Liverpool/Paris tips

[TwoGloves]

Huge Beatles fans here. I'm going to retire soon and I'd like to take a tour of Liverpool and see some Beatles sights. Cavern Club, Strawberry Field etc. My wife's has a significant birthday coming and she'd like to go to Paris. Anybody have any tips about visiting one or both? Much appreciated!

 

[jackfinarelli]

Been to both places - - Paris many times.

If time permits, do both; the airfare "intra-Europe" is trivial. If you have time to do only one and if you have not been to Paris - - make that your choice.

Hope that helps ...

 

[SixToe]

If you enjoy art, carve time in Paris to visit the Louvre or the Musee d'Orsay. Both are outstanding, obvs.

We stayed just down the hill from Montmartre and walked up there. The Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur is fantastic, and there are enough little cafes and places to relax there. This link has some more info about Montmartre.

I'm typically not a fan of the tour bus thing but we did one and it was fairly interesting. It was a good way to see the city without walking like boobs.

I realize this is extremely rando for a city the size of Paris, but we ate lunch at Le Basilic (33 Rue Lepic) after arriving on the train from London and tossing our bags in the hotel. It was great. It's been a few years but it still gets good reviews.

If you see a guy on the street selling hot roasted chestnuts, get a bag. They're good.

 

[misterbc]

The waterfront in Liverpool is the centre of things to do and see. Catch the Hop On Hop Off bus there but most importantly see the Liverpool historical museum. Fascinating history of the city revealed. Take a Beatles bus tour from down there, just great, see Aunt Mimi's house and Strawberry Field.
In Paris, everything touristy is essential. I'd skip Pere Lechese cemetery unless that's your thing. Keeping close to the river on both sides reveals most of the best of Paris. Skip the inside of Pompidou Centre. Find a small gallery in the suburbs of Monet, among others, paintings. Can't think of the name but Google will find it.
We found Pritemps, a department store, to be a revelation into what Parisians buy. All nice stuff as it turns out.

 

[TwoGloves]

Thanks!

 

[Dyno]

PM me, TwoGloves. I have a lot of Paris tips.

 

[YMCA B-Baller]

If you're in Liverpool, go native and eat some rats with the bin dippers!

I've been to Paris. Honest to God, one of the greatest moments of my life was stepping off the RER train from De Gaulle Airport on to Boulevard Saint-Germain. Most of the train ride in Paris proper is underground and everything above ground is more or less like any other city.

So you emerge out of the dark into a full-blown European metropolis. Right in the heart of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The sights, the smells, the sounds (those Euro-horns), you are smack dab in forking Europe.

My wife and I were on our honeymoon (how we did that on my salary back then I'll never know) and it was a stunning experience. I'll never forget it.

After we slept off our jet lag, we just randomly walked around at night. Walked across the Seine into an open courtyard. What's this? We wondered. Oh, we had just stumbled into one of the back entrances of the Louvre Palace.

Paris is amazing like that. Just wandering around is worth it before you ever get to an actual attraction. Remarkable city.