Drinking in Public
by Bela_LUng
No, I swear, I am not an alcoholic, althought I play one on TV. In Paris you can go to the local Nicholas (wine store), grab a bottle of wine (and a bottle opener of course!) and go sit by the Seine and drink it up. Totally legal. Sure, sounds weird, but no visit to Paris is complete without a sip of a nice red wine in the shade on a lazy afternoon. Just make sure you are wearing clothes, since that is still illegal (for now! WEE!). Can't remember. But the hangover was hell, so I assume it was awesome. Oh, and I still had money in my wallet!
Riding on the Metro
by mydreamquest
I believe the Los Angeles New Wave band Berlin were referring to Paris in their song "Riding on the Metro." This is a picture of Reuilly-Diderot where I'd transfer to the 1 line to go to the main areas of Paris.
During rush hour (6pm) on any day of the week, you may have to stand a lot and be packed in with people.
You can purchase a 5 day pass at Expedia for about $45 which pays for your bus, RER, and Metro transportation. For all practical purposes, you will spend most of your subway traveling on the metro lines 1-15.
If you purchase a subway pass from Expedia, you will most likely have to go to Gare du Nord Station at the Tourist Information booth to pick up your pass and useful map. I walked from my hotel on Rue de Citeaux all the way to Gare du Nord which took me about an hour and a half.
Visit the Louvre Museum.
by sheryl_tan
The museum contains some of the most important art collections in the world. You will get to see the famous smiling 'Monalisa' here. The glass pryamid is a new addition and is now the main entrance to reach the galleries. It's only a pity that on that day, there was a strike at the museum, and we don't have the time to explore the museum.
The French are friendly! Really!
by Erin74
The stereotype of the rude Parisian could not be further from the truth. In my trips to Paris I've actually found that the French are some of the nicest people around and they will literally go out of their way to help you.
How to stay on the good side of Parisians:
1. TRY to speak French. They know that your French stinks, but they appreciate it when you try. They'll probably reply in English just to make it easier for both of you. But showing a little respect by attempting to speak their language is a good way to go.
2. Don't inconvenience them. Parisians hate to be inconvenienced. They don't mind stopping to help you out, but they hate it when you hold up lines or block sidewalks. DON'T ask 50 questions of the ticket seller in the Metro if there's a long line behind you. DON'T stop in the middle of the sidewalk if crowds are trying to get by.
3. Don't be so darn loud. Americans aren't the only ones guilty of this. In fact, there are other nationalities even louder than us. In general, the French speak in softer tones-- particularly in public places like restaurants. They find it rude when you carry on loud conversations in places like this.
If it's your first visit to Paris, I bet you'll be surprised at how lovely and accomodating the people are. I've come to truly love and respect the French and always enjoy my stay in Paris!
Berets in Paris
by BeatChick
Berets seem to have made a comeback this year in the City of Light. This year, as no other, I've noticed berets all over the place. This was one huge surprise as even on le Parisians one saw berets. Most beautiful was a stylish red one on a grandmotherly 80-ish woman on le Metro. I was glad to see that it had made its comeback since there were so few during my last visit in 2003.
Photos: February 2006
Sign in with Facebook
Don't cross this street!
Jardin du Luxembourg
The famous Bassin d'Apollon.
Porte Saint Martin, Paris, France 2009
