Add'l Tips for France (Restaurants & Excursions)

I received a couple of questions about places to eat in Paris and places to go in France. I hope this helps everyone a little.

Places to Eat:

For your standard, inexpensive, quick meals, any cafe, bread stand or creperie will do. Some cafes are more expensive than others (so you may want to check the prices first), but you can usually buy panini sandwiches (basically a grilled sandwich) at most bread and crepe stands (in other words, any of the three places will do).

There are also a couple of some real cheap pizza places in the Latin Quarter area. When you see "Pizza a emporter" it means pizza to go, and I've seen it as cheap as 9 Fr (aprox $1.50) for a small pizza.

For real restaurants, there are a couple of places I recommend:

If it is a sunny day out, I recommend eating at one of the cafes up by Montmarte just before sunset. There are a number of them in the small square to the left of Sacre Coeur, and as the sunsets, Sacre Coeur glows in the most radiant colors. To get to these cafes, face the front of Sacre Coeur, and follow the street around the left side. After about 100 yards you will see a smaller church on the left, with crowds of people around. This is the entrance to the square area where there are a number of cafes and free-lance painters (if you forget these directions, just follow the crowds).

A second recommendation for an "interresting" place that is rather inexpensive is a small restaurant called Creperie Des Arts. It's in the Latin Quarter on a very small side street. To find it, go to the Left Bank and stand where Blvd. St. Michel meets the Seine River. With your back to the Seine you will be facing a rather large wall fountain. To your left will be a huge yellow bookstore called Gibert Jeune, and on your right (across a small shady street) is another, smaller bookstore of Gibert Jeune. Walk towards the smaller bookstore on the right. As you cross the small, shady street look down the street (away from the Seine) you will see a red cafe on the right side of the street (same side as the small bookstore). It is located on the corner of a second, very small street. Walk towards that cafe, and up the small street (you can only go right on this small street). About 100 feet up the street, on the left is the blue store front of Creperie des Arts. This restaurant serves inexpensive crepes and galletes (the food of Brittany), however, it's really known for it's ambiance, and most of the employees are well versed in English.

My other favorite place is much nicer and more expensive, but it's great for a "special" lunch.

The restaurant, Le Tren Bleu in the Gare de Lyon train station. Go to the Main Train Lines (Grandes Lines) and upstairs (in front of the trains) is the restaurant (hint: it's the blue neon light that's so big that somehow your eyes still miss it). Lunch there is about $20 - $25 (including an incredible dessert), but like my other recommendation, the ambiance is unbelievable. (Even if you don't eat there, you should go up and look).

Finally, if you're looking for place to go at night. Across the Seine from Notre Dame is the beginning of the Latin Quarter. At night it is a very lively area with many-a-soccer fans (it's also the greek/mediterranean district). However, while it is fun, and inexpensive, and the best place to get falaffels, I must warn you -- the area is also known as Bacteria Alley. I've never gotten sick, and I've always had fun, but . . . (by the way, for you drinkers out there, try framboise (rasberry) beer)

Excursions from US Match cities:

I also got a question about places to go around the US match cities. Here some suggestions:

Paris obviously has plenty to see, but for outside excursions I recommend:

The Loire Valley -- This is the one time I actually recommend joining a group. Public transportation is difficult, and entrance fees are much lower with the groups. Chartres -- A gigantic, beautiful cathedral that was not damage during World War II. At 12:00 Malcolm Miller gives a public tour in English (he's the one you see on TV all the time).

Giverny -- Monet's house (take the train to Vernon), also has the American Museum of Impressionist Art (which showcases American painters -- it's really an incredible museum).

Fontainebleu -- Another royal chateau, but unlike Versaille, this one still has the original interior/furniture.

Lyon is a great gateway to many areas:

The Alps -- Chamonix for Mt. Blanc, Annecy for the lake and charm, but any alpine town is great.

Provence -- Take the TGV south to Avignon and Provence, there are several great little towns.

Roman ruins -- Nimes and Pont du Gard are also to the South and can be combined with a trip to Avignon.

Le Puy en Velay -- I haven't been here yet, but I am going later this summer. It's a small town built on rocky spires and is suppose to be absolutely beautiful. The town borders and the mountainous area of Masif Central.

Nantes:

Nantes is in the Loire/Brittagne area, you can also take a trip to the Loire valley from here, but you will probably get a better deal in Paris. Other places include:

Mont St. Michel -- more tourists go here than anywhere else in France, however, it's absolutely incredible. You've probably seen pictures with out knowing it, but it's a large monastery built on a inlet on the Brittany/Normandy border. When the tide comes in, the area becomes an island.

St. Malo -- an old, walled-in pirate town on the Brittany coast. A great place to relax, eat delicious seafood, and visit all the other areas.

Dinan -- another beautiful old town with great walking streets. But here's a tip -- Brittany is the home of the crepe, and on Dinan's main street is a restaurant called Creperie de Ahna. I could easily argue that this is the best restaurant in France (or at least creperie)!!!

Carnac -- has the the prehistoric megolithes (like Stonehenge). It also has some fairly good museums and other sites. It's a little difficult to get to, but here's a special little tip (notice I waited until the end), I'm planning to go there the day after the US match. So, if you're interested, and have an adventurous spirit, send me an e-mail, and I will let you know the details.

Until next time . . .