Paris

Once again I would like to extend a warm welcome to GoingEuro.com. I have included a list of guidebooks; in addition to, restaurants, accommodations and shops that I am partial to along with other web sites I found useful or just interesting. On this page I have assembled a diverse assortment of information. You might say this is my odds and ends page. Everyone has one those drawers in their home where they throw just about everything and anything. This page is my digital version of such a drawer.

One of the things I love about Paris is no matter what time of the year you go there is always something to see or do. In the Spring, there is the Musee Rodin with its beautiful gardens sprinkled with sculptures by the master sculptor Rodin. In the summer, to cool off you can take a dip in a swimming pool that literally floats on the Seine. In the fall, the Luxembourg Gardens on a sunny afternoon with a cool breeze ruffling the leaves on the trees is paradise. During the winter, there are indoor activities such as exploring the Lourve or the d’Orsay. And of course, no trip to this magical city would be complete without a walk along the Seine with the Lourve behind you walking towards the gothic towers of Notre Dame. Just be sure to button up if you are taking a stroll along the river in January because it can be quite nippy. However, August can be a bad month because a lot of shops and restaurants close and the heat and humidity. Another bad time (at least for restaurants) is a week or two right after Christmas. People leave the city and go home for the holidays, so some restaurants are closed and do not reopen until around January 7th.

I would like to thank you in advance if you purchase any books or other products through GoingEuro.com Your support is much appreciated. Bon Voyage!

I find having a cell phone is wonderful. I have got to the point where I am not sure what I would do without one. One option especially if you plan to travel to Europe on a fairly regular basis is to purchase an unlocked GSM cell phone. Once you arrive at your destination, you stop in a shop and purchase a SIM card, pop it into the phone and you are good to go. You will get a different cell phone number, which isn’t really a big deal. Do a google search for “unlocked GSM cell phones” and you will pull up a number of different companies who sell unlocked GSM phones. Another option is to rent an International cell phone from companies like Cellhire. You will find pricing on their web site. You can shop around to see which option works best for you.

I have a Samsung GSM cell phone; my service provider is AT&T. If you have a GSM cell phone, ask your service provider if they are offer International service and if your cell phone is locked or unlocked. If it is locked you cannot switch out the SIM card. If it is unlocked you can go with switching out the SIM card option. One of the reasons I went with AT&T is they offer International service. Before I go on vacation I call them up and add the Global service to my account. The additional fee is around $6.95 per month. Roaming charges for the phone is a little more than $1.00 per minute. It’s expensive, but I try not to use my cell phone unless I really need to. For most part I communicate with people back home via e-mail. These days you can usually find either an Internet Café or some shop where you can check your e-mail (for a small fee). And if you bring your laptop your hotel might offer wireless Internet or have PC in the lobby guests can use. I find having a cell phone is especially convenient when traveling with someone. For example, if we are going to meet somewhere and one of you is running late, you can let the other person know what’s up. Another plus is you can make restaurant reservations. Even though most of the time I ask the front desk at the hotel to make restaurant reservations on my behalf. One of the advantages of staying in a hotel.

Free Wifi is available in parks and public spaces. However, sometimes before I go out and while connected to the Internet via Wifi in my hotel room I select Maps on my iPod Touch and download the map/directions i.e. to the restaurant I am planning on going to. I admit accessing the map on the go would be easier, but those expensive roaming charges can add up quickly. Some cafes also offer free Wifi. For a list go to Cafe Wifi. I have been looking for an off-line App that has a map of Paris with a street search. I want to be able to locate a specific street by typing in the name. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to locate such an app. However, I don’t really have a problem with accessing the Internet on the go because of he number of hotspots doted around the city in parks and public spaces along with cafes that offer free WiFi.

I find the quickest and the most economical way to get from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport into Paris is the RER (Regional Express Network) line B. The trip to Gare de Nord takes approximately 40 minutes and to Chatelet-Les Halles about 45 minutes. Paris Airport Shuttle is an alternative to public transportation. They can arrange transport into the city either by shuttle bus or a private car. One of the advantages of using this service over public transportation is you get door-to-door service, but of course the trade off is its more expensive.

