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3 Stars - 1 Review and 24 Opinions
Apart from the famous Opera Garnier and Opera Bastille, and not as much easy to find, Paris also has his "Opera Comique", whose front's worth a view...
After more than 15 years living in Paris, i discover a new aspect everyday.
This more than a thousand years old city still grows and changes perpetually.
Sometimes it's the city herself, sometimes it's the light, sometimes it's only my mood, but i never find Paris twice the same.
For some, Paris is one of the world's most important places for fashion
It used to be the 'haute couture' capital and -even if Paris has now to share - some things are deeply ingrained in peoples minds.
And it is reflected in the daily life, like in those designers set up department stores windows for Christmas here : (Le Printemps, decorated by Christian Lacroix in 2004)
Paris is also a business town, densely populated, hectic... a complex mix of old and modern.
Each district has its own personality and could nearly be considered a town of its own. This is especially true for areas like Mairie des Lilas (a city in the north-east part, with its own townhouse included in Paris but still partly independent) or Auteuil (wich was joined to Paris only in 1946 and keeps a small provincial town feeling).
Those pages reflect MY my point of view on Paris : a local's one.
Please, don't hope either an extensive and official Paris guide, or an hotel/nightlife catalog. if you feel the need for some precision about one tip, don't hesitate to send me a mail (i'm not on line every day but will try to answer)
but, don't ask me about accommodations : the answer will be, sadly and truthfully : i don't know (i live here so i don't go to hotels and when relatives come i may book for them but near my place, in a non tourisrty area).
In the same idea, some restaurants tips are about places belonging to chains : those are places where i use to eat (mostly at lunch), those listed here serve decent, often plain, french cooking for affordable prices (not everybody eats at Taillevent everyday, or do you ?)
There will be mostly bits and tips about the daily life, the small material matters, the shops where you may find affordable (and - i hope - more original - than an plastic Tour Eiffel) little presents to bring home beside some personal favorite "off the beaten path" locations i discovered during my peregrinations.
TIPS SORTED BY ARRONDISSEMENT
Ile de la Cite(special page)
Attractions
Notre Dame,Sainte Chapelle, Conciergerie,Pont Neuf ,Flower market,Hotel Dieu,Quai des Orfevres,Palais de Justice
Hôtels
Hospitel
1st
Attractions
Le Louvre caroussel,the museum,the workshops,l'Oratoire,Palais Royal,St Germain l'Auxerrois,Tuileries Gardens,Ferris wheel,St Eustache
Shopping
Selection Privee
Restaurants
Angelina,Cafe Marly,Le Chien qui fume,Kong,La Criee
2nd
Attractions
Opera comique, Fragonard
Shopping
Fragonard
Restaurants
La Criee
3rd
Attractions
Musee Carnavalet,Place des Vosges,Carreau du Temple
4th
Attractions
Hotel de Ville,Memorial de la Shoah,St Paul St Louis,Hotel de Sully
Restaurants
Le Grand Apetit
5th
Attractions
St Séverin
6th
Attractions
Institut de France
7th
Attractions
Tour Eiffel,Champ de Mars-Ecole militaire
Shopping
Androuët
Warning
Clumsy Segways
8th
Attractions
Arc de Triomphe, La Madeleine, Musee du Jeu de Paume, Galerie CT Loo
Shopping
Maille, Laduree
Restaurants
Foyer de la Madeleine
Warning
Avid Vuitton buyers
9th
Attractions
Musee Grevin,Notre Dame de Lorette,Opera Garnier,Fragonard,Passages couverts,Place St Georges
Shopping
Fragonard,La Mere de famille,Le Printemps,LMP
Restaurants
Les Ailes,Bouillon Chartier,Le Malassi
10th
Attractions
Galerie Paradis
11th
Attractions
Bastille
12th
Attractions
Opera Bastille
Restaurants
Le Train Bleu
13th
14th
15th
Attractions
Satue de la Liberte
Shopping
Selection Privee,Androuët
Restaurants
La Criee
16th
Attractions
Trocadero gardens,Musee de la Marine,Musee de l'Homme,Fondation LeCorbusier,Musee du Vin,Musee Galliera
Shopping
Selection Privee,Androuët
Restaurants
Musee du Vin,Cafe de l'Homme
17th
Restaurants
Monte Carlo
Shopping
Androuët
18th
Attractions
Sacre Coeur, Montmartre, Moulin Rouge
Restaurants
Wepler
Shopping
Marche St Pierre, Sympa
Transports
Funiculaire de Montmartre
19th
20th
Global
Attractions
Museum Pass
Restaurants
Paul (1er,2e,3e,4e,8e,9e,10e,12e,13e,15e,16e,17e,La Defense),Leon de Bruxelles(1er,4e,8e,9e,11e,13e,14e,17e)
Shopping
Comtesse du Barry (4e,6e,9e,15e,16e,17e)
Transports
Taxis,Batobus,Metro,Bus,RER, Train,Velib
La Defense (not a location on VT)
Attractions
Grande Arche
Restaurants
Trattoria d'Angelo
2. Façade of the Opera Comique
Coming in May, would go for a good traditional 19th century opera, but there doesn't seem to be any. Have checked Garnier, Bastille, Chatelet, Opera Comique, Champes Elysees – nothing close.
There are three performances at Garnier – ' Jeunes Danseurs, Les espoirs du Ballet de l’Opéra dans des extraits d’oeuvres du répertoire' Does anyone know if it is worth Euro 6 to 63?
In fact I would go to Opera Garnier for its interior, too. Not sure about Bastille, they have 'Simon Boccanegra'. Haven't heard of any of the singers – doesn't mean they are bad, rather that I am not much au courant. Besides, they do not seem to have Internet for May 16, 20 or 23 either. Does it mean there are no tickets at all? And the prices at Euro 70 – 130 – is that a usual thing? That is if you book at the theatre, and FNAC is even more expensive!
Sorry for punctuation, there are ??? instead of ---.
Anyway, has anyone heard of Jeunes Danseurs? It must be a ballet school to perform at Opera Garnier ?
Meanwhile another question: any advice of a nice inexpensive cafe at Fontainebleau, close to the chateau, if it is possible? First time I was there I got my crepes fried black!
I think that the phrase 'jeunes danseurs, les espoirs du ballet de l'opera' does mean they are dance students, hoping/training to get a place in the ballet de l'opera. So they will not be as skilled as confirmed dancers already with places in the troupe. Sadly I think that these prices are normal (they compare to the prices in Chicago when I lived there, but I don't live in Paris so maybe someone from there can give more help). I know that the store Carrefour also sells tickets to 'spectacles' (events) and you might try to look on there for something that interests you and you can search for things in the area of Paris (this includes some suburbs so be sure you know the location and if you can reach it from where you are staying before you buy) - try this link: http://www.carrefour.carrefourspectacles.com/resultat_recherche.jsp?current=1&mode_rech=rapide&sort=genre&nouveautes=true&searchregion=Parisienne
PS -here is a more refined link starting from the date of 16 May and only searching in the catagory music/classical/opera in area of Paris:
http://www.carrefour.carrefourspectacles.com/resultat_recherche.jsp?current=1&mode_rech=detaillee&sort=date&searchville=&searchtitle=&searchsalle=&searchtheme=8mu&searchsoustheme=031&searchregion=Parisienne&searchdept=-1&searchpays=FR&searchdatedebut=16%2F05%2F2006&searchdatefin=&searchjours=-1&searchbudget=-1
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Address: 4 rue d'Amboise, 2nd Arr., Paris, Ile-de-France, 75002, France
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