Gotta get out of this place

[Jack Manfred]

Originally posted by robustpuppy
As part of a longer trip, my SO and I are spending two nights in each of London and Paris this summer. He's never seen London, I've never seen Paris. As for Paris, the only thing on my must-do list is to sit at sidewalk cafes & people watch. I could live without seeing the Louvre if the tourists are going to be out of control. Any recommendations for not-to-miss and easy-to-get-to sites/experiences in either city?

A few thoughts...
1) Don't go to Paris in August. For starters, it's uncomfortably hot. Plus, most of the French take vacations in August, so many attractions, restaurants, and cafes are simply closed in August.
2) The Rick Steves' guidebooks are fine, but Rick's not the hippest man on the planet. I read the Let's Go guidebook before planning a rather epic Bar Trip. If you've not traveled with your SO before, reading these can alert you to problems beforehand. Make a list of 10 things you want to do in each city. (If you list 10 museums and he lists 10 pubs, there might be a problem.)
3) If he's not been to Britain before, make sure to visit the British Museum. What's the use of 300 years of British imperialism if you don't get a chance to see the collected spoils.
4) If you can catch a performance of the The Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican, it's worth it. The last time I was there, the season had ended, but there are listings on the RSC website.
5) The Tate Modern is a great museum (even for people who don't usually go to museums.) If you're looking to fit more things into each day, I think it is open late Fridays and Saturdays.
6) The Centre Pompidou holds many wonderful modern art pieces. When I visited, they had a fantastic Hitchcock exhibit that mixed film props, sketches from art directors, and pieces of art that influenced him. (I'm sure that exhibition is long gone, but check a local newspaper to see if there's others worth seeing.)
7) If you're really into film, Paris is one of the best cities in the world to see a film. They will have a revival of some kind when you're there. Just look in the film listings for any title with v.o. after it. That means version originale, so it won't be dubbed. If it's too hot to do touristy stuff, head for a theatre, they're in every arrondisement (neighborhood.)
8) Go to the cathedral atop Montmatre for beautiful views of the City. (It's the one in Amelie.)
9. Don't go to the Moulin Rouge. I love how American girls pay serious money to see what is essentially a classed-up strip show just because they saw a movie with Nicole Kidman in it.
10. If you're going to the Louvre, make sure you go on a guided tour. Nothing seems more French than having your art history major tourguide say that the Mona Lisa is nothing special and that if you had any sense, you'd spend more time looking at the French paintings.

[notcasesensitive]

Originally posted by Jack Manfred
A few thoughts...

3) If he's not been to Britain before, make sure to visit the British Museum. What's the use of 300 years of British imperialism if you don't get a chance to see the collected spoils.

Agree. I went over a decade ago and I still think of it as the most interesting museum I've ever been to.

My only Paris tip (also dated) is to watch out for the gypsies walking in the main tourist areas (Arc de Triomphe, etc.). They are quite adept at the picking of the pockets...

[evenodds]

Originally posted by Jack Manfred
A few thoughts...
1) Don't go to Paris in August. For starters, it's uncomfortably hot. Plus, most of the French take vacations in August, so many attractions, restaurants, and cafes are simply closed in August.
2) The Rick Steves' guidebooks are fine, but Rick's not the hippest man on the planet. I read the Let's Go guidebook before planning a rather epic Bar Trip. If you've not traveled with your SO before, reading these can alert you to problems beforehand. Make a list of 10 things you want to do in each city. (If you list 10 museums and he lists 10 pubs, there might be a problem.)

I had always heard not to go to Paris in the summer, but I went in late July/early August (it was a birthday present) and I loved that the city was relatively empty of tourists and Parisians. We never had a problem finding restaurants and the people were lovely.

Buy as many guidebooks as possible and read them before you go. I had Let's Go, Time Out London guidebook and weekly, Lonely Planet, the mini rough guide, some heavily illustrated book and Rick Steves (who is most useful for his ability to get through lines and traffic quickly).

We shop heavily, but the shopping in Paris for women's clothes is rough. My mother and I each wear an American 2 or 4 and we were too gigantic to wear most Parisian fashion. The men's clothes are cut narrow as well. Prices in Paris were remarkably good on jewelry, clothes, and accessories. Prices in London were remarkably high.

In London, the Tate Modern is a must, as are the Tower of London, the British Museum (truly offensive), and a doubledecker bus tour.

[NotFromHere]

If you're only going to be in either city for 2 days, pick the 3 or 4 things you MUST do and then see if there's time to hang out later. By the time you've figured out how to get anywhere on the trains (which are awesome in both cities) it will be time to leave. Jack is right summer in Paris is oppressively hot, but at least you'll meet a lot of Americans. Eiffel Tower, bateaux mouche (boat tours of the Seine at night - magnificent) Eiffel is open until midnight so do other stuff during the day. Notre Dame - totally cool - don't bother to stand in line for the "climb" in that heat you'll probably wish you hadn't. If you buy a Carte Musee at the Arc d'Triomphe, you can get into any museum without having to stand in line. That way, you can go to the Louvre and see a few things - you don't have to spend the whole day. Arc d'Triomphe for sure and then after that you can walk to the Champs, sit and drink champagne and watch the tourists - too fun.
Totally agree on the British Museum - don't miss that. Tower of London (if only to see the queen's sceptre and crowns!). Take the double decker bus tours - you'll get to at least see many things and you can get on and off whenever. Westminster Abbey - everybody and their brother is buried there but is a beautiful structure and full of the history of Britain.