Getting around the city is not a problem, Paris has one of the best subway systems in the world, both in terms of service and cost. The Paris Visite card is a good idea for those who will be using public transportation frequently. Available in 1, 2, 3 or 5 day passes, for use on buses and Metro. Another option is the Carte Orange (weekly or monthly passes are available), valid from Monday-Sunday. The public transportation system is operated by RATP. The web site has an English version for the itinerary planner. If you are leaving from JFK in New York City you can purchase the Paris Visite Pass at the Metropole Facile in Terminal 1. Once you arrive at CDG you can use the pass on the RER. For additional information on the Paris Viste Pass or to purchase online go to

Paris Visite Pass- Metro travel and more

If you are purchasing individual tickets or a buying a ten pack (Carnet), which is slightly cheaper (a better deal) at one of the automated machines you will need to look for one that accepts cash or go to a window to use an American style credit card. France has switched over to a “chip and pin” type of credit card, so you cannot use your American credit cards in automated machines either on the RATP or the SNCF (suburban and long distance rail systems). The credit card terminals in places such as shops, restaurants and hotels are setup to accept either type of credit card. Personally I have never had a problem paying with my credit card in shops or restaurants; however, just be prepared because you never know. It is always a good idea to have enough cash on hand just in case. Or inquire beforehand if they accept American style credit cards. From what I have read banks in the US have no interest at least in the foreseeable future to switch over to the pin and chip type of credit card, even though the rest world is switching over including Mexico and Canada. If I happen to hear of a bank in the US issuing this type of credit card I will post the information on GoingEuro.com.

The Pariscope (a weekly guide) is useful for finding out current films, theater, concerts, art exhibitions and so fourth. There is a section on what’s happening in English. This publication is available at some hotels and newsstands. Another source for information and published in English is The Paris Free Voice (published monthly). There is a list of cultural activities for the month. You can purchase the newspaper at bookstores who cater to the ex-pat community such as The Shakespeare and Co in the Latin Quarter or the Village Voice Bookstore in St. Germain-des-Pres. You may find the publication in cafes and restaurants that are frequented by Americans or Brits. Time Out has an online city guide for Paris at www.timeout.com/paris/. Under - This Week there are current listing for events and exhibitions.

Once I decided to go on a picnic in the Boise de Boulogne. It was May 1st (a national holiday in France) and a lot of museums and other attractions were closed so I thought why not go on a picnic. I had never been to the Boise de Boulogne before. The day before I stopped by La Grande Epicerie Paris in the Le Bon Marche department store for all the food essentials including wine, cheese, sausage, fruit and so on. For fresh baked bread I decided to stop at a small local bakery near my hotel in the Marais. I stopped by the BHV on the rue de Rivoli for basic eating utensils. Most importantly a knife for the cheese and sausage and glasses for the wine. Once I gathered together all my picnic supplies I headed off for the park around 11:00. After exploring the Boise de Boulogne, I eventually settled for a lovely spot beside the lake. I could not have asked for better weather. Afterwards I decided to take a stroll and ended up at the Parc de Bagatelle. One of the most beautiful gardens in Paris. The garden is just simply breathtaking. Below are a couple of snapshots I took. The photos do not do the garden justice, but they give you a sense of how beautiful the garden is. What a wonderful day I it was. I can till remember the smell the flowers.

If you are planning on going up into the towers of the Cathedrale Notre-Dame be sure to arrive early, the line for this popular attraction can get quite long especially during high season. Entry to the cathedral itself is free, but there is an admission charged for the towers. Well worth the price of admission for the view of Paris and to see the famous gargoyles.

Parisinfo.com is the “official web site of the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau” and a good online source to find out what’s going on in Paris

Discover France - Cycling tours and guided walking tours throughout France.

The Original Paris Walks - Offers many walks with a different focus/theme. Their web site lists the walks along descriptions.

Succulent Tours - Two hour guided tours that focus on the culinary aspect of the city. I haven’t gone on a tour myself, but from what I have read on their web site the tours sound pretty interesting. Perhaps on my next trip especially since one of the reasons I go to Paris is for the food. It would be wonderful to have an expert who lives in the city show me around.

