Paris, France + Add a trip

Mymaps of Paris

A bunch of stuff I like in Paris

Tipping norms

In France, a service charge of 15% is usually included and indicated as "service." A little extra is however welcome for good service.

Centre Pompidou has free wifi

There are lots of nice places to sit and work around the Pompidou - the cafe, the big leather chairs, or even crosslegged on the floor in the corridors if you need to borrow a power socket (there are a few scattered around, and nobody seems to mind you using them).

There's free wifi throughout the building. You need to fill in an online form, and it's limited to 90 minutes, but very useful.

Vernissages dans Paris: art exhibition openings

Always a great vernissage (exhibition opening) to be had in Paris, usually a few times a week and mostly open to the public.

Check the back of a free magazine called "Magazine" (pick it up in a decent art gallery) for the latest.

Also Fondation Entreprise Ricard is always good to see eclectic exhibitions of new French artists, and ply you with (what else) Pastis.

Cool off during the summer

Parc Andre Citroen - a beautiful park with cold water jets that refresh your youthful spirit and wash off your bad mood due to the heat! It wasn't particularly hot when I went, but the experience was excellent! Just take your bag with snacks, beer/wine and music to have a great time. Best of all, you can give your pocket a rest, because it's free. If you want to ride the hot air balloon, though, it's about 10 euros.

Eating

L'Absinthe, near Place Vendome, and L'Ecurie in the Latin Quarter are both EXCELLENT places for bobo/boho eating. Reservations a must.

best cream

Ask in any pharmacy in France for 'Embryolise' cream. They keep it behind the counter, not in the store. It is a great face cream, especially for flying and restoring skin moisture! It costs about 10EUR. Used by all the best makeup artists...

Tipping norms

re Boris's comment about tipping norms.

Everywhere in France, the cost of service is included in the bill, by law.

A small additional tip may be appreciated but is not expected.

VIP ROOM

The best night club on Paris ! ! ! Jean Rock is Marvelous

Rose Bakery

When you've had enough patisserie for one lifetime get up here: it's a great English bakery and the only place in Paris to get an Eton Mess. Has since been backformed into London, but this is the original.

A beautiful international bookshop

Shakespeare and Company first opened its doors in 1951. For over fifty years, the bookshop has housed numerous writers and hosted readings by published and unpublished authors. Upon entering, you will find yourself in a place Henry Miller described "A wonderland of books".

bastille day fireworks

if you want to watch the bastille day fireworks in an usual place with a great view of the eiffeltower and without the pressing crowds, come and meet us IN the great round fountain of the place de catalogne, right behind the gare the montparnasse. the fountain is a huge round incline with about 1-2 inches of water flowing over it. you take of your shoes, afterall it is july, and enjoy the fireworks. of course you are a certain distance away, but the view is unobstructed.

Restaurant tip: Ave Maria

This restaurant is run by friends of a dear friend. The cuisine is latin/french and truly delicious. The atmosphere is pretty wild, but fun and it feels very Parisian. It opens at 6:30 and the kitchen starts serving around 7:30. It's wise to get there early in order to get a table as it fills up quickly but if you have to wait the drinks are delicious. Mojitos, daquiris, margaritas and lots of Spanish beer. The tables are shared but it's fun, not overwhelming.

Ave Maria 1, Rue Jacquard 75011 Paris Tel : 01 47 00 61 73 Metro Oberkampf / Parmentier Daily 18:30 – 02:00 Main courses starting at 14 euros

Bastille Day

July 14th in France is French Independence day, analogous to July 4th in the US. At the Eiffel Tower there are fireworks, and free concerts. It is important that you arrive early in the morning to reserve a spot on the grass. By the end of the day, thousands of people will crowd the grounds.

Nice restaurants

A good restaurant guide of Paris is: http://www.diningcity.com/paris

The nice thing is that the site includes pictures of the restaurants as well. At some places you can even book online.

Eurostar Bikes

You can now check your (non-foldaway) bike in, for an extra 20 quid and pick it up at the other side, hurrah...

Casual, almost perfect setting...

Au Bon Saint Pourcain, on the rue Servandoni, just up from Saint Sulpice. Sit outside at one of the three tiny tables, or inside, surrounded by books and book covers -- it's sort of a publisher's hangout -- and get served by a colorful patron with the bushiest eyebrows in Paris.

Bike for fun

Bonjour! I have been living in Paris for about 8 months now, and I really got to "feel" this amazing city ... the day I jumped on a Vélib :) What I recommend you: evening/night rides, anywhere - just forget about taking a cab to go back home - and go gO GO !!

