Of Trips and Planning

[przed]

I don't quite know how it's snuck up on us so quickly, but we're leaving for London and Paris on Friday. As in three days from now.

We've booked the hotel in London, as well a copious amounts of theatre (Jonathan Pryce! Diana Rigg! Antony Sher!) and my grad school friend in Paris has been warned of our arrival and is ready to meet us at the train station. I've been trying to decide which of my many favourite touristy things in London to take the boy to (The National Gallery? The Tower? The BM?) and we're both trying to prioritize which of the many, many things in Paris to do in the five days we have in that city. (The Centre Pompidou and the catacombs are top priority. And doing at least one fun cinema-centric thing with the above-mentioned grad school pal) Looks like we'll also be taking the one day that we don't have theatre or a concert booked and doing a day trip to Bath. Mostly, I'm just looking forward to getting away and playing in two fabulous cities.

And of course, we've been accumulating wish lists of European DVDs to try and find in either place. Mine include the Patrice Leconte film, Les Specialistes, much beloved by blktauna, and the requisite Bean films, Tom and Thomas and the Henry VIII mini-series. (Actually, the Henry VIII mini is playing on CBC the day we get back from the trip, but I'm figuring between the jet lag and general post-vacation exhaustion that my chances of seeing it/remembering to tape it are slim to nil.)

I'm trying not to think of all the things I've got to do before I can even leave this city. I'm sure somehow it'll all come together.

So, anyone on my flist in either of the aforementioned cities? Anyone have a suggestion for things we have to do?

Just to make sure that there's a content free portion of this post...

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Comments

[tanacawyr.livejournal.com]

Jonathan Pryce! Diana Rigg! Antony Sher!

Aigh. This is me simultaneously hoping you have a great trip and turning emerald with jealousy.

WOW.

[sooguy.livejournal.com]

I like ZONKED.

Wow, I am jealous of your globe trotting. Take pictures for me!

Have you seen my new LJ community curious_tourist?

Hey is Jim Morrison's (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=740&pt=Jim%20Morrison) grave in Paris proper or in some out of the way place?

Check out this site www.findagrave.com - you can visit Samuel Beckett's (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=1160&pt=Samuel%20Beckett) grave in Paris.

I am sure there are lots of others.

Have a great trip and give me a shout when you guys get back. I'll help move stuff back down to the main floor.

[par-avion.livejournal.com]

For Paris, I recommend shopping and eating ;) Also the Musee d'Orsay -- it has a lot of nice/famous/crowd-pleasing art without being overwhelmingly large. The space itself is quite nice and you can see the whole museum in three hours. Also the museum is open late some nights -- Thursday, I think.

I was only in London for 48 hours but quite enjoyed the backstage tour at the Royal National Theater.

Enjoy!

[archet.livejournal.com]

I can't offer suggestions as to what to do as I've never been *anywhere* but just wanted say have a wonderful and safe trip! ;)

[faramir-boromir.livejournal.com]

First off: Have a wonderful time!

One word about Bath--great city, you'll love the Roman baths--but the costume museum and the old assembly ball rooms used to be closed on Mondays. Be sure that you check the open days for the places you want to see, since I was sadly disappointed there several years ago because we went on the wrong day.

About Paris...well, Versailles. The same thing. Check the schedule for when they turn the outdoor fountains on--it used to be Sundays, and that is the *best* time to get the whole effect.

On London--we're here until the 23rd, excepting the 17-20th when we'll be in Paris for work. If you'd like to get together for a late afternoon tea, or breakfast before your day gets going in earnest, drop me a line at my email and I can give you my mobile number (cliopro2@yahoo.com).

Must-dos in London: the BM! the Tower! and the National Gallery! You've already got three of my favorites. The National is open late on Wednesdays, so you can pack in a whole day doing other stuff and still see it too. The National Portrait Gallery (right next door) is very good, and has late night showings on Thursdays and Fridays. Across the street is St. Martin's in the Field, and their crypt serves a very good lunch (no kidding) and dinner. Go round to the right hand side and down the stairs.

Bookstores (see my post to aesc for recs on the best ones), naturally: most on Charing Cross Road, a few good ones near the BM. There is a very good one for literature beneath Waterloo Bridge, right next to the National Theatre on the Southbank side, open until dusk every day, too.

You really should see the Food Halls at Harrods; not to be believed, even if you buy nothing. And Harrods is right on top of the Victoria and Albert, which is very nice as well--especially good if you like your museum to show off the medieval or the victorian eras. The Tate is running a big retrospective on Edward Hopper--if he's your thing, then go.

Try to get to one of the markets--there are good ones at Spitalfields (mostly clothing: weekends probably best), Camden (clothing, antiques, everything: get north of the grotty ones, closest to the Tube stop, and find the ones at the very north end--you'll notice a difference), and London Bridge (this for food, exotic foods), which is close to Southwark Cathedral. Great free entertainment.

One of my favorites: walk along the Embankment at night. After you finish watching the theater/theatre, just walk down to the river and follow the crowds. I particularly like the Southbank side, since you get a better view of the city. Another piece of free entertainment.

Restaurants: Rock and Sole Plaice, a chip shop on Endell Street, about a 6-block walk from the BM, between Bloomsbury and Covent Garden, the best; Belgo Centraal, on Earlham Street (near Seven Dials, heart of Covent Garden, only 3 blocks from R&SPlaice), mussels and beer, go early or book; Tas, across from the Globe Theatre, Southbank, Persian and very good; Wagamama, near the BM and many other locations, Japanese noodle shop; Pierre Victoire, in Soho a block off of Oxford Street, very reasonably priced country French food; Cheung Cheun Ku, in Chinatown, if you want dim sum--they put ads in Time Out: London every week, they are easy to find; Oxo Tower (book several days ahead, eat in the Brasserie, not the restaurant, same food, better prices), this is for a nice night out and a wonderful view from the top of the city.

Beyond that...if you love flowers, take time to go to Kew. It is one of the most amazing horticultural things you will ever see; a bit of a train ride to get out there, but worth the trip if you like green stuff.
If you groove to science and ship models, then head out to Greenwich to the Royal Observatory and the National Maritime Museum--more model ships than you can imagine--and the boat ride to get down there is great in fine weather. But Greenwich and Kew are both a bit away from the city, good if you want to get out.

And again, Enjoy your trip!

[sensine.livejournal.com]

I see that you have already got several ideas here, here are mine. First - boy as in son? We've been to the Natural History Museum several times. It's much more fun than it sounds. Even the escalator is great.(Not kidding.) The Science Museum. And St. Paul's. And New Tate Modern. I'm probably going there at the end of next week with my daughter, and she wants to revisit Camden Market, Tate Modern and Covent Garden. We'll also go the the Transport Museum (in Covent Garden) and the new Design or Architecture museum. To eat? We always go to Queensway (the street). There you can find food from all over the world, and not too expensive. Have a wonderful trip!

Byeeee!!!

[stormheller.livejournal.com]

Have a great time!
Everybody meets in my garden when you get back. (see my lj post for the visit from the deer.)
I've not been to Paris but I always enjoy taking walking tours of new places, especially cemetary tours. (Go figure.)
~ Gina/Stormy