|
PARIS GENERAL ADVICES
The simple truth is that it’s particularly difficult to give the
advices, without knowing if the person who will read these, will
stay there a day, a week or maybe longer? That’s why we are
giving only the simple indications and general advices.
-
Money advice
Thanks
God, the politics where useful for once, and have done something
positive to introduce euro currency for almost all European
Community. Finally we can go to Paris without being forced to
previously pass by the exchange house or the bank facilities,
which was always the easiest way to loose money for the exchange
provisions.
In
any case, the fact of sharing the same currency, doesn’t have
anything to do with the sharing the same prices, that is to say,
we will surely pay a different price for a coffee or an afternoon
meal in the Parisian Coffee that in our hometown. These
differences – although not so radical in certain household-
electric articles like the computers and science ones, are clearly
present in the leisure sector – for example in all the
restaurants, bars, transports and others that every tourist is
interested in (I hope that nobody that reads this article will go
to Paris to buy a wash machine?). The differences in prices are
evident in a wide array of cases. So, the only thing we can do to
prevent to be overcharged by the waiter who asks for 4 € for the
coffee - just because we were fancy to seat in the terrace – is
to have a look at the price list before entering. Just like for
the coffee, the same system works for the refreshments, beers,
etc., and at night in the pubs a price for a drink will not be
lower that 10 €, with the amount of alcohol by three times less
that you will be accustomed in your local pub. At least it will be
tasty…
At
the lunchtime, you will probably have the dilemma, but the
economic options exits. There are always the fast food chains as
the Mc Donald’s (there is no Burger King), or The Quick (Belgian
chain of fast food established in France), with identical or
similar prices that you’re used to. In The Latin Quarter is
always easy to find a small restaurant with very reasonable
prices. Of course, we can always go to more fancy places and to
have a fancy lunch in one of the Restaurants in The Champs
Elysees, that overlooks the Arc of Triumph, but we have to be
prepared to pay for such a pleasure. In any case, we can always
allow ourselves to pay a visit to one of the local restaurants
with a rich offer of French cuisine, or at least to one of the
Brasseries (typical bar-restaurant with French Style), where -
although the prices are not low - at least we can be sure of the
good quality of products.
Don’t
forget that in Paris, every Street and every corner can reveal a
beautiful spot for the photographers, so prepare yourself in
advance and take enough of camera films if you don’t want to be
forced to pay 9 € for a film (price at the Champs Elysees).
The
prices in the Gift Shops also varies – depends of the site.
Better not to buy them in the very centre like Champs Elysees, and
also not to buy them the first day – better to have a general
idea, which places are cheaper and which are to avoid.
- Advice on strikes
A
day in Paris rarely passes by without a strike of something –
either the schools or the Post Offices, or the Metro and RER
workers. Always try to inquire and be up-to-date to avoid the
disagreeable surprises that can change entire day- plans. Of
course – keep that always in mind – a strike is very much
unpredictable- in can be summoned originally only for one day, and
stay for one week without warning (as it happened in 2006 with the
air controllers in Charles de Gaulle Airport)
- Important Advice: The Umbrella
Unless it’s July or August, better to be equipped with one. In Paris
the time changes from one second to another, so it’s important
to watch the weather forecasts and previsions before leaving the
hotel for the whole day trip. Generally- even if it rains a
little, it doesn’t bother the tourists at all. Even the rain in
Paris brings some glamour to this city.
- The RER:
The RER connects the neighbourhoods with the capital, but when
crossing Paris, they can be used like another metro line (5 RER
lines are passing by Paris). However stay focused when using one,
because they are not stopping in every station that cross. For
additional info see the section about RER.
- To plan the itinerary:
It’s
not always easy to make a detailed plan of visit that will cover
all our interests. Nevertheless, going to Paris for a single
weekend I strongly recommend to have a “not-to-miss” schedule,
that will also give us some extra time – just in case. Like
that, we won’t embark for an adventure with a menacing clock
ticking and a constant short time for everything. After all –
it’s really important to give ourselves enough time to see
something that we desired to visit since long time.
Although this is personal choice, I would not leave Paris without
seeing Montmartre,
The Eiffel Tower,
the Champs Elysees (strating from The Arc of the Triumph, and
descending towards the Concorde, continue until The Louvre,
and if your feet will not kill you, time go until the Opera).
After a short break near the Opera, we can follow the way to the
Louvre (to see it at least from the outside if we can’t
sacrifice a whole day, or at least enter to see the Gioconda,
the part of Egypt archaeology, Battle of Samothraki and a
few others) and Notre-Dame. After those primary and essential
places there are others with, not less attractive, like The
Madeleine, La Place Vendôme, or Les Invalides
(probably those places will be at the first place for some of you)
After all every one will try to personalise as much as possible
his stay in this magical city.
- The Coffee:
It
may sound as a triviality, but when in Paris we will taste some of
its typical coffees, and very possible we will take some with us
at home. Be aware, that when ordering a “coffee”, we will get
a small black coffee, rather similar to an Espresso. Coffee with
milk must be ordered as Café au Lait (like Spanish
“Ole!”), when ordering a Noisette – we will get an Espresso
with a little bit of fresh cream or milk.
In
Addition to a coffee, if we want to have toast bread for breakfast
we have to ask for “Tartine”- that means a half of
baguette with butter. Forget the toast bread, that doesn’t exist
for breakfast. With that a regular French gentleman can start his
day, although for a foreigner that will serve only as a starter.
Nevertheless you will be charged for this pleasure not less than
€4.5 per head.
- Pastry and Cakes:
The
French pastry is like the Eiffel Tower: Not to miss! During the
long walking hours along the Parisian streets you will see many boulangeries
(bakeries) that bloom in every corner, and where the rich
flavour of pies, croissants and cakes will hunt you to see those
small objects of pastry art through the window shop. The Croissant
was born in France, therefore there is no better place to taste it
and prove it authenticity. For the Chocolate admirers there’s
nothing better that Pain au Chocolat”, a thin and crispy
pastry with a bare of solid chocolate inside. The bread is also
generally better than the one that can be bought somewhere else.
The average price for one baguette is of 0.80 €.
- Metro and buses:
See the section Transports in Paris.
|