Why Paris? Do you really need a reason? It’s Paris! The French capital is one of the great cities of the world, overflowing with culture and history and a certain…I don’t know what (if only there was a French way to say that). It is also takes the time you would spend over a long lunch to get there by train from the South East.
All of the usual sights are worth a visit but you might find the magic of Paris lies outside the pages of a typical tourist itinerary.
One particular favourite is the roof of the Galeries Lafayette, an upmarket department store that has a dedicated picnic area on its uppermost level and boasts fabulous views, a lovely atmosphere and the cash-saving ability to enjoy a lunch that you can bring yourself. And all for free. (www.galerieslafayette.com)
A beautiful spot to see the sun set over the bridges of the Seine is the quay of the Isle de la Cite, at its western point. Hundreds of locals gather to eat, drink, dance and make merry. The atmosphere is relaxed and it represents a uniquely Parisian and quite magical way to spend an evening. There is a kiosk nearby that’s open until late, but beer is £5 a can, so best to do as the locals do and bring your own.
You will not find the ubiquitous sandwich shops of the UK here. France does not have the grab and go culture of eating that we do. But be warned, this more indulgent way of eating leads to a rather lighter wallet. A table with a view, assuming it is nice enough to sit outside, can be found on the roof of the Galeries Lafayette, as above, open from May to the end of September.
You do not need to rise with the birds to give justice to a trip to the Palace of Versailles. If you arrive in the morning as most people appear to, you will join the longest queue for anything you have ever seen. Relax, sleep in and arrive at lunch time and the line will have dwindled to allow you to stroll right in.
The Palace itself is magnificent on the outside but with the exception of the Hall of Mirrors, it is not as interesting on the inside as you might think. The French do not appear to dress their stately homes and palaces as we do, so what you see are a seemingly never ending succession of emptyish rooms and a shuffling crush of people trying to negotiate them. You will probably want to spend most of your time there outside, in the wonderful gardens.