After visiting the Carnavalet Museum I stopped in their gift shop and found a wonderful book (in English) on the Marais aptly called The Marais - A Historical and Architectural Guide (ISBN: 2-84742-054-1) by Alexandre Gady. Mr. Gady is an instructor at the Sorbonne and holds a doctorate in art history. The book is divided up into 9 different walks that explore the Marais. I found the walks fun and really enjoyed learning a little more about the history and architecture of the area that you normally don’t find in a general guide book. I haven’t come across another book in English that goes into such detail about the history and architecture of the Marais.

If you are like me and drink tea, one of my best shops to go for an excellent selection of teas is Mariage Freres on the rue du Bourg-Tibourg in the Marais. One of the oldest tea shops in Paris and by far offers one the largest selection of teas in Paris. Upstairs there is a quaint little museum devoted to tea. And in the back on the ground floor there is a wonderfully tea saloon decorated in the Neoclassical style. With the exchange rate these days it can be a little on the pricey side, but you are on vacation so you might has well indulge in some scrumptious pastries along with their delicious tea after a day of sightseeing. For exquisite chocolate head to Cacao et Chocolat. They have several locations around Paris including one in the Marais (36 rue Vieile-du-Temple) and another on St. Louis (63 rue St-Luis-en-l’lle). Ladurée Paris has the most scrumptious macaroons at their takeaway counter and quite reasonable I might add. You can either enjoy them in their opulent and gorgeous restaurant on the Avenue Champs Elysées or purchase them along with other delicious pastries and other goodies in their shop. Everyone has heard of Berthillon’s famous gelato. In the summer the line get be quite long, but the good news is their gelatos are available at cafes around Paris. I enjoy their gelato; however, there are a couple of other places in the Marais that serve excellent gelato. One of them is Amorino at 31 rue Vieille du Temple (right across the street from one my favorite places to stop in for coffee and a croissant in the morning, Le Petit Fer à Cheval) and the other one is right around the corner at 39 Rue du Roi de Sicile is Pozzetto. Nothing beats gelato on a beautiful Spring day or in the summer after wondering around Paris on a hot day. For the best foie gras head to La Petite Scierie, 60 Rue Saint Louis Ile St. Louis. Owned by a couple who own a small farm in Burgundy. Catherine minds the shop in Paris while her husband, Paul runs the farm. You can sample the foie gras before buying. They also sell an excellent wine, Coteaux du Layon that goes quite well with the foie gras. Across the street at #51 is L'epicerie where you will find artisanal mustards and jams.

Marché aux Puces St-Ouen de Clignancourt - Ave de la Porte de Clignancourt, 18th arrondissement. Metro: Number 4 line, Porte de Clignancourt. The largest of the Parisian flea markets with over 2,500 vendors. You can find practically anything imaginable for sale. If you don’t have a lot of time to visit all the markets scattered around Paris, this is the best market to visit due to the variety of goods for sale. Open Saturday - Monday from (official hours) 7:00 am - 7:30 pm. Not all stalls open early or stay open late so there really is no need to wake up at the crack of dawn. You can leisurely have your café crème and croissant, arriving around 9 am or 10 am. People do say the earlier the better, I partly agree with this statement, but at the same time it’s difficult to find really great deals because dealers with their extensive knowledge tend to snap things up before the causal shopper has a chance. If you are on holiday and only interested in picking up a little souvenir, I don’t see bothering about getting too early. Something to note, you might find the best bargains on Monday, since the sellers want to unload as much stuff as they can before the next market. The downside is of course Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days, so people have had the weekend to pick over the goods. My general feeling is you can always haggle over price. Generally people will accept a reasonable offer. So go on the weekend for the best selection. Now if you are really into markets there is a wonderful book called Markets of Paris by Dixon and Ruthanne Long, published in 2006. Even if something was just published, I still like to check to make sure I have the most up-to-date information on restaurants etc. while planning my trip. Detailed and thorough, the markets are organized by arrondissements and includes restaurant recommendations. I like markets and shopping in general, so I found having a book that specifically focuses on markets extremely useful as opposed to just relying on a general guidebook.