Thanks, all, for the excellent tips! Great advice here. My wife is actually going to be doing very little work, but she's already agreed to indulge my vélo wanderlust.

Thanks for reminding me it was the Singer shop not Rene Herse. No wonder I couldn't find it.

I do know a little French. I started learning French in middle school, then took 4 years in high school, plus 6 semesters in college. In my work, I also deal with French agents and publishers. That said, my French is extremely rusty and I've forgotten a shameful amount, most of what I knew. I can get by, at least enough to assuage any initial reactions of being an ugly American.

@rootboy: Musé d'Orsay is on the list.

@ChicagoAl: Yes, I've run into the city bikes rentals that don't take US credit cards (no embedded SIM chip). THe walk along the canal Saint-Martin sounds lovely.

@puchfinland: Eiffel Tower...bien sur!

@G1nko: Thanks for the great advice and PM with detailed list/addresses! Very kind and appreciated. I'll definitely look into the museum pass as well.

@YoKev: That sewer museum seems cool, and right up my wife's alley (I don't mean that disparagingly). Thanks.

@jetsanchez: Yes, picking up a cheap beater bike has crossed my mind.

@bibliobob: A Moveable Feast was great. I especially like the scene where Hemmingway and Fitzgerald compare their anatomy in the bathroom mirror. I'm bringing some Balzac and Camus, might have to add my worn-out copy of The Sun Also Rises.

MH20: rue Cler added to the list!

20grit/Italuminium: Ronchamp, eh? We'll have some time to get out of the city, so I'll look into it. Leaning toward taking an excursion to Brugge, but I've been there before, so maybe someplace new...

@JohnDThompson: Thanks for the info & link.

@Interceptoor: Cool video. Getting me excited to leave. Thanks.