Baguette is popular,...
by tanguito
Baguette is popular, restaurants are expensive, I didn t have good experience with meat but pasta was great.
Ah, you should not ask for coke in a dinner, it s really expensive (around 4 or 5 dollars), just ask a 'bouteille de l'eau mineral' which is...yes! mineral water...for free, and you will can save good money in a restaurant. yes
I didn t think I could fall in surprise in front of Eiffel, but it s a must!
Musee de Louvre
by bugulma
In the beginning of XIII AD Philippe-August King built the fortress on the right side of Seine and it had a name Louvre. The King lived in Cite Island and his treasury and archives were kept in the fortress. In XIV Karl V renovated the fortress (for example, library was built) and began to live there. The transformation to the palace began in the middle of XVI century and proceeded up to 1682 when King Court moved to Versailles. The present view Louvre has since 1871 after fire. In XVI century Francis I King began to collect paintings and collection was filled up afterwards, especially by Napoleon I, when conquered countries paid contribution with paintings, sculptures and other forms of art. Nowadays Louvre is the biggest museum in the world and besides it has the richest collection in the world.
The nearest transport station is Palais Royal Musee De Louvre metrostation, lines 1 and 7. From metro station you may go in Passage Richelieu (shopping center) and there is an entrance to the museum. Of course, as many other places in the center, you may get Louvre by walk.
Museum works from 9 am till 6 pm. I read that since September 10, 2004 there are evening openings in Wednesdays and Fridays till 9.45 pm. The ticket is EUR 8.50
Some views of the museum are in my travelogue.
Mounted police
by Nemorino
For us cyclists, it is comforting to know that the Paris police are on our side.
Second photo: A policeman on a bike on rue de Rivoli.
Third photo: Three policemen on bikes on rue Vaugirard.
Fourth photo: In touristy areas like the Eiffel Tower or the Left Bank you can also see some police on horseback, which to me does not seem very practical in terms of actual law enforcement, but perhaps it is just a matter of maintaining visible police presence as a deterrent.
A Restaurant Tip:
Non-French...
by DesertRat
A Restaurant Tip:
Non-French speaking patrons of French -- and especially Parisian -- restaurants need to be careful of the term 'entrée.' It means 'entrance', or maybe more accurately, 'entered', and applies to 'starters.' Unfortunately, my French is quite limited. Anyway, it does not mean 'main course' as it is interpreted in the U.S. This bit of info may well save you a few patronizing 'sniffs' from waiters.
...and the winner for 1901 is 29 Avenue Rapp!
by tpal
Being a huge fan of all things Art Nouveau, I was, of course, in visual rapture much of the time I was in Paris. It is impossible to pick up any book on Art Nouveau and not find a description of 29 Avenue Rapp. This was a sight I would not miss.
The building was designed by architect Jules Lavirotte and won the Concours des Facades de la Ville de Paris (a contest of facade designs) in 1901 but not without some controversy. I have seen descriptions of the building which used such words as "subversive" and "disgusting". I, on the other hand, found it impossible to look away from the complex organic splendor of the building.
As Carol and I stood in front of 29 Avenue Rapp, I couldn't help think what a fabulous address this would be.
Intro Photo: You don't often see a gecko as the subject of a door-pull but there he was in all his not so veiled erotic glory.
Photo 2: The entrance, to this still occupied apartment building, gives meaning to the phrase "over the top".
Photo 3: The detail over the main entrance demonstrates what many Parisians of 1901 must have found scandalous. In this photo even the reflections in the windows seem to conspire to complete the Art Nouveau scheme.
Photo 4: Throughout Paris we found plaques such as this which identified the architect...in this case J. Lavirotte.
Photo 5: Sometimes it seems so unfair. Not only do the residents of 29 Avenue Rapp get to enjoy this spectacular building...they also get this as the view out their windows!