The best mainstream attractions
In no particular order, we both thoroughly enjoyed browsing through the touristy shops of the Ile St Louis, with it's history, it's ancient mansions, it's cute shops and it's most picturesque streetscapes. The ice creams here are legendary and it is very much a place for afternoon strolls. Similarly Place St Michel, just a hop step and a jump from our hotel, marks the entrance to the Latin Quarter and is thumpingly alive at night with tourists, students and locals. We caught lots of street performers of varying talents, but all highly entertaining for a free night out. Again the ice creams as you walk and explore are mandatory, especially since Paris doesn't get dark until 10pm. 
Ile St Louie Place St Michel the cutest of florists
1. The Musée D'Orsay
This was worth the huge queue, especially for it's wealth of impressionist paintings. We missed a free tour guide because we did not plan ahead, and while it was a shame, it is something to do next time! By the time you've queued to get inside, you don't want to leave and come back again to catch the 2:30 tour, and the three and a half hour wait is too long for anyone. There are other free tours to other parts of the Musée but they were not of interest to me. Russ was just tagging along to keep me company! It was a most impressive musée, with 2 restaurants for those with money to burn. Russ did well to endure 40 minutes of queueing and two and a half hours of gallery viewing I thought!
view from the top floor, looking at sculptures
2. Monet's Garden and Giverney
This was a huge, huge day out. And we learned even more about the frustration of queues, and by the fourth queue at 8pm at Gare St Lazarre to buy Metro tickets, Russ nearly lost it!! Monet's Garden is an hour and a half RER ride from Paris via Vernon to Giverney, a tiny weeny little village that is just so cute and pretty , rural and French! It wes adorable. Monet's house & garden were packed with tourists - really crammed into every corner and this detracted from the ambience - However, Monet's lake and his bridge made a great photo and one could imagine the hours that he spent dabbling with his paints.
His house, now a museum, has only a few copies of his paintings on display and heaps of Japanese lithographs that he collected and loved. That was a bit disappointing for us. We would have returned to Paris after only an hour and a half if we has not missed the bus and been forced to take refuge in the local hotel where Russ's humour improved over a litre glass of beer, a glass of the local cider and some pomme frites. A leisurely afternoon stroll through the little streets was a delightful aftermath. The picture below of Monet's bridge has me in it !
His house, now a museum, has only a few copies of his paintings on display and heaps of Japanese lithographs that he collected and loved. That was a bit disappointing for us. We would have returned to Paris after only an hour and a half if we has not missed the bus and been forced to take refuge in the local hotel where Russ's humour improved over a litre glass of beer, a glass of the local cider and some pomme frites. A leisurely afternoon stroll through the little streets was a delightful aftermath. The picture below of Monet's bridge has me in it !
Russ with his liquid lunch! A delightful B and B in the area
3. Place du Tertre - Montmartre
3. Place du Tertre - Montmartre
This is a huge but unashamed tourist trap. It is a little square where all of the local artists ply their trade, paint portraits and entice you to purchase an authentic momento of Paris. Right by Sacre Coeur (which we only visited because we were passing by), Place du Tertre is colour and crowds and movement in an area of about 100 square metres. The restaurants are gawdy and expensive but they know that everyone who visits there will be hungry and thirsty after climbing all the steps of the Basilica so they charge accordingly!!. We read an article in The Australian that Russ had bought with us about an artist at Place du Tertre and discovered that I had taken a photo of the same artist! He is the one painting the portrait of the young boy below. I loved this square, touristy or not, it was fabulously Parisien!
And from there it is only a short walk down the little streets of Montmartre to the risquée area of the Moulin Rouge, the Musée D'Erotocisme and the sex shops. Russ was not encouraged to inspect the shops too closely even though by day they appeared quite ordinary. Since we did not venture back there by night (even though our friend Marg Ridland said to) we missed the seedier aspect that this part of Paris offers the traveller. We imagine it offers a totally energetic and young atmosphere after dark. Even the tours you can take for huge amounts of money don't start until 9pm!! Marg tells us that the dinner and show at Moulin Rouge is a great experience.
Moulin Rouge by day..
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