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On a dime

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A day for under 10 Euros: it's possible in Paris, but you'll have to do a lot of walking.

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Author: Jennifer

Day 1 - Paris

With the weak US dollar and British Pound, many visitors might want to spend a day without spending too much cash. This day contains only free activities, and the lunch recommendation is to buy a sandwich in a boulangerie, which one can do for less than 5 euros. Buying a bottle of water and a fruit at a supermarket will set you back a further 2-3 euros, and you can wrap up your day for under 10 euros. Start your day at the Champ de Mars, from where you'll have a grand view of the Tour Eiffel. Continue along the Seine to the Pont Alexandre III, where, in the early morning light, the golden statues shine beautifully. Continue along the river to the Assemblee Nationale, and take the Boulevard Saint Germain. Meander around the Left Bank until you reach Saint Germain des Pres, which can opt to visit. End your trek on this side of the river at Saint Michel, and make your way to Notre Dame. Go in (it's free and the line goes quickly, if there is even one). This will be a good shelter from the elements, whether cold or hot. Walk around the back of Notre Dame and across to Ile Saint Louis, which you can walk around on, and exit at the easternmost end, in order to reach Place des Vosges most conveniently. Enjoy the Place des Vosges and its arcades, and exit via the rue des Francs Bourgeois, which will take you back westward. Feel free to meander off this main road, and explore the neighborhood. You can then make your way to the Hotel de Ville, which is possibly Paris' most underrated monument. There sometimes are free exhibits. If you've still got some energy left, take rue de Rivoli towards the Jardin des Tuileries. Make sure to enter through the east-most side so that you can admire the Louvre's pyramid and grand scale. The Jardin sometimes has outdoor art exhibits. I'd say by now you've earned yourself a rest...

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