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There and Back Again: Paris, May 1-12 (part 1)

I have so enjoyed reading the trip reports of others in the forum, and thought I would contribute my own in return.

This was my first trip abroad since January 2020. It was great to be traveling internationally again and to return to Paris. I loved every minute of this trip! Beautiful weather the entire time was a bonus. A few reflections to share:

Getting around: The G7 taxi app is terrific. The app was very easy to set up and to use, the drivers were always on time and the cars were in great shape. In addition to using the app for shorter trips, I used it to pre-schedule a 6am ride to the airport for my departure day. Highly recommend! On previous trips to Paris I used Uber, but will not do so again, now that I have had such a good experience with G7.

Footnote, literally: I had two pairs of shoes with me, brands I had not tried before this year but can happily recommend. Oboz women’s low leather for the “serious” walking days, and Giesswein women’s merino wool knit for the flights over and back and the days when I wasn’t going to be on my feet as much. I appreciated having the lighter weight Giesswein shoes to trade off with the heavier (but more supportive) Oboz. When the weather was very warm, the Giessweins kept my feet cooler, also.

Sightseeing: The Musee d’Orsay was the most crowded of the museums I visited, especially the Impressionist galleries. I booked ahead for a mid-day entry time, (12:30pm on a Tuesday) and waited outside for maybe 15 minutes before I was allowed to enter. The special exhibits (one about Gaudi and one featuring paintings by Whistler) were great, and were less crowded.

When making the required entry reservation for the Orangerie, I followed the advice on museum’s website, which said the museum is less crowded earlier in the day. I arrived at 9:30am on a Saturday and walked right in. Very few people were there at that time and it was a pleasure to have unobstructed views of the Waterlilies canvases. The exhibit downstairs, about the decorative arts of the Impressionists, was likewise uncrowded and very enjoyable.

The Rodin museum did not require prebooking for an entry time, but I did anyway. Arrived around 11am on a Sunday, to find very few people there. No lines at all for the prebooked ticket holders or for the purchase-now tickets. The gardens at the Rodin museum were especially lovely, with roses just coming into bloom.

My favorite visit was to the Musee Nissim de Camondo. I arrived at opening time, (10:00am) and was one of perhaps a dozen visitors during the first hour or so. I was especially interested to visit since I had read Edmund de Waal’s “Letters to Camondo” several months ago and found the story of the Camondo family absorbing and moving. I was also interested to see de Waal’s ceramics as part of a special exhibit.

Giverny! On a sunny day and with so many flowers in bloom! What a treat for my first-ever visit there. I enjoyed seeing Giverny in real life before seeing the Waterlilies at the Orangerie – doing things in that order increased my appreciation for the paintings.

Posted by
2766 posts

Very encouraging - thanks for sharing. check out France With Vero's YouTube walk of the square in front of Musee Nissim for more on that family story.

Posted by
14725 posts

What a wonderful trip you had!

I love to see both the gardens and Giverny and then the follow up with his work at either the Orsay or Orangerie!

I'm glad things worked out for you. I didn't get to Camondo this time but found it very interesting. Did you walk around to the Parc Monceau behind it? I didn't do enough research the time I went and missed it completely, lol. Next time....

Thanks for taking the time to post!

Posted by
64 posts

Avirosemail, thanks so much for recommending the France with Vero walk at the Musee Camondo. I will check it out!

Pam, thanks for your comments. I did go to the Parc Monceau after visiting the Camondo. Spent a lovely hour or so walking, watching kids on the carousel, and just sitting and enjoying the sunny day. A little bit of heaven!

Posted by
14725 posts

Oh, that sounds excellent, especially after a visit to Camondo and the sad story that goes with that family. Need a bit of time to reflect and watch others enjoying living.

Posted by
418 posts

I enjoyed your report. How long were you in Paris? Did you go anywhere else outside of Paris?

Posted by
64 posts

Hi Janet -- I stayed in Paris for 10 days. Went to Giverny one day, but that was my only excursion outside the city. This was a very laid-back trip -- I wanted to revisit some favorite places and see a few new ones, and I didn't create much of a schedule for myself. And since the weather was so nice, I spent a lot of time outdoors, exploring neighborhoods, sitting in parks, and lingering over coffee (or wine!) in cafes. Not the kind of trip everyone might choose, but it was perfect for me.