The Journey Genie

As iconic as the Eiffel Tower is, the view from afar is better. Take the Metro (Line 12 Abbesses or Lamarck Caulaincourt, or Line 2 Anvers), then the funnicular up to Sacre Coeur. There are lots of interesting, kitschy tourist stores around https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montmartre" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Montmartre, and https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71470/Cimetiere-du-Pere-Lachaise" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pere Lachaise Cemetery is just a bit further along the #2 Metro line.

- There is a ceremony at 6:30 p.m. daily at the Arc de Triomphe's Tomb of the Unknown Solider, to honour France's war dead. It is a moving ceremony to witness.

- The https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Quarter,_Paris" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Latin Quarter is a bustling, colourful and fun place to sightsee, people watch, shop and eat. Notre Dame and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Île_Saint-Louis" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ile St. Louis are close by, too.

- The https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galeries_Lafayette" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Galleries Lafayette is a magnificent department store on the grand scale only Paris can offer. Its huge glassed dome overlooks ten stories of shopping heaven!

- Of course it goes without saying that the Louvre is worth a visit....or several, to see all of its priceless exhibits. To save time, definitely purchase tickets ahead of time so you can skip past the folks standing in line and get inside! NOTE: do not put your camera or other belongings down while in the museum; thieves are rampant, and often dressed better than the tourists, so you'd never suspect them.

 

NEARBY:

- Versailles - take the train, and be prepared for a lot of walking and a sublime experience. This is, after all, one of the main reasons for the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolution" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">French Revolution...luxury and privilege at its most opulent!

- Giverny: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Monet" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Monet's eponymous garden, is not far from Paris, and makes another excellent day trip. I didn't think I'd enjoy Giverny, not being much of a gardener, but my love of macro photography went into overdrive once I was inside. It's a lovely place to spend a couple of hours wandering around, viewing Monet's masterpieces as he first envisioned them. There are several nice, small, family-run cafes nearby to enjoy a bite to eat and further extend the ambiance.

 

FURTHER AFIELD:

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Normandy really is its own destination, but I'll squeeze it in here! If you find the history of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">World War II at all interesting, this is the place for you. In addition, it's a gorgeous destination all its own...historic seaside towns that before the war were family holiday spots, and have reclaimed that distinction once again. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvados" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Calvados, a potent and delicious apple brandy named for the area in which it is produced, is worth a try. Aged bottles are not too expensive to sample!

Stay in https://www.bayeux.fr/en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bayeux and use it as the jumping-off point to all Normandy has to offer. I like the newish and well-run Ibis Budget hotel just outside of town, although it is not walking distance to the sights. Bayeux Cathedral is a magnificent, imposing presence. The area around it hosts a yearly Medieval festival where folks dress up in period costume and showcase food, arts and crafts, and entertainment from that era. The Bayeux Tapestry is also worth a visit. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it is over 70 metres of embroidered history, telling the story of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_the_Conqueror" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">William the Conquerer's escapades.

Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian Military Cemetery and Beny sur-Mer Canadian Cemetery are also nearby, and are both smaller, more poignant stops than the imposing American Cemetery. British and German Military Cemeteries are also nearby. Other D-Day related sights include:

- Centre Juno Beach, the only Canadian museum on the Normandy beaches.

- Arromanches 360, a theatre-in-the-round with an excellent show that alternates between present-day images of the area, and historic D-Day images.

- https://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe/pointe-du-hoc-ranger-monument#.WXgFiK2ZNE4" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pointe du Hoc, where the American Rangers came ashore under unthinkably difficult circumstances - and had to scale a cliff to reach their objective.

- "Bloody" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha_Beach" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Omaha Beach

- Longues sur-Mer gun battery.

Other day trips include:

- Honfleur, a lovely fishing village from which https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_de_Champlain" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Samuel de Champlain launched the expedition that would eventually result in the "discovery" of Quebec City.

- Mont St. Michel, an unforgettably amazing castle / island fortification. Tides as high as 14 metres isolate it by creating a natural moat.