BREAK FOR LUNCH
After the tour you will probably be hungry (the caf� and croissant you gulped down rushing to make the tour just didn't fill you up). Before exploring other Paris sites before your evening guided tour of the Louvre, why not head up the world's most famous street -- the Champs-Elys�es � and grab lunch. It's not a far walk. I know all you Paris regulars are shaking your head, maybe even shouting French expletives at your computer screen, because everything on the Champs-Elys�es is twice the price. I know that too -- yet it's a must stop for first-timers, as well as regulars willing to pay for the views and atmosphere. As for myself, I would be happy to grab a jambon and fromage sandwich from a French shop for a fifth of the price, then eat in the park or pull up to a small, hidden, cozy French caf� for a bite. But if you want a little action, have lunch at L'Atelier Renault. It looks like just a Renault showroom, but upstairs there's a cool, happening restaurant with a contemporary design. Prices aren't bad. An appetizer and main course cost �23 ($27). I had the coulis de potiron souffle de champignons, which -- thanks to babelfish.altavista.com -- translates into pumpkin soup with mushrooms. I also had the poulet (chicken). Open from noon - 1:00 a.m. L'Atelier Renault, 53, Champs-Elys�es, 75008 Paris; tel.: 01-49-53-70-70. For more click HERE.