ARTICL
ES
Live
Like a Local in Paris
The major tourist season in France stretches
from Easter to mid-September, but Paris has much to offer in every season. Paris
in the early spring can be disappointingly damp, though it's relatively tourist
free; May and June are delightful, with good weather and plenty of cultural attractions.
July and August can be sultry. Moreover, many theaters and some of the smaller
restaurants and shops close for the entire month of August.
If
you're undeterred
by hot weather and pollution, you'll notice a fairly relaxed atmosphere around
the city, as this is the month when most Parisians are on vacation. September
is ideal. Cultural life revives after the summer break, and sunny weather often
continues through the first half of October. The ballet and theater are in full
swing in November, but the weather is part wet and cold, part bright and sunny.
December is dominated by the fetes de fin d'annye (end-of-year festivities), and
a busy theater, ballet, and opera season goes well into January.
Something
to consider in the time-versus-money balance: the Carte Musèes et Monuments (Museums
and Monuments Pass), which offers unlimited access to more than 65 museums and
monuments. You can get passes for one-, three-, or five-consecutive-day periods;
the cost, respectively, is EUR15, EUR30, and EUR45. Considering that most Paris
museums cost under EUR10, you have to be serious about museum-going to make this
pay off, but there is one major plus: you get to jump to the head of the line
by displaying it, a coup when there are 600 people lined up to get into the Musèe
d'Orsay. The pass is available at Paris's tourist offices and mètro stations and
at all participating museums, and it comes with a handy info list of all the museums
you can visit. For more information see www.intermusees.com.
Once you have mastered the understanding of the arrondissements (districts)
and the metro (simply the best way to get around Paris). Do yourself a favor and
incorporate the words, "bonjour" and "merci" into your vocabulary. Regardless
of who you are speaking to whether a taxi driver or a cheese monger before you
begin say bonjour and close with merci. This will make your life in Paris a sheer
pleasure.
If you do get lost, just ask anyone where the nearest metro
is. Our advice is to ask a younger person versus an older since most young adults
do speak some sort of conversational English. The metro is without doubt the most
cost effective and fastest way to acquaint yourself with Paris. The metro closes
at 11pm and the trains stop running at 12:45am.
Dining Some tourists
go to Paris simply to eat! Some restaurants have waiting lists months long! This
tells you something about the culinary capital of the world. The streets are crowded
all hours of the day and night with Parisians and tourists enjoying the wide range
of excellent restaurants available in Paris. Parisians eat dinner rather late,
so the best time to ensure you get a table at a very popular restaurant is 7:00
- 7:30p.m . Cafès open up for business earlier, usually do not close after lunch,
and stay open later at night. You will find sandwiches, salads, and other choices
in a cafè restaurant. Brasseries originally signified places where you could drink
beer and find something to eat late at night. Today, a lot of cafes that serve
lunch have the word "brasserie" on their awnings. A bistro usually offers a more
traditional menu selection of hearty French cuisine, with some good wines. You'll
find a chalkboard listing today's fare, more
intimate, and usually family-owned.
Do not tip for services or in restaurants. If your waiter is very helpful you
are welcome to give a little extra but it is not compulsory. The average lunch
ticket is 12-15 Euro and the average dinner is 22-35 Euro
Movies
Paris has more movie theaters than any other city in the world, far more than
London or New York. Rarely is the entrance fee over 8 Euro and there are discounted "cinema" cards 5 tickets for 30 Euro. Most films are shown in the original language
with subtitles. The theater to checkout is Le Grand Rex (Metro: Bonne Nouvelle)
with over 3000 seats and a ceiling adorned with stars that make you feel like
you are outdoors. This theater is so remarkable that it has been classified as
a historical monument. Entrance is 7 Euros.
Nightclubs Similar
to any other major city, the hotspots are always changing so apart from the "touristy"
cabarets, you should seek recommendations in Time Out Paris (English section)
or Zurban ( weekly magazine in French). For the Gay Scene pick up one of the free
papers ( E-Male or Illico) where you will find most of the clubs in Le Marais.
Club entrance usually is 10 to 20 Euro and you can expect to pay 3 to 5 Euros
for a beer or soft drink. |
