Tag: thewanderers

Wandering around Paris

By Shobita Louis

Paris has since long held a special place in the quintessential traveller’s heart. However, while most tourists are enamoured by the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysée and Musee du Louvre, Paris has much more to offer.  We bring you little known (among Indian travellers), yet highly recommended places to go to and things to do around Paris..

Grevin Musee

Grevin Musee is a wax museum and very similar to Madame Tussauds™ and is housed in a very opulent building, which is very similar to an Italian opera house from inside. Thanks to its Baroque architechture, it has got a very French flavour. It houses a host of international wax statues in several themed rooms – The famed House of Mirrors, The Spirit of Paris, The Champions, The Discovery Tour, The Childrens World, History – Yesterday and Today. While it houses a number of exhibits from around the world, the only Indians whose wax models are exhibited here are of M.K. Gandhi and Shah Rukh Khan!
At the end of the exhibits, there is a workshop that shows how the figures are created. This is a part of The Discovery Tour.

Grevin Musee is located centrally in Paris. It is situated on Grands

Boulevards, near the opera Garnier.

The Wanderers tip:
A visit to Grevin Musee is a must if:

  • You are a  second time visitor to Paris and who has been to Madame Tussauds™ before
  • Someone who has been to any Madame Tussauds in the world
  • You are visiting for the first time and want to do something fun. Also, you are fine if a visit to Grevin precedes Tussauds experience. (Grevin is cheaper than Madame Tussauds™)

USP

  • Cheaper than Madame Tussauds ™
  • It has a fun 8 min audio visual show at the entry hall
    A leisurely and comprehensive visit can finish in 1 ½ – 2 hours
  • The Wax figures at Grevin Musee are globally and locally famous, so it is better to read up on them

Parc Asterix

Parc Asterix is a theme park located North of Paris and as the name suggests, it is based on the iconic comic – Asterix!
There are 32 attractions, 08 shows and 06 different ‘worlds’, as opposed to 60 odd attractions at Euro Disney that are spread between Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios. Given its smaller size and the crowd being less, more rides can be done at Parc Asterix in a day than at the parks in Disney. However, it has the capacity to hold only about 07 – 08 thousand people as opposed to 80 thousand at Disney. The park has more exiting rides that are suited for older children and adults whereas, Disney’s rides cater to young children (and therefore ideal for kids aged 08 and younger).

It is located in the North of Paris – close to Roissy Charles de Gaulle! From Paris take a shuttle bus that leaves from a meeting point at the Louvre every morning at 08.30 Am. The buses depart from the park back to Paris at 06.30pm. Depending on the traffic, it can take about 45 minutes to an hour.
From Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport, there are shuttles that leave half an hour from an appointed point. They leave from 09.00 hours

until 1 hour before Park closure. For the return journey from the Park to CDG, the shuttle is available every 30 minutes from 0930hours till an hour after the park closing time, i.e. 1800hours. Depending on traffic, it will take approx. 15 – 30 minutes

The Wanderers tip – Who should go

  • Anyone who is a fan of Asterix comics!
  • Clients who have already been to Disneyland
  • Adults and families with older children, especially not particularly enamoured with Disney and want a fun day out on roller coasters and other exciting rides

Other important info:

There is a hotel (3 star family hotel) – Hotel des Trois Hiboux – on the grounds of the park. The Dolphin shows happen every day at 01.00pm. The park is open from April to November. But remember, that the park is closed during winter.

Chantilly

The Chateau de Chantilly is a beautiful chateau and has been closely associated with French Royalty. The last private owner was the Duc d’Aumale (Son of the last French King Louis Phillipe). The Duc was a great collector of arts and books and his entire collection is housed in the chateau.
When he died in the late 19th century he left the chateau and his entire collection to an organisation called the Institut de France, which has now opened the grounds and chateau to the public. It is managed by Domaine de Chantilly and has received donation worth 40 million euros in the past from The Aga Khan for restoration work. The art collection and the Museum is said to be only 2nd in ‘greatness’ to the Louvre. The books and manuscripts are also said to be the 2nd greatest collection in Europe.

Located in the North of Paris, by train it takes 25mins from Gare du Nord to Chantilly station. Or you can take a private transfer from Paris to Chantilly.

