Paris recommendations

[NRC]

Surprised nobody mentioned doing the catacombs thus far........ fascinating history of building Paris, and creepy as heck with all the skeletons piled up (because they had nowhere else to put the Parisian dead)

[chekhov]

Hi there Cricketfieldclarets, I don't know Marseille myself very well, but a friend of mine is from there. I just asked him for recommendations and he suggests a walk up to Notre Dame de la Garde for spectacular views over the city, La Corniche (the seafront), and le Cour Julien which is apparently a nice area and good for bars, and eating.
Myself, I'd recommend walking in the Calanques (already mentioned) for really spectacular and wild coastal scenery, hidden coves and limestone cliffs. Can be quite busy in the summer especially being so close to Marseille, but easy to reach, and September should be a bit quieter with the kids back at school. Have a great trip.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Just on this. 4 weeks until we go. Looking at train tickets to Marseille from Paris. Am I better booking in advance or is there no benefit? Thanks

[italianclaret88]

Paris?...Marseille?...eatfrog pricks, marseille is the best shit0le i ever seen, even they ultras are insane, lyon is better and montpellier is good either...

[italianclaret88]

I'd like to go to a marseille...and take a game in Love their passion.

Please no mate......is better to see colne vs foulridge....

[1968claret]

Love Paris. Been a couple of times. As others have said, if you go slightly off the beaten track, some great cafes. We went to an area, I forget the name, but quite arty, Picasso museum is nearby. Lots of fashion shops ( my son wanted to go to some place called Acne Studios?. But the area was fantastic, lovely feel to the area and some great cafes at very reasonable prices.
If you have the time, a trip out to the Palace of Versailles is well worth it.
My lad also wanted to go and see PSGs ground. We went out, wasn’t much to see and the area felt very unsafe. We didn’t hang around.

[aggi]

Be aware that the queues can be massive at the Catacombs, don't just try and turn up and go.

A couple of decent patisseries
https://libertepatisserieboulangerie.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.dupainetdesidees.com/en/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A couple of good restaurants:
http://www.clover-paris.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.les-enfants-perdus.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and an excellent restaurant https://www.restaurant-aupassage.fr/en/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[cricketfieldclarets]

Bump ahead of the trip.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Staying near Sacre Coeur. And in Marseille at the port.

[cricketfieldclarets]

We do tend to get a week or two of downpour sometime between the end of September and early November but the weather should be good.

I'd expect a lot of sun and mid twenties for temperature.

For example it's 27 now and expect it'll be like this for the next couple of weeks

PS: Montpellier is far nicer than Marseille

Well day two in MArseille and the downpour has certainly arrived

Yesterday was lovely. AWFUL today. Got a week yet so Montpellier may be an option. Although will take us as long to get there as it would Lyon and almost as longa s PAris!

[cricketfieldclarets]

Avoid the Eiffel Tower, go to the Sacre Ceour instead. About 3 feet shorter but no queues and much cheaper, then a stroll around Montmatre.

The Musee d'Orsay was amazing so spend an afternoon there instead of the Louvre.

Sit outside at a cafe on the main drag and you'll pay a fortune.

Don't tell them you voted Brexit or you'll get a Baldrick style cappuccino.

Ended up staying literally next door to Sacre Coeur. Amazing place. Amazng views. Our hosts were great. Until I did the aforementioned... told them I voted brexit - he was only a french diplomat. We were having a good chat and a beer until that point

[cricketfieldclarets]

I've been to Paris many times. I've been quite disappointed by touristy areas and would avoid them for eating.
There are so many sites to visit, I like the architecture along the banks of the river and the 1st arrondisement , getting a taxi at night can be a real treat if they take those roads. I'll add my recommendation to the others who suggested MontMatre and the SacreCouer (the church at the top) and the Quay d'Orcay.
I enjoy walking around places like Paris, I liked the area around Notre Dame, Invalids, the Bastille and the area behind the Jardin des Plants which is all very "Amelie". The area around the stations are always the roughest in any French town or city. What I've found in the past is that the business hotels are often cheap on a Friday and Saturday night. The Metro doesn't run late into the night but Paris is actually quite small if you're staying intra-muros (in the center) you'll find plenty of restaurants and bars.

