Shaklee 2013 Paris Trip Advice

Congratulations to all the hard-working Shaklee people who, simply by sharing what they love about Shaklee, earned the Shaklee International Luxury trip to Paris this fall.  They each earned first-class tickets for two to Paris for a week at the Westin Place Vendome, including a private after-hours tour of the Louvre.  Since Shaklee picks up the tab for the trip, a lot of my usual Paris-penny-pinching advice won't be needed for those folks, so this post is specific to their stay.

This advice still applies:

• My must-see/do list. 
• My favorite walk in all of Paris.
• My other favorite walk.
• Other sights and walks I love.
• Restaurant recommendations - both splurgy and simple. 

Specific to your stay and neighborhood:

• O.M.G!  Your hotel is right around the corner from the Tuilerie Jardins! 
• The Tuilerie Jardins is magnifique.  The cafe chairs, the trees, the children and their toy boats, Monet's water lilies - KABOOM!  You just blew my mind.
• You're right around the corner from Maison Angelina!  You could have their wonderful l'africain hot chocolate and mont blanc pastry EVERY DAY!  The nicoise salad was also excellent.
• Your hotel is also right at the west end of my absolute favorite walk in Paris – from Notre Dame, through the Tuileries to Place de la Concorde. This is a great walk for first-time visitors, and depending on what time your flight gets in (usually early morning), the perfect flat walk to fend off jet lag, ending with lunch at Maison Angelina. Bring your camera – this walk is full of quintessential Parisian sights. Up to you whether you do the walk in reverse and end at Notre Dame, or catch the metro at Rivoli up to Notre Dame and walk back to your hotel (that's what I'd do).
• You have NO excuse for not seeing Monet's waterlilies in La Musee de l'Orangerie - it's literally across the street in the Tuileries! 
• The Metro is conveniently nearby, so buy yourself a carnet (pack of 10 tickets) and go explore! 
• You're three blocks from the Opera district, so go on a tour of the Palais de Garnier Opera house and see where Degas painted his ballerinas.  Today’s ballerinas often eat lunch on the  steps! 
• Walk/Metro over to Place de la Madeleine to window shop Fauchon, then get in line at Laduree and bring home a box of macarons. Yes, the line at Laduree is long and they’re expensive, but they are delicious, they keep well in your fridge, and the packaging is a total girly keepsake.  I haven't done it, but you can also make a reservation for tea/lunch at Laduree which looks lovely.
• Also nearby is Galerie Vivienne, an architectural beauty with a little bit of everything you might need under one roof.  
• You’re getting a private tour of the Louvre, so I’ll skip my usual tourist advice about that. Enjoy!
• The nearest street market is Rue Montorgeuil in the Les Halles area of the 2nd arrondissement.  Go there. Bon appetit!