Your tour can consist of the following:
A tour of the chateau, which will include the Grand Apartments and the Museum – Musee Condee ( the art works and books).  At an extra cost you can also add a visit to the Grand Stables that once housed 100 horses and hunting dogs. It now has 35 horses used for dressage! There is a horse dressage show that happens (at additional costs) which can be added depending on the schedule. There is a Relais Chateaux hotel – Auberge Du Jeu De Paume on the grounds. It is very romantic and perfect for Honeymooners.

Important events:
Famous horse races happen in June and in September, which are very similar to Ascot. If you are planning a trip to Paris at this time, it makes sense to tie your visit to Chantilly.

Why Chantilly
Chantilly is traditionally famed for

  • Chantilly lace
  • Horses
  • Chantilly cream ( precursor to ‘whipped cream’)

Insiders view on Northern California

The Wanderers in conversation with Megan Parfitt

Everything the guide books or tourism websites won’t tell you about the place

One little known fact/trivia that everyone should know about when travelling to Northern California.

Redwood National Park in Humboldt County is home to the tallest tree in the world, which is a coast redwood at 379.1 feet. Six stories taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York.

What is a must buy when in Northern California?

The beer and wine – Northern California has award winning wine and beer!

One take-away after a visit to Northern California?

Just how green the landscape is…

What is your advice to first time travellers?

Get into the woods and take a hike. Even if it is a short, less than a mile hike, you will see the redwoods in their full grander when you walk amongst them.

One thing to definitely pack when travelling to Northern California.

A camera!

Definitely carry a camera as you will want to capture the beauty of the trees, the coast and the rolling green hills.

One activity anyone travelling to Northern California should not miss..

Kayaking – Whether it be on the coast of Mendocino or through the redwoods in Redwood National Park, it is a spectacular way to experience the beauty of the Northern California.

Where should anyone, travelling to Northern California definitely get their picture taken?

In front of a redwood.

Which is the best place to get a panoramic photo of Northern California?

The best place to get a panoramic photo would be Trinidad. This small fishing village in Humboldt County is part of the California Coast National Monument and features a very photographic coastline with beautiful rock formations.

Best place to enjoy sunset/sunrise in Northern California?

For sunset, you can go anywhere along the coast. It is great place to catch the sun dipping down into the ocean.

Most romantic place to take a special someone to.

The Moonstone Grill overlooking Moonstone Beach in Trinidad, CA. The Moonstone Grill has 180 degree views of the beach and ocean below.

Best place to have local food?

Restaurant 301 in Old Town Eureka features local seasonal foods, some from their own gardens.

Your favourite local dish and drink that you would recommend.

Dungeness crabs and oysters are plentiful along the Northern California Coast and are some of the best in the world.The best drink would have to be the beer made by the local microbreweries.

One place only the locals would know.

The ‘Lost Coast Scenic Drive’ takes you to California’s only coastal wilderness, where no development or major roads come near the ocean. This wild and spectacular scenic drive is the closest you can come to the Lost Coast without a backpack. Drive from Victorian Ferndale, through high alpine forests, to the water’s edge, along the northern edge of and then to the redwoods of Humboldt Redwoods State park.

The best bar and best place to catch up on a drink.

Any of the six microbreweries in Humboldt County. At each of them you can get tasters, small servings, of each of the microbrewery’s beers.

A local festival you feel more travellers should come and see.

The Kinetic Grand Championship is a 3-day race over Memorial Day weekend in May along California’s northern coast from Arcata to Ferndale. Racers compete for glory in all variety of people-powered kinetic contraptions, pedalling along roads, the beach… even through the Humboldt Bay!

The things guide books won’t tell anyone about Northern California?

Where exactly to find the Roosevelt Elk in Redwood National Park.

Is there any particular month you would not recommend travel to Northern California and what would that reason be?

Perhaps March just because it is usually pretty rainy.

In one sentence, Northern California is a beautiful collection of small Victorian towns surrounded by the redwoods, the beautiful coast and productive, small organic farms.

Megan lives in Arcata California in Humboldt County along the Northern California coast. She grew up in Davis, California near Sacramento before serving five years in the U.S. Navy as a journalist. After serving in the Navy, she earned her degree in Recreation Administration, with an emphasis in travel and tourism, from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California.

When she is not working, she enjoys cooking, salsa dancing, hiking in Redwood National Park, white Water rafting on the Trinity River in Humboldt County and crabbing for Dungeness crab in Humboldt Bay.