Navigating Paris

Isn’t it hard navigating Paris on your own? You’ve heard that they won’t speak anything but French, that the waiters are rude, and the shopkeepers are impolite. It’s really not true. Paris is a big city, and its citizens sometimes have that “big city attitude”…. people are hurried and may seem a bit brusque, but if you remember some of the simple rules of travel, you’ll do fine.

First thing you need to remember is to bring your sense of adventure and appreciate the differences. The French are more reserved than most Americans. They may not be as quick to smile at strangers, but with a little effort on your part you’ll find friendly, helpful Parisians.

Second, whenever you open your mouth, attempt to say a few words in French. Saying hello, please and thank you in French will go a long way. They will appreciate it. Try to say it with a French accent… you probably won’t succeed, but this will win you friends too. And they’ll probably ask if you would prefer to speak English.

OK, now that we’ve gotten you past your fear of people problems when navigating Paris, let’s talk about physically getting around.

First thing, be sure to bring good walking shoes. You will be doing lots of walking… with the sights and the atmosphere of Paris, you’ll be looking around thinking, “This is Paris… I’m here!”

But you don’t want to walk aimlessly, so let’s look at the geography of Paris. Many Paris locations are described as being either left-bank‚ or right bank. What does that mean? To get real basic… the River Seine cuts Paris pretty much in half. So the Left Bank is more or less to the south of the River Seine. (Look at a map of Paris… it’s mostly the bottom half.) The Right Bank is to the north of the river. (So, the top half of the map.. right?)

Old Paris hands will tell you, “Oh, I stayed in the 6th Arrondissement.” Or the 16th (a wealthy neighborhood on the Right Bank near the Bois de Boulogne) or the 1st (the center of Paris where the Louvre and Palais Royal are) or whatever.

The arrondissements are the districts that the city is divided into. There are 20 of them. You really don’t need to know them for navigating Paris. You’ll see them on addresses, and they are marked on maps, but you don’t need to know them to get around…. though you might want to find out which arrondissement you decide to stay in, so you can say to your friends, “Oh WE stayed in the 7th!” (You would then have stayed near the Eiffel Tower and the Musee d’Orsay.)

You’ll want to walk and walk, but to see more of the sights, you can’t walk everywhere. Take the Metro to the next neighborhood and start walking again. You’ll soon know where your landmarks are, and they will help you get your bearings.

You can also use the Paris bus system and taxis to get around or take a leisurely bateau on the Seine to see the sights. However you get around, you’ll soon find that navigating Paris isn’t hard.

A Grand Paris Vacation

Grand Paris! Think of a romantic trip to Europe, and the City of Lights springs immediately to mind! And why not? It’s a beautiful city. Easy to navigate. And the sights! Well, there is no shortage of sights. And because of the combination of tourist attractions, food, and romance, it is one of the most popular destinations in the world.

So what do you want to do in this grand city? The museums? The Monuments? The markets? The bookstalls along the Seine? Is it the food that attracts you at world class restaurants, or do you just want to sit in a sidewalk cafe and watch the world go by?

There are so many “must sees” that you really will have to choose what is most important to you. Monuments? How about the Eiffel Tower. The Place de la Concorde with it’s Egyptian obelisk. Think of the line up of the Arc du Triomphe du Carrousel through the Tuileries to the Arc de Triomphe, and the grand Grande Arche in La Defense district. Or how about Invalides where Napoleon is buried.

Landmark churches? Start with Notre Dame de Paris. The Basilique du Sacre-Coeur… dramatic and white on the hill in Montmartre. The churches of La Madeleine, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Pantheon. Or just landmark buildings like the Palais Garnier.

There are so many world class museums that it would take your entire vacation to see them. The Louvre, the Musee d’Orsay, the Musee Rodin and the Musee Picasso to name some of the most obvious. Museums can make your head spin after a few hours. To avoid being overwhelmed by them, get a museum card. They are available for 1, 3 and 5 days.

The card will allow you can go in and out of the museums over the period of your stay and not get “museum head”. The museums are fantastic, but you want to get a feel for all of Paris don’t you?

Take time to stroll in a garden or two. The Tuileries stretches in front of the Louvre. The Luxembourg Garden is a great place to watch children of all ages sail small boats on the ponds. Sit in one of the cafes and have a glass of wine.

