries... thanks.

Forgot to mention Notre Dame, that's on the top of my list
When you get to the end of Jardin de Tuilerie, you'll arrive at the Obelisk and two fountains (that are amazing) which is known as "Place de la Concorde" and is the location of the execution of Marie Antoinette.

There is a marker at the location
noob
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noob 8/30/2009 9:50am
8/30/2009 9:50am
Cool - I'll look for it.
ProMed
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ProMed 8/30/2009 12:42pm
8/30/2009 12:42pm
I've been to Paris a few times, last time was for my honeymoon.

My two suggestions to consider:

Day trip to the Palace of Versailles - Amazing stuff.

http://en.chateauversailles.fr/homepage





Catacombs of Paris - Crazy stuff and quick little side trip well worth the time imo.

http://www.catacombes-de-paris.fr/english.htm

88sdad
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88sdad 8/30/2009 1:31pm
8/30/2009 1:31pm
Oh, and most important...two things...dress well...Parisians dress well, if you dress like you do here, you look like a slob and stand out...."Americano"

This is so true. I told this to a friend that was asking for advice and he got mad and thought I was insulting him..... It seems everybody is well dressed and beautiful.

Learn as much French as you can before you get there, you might not get much help from the Parisians.... they don't much like Americans.

And, Paris is much more laid back then say, London
noob
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noob 8/30/2009 4:11pm
8/30/2009 4:11pm
I'm glad dressing well was brought up... wasn't in my plan (aside from packing NEW t-shirts without holes or stains). Guess I'll be bringing some button down shirts, too.

As far as the language, I should be good... used to speak fluent French (thank you, Mormon god!). It's been more than 10 years, but I can still spit it out fine when I'm forced to.


88sdad
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88sdad 8/30/2009 4:21pm
8/30/2009 4:21pm
Also go to the Eiffel Tower, it was pretty cool. It's a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be.
flarider
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flarider 8/30/2009 4:27pm
8/30/2009 4:27pm
Basic French will get you fine, just always remember to be polite in regards to their culture.
Perfect example is a store. Here, we typically walk into a store and rarely acknowledge the shop keeper or worker, in French culture this is rude. You always acknowledge the shop keeper with a Bonjour (good day) or Bonsoir (good evening), this will go a LONG WAY in getting good service and treated properly

Always say goodbye as well...it is polite


Jeans and button down would stand out. A button down and a pair khakis much less so.
Parisians take going out and dressing seriously. You don't have to dress right out of GQ, but you do want to take it up a notch
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Void Main 8/30/2009 4:30pm
8/30/2009 4:30pm
Scratch the beaches at Sitges. Looks like things might have changed a little since the last time I was there....
flarider
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flarider 8/30/2009 4:31pm
8/30/2009 4:31pm
88sdad wrote:
Also go to the Eiffel Tower, it was pretty cool. It's a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be.
I cannot look out while going up the elevator...I stare at the ceiling
It's too creepy

I'm OK once at top, but in the elevator, It's scary as shit

BTW, there is a small bathroom at the top, so you can always say "I pissed at the top of the Eiffel Tower"


Oh, and NO ONE in Europe knows what the fuck a "bathroom" is....it's called a toilet.
Never ask for or look for signs saying "rest room" or "bathroom," they don't exist....Look for "Toilet"

Made that mistake my first time over
noob
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noob 8/30/2009 4:33pm
8/30/2009 4:33pm
Void Main wrote:
Scratch the beaches at Sitges. Looks like things might have changed a little since the last time I was there....
LOL... You must've changed their outlook on life.

Pit Row

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noob
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noob 8/30/2009 4:39pm
8/30/2009 4:39pm
flarider wrote:
I cannot look out while going up the elevator...I stare at the ceiling It's too creepy I'm OK once at top, but in the elevator, It's...
I cannot look out while going up the elevator...I stare at the ceiling
It's too creepy

I'm OK once at top, but in the elevator, It's scary as shit

BTW, there is a small bathroom at the top, so you can always say "I pissed at the top of the Eiffel Tower"


Oh, and NO ONE in Europe knows what the fuck a "bathroom" is....it's called a toilet.
Never ask for or look for signs saying "rest room" or "bathroom," they don't exist....Look for "Toilet"

Made that mistake my first time over
Oh, and NO ONE in Europe knows what the fuck a "bathroom" is....it's called a toilet.