Music Festival

I have been in Paris for the yearly music festival on two occasions now. It is absolutely amazing. Wandering the streets seeing literally hundreds of groups signing and dancing just randomly in the streets. It was beautiful, and even though not everybody had a phenomenal voice this delicious medley of talent made the festival welcome to anybody and everybody. The first time I was attending the festival the song that I seemed to hear the most was Sweet Home Alabama which was written just around the corner from where I live. I thought it was hilarious to travel so far to hear something so very much from my home. Anyways I strongly suggest that you try to make it during the music festival if at all possible.

Other things I want to visit in Paris

I really want to visit some of the places that Peter Greenberg talks about. They are all like hole in the wall things that I totally passed by on my previous trips to the city of lights.

Louvre fountain

Just sitting on the edge of the fountain at the Louvre in the sun is probably just as great as visiting the Louvre itself.

Playground

If you visit Paris with children I recommend this plac. You pay an entrance fee but get toilet, a beautiful playground and a coffee

Pétanque à Paris Plage

between 7 and 11 PM, go to the canal de l'ourcq (Métro Laumière), you'll enjoy all parisian playing pétanque and having picnic next to the water. You'll have a lovely moment.

Arriving in Paris - Taxis from Eurostar

When you travel from London to Paris on the Eurostar, you should ensure you exit at the front of the train and quickly make your way towards the taxi rank (at the end of the platform, turn right and follow the signs for the exit).

The queue for the taxis very quickly builds with all the Eurostar travellers and sometimes can take up to over an hour even as late as 10pm.

Alternatively, if travelling in rush hour, I would recommend the metro.

The best view of Paris

There is a visit of Notre Dame which actually doesn't show any of the cathedral but takes you up the stairs all the way to the roofs. Make sure to go all the way up and you will have the most amazing views of Paris in all directions.

There is a line to get the tickets (on the side of the cathedral) but it is very much worth it.

Wonderful Ethiopian place

Went there first time. Food is very good, authentic Ethiopian food. Was the New Year for them, were treated like guests, with Champagne, etc. Best service I've had in Paris, very warm, loved it.

Morning walks á la Colette or Baudelaire

Get up 6am and the city is all yours. When I as student worked as a night portier in early 90´s Paris I discovered that you can "own" the whole city in the early mornings. The streets are empty and the sunrise over Seine amazing. Steal a croissant from the bakery's delivery car and layout a Le Monde under your bum to sit on the banks of Seine. Write a few verses of poetry before switching on your Blackberry.

Brasserie Action

La Coupoule

LeWeb

Even the traffic is better.

Consider spending an hour or two in Montparnasse's Luxembourg Garden - it's a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the feel of the city and it's people. Also, you might consider booking a day trip if only for the van ride alone - our guide was a very experienced Parisian driver who drove very fast. Talk about getting a taste of what it's like to live there!

If it's your first time in Paris...

Go at least on a promenade to the Ile St Louis, there you can stop for ice cream at Berthillon

Erasmus Trip :°)

LADURÉE patissier since 1862 16, Rue Royale, 75008 Paris Tel.01-42602179 www.laduree.com

Fabulous Maraschino Cherry tasting Religeuse patisserie. Hearthy portions of fresh, beautiful salads. Excellent ice cream coffees and tempting take-away selection. Beautiful characters such as Johnny Depp and Marc Jacob copies as well as stylish 80+ aunts.

Patisserie Pierre Hermé in the 6th http://www.pierreherme.com/ Most beautiful and delicious designer-pastries

Plus a walk in the Palais Royal garden (1st arr)

Or along Canal St Martin (10th arr)

Try a bike tour with bike about tours. http://www.bikeabouttours.com/ They take you to some hidden places and guides clearly love the city.

Is it your first time to Paris?? Don't forget to enjoy the stunning night view from top of the Eiffel tower.

This is a great shop selling home wear, clothing a florist with restaurant and cafe. A fantastic shop to explore.

This is one of the oldest and most fashionable department stores in the world.

A great little shop for good quality baby and children's clothes.

Good place for running, though maybe not late at night.

We have a review and some photos at http://atlasparasite.com/2009/11/04/cimetiere-de-montmartre-in-paris/

re

an excellent slice of atypical (tourist) but typical Parisienne

Père Lachaise.

It's a beautiful cemetery, great for a nice walk on sunny days. You can also visit tombs of famous people, such as Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison.

Visit during Bastille celebrations and you get in for free

Great new and used children's furniture store

http://atlasparasite.com/2010/01/24/lazy-sunday-photo-melpomene-in-the-louvre/

Bar, club, musique -magnifique!

Ca vaut la peine! Nightclubbing

Absinth and all the related choses pour s'amuser