Métro, Paris

The subway is very good and reliable, but like any major city there are some creepy and dangerous people. It's good to travel with a friend. The fares are quite inexpensive bu it's even more inexpensive a multi day pass. I took the metro about 8 times while I was in Paris and never had any trouble and don't speak any French.

Metro and RER is the perfect place to get from one place to the other (except for walking which is great too -when possible).

Here is a picture from one of the car shops in the champs Elysees... Guess which shop that was :-))
Well, unfortunately, this wasn't our transportation...

As some of the sights on our wishlist meant we would run out of time by foot, we decided to experience the metro. Some are quiet, some are busy, but all are funny. Like big cattle trucks and not as good as London's, which is saying something!

But hilarious to ride in!

Well the St Germain one is self named, I am in New Orleans at the moment and don't have the little map they gave me on me but if you arrive by train at Gard du Nord there is a little information booth where you can buy a 3 day tourist pass, 6 euros in September, I only took the train to St Germain then took the River Boat (included) to the Palace and Eiffel Tower and all other places the bus. One tip, from Galeries Lafayette go on the roof top (a free view of Paris) and do not go all the way to the end on the Monmarte bus - get off where you see the cemeteries and walk back to Follies B where you can catch Le Petit train to the top and walk down from Sacre Cour.

After our Open top bus tour of Paris, we decided to try out the Metro services, to explore Paris ourselves. So we bought a Carte Orange weekly travel card and proceeded underground... :)

The Paris metro is huge, and with nearly 300 stations there's always one within walking distance. In comparison to London's metro, there are ALOT more stations in Paris. At first it seems a bit daunting, everything being in French, but it soon becomes easier when you familiarise yourself with the tube map and your surroundings.

The Carte Orange pass at about 13 euros for a weekly two zone ticket is valid from Monday to Sunday, but you'll need a passport photo when you buy it! (We had been forewarned by my French coleague re this)

One thing that peaked our curiousity was the tubes that had tyres. You dont get these in London! :)

The metro is the best way to get around the city! It's really easy to use and gets you anywhere you want to go! It was the only mode of trans I used the whole week I was there! It's also safe too! I was traveling by myself and never felt threatened in any way!

The metro is the fastest way to get around Paris. It's not too difficult either. First, put your valid ticket through the machine. Be sure of which line(s) to go with and look for the END station so you'll go the right direction. On most stations is a special map and if you press the button of your desitnation, the map with lit up the best way to get there. Then follow the signs of the end station. Sometimes you have to walk really far, but not too often. The trains are green. It can be a bit difficult to open the door, there's a kind of lock to open. The doors aren't automatic either, so you have to open them if you have to go off. When you go out of the metro, you usually don't have to put the ticket through the machine to be let out.

It's all about the Metro. Get yourself a Carte Orange and it's all good. If you're there, say hi to Porte de Bagnolet for me. Avoid the RER whenever possible. Something shady always happened on that thing.