Originally posted by: freesia39
actually i'll be in paris starting the... 23rd but i leave for london on wednesday.
i need tips! i'll be heading out to paris and i need some quick info besides the usual tourist spots.
the big one:
do i need an english tour of the louvre or can i wander on my own?
notre dame - by tour or wander on my own?
I lived in Paris for about 7 years. Visited there frequently before that.
1. 2 weeks is plenty of time to learn a few useful French phrases. If you walk up to French people without even trying to speak French, you'll get no help 4 out of 5 times. If you try French, even very badly, there's a very good chance you'll get help right away. When I figured this out, I got immediate help. One guy went waay out his way to help me get the right Metro station. He traveled with me for 30 minutes just cuz I struggled with my little book of French phrases.
They don't wanna look stupid with bad English if you aren't willing to look stupid with bad French.
Note: Younger high school age kids may be more willing to speak to you in English. They are still studying it in school and are more familiar with it.
2. About the Louvre. First, accept the fact that you will not see it all in one day. Its way too big. I just wondered around by myself (or with friends) I never took a tour.
The museum across the river is better IMHO. I forget the name now, its an old train station and has the Van Goghh paintings. I like the stuff from that era better (pointilists, etc).
3. DO NOT eat at restaurants in tourist areas. They know you're not coming back. Bad service & bad food for higher prices. Look where the "working people" (office worker etc) are eating. The places crowed by locals are the best.
4. Consider going to the bakeries in the early morning. Fantastic fresh breads and croisants etc. The little "convenience stores" (usually run by Arabs) sell bread, cheese and wine (even whisky). Consider picking up this stuff for a lunch picnic at a fountain, a park or the river bank on a nice sunny day. "People watching" is cool in Paris.
5. Go hang at Chatelet. Its a Metro stop near the George Pomipdou Center. There should be lots of street performers and music etc. Just sit and hang, its free entertainment.
6. Notre Dame is over by St. Michel (Metro stop and fountain) on the "Left Bank". It's a good place for some cool, if "cheesy" greek restaurants. They yell "Oopa" and throw plates all the time to get tourists attention. Kinda of fun.
7. Do not buy wine by glass (exception, there's a cool little wine bar near the river. forgot the name now but you can sample some killer wine by the glass). When at a restaurant get a picher ("pee shay"), they come in several sizes and you get more for your money. It'll be the house wine.
8. Get a Metro/bus pass for however long you're there. It's cheaper than paying for each ride individually, not to mention the lack of hassle. You'll see more in a bus, you'll travel faster in the Metro. I used to ride the bus around and note down cool/interesting areas then go back on the Metro to check them out.
9. Personally I don't dig the "tourist stuff" too much. Go to local outdoor markets and shops. Paris is really 21 (I think) differnt cities (arrondisments, sp?) that have grown togther. They each have their own distict "flavor". If you wanna really see what the French & Paris are like, don't hang with the tourists. If are at a tourist place, it can be fun to meet some of the other tourist from different countries. The Dutch, and other N. Euro's speak English very well. They can help you info and translations.
10. Please do not act the typical American @sshole, speaking English loud and thinking no one understands you. They do. I recall numerous times on the bus etc while going to work some idiots would be talking loud about the French (as if they couldn't hear or understand) and everyone on the bus passes around that "knowing look" - like check out these @ssholes and laughing at them. Oh, nobody hearing that stuff is going to bother to help you if you behave that way.
11. Watch the d@mn gypsies. I hate those scum. They are preditors, don't give them any money. If you dress like the French (locals) instead of an obvious tourist you'll be less noticiable and less likely subject to pick pocket attempts etc. There are skin heads around too (at least there were). So use common sense - don't get completely sh1t faced and walk around in small dark alleys in the dead of night acting like some lost tourist boob. keep your eyes open. I hear there are still lots of problems with teh Arabs/muslims. There is sizable community in Paris, I think it's in the 18th arrondisement. Cool to see, but be a little careful.
12. Get a guidebook and read it b4 you go. That way you'll some idea of what you wanna see and won't waste time over there trying to plan it out.
Enjoy,
Fern
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