Paris, Provence & Barcelona

[BeccaNole72]

Last year I posted about a trip to France I was planning for this summer. It was a preliminary planning thread and I got some great suggestions on where to go in France as it was my first time there. Of course the thread is now lost in cyber space so now that I have things booked and have a better idea of where we are going I was hoping to pick your brains on what to see, do and where to eat.

We are traveling there in mid-June for two weeks. NO KIDS!

We have 5 days in Paris and then we take the train from Paris to Avignon and stay 5 days in Provence.

We are staying in a Bed and Breakfast near the town of Orange in the Rhone Wine area. We are renting a car at the Avignon train station so that we can check out the area and drive down to the coast.

After the five days in Provence we are taking the train from Avginon to Barcelona. We will be in Barcelona for 4 days. We are flying back to Miami from Barcelona.

For those who have traveled to these areas, what would your itinerary be?

Also for those familiar with Paris, what are some MUST EAT AT places there we should check out.

I have yet to book our place in Barcelona. I am toying with the idea of spending one night in Costa Brava (Girona).

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!
This post was edited on 4/10 5:31 PM by BeccaNole72

 

[EconSean]

Paris and Barcelona are amazing cities.

I know this doesn't help you whatsoever.

I'll post some recommendations later (been to Barcelona once and Paris nearly 10 times now).
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[Formerly Rockymtnole]

Paris, Provence and Barcelona...I have a feeling Tribe will ask you what you plan to do on Day 2.

 

[FSUTribe76]

I'm on a long vacation as a we speak so I don't have time to look up the names of the places I went to but I'll tell you someplace/somewhere you absolutely MUST do. Make sure for lunch you get local bread, cheese and sausage all prepared using methods they do not allow in the US (even in legally imported cheeses and sausages) that result in infinitely better results. The best that we found (and I don't know the Names without looking for it) is to go to the Notre Dame cathedral and walk the bridge on the OPPOSITE bank of where the Louvre is. About two blocks or so down the road that the bridge turns into is a collection of little shops with a Charcuterie, cheese shop and bakery. That place is a palace of cheese. Your mind will be blown. Don't worry if you don't speak French they have English speakers on staff just ask for one. Make sure you get at least three types cheeses, but one absolutely MUST be a local well aged Camembert. You will find that the bland and boring stuff masquerading as Camembert in America is NOTHING like the real thing.

Grab some cheap French wine, some bread, the cheeses, and the sausages and walk back to the Notre Dame and eat just outside the cathedral people watching as you have mindblowing but simple and authentic food.

 

[noleit]

When I rent a vehicle in Europe I always video record the entire vehicle when I do the walk around. And make sure you return to a location where an attendant actually inspects the car while you're still there. Too many vehicle return scams horror stories out there not to be overly cautious.

 

[EconSean]

Tribe is, I think, referring to a handful of shops at the Maubert Mutualite metro stop. I usually stay in that neighborhood and the shops are very nice, and definitely get some cheese that our government has deemed illegal for us to have.

On certain days (mornings) of the week there is a market on the street right in front of the shops.
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[Seminiferous]

Paris and Provence are utterly spectacular. Other than Gaudi, Barcelona is pretty average.

 

[semifan1]

Originally posted by EconSean:
Tribe is, I think, referring to a handful of shops at the Maubert Mutualite metro stop. I usually stay in that neighborhood and the shops are very nice, and definitely get some cheese that our government has deemed illegal for us to have.

On certain days (mornings) of the week there is a market on the street right in front of the shops.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

I bought a few souvenirs from a couple of venders there along the river. The bridges also have been covered with locks along the fences don't know what the reason is maybe symbolizing a love interest to lazy to google it.
I loved Barcelona been there twice if you want to stay around the tourist areas where a lot is, LA Rambla is the street or the gothic area is good also. From those Areas you can walk around a good portion of Barcelona down to the beach areas if you want. Me and my girlfriend rented like a go cart type thing and drove all around Barcelona on it. You can rent it all day, be warned it sucks going up hills not much horsepower, but you can park it in scooter spots that are open. Don't get a rental car in Barcelona as traffic is horrible along with parking. Lots of good places to eat try to get away from the tourist area as prices will go down. Also there is a bus outside of LA Rambla street that takes you directly to the airport for like 6-7 euros runs every 20 minutes I think if you catch a cab it's like 25-35 euros the bus starts around 6:30am. Anyways have a good time.
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[David Slaton]

Re: Paris, Provence & Barcelona

I agree with the previous post. No car needed for Barcelona. We went to the big museum, Sagrada, las Rambla, for tapas, to the beach and the casino.
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[F4Gary]

So you don't stand out too much, when in Barcelona, it's pronounced "Barthelona".

 

[ericram]

Barcelona is great. Great food and nightlife. Take a bus tour around the city. See the Gaudy art, houses, parks.
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[BeccaNole72]

Originally posted by F4Gary:
So you don't stand out too much, when in Barcelona, it's pronounced "Barthelona".

Are you saying my Cuban Spanish will make me stand out? ;-)

 

[Lemon Thrower]

you probably know this, but they speak Catalan spanish in Barcelono so of course you will stand out, but they will probably find your accent charming like we do the English. Of course, with a Cuban accent, they may think of you like we do some fool with an unintelligle Scotch accent, there is no guarantee.

for paris, get a guidebook of course and check out the main museums. there is a museum card that is free entry to all the museums for a set price which will save you money and time; it used to be a hassle to get - needed a passport photo etc but still worth the hassle. Main sights would be the Louvre, Musee D Orsay, Notre Dame, Eifel Tower, Versaille (in the suburbs take the commuter train). Some minor sights would be San Chappelle, Arc de Trioumph. If you like Monet, there is a small museum with some of his giant canvasses that you should not miss - its the L'Orangerie located in the Tuillueries garden. Another gem we found was the Jardin du Luxembourg, esp the boat pond in front of the chateau at sunset. Another highlight would be a boat trip on the river seinne, but if you do that once you get the effect - they sell multiday passes but the boats are not convenient for transportation. One tip - the museums and sights all have different hours and most are closed at least one weekday a week. I recall ND closed early when we were there - 4 or 5 pm. Eifel tower requires reservations, which your concierge can make for you. Its worth taking some time to plan your day as some of the sights are modestly spread out and some sights are in teh same neighborhood - e.g. spanish quarter, san chappelle, notre dame.

 

[BeccaNole72]

I've been brushing up on my French. I will make sure to brush up on my Catalan Spanish as well.

 

[semifan1]

The Eiffel Tower doesn't require reservations unless that changed the last 2 years. I was there in 2013. They have booths at all the legs of the tower just walk up and buy a ticket the wait can be long during the day we went at night not much of a wait at all. You can buy tickets ahead like the poster above said. Make sure you go at least once at night. I don't remember the time but the tower lights up and flashes during that time.
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[semihawk]

normandy and the museum, and versailles. paris is a great town with great food and of course red wine.

 

[Buckheadnole]

Originally posted by Seminiferous:
Paris and Provence are utterly spectacular. Other than Gaudi, Barcelona is pretty average.

Sorry you had an "average" experience in Barcelona (not sure how), I have been many times and never had an "average" experience.

 

[BeccaNole72]

Thanks for the input so far.

The last thing I have on my list is to reserve a place in Barcelona.