15 Hours - The Perfect day in Paris

On Fridays I will post an itenerary for what I would do if I only had a day (about 15 hours) in a city. The itenerary will be based on my interests of food, art, shopping and history so you may do it differently and if you're so inclined feel free to let me know what that might be.

This week - one of my favorite cities - Paris, France:

8:00 a.m. - Wake up and get ready for the day!

8:30 a.m. - Get a croissant or a small roll with bacon or cheese bits cooked in it for breakfast from the nearest boulangerie - just use your nose to find one - the cities smells incredible in the mornings.

9:00 a.m. - Head to Notre Dame Cathedral and tour the inside and soak up the history and gothic atmosphere of the space.

10:00 a.m. - Make your way to the Louvre with your pre-purchased entrance tickets so you can skip the ticket lines and explore the many wings of paintings and sculptures including the Winged Victory and the Mona Lisa. Some of the large-scale paintings feel like you could just step into the scene and be a part of the past.

1:00 p.m. - Lunch at Pizza Oskian 1 block from the Louvre at 139, Rue St Honoré. Order the pizza that is called the "gondola". It's a frommage and jambon (ham and cheese pizza) that's literally shaped like a boat. The pizza's are cooked in a wood-fire oven and the crust is thick and chewy when it comes out. Definitely different and doughier than pizza I have had elsewhere but I just love it. This is a pretty efficient Paris restaurant that's used to American tourists so don't be surprised when they bring you your bill without asking!

2:00 p.m. - Head back across the Seine to Musee Rodin - Rodin's sculpture are worth the time. His work exudes beauty and such a level of detail and emotion that I just love exploring the indoor and outdoor space of the museum to take in all of his sculptures.

4:30 p.m. - Cross back over the Seine so that you can walk the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triumphe. If you see a creperie stop in for a bite and a cafe au lait. Have fun popping into stores like the Virgin music store or whatever else peeks your shopping interest.

7:15 p.m. - Stroll to dinner/or take the metro if you're short on time ...

8:00 p.m. - And end up at Restaurant Le Procope, founded in 1686, situated in the Saint-Germain neighborhood. The restaurant as been graced by many famous names including our own Benjamin Franklin. You'll want to make a reservation - use your hotel concierge if you have one - and don't be surprised if the earliest you can get a table is 9:00 p.m.! The nice thing about this restaurant is that while it's nice and it is Paris we were able to go wearing jeans and not feel out of place at all. The restaurant services traditional french cuisine. I recommend the coq au vin or the braised ox cheek for a very tender and flavorful meal and you must try the foie gras. For dessert have the creme brule. Yum.

10:30 p.m.- Walk off dinner as you head to the Eiffel Tower (actually head to the Champs de Mars for the best view and to sit on the grass and relax - just beware of the wine peddlers) for the light show at 11:00 p.m. or midnight.

Transportation:

I'm a walker so I'd probably take the extra time to walk to everything and really experience the city. But Paris has a good metro system which makes it easy to get around especially when you're tired. It could also save you some time crossing town if you want to cram more things in.

Notes:

Paris is a huge city with so many beautiful and historical sites. If I was there for more than a day I'd walk Rue Mouffetard, stroll through the Jardin du Luxembourg, head up to the Sacre Couer, go to the Musee d'Orsay, visit Napoleon's tomb, and the list goes on and on.

I've been to Paris twice now and the above itinerary reflects the parts of Paris that I really love and will continue to go back to.