View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

Winter in Paris

By PAT LALAND

Date published: 2/15/2003

For THE FREE LANCE-STAR

QUICK DECISION to spend Christmas week in Paris was one of the best spur-of-the-moment travel whims I've indulged in for some time.

Our hotel, Le Jardin de Cluny, a Best Western property, was perfectly located in the heart of the Latin Quarter on the left bank, and we quickly found our way to the Seine, a couple of blocks away, and across the footbridge to Notre Dame Cathedral.

I never cease to marvel at the architectural magnificence of that building. It was Christmas Day and the square was alive with people with happy faces, boasting a multitude of languages and accents that made me realize the worldwide breadth of French colonization.

Inside, the sense of awe and wonderment the cathedral evokes was enhanced by the large number of votive candles whose warmth reached beyond the glowing ring of light they generated. The touchingly lovely crèche, in that amazing structure, reflected a depth of devotion deeply intensified by the setting.

Distances to and from Paris are measured from this point and if it actually is not the architectural and historical center of the city, it's close enough, for me.

To make the best of our time and resources, we learned we could purchase a museums-and-monuments pass that would offer not only reduced admission prices, but also get us in ahead of the (often very, very long) lines awaiting entry at more than 65 of the city's sites.

In addition, we got tickets for the hop-on, hop-off bus system that cruised either to or very near many of the famous historic and cultural sites. The system also offers commentary both in French and English.

Tickets may be purchased for two-, three- or five-day spans at visitors centers or on the bus.

Detailed maps helped us plan our itinerary, and we worked all the way down our combined, and mostly agreed upon, must-see list.

Follow us on

Date published: 2/15/2003