That always threw people for a loop in Japan, too... especially since bathing and pooping never happen in the same ROOM over there (save for accidents and fetishes)
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88sdad 8/30/2009 4:42pm
8/30/2009 4:42pm Edited Date/Time 8/30/2009 4:44pm
Toilet.... I remember the first time I went to England, I kept seeing these signs that said "To Let".

I had know idea what it meant, I thought it had something to do with toilets. I got up enough nerve to ask someone,
they told me it meant "For Rent", I felt so stupid
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Nerd 8/30/2009 4:43pm
8/30/2009 4:43pm
Take the two-hour drive to Normandy.
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fcr 8/30/2009 4:55pm
8/30/2009 4:55pm
Take in some of the Tour of Spain if it is near you. Veulta de Espan???a , forgot the spelling. Barthalona, Sevy Bayastheros from Barthalona ...
noob
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noob 8/30/2009 5:36pm
8/30/2009 5:36pm
fcr wrote:
Take in some of the Tour of Spain if it is near you. Veulta de Espan???a , forgot the spelling. Barthalona, Sevy Bayastheros from Barthalona ...
That would've been cool. But our free days in Barcelona will be the 10-12.. and the Tour is not very close. They'll be real close to Barcelona when we're in Paris.


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fcr 8/30/2009 8:25pm
8/30/2009 8:25pm
Oh well , it would be a cool thing to see. Have fun, the under 23 race is on the 5th - 13th, Le Tour de l'Avenir . You will see future stars there, maybe even Davis Phinney and Connie Carpenters kid.
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slowvet 8/31/2009 6:11am
8/31/2009 6:11am
I lived in Paris for 2 years, loved it. You're going to have a blast. Also on the other side of the Arc d triomphe is the Avenue de la Grande Armee there used to be the motorcycle shops, definately check those out. See what europe gets and what we dont as far as models go. Fiat museum on the Champs is interesting, also hop on the RER and take a visit to the outlaying towns. From La Defense catch a train to St. Cloud, beautiful there.
noob
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noob 8/31/2009 6:42am
8/31/2009 6:42am
slowvet wrote:
I lived in Paris for 2 years, loved it. You're going to have a blast. Also on the other side of the Arc d triomphe is...
I lived in Paris for 2 years, loved it. You're going to have a blast. Also on the other side of the Arc d triomphe is the Avenue de la Grande Armee there used to be the motorcycle shops, definately check those out. See what europe gets and what we dont as far as models go. Fiat museum on the Champs is interesting, also hop on the RER and take a visit to the outlaying towns. From La Defense catch a train to St. Cloud, beautiful there.
We're going to be on a bicycle tour around the Arc de Triomphe - I'll keep a look out for the motorcycle shops.



el moto diablo 8/31/2009 8:41am
8/31/2009 8:41am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 1:53am
Go see FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou








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J.F.S 8/31/2009 8:46am
8/31/2009 8:46am
el moto diablo wrote:
Go see FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou [img]https://barcelonadaytours.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/camp_nou_5.jpg[/img] [img]http://homepages.nyu.edu/~sjp354/FCBarcelona0809.jpg[/img]
Go see FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou








+1
noob
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noob 8/31/2009 8:51am
8/31/2009 8:51am
Great suggestion, El Moto Diablo.... but it looks like they play on the 13th and we'll be at the airport or in the air.

Damn.
slowvet
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slowvet 8/31/2009 12:58pm
8/31/2009 12:58pm
el moto diablo wrote:
Go see FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou [img]https://barcelonadaytours.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/camp_nou_5.jpg[/img] [img]http://homepages.nyu.edu/~sjp354/FCBarcelona0809.jpg[/img]
Go see FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou








Right on Noob, make sure you take chicken circle around the Arc. Hotel des Invalides (french war museum) also that's where Napoleon's tomb is. Interesting stuff. You're going to have a blast.

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