[Anne Elk]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
Eiffel Tower, bateaux mouche (boat tours of the Seine at night - magnificent) Eiffel is open until midnight so do other stuff during the day. Notre Dame - totally cool - don't bother to stand in line for the "climb" in that heat you'll probably wish you hadn't. If you buy a Carte Musee at the Arc d'Triomphe, you can get into any museum without having to stand in line. That way, you can go to the Louvre and see a few things - you don't have to spend the whole day. Arc d'Triomphe for sure and then after that you can walk to the Champs, sit and drink champagne and watch the tourists - too fun.
Totally agree on the British Museum - don't miss that. Tower of London (if only to see the queen's sceptre and crowns!). Take the double decker bus tours - you'll get to at least see many things and you can get on and off whenever. Westminster Abbey - everybody and their brother is buried there but is a beautiful structure and full of the history of Britain.

Paris:
I second the bateaux mouche (bring lots of wine). Also check out the catacombs. It will be nice and cool down there. The walk is about an hour and takes you off the usual tourist path (at least we didn't see many). My favorite museum was the Musee D'Orsay. Small, but interesting.

London:
Try to get to the Tower when it first opens. It's a great place to explore before the tourists invade it. Westminster is beautiful, but don't leave St. Paul's off the list. My list of things to do (if I ever get back there) includes Hampstead Heath, Greenwich (I've stood on the equator, why not the Prime Meridian), Thames boat ride to Windsor, and the Jack the Ripper walking tour.

[Biker]

In getting away, it's not where you go, it's how you get there.

The best, more relaxing and -- paradoxically -- most exciting way to travel is on a motorcycle. Today's bikes, especially touring motorcycles, provide comfort and luggage-space. And nothing can compete with smelling flowers in the meadow you pass, feeling centrifical force keeping you up while leaning through a curve, and losing all the worries you got practicing law in an eyeblink.

[notcasesensitive]

Originally posted by Biker
In getting away, it's not where you go, it's how you get there.

The best, more relaxing and -- paradoxically -- most exciting way to travel is on a motorcycle. Today's bikes, especially touring motorcycles, provide comfort and luggage-space. And nothing can compete with smelling flowers in the meadow you pass, feeling centrifical force keeping you up while leaning through a curve, and losing all the worries you got practicing law in an eyeblink.

Seems like a tough trip to Hawaii though.

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Biker
In getting away, it's not where you go, it's how you get there.

The best, more relaxing and -- paradoxically -- most exciting way to travel is on a motorcycle. Today's bikes, especially touring motorcycles, provide comfort and luggage-space. And nothing can compete with smelling flowers in the meadow you pass, feeling centrifical force keeping you up while leaning through a curve, and losing all the worries you got practicing law in an eyeblink.

Yeah, but that's only if you don't mind smelling like rats ass once you get there.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Biker
In getting away, it's not where you go, it's how you get there.

The best, more relaxing and -- paradoxically -- most exciting way to travel is on a motorcycle. Today's bikes, especially touring motorcycles, provide comfort and luggage-space. And nothing can compete with smelling flowers in the meadow you pass, feeling centrifical force keeping you up while leaning through a curve, and losing all the worries you got practicing law in an eyeblink.

And it doesn't work so well for two--kind of limits the conversation.

Although a happy compromise is a convertible. they also are more comfortable in the rain.

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
And it doesn't work so well for two--kind of limits the conversation.

Although a happy compromise is a convertible. they also are more comfortable in the rain.

Yeah, but then there's the arguments over where to turn, where to stop, who's in charge of the map, who's driving, what side of the road am I supposed to be on......
too much stress.

[Biker]

Hey, I know you guys are jokin' but, fortunately, there's no truth to your remarks.

It is possible to ride in Hawaii or anywhere else. No, you don't put waterwings on the tires; you just ship your bike there or rent one. Rental places are ubiquitous.

And you *can* talk to your passenger on a bike; my wife and I chat all the time on our trips. And we don't even have an intercom system (helmet-to-helmet) which would make it easier.

Third, you don't smell from riding a motorcycle. The bikers who smell bad started out that way...

Lastly, I *love* to ride in the rain. The harder the better. With a good rainsuit, you stay perfectly dry and there's better traction than you'd expect. The stunned looks from ordinary folks in cages (that's what we call cars) are priceless.

I'm planning a vacation to southern Germany, western Austria (Salzburg/Innsbruck), and northern Italy. Not during ski season, though. Any thoughts on what to see and how much time to spend there, especially in places like the Dolomites?


(note: I'm a regular poster using a sock, since these vacation plans have been discussed publicly)

[notcasesensitive]

Am heading to Oahu later this year. Anyone with tips/suggestions/must sees, please post or PM me. Thx in advance! Alas no Oahu Revealed book published yet...

[robustpuppy]

Going to Munich soon --- we'll be staying with a couple that just moved to the city. I've never been -- I've only been to the gloomy North of Germany during the winter. Anyway, feel free to post or PM with any recommendations.

We will be overlapping with Oktoberfest but don't have any reservations.

Vielen Dank.

Originally posted by robustpuppy
Going to Munich soon --- we'll be staying with a couple that just moved to the city. I've never been -- I've only been to the gloomy North of Germany during the winter. Anyway, feel free to post or PM with any recommendations.

We will be overlapping with Oktoberfest but don't have any reservations.

Vielen Dank.

I went recently, although spent too little time in Munich.

A few thoughts: spend a day or so walking around the old town-Marienplatz, etc..
You might go to the Augustiner beer hall--less touristy than the hofbrauhaus.
Englischer garden is very nice.
Nympenburg schloss is worth a trip.
if you like cars, the BMW factory tour is great, but you need to reserve in advance. English tours Mon./Fri.

If you have access to a car (or don't object to renting one) you could take day trips to Konigsee (w/ boat tour--look for berchtesgaden) and even Salzburg (or combine the two and spend the night in Salzburg).

Have fun!