Wander in some of the neighborhoods. See Montparnasse with it’s artists and cafes. See the delectable food displays in stores around La Madeleine. Explore the Latin Quarter… see the Sorbonne and visit a bistro or two. Or just wander along the Seine and see what the booksellers have in those green metal boxes.

The food is… well so French and wonderful. You can certainly eat expensive meals at restaurants with who knows how many Michelin stars, but the food will be good almost everywhere. Pop into any bistro or neighborhood restaurant and order a “prix fixe” menu and you are sure to have a great meal. You have to try the favorite street food of Parisians…. crepes… try one with Nutella, or sugar and butter.

Food, wine, lots of action….. If we haven’t got you packing your bags for Paris, we hope we at least have you dreaming of the City of Lights.

Paris: The City of Love

April in Paris! Walking along the Champs Elysees, with the scent of the cherry blossom trees filling your senses and the locals gathering at the corner café near the Arch de Triomphe!

Paris, the City of Lights, is indeed the City of Love as well. Couples walk hand and hand, stopping to gaze in store windows, taking a picture at the Eiffel Tower, or spending a beautifully afternoon at the Tuilleres Gardens.

There is so much to do in Paris, but you would be surprised how much you can do in a short time. With Euro rail passes, you can quickly get from one part of the city to another. Spend time at the Louvre, where the Mona Lisa is exhibited, or take a bus tour to Sacre Coeur, a magnificent Basilica on a hill. Walk around Montmarte where you can view many of the local artists’ works.

Spend a day at the Palace of Versailles, built by Louis XIII, and walk around the incredibly manicured gardens. Take an inside tour where you will find the famous Hall of Mirrors and other wonderful rooms as well.

Spend some time walking along the Rue de Rivoli, where some of the finest shops are located. Don’t forget to stop at Louis Vuitton; it is absolutely magnificent.

There are no words to describe the hotels in Paris. If you can, stay at the George V, a short distance from the Arch de Triomphe. The George V is an old-world style Parisian hotel, with the most comfortable rooms and louver doors that open out into the garden. Complete with TV and sitting area, the rooms are quite spacious. They have a fabulous dining room and bar, and the meals here are magnifique.

The nightlife in Paris is spectacular. From the Follies Bergere to local nightclubs offering one-of-a kind entertainment, you will feel the love exude from every part of your being. If you prefer, take a scenic boat ride along the River Seine and dine at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant afterward.

Paris is for lovers; no doubt about it. It is an exciting place, filled with culture, history, and more sites than you can imagine. You do not need a “fountain” to ensure you will return, for Paris will beckon you back to its City of Lights any season of the year.

Review of Fodor’s Paris 2008

Paris, is can be visited over and over again and never be fully taken in. It’s known as the city of love, life, and lights. In Paris you find romance, history, and magic uncovered in winding streets and magnificent museums, at a café or strolling in a garden. Fodor’s Paris 2008 will help you make the most of your time in Paris so you can dazzle your senses with mouth-watering food, luxuriate in lodgings for all budgets, and visit tantalizing shops.

The special illustrated magazine-style features throughout the book shed light on the most distinctive features of the City of Light, including the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, Notre Dame, and more, giving travelers an unparalleled sense of Paris. Each chapter of Fodor’s Paris 2008 opens with illustrated point of reference and planning pages that include a map, Top Reasons To Go, and other essential information to help visitors plan time and vacation details effectively.

Fodor’s Paris 2008 has everything the average vacationer would need to experience France from the inside out.

Here is a list of some of the things this book has to offer:

• Clothing size, weight, distance, liquid volume, and temperature conversions inside the front cover
• General information about Paris such as cleanliness, diversity, and the general attitude of Parisians
• Paris Planner which includes information on what to wear, when to go, and transportation
• Detailed lists and descriptions of Paris’s top attractions
• Fun things to do in Paris with kids
• Great Itineraries
• Word of Mouth from Fodor’s online forums
• Detailed information about nightlife and the arts
• Free stuff to do in Paris
• Vital vocabulary words
• Information and advice on traveling such as travelers insurance, booking, rental cars, guided tours, emergencies abroad, electricity, money, taxes

You can discover the City of Light in ways you never knew when you have the Fodor’s Paris 2008 as your guide and you can get it from the sellers below.