The old port is the "classic" place to visit in Marseille, if you stand at the land end of the port facing the sea there's a fantastic hausmanian street called the avenue of the republique on your right it leads to the Place de la Joliette and the old docks building beyond it which is a nice enough spot to have lunch but you're entering the real docks area and it's a bit rough. Plenty of scallies in the streets going inland from there and plenty of rats and dog mess. The other side of the docks has a big square with loads of restaurants, there are a few Irish bars (the second one along only has a license for just beer and wine so no whisky, a very French Irish bar). You may recognise it from the films of Russian hooligans twatting all and sundry during Euro 2016. Other than that it's a nice place.

Another area that is often visited is the Prado, that's where you'll find the Velodrome. Down at the end of that leads you to the beach and the statue of david. If you turn left when you get to the beach there are a few pubs and restaurants not too far along. If you go the other way you can follow the coast back to the old port (about 5 miles walk though). There are a few nice views along the way. The Chateau d'if is just off the coast there. That's the castle from the legend of the Comte de MonteCristo. You can get a boat out to it from the old port. You can also get a boat from the old port to visit the Callanques which are the rocky creaks along the coast heading towards Cassis which is another popular port and worth stopping at if you get the chance to have a meal there, not massive amounts to see there but it's a nice spot for lunch.

If you go to the area around the arc de triumph when the market is on you'll feel as if you've just arrived in the third world. It's an amazingly North African feel to the place with people spreading out sheets on the pavement and even on traffic islands selling all sorts of crap. If you want to take it even further you can visit the souk which is massive and slightly out of town and very very North African.

The old town of Marseille is called the Panier (basket) and it's a short walk from the port. It's not your typical chocolate box old town, it has a reputation for being a bit rough but it's a place that's often on the things to see list. The Palais Longchamps is another, an amazing looking fountain out the front. It's in a residential area which hasn't much else to offer although you might find a more "authentic" experience if you go looking for a restaurant in one of the squares nearby.

From Marseille you're about 35 minutes by bus away from Aix en Provence. Aix is one of the most beautiful cities in France. The old town is a real treat to visit. Well worth the day out. Probably a nicer place to stay if you're going to stay more than a day or two. On a Saturday I used to like sitting in a cafe opposite the Mairie (town hall), there's a wedding every 15 minutes and it's a fantastic place to people watch as they all come and go and there's usually a group busking in the shade of the plane trees on the square.

Montpellier is a nice city but there's not a massive amount to see, except me and Rowls You need to get public transport to the beach if you want to go there because the city isn't on the coast. You could probably see all the main sites in Montpellier in a day. If you're travelling by train you're probably better off going to Marseille, if you're travelling by car then there are loads of nice places to vist around Montpellier.

May look at this bus to aix en provence one day this week. Maybe even saturday for people watching at the town hall

[Rowls]

Well day two in MArseille and the downpour has certainly arrived

Yesterday was lovely. AWFUL today. Got a week yet so Montpellier may be an option. Although will take us as long to get there as it would Lyon and almost as longa s PAris!

Yep.

Rainy week is bang on time this year.

Sometimes lasts a fortnight, sometimes blows over before the week is out.

Fingers crossed it clears up for the weekend and would be great if you make it to Montpellier.

Drop a note on here if you do and I'll direct you to the bar I work in.

UTC!

[cricketfieldclarets]

Yep.

Rainy week is bang on time this year.

Sometimes lasts a fortnight, sometimes blows over before the week is out.

Fingers crossed it clears up for the weekend and would be great if you make it to Montpellier.

Drop a note on here if you do and I'll direct you to the bar I work in.

UTC!

Sun is out for now today and forecast is warm and sunny for the next few days. Not beach weather but better than it was yesterday! Will probably end up heading out to one of the neighbouring areas in a day or two so will keep you posted.

Whats the name of the bar?
cheers

[Rowls]

Sun is out for now today and forecast is warm and sunny for the next few days. Not beach weather but better than it was yesterday! Will probably end up heading out to one of the neighbouring areas in a day or two so will keep you posted.

Whats the name of the bar?
cheers

O'Carolans Irish Pub at place St. Anne

[LoveCurryPies]

Been a few times and always enjoy the small restaurants and cafes. Next time, I want to go to the Opera House to see the Chaghall’s painted ceiling.

[cricketfieldclarets]

O'Carolans Irish Pub at place St. Anne

Sorry only just seen this.

Weathers picked up and made the most of it with the beaches nearby. Went to aix en provence today as it was meant to **** it down for the foreseeable in montpellier? Put the burnley shirt in today just in case. Aix was nice. Last day in marseille tomorrow. But i am sure we will be back and will dedinitely be in montpellier at some point.