First, we will flying up to NY to depart for Europe. For some reason, it was significantly cheaper to buy one-way tickets to NY, open jaw our trip from JFK to Amsterdam (AMS), and then return from Paris (CDG) to our home in Orlando (MCO), FL. While this might not be convenient for most others, it gives is a great opportunity to visit with family and friends before we depart on our adventure. For our trip we will be spending 3 nights in NY, 2 nights in Amsterdam, 2 nights in Brussels, and 4 nights in Paris (see graphic).While in Amsterdam we plan on visiting several different attractions and museums covered by the I Amsterdam card. Purchasing this card will give us flexibility and also provide 48 hour coverage on Amsterdam's public transportation (Trams, metro, etc..). It even includes a canal boat tour, an activity I am looking forward to. In addition, we also plan on visiting the Anne Frank House, the Heineken Experience, and partaking in a free city tour (http://www.newamsterdamtours.com/daily-tours/new-amsterdam-free-tour.html).
Midday on our third day, we will be departing Amsterdam on a high-speed train to Brussels (Bruxelles). In Brussels we be visiting several local sites, the Grand Place, the Cantillon Brewery, and the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate. We will be spending a lot of time looking at the local architecture and sampling local delicacies. I'm really looking forward to trying some of the local Lambic and Wheat beers.
Midday on our fifth day, we will be departing Brussels for Paris. Now I was fortunate to have visited Paris, last summer while overseas for work. But as Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world, I sorely missed having my travel partner (Mary) with me. I knew she would love the architecture and planning that went into the grand boulevards, so I vowed to make sure to bring her the next time I went. Fortunately that time has arrived. While in Paris we plan on focusing on visiting specific areas (Arrondissements), such as Rue Cler, St Michel/Notre Dame (Latin Quarter), Ile de Cite, Montmartre, and Champs Elysees, to name a few. We will be taking two novel bike tours of down town Paris and Versailles (http://fattirebiketours.com), in addition to a walking tour of Montmartre. I have also dedicated four hours to the Louvre. While this may not be very much time, it does give us a chance to see some of the important works and familiarize ourselves for a future visit, where we will be able to dedicate more time.
You might want to consider a boat tour down the Seine if that is not in your plans. I was just in Paris about a month ago and didn't get a chance. Check out:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.batobus.com/english/
Seemed like it was a pretty good deal, and they had lots of boats running. I think you can get on and off unlimited times.
I recommend going to The Louvre around 6pm on a Wednesday if possible. (I see you have Paris currently scheduled for Fri - Tuesday). This is the only night they are open late. Be inside the main entrance prior to 6 and wait until 6pm to actually purchase your ticket. We arrived about 5:50 and they let us have the night rate. The cost was only 6 Euros per person and that gives you access to the whole museum until 10pm when they close. Far less crowded at night then during the day because everyone is at dinner. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.
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The museum is open every day except Tuesday and the following French holidays: December 25, January 1, and May 1.
Opening hours
- Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, Friday: from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- closed on Tuesday
Rooms begin closing 30 minutes before museum closing time.
Entrances to the museum (open every day except Tuesday)
- Pyramid and Galerie du Carrousel entrances: from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Passage Richelieu entrance: from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Porte des Lions entrance: from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except Friday.
Admission to the permanent collection is free for all on the first Sunday of every month and on July 14 (national holiday).
Rearick and I were able to see the major sights (Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory) by going to them first and then walked the remainder of the museum (not stopping for much time) checking out everything. It is possible to get to see the whole museum in the 4 hours
How to Visit the Louvre Museum
http://www.ehow.com/how_2066079_visit-louvre-museum.html
Visit the Louvre Museum
The Louvre museum is perhaps the most famous art museum in the world. The sprawling palace holds scores of corridors with walls and walls of priceless art and sculpture. Visiting the museum can be daunting at best because of the sheer size of the palace. Follow these few steps to make your visit to the Louvre museum a seamless and memorable event.
1 Research the art of the museum before visiting. Knowing the history of the art helps to enrich the experience of viewing it, so do your homework before.
2 Determine which section of the Louvre you are most interested in. The museum houses everything from Egyptian and Mesopotamian art to French and German impressionism.
3 Visit the highlights of the museum first, so you can have time to explore the other reaches of the corridors. The most famous of the Louvre's art is located in the Sully wing. In the center of the Sully are greats such as Winged Victory and the Mona Lisa.
4 Obtain a museum guide from the front desk. They can be purchased for as little as 8 euros, as well as audio guides to the museum that accompany certain exhibits.
5 Plan your route in the museum so that you touch upon some of the best highlights of each exhibit. Start with the ground floor, the Richelieu floor, which contains sculpture. Then proceed to the 1st floor of the Sully that contains Egyptian, Etruscan, Middle Eastern and Greek and Roman antiques. The Sully wing also encompasses painting and medieval art.
For quick and reliable travel information, www.paradiseintheworld.com offers thousands of articles and pictures. I believe this to be one of the best travel guides on the internet.
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