Paris - Worth A Revisit

If you're planning a short break in Paris...then take plenty of cash. Rule of thumb might be to work out what you would consider reasonable spend for your type of break, and then double it.

Costs aside, it is undoubtedly a 'must go' location. A mature city beautifully enriched with culture, history, architecture, wines and a strangely attractive and stylish je ne sais quoi ...esprit de la vie, je pense?!

It helps that the 'natives' are generally friendly and respond positively to sincere attempts by invading foreigners to speak the local tongue (no matter how badly). Be a cosmopolitan city you'll find residents do speak English to varying degree of competency, so a hybrid French/English vocab can get you a long way.

Don't expecting good French cuisines at every corner. I've found really good french meals very hard to find in Paris and prices are steep. If your pallet is not too 'silver spooned' you can enjoy a sprawl of the usual Chinese, Mexican or Italian menus and US style grill houses. Regrettably you'll also find a certain well known fast food burger chain has has a foot hold at every main location. For a touch of high class cuisine in an relaxed setting you might consider the former mill and guinguette, now a restaurant - Moulin de la Galette situated to the rear of Sacre Coeur in Montmartre (phot0 top above)

I've visited Paris at least twice before and still find interest in walking along, if not necessarily exploring, the usual city land marks and museums, for example Tour Eiffel, La Louvre, Arc De Triomphe, the Seine and Arc De La Defense; to mention but a few. There are numerous lesser known but equally fascinating points of interest to take in around the city if you wish to avoid teaming crowds.

Getting around is a 'piece of cake'. Paris has an efficient train (RER) and bus service. As a tourist its probably best to purchase one of the travel pass options covering your stay. The pass is cost and time saving and work on most transport routes within Paris.

This year we happened to visit during the start of their annual music festival, and were greeted with free live music of various forms ringing out from similarly themed bars and restaurants around the city.

We'll definitely pay Paris a short visit at the same time next year, perhaps for a short weekend to include a show at the Moulin Rouge and a meal at Moulin de la Galette. After which, its unlikely 'Mr plastic' could take much more.