go to the 18e(montmartre),it...
by fabrice
go to the 18e(montmartre),it will give you an idea how marvellous paris was 100 years ago.Do not forget the 'champs-elysees', which is supposed to be the most beautiful avenue of the world;do not forget the musée du louvre and its pyramid I was 2 weeks in a monastery in paris 16e,with dominican monks;it was strange to live with them ,knowing that the outside world is devoted to commerce,work and hurry
Art nouveau
by sachara
Walking in the streets of Paris or travelling with the metro you will see for sure some of the 68 remaining and restoredart nouveau metro entrances.
Hector Guimard (1867 - 1942), the best known French Art Nouveau architect, was the designer of these art nouveau entrances. Between 1900 and 1904 in total 141 art nouveau entrances, made of prefabricated cast-iron elements, were built all over the city. Anyway two canopied entrances survived, the one at the Porte Dauphine side of Avenue Foch and the one at the Abbesses metro station in the 18th Arrondisement.
Parlez vous anglais? Just ask em!
by katpunik
My first-time trip to Paris went without a hitch, probably because I made the effort to speak my pathetic excuse of French to everyone I encountered. Contrary to popular belief that Parisians are snobbish towards anyone who doesn't speak English, bullocks I say!
I will usually approach policemen/women or officers like soldiers ( patrolling parks and tourist attractions like La Tour Effiel), staff at the ticket or information counter or any passer-by with a nice,willing face...
I will first greet them " Bonjour madame/monsieur/mademoiselle or Excusez-moi", and ask "Pouvez-vous m'aider, s's vous plait?" ( Can you help me please?" They will then give you their fullest attention with "Oui." Then you can launch into " Parlez vous anglais?" ( Do you speak English?" This never fails to let get me all the help I needed. I had never encountered a Parisian that has refused to help me.
Parisians will either reply " A little bit" or "Non (No)" and then proceed to provide help/ give directions in perfectly good and understandable English. Its Amazing! Even if they really could not speak English, they will find someone (colleague, friend) can speak it to help you or just provide hand gestures when giving directions.
You end off with "Merci / Merci beacoup and au revior" and voila! you will be on your merry way to wherever it is you are going. Parisians are really a helpful bunch and the service staff are quite friendly as well, speaking to you in English ( in tourist places like the Galeries Lafayette) when you have at least made an attempt to speak French.
Other useful phrases which will do wonders in getting you by:
C'est combien? ( How much?) although when the staff rattles off the price in French, I often gave them a blank look and I looked at the cashier price display instead. hahah.
Je suis de sole mais je ne comprends ( I'm sorry but I don't understand)
Au Secours! ( Help!)
L'addition, svp ( The bill, pls)
Je voudrais..... s'il vous plait) ( I would like ..... please)
Ou est le ( Where is the ....)
I use these two phrases all the time when I want to buy something or ask for directions. I started off with these French phrases then I inserted whatever nouns I needed ( sometimes in English, just tried it with a French pronounciation. haha)
"Je voudrais ... Meal Combo 5" ( and i'd show the number 5 with my fingers", at a fastfood restaurant)
"Ou est le .... toilettes ( toilets)
"Je voudrais .... deux cafes ( two coffees)
"Ou est le.... La Tour Eiffel"
Try speaking French in France and you'd enjoy the your travelling experience even more! I actually kinda miss speaking it when I'm back home..
Street cleaning
by MedioLatino
With the incredibel amount of locals and tourist, cleaning the streets of Paris is an important issue. No wonder they use this machines to clean the pavements!
I wouldn't say Paris was the cleanest city I have seen (which is no big deal since I have been living some months in Switzerland :), but the people in charge are definitely doing a good job while cleaning up!
Tarnier ! Did you know that man ?
by JLBG
Tarnier ! Did you know that man ? I did not but there was a good light on this bas relief and I felt that it would make a nice photo. However, I had to know who he was. I know now that Etienne Stéphane Tarnier, born in 1828 in Aiserey , died in 1897 in Paris and was a famous doctor that attached his name to neonatology ie to child birth delivery. He invented several devices still in use for delivery.