I am off to Paris tomorrow (with bike, I’ll report back on how the whole United Airlines bike vouchers thing goes) for ten days. I don’t speak a word of french, hope they don’t hate me too much. I just paid way too much for 100 euros.
I will also report back on how the riding is. I’m planning on taking day trips outside the city. I’ll also be running because I love running in places I don’t know (great way to see a place).
Any recommendations for cool stuff to do are appreciated. Im staying on the Right Bank on Rue de Vignes. Info also appreciated on neighborhoods that a woman shouldn’t go into alone.
Bon voyage! Wow, I’m jealous…I love Paris. Shouldn’t be too much of an issue that you don’t speak French…just remember that a smile goes a long way. For stuff to do: 1) Go have lunch on top of Galeries Lafayette (a big department store), you’ll get a great view of the city for cheap. 2) Go to the Musee d’Orsay - even if you’re not into impressionists, it beats the hell out of the Louvre (just my opinion). 3) Go to Pere LaChaise cemetery - get a map and go check out all the famous folks there…and don’t forget your camera, it’s a great place to take pix. 4) There’s a little tiny Picasso museum right near the cemetery - if you can find it, it’s worth a look. 5) Learn how to navigate the metro system - it’s definitely the way to go. 6) Take the metro and get off near Sacre Coeur (the big white cathedral up on the hill) - the walk up through the surrounding neighborhoods is pretty cool. What not to do - STAY OUT OF THE BOIS DE BOULOGNE - it’s the big park in the middle of the city - looks nice on maps, but I’ve always been told to stay outta there. Have a great trip!
I’m jealous. Lucky you. I haven’t been to Paris for many years. Could tell you some great stories when I was young and spent some time there back in the 70’s. There are many neighborhoods to stay away from nowadays. Best to ask once you get there.
Hopefully Francois or someone more familiar with the recent city will answer for you. All I can say is enjoy, have a great time and return safe.
Internet cafes are in the 5th Arr. or near the Pompideu Centre.
Best cafes and people watching–the 5th and 6th Arr.
Watch out walking down the Champs Elysee…we were approached so many times by middle-aged Asian females wanting us to go in to the duty free stores and buy stuff for them.
Shopping! The 6th Arr. (Blvd. St. Germain) and in the Marais district.
Rue de Buci in the 6th is a cool little street. Also, Rue de Bac in the 6th. (OK, I’m a Left Bank gal.)
Shakespeare & Co. bookstore near the Seine in the 5th.
If you like jazz, there is a good jazz club off Blvd. St. Michel in downstair in a cellar. Cool place.
Someone mentioned the Museo Picasso…agreed–worth finding it and checking it out. Also, the Muse’e Rodin is excellent.
Good workout–climb the stairs at the Tour Eiffel instead of taking the elevator.
Search out restaurants off the main boulevards and in the neighborhoods.
I hear there is a decent swimming pool somewhere over near the Tour Eiffel.
Thank you all for your great suggestions! I tell my other friends that I am taking my bike and running (and maybe swimming, thanks Cathy) and they look at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Don’t you just want to relax?” You guys understand that this is a way to relax…
I’ll be doing my share of sitting in Cafes, drinking coffee and people watching. I’d also be shoe shopping if the dollar wasn’t so damn weak…
Oooooo, lucky lucky. I had a chance to go last summer and can’t wait to get back. People were extremely friendly in general, even in the height of (supposed) anti-Americanism. I also went to belgium for 2 weeks, avoid it like the plague that it is.
Tips from my (way too short) 4 day trip to Paris:
Plan on IT closing 15 minutes early. Doesn’t matter what IT is, you will be kicked out of most places early (museum, pool, whatever…).
Public pools are wonderfully clean, but chaotic. If you have ever been disgusted by that guy wearing a shirt in your local pool Paris is for you. But “circle swim” has a different connotation in French. Good practice for tri starts though!
Running is not so wonderful due to the air. The best decision we made was to run at the Bois de Boulonge. There were MANY runners and bikers there during the day and it seemed very safe. Probably you could even look for a group and jump into.
Not speaking French is a disadvantage but not a vacation killer. My girlfriend (French) and I speak English together (my French sucks) and could not count the number of times people offered us directions while looking at maps
Chances are you will not have enough time to run out of cool stuff to do. Stay away from the bars in the guidebooks though, you will hang out with a lot of other Americans (not what I want to do in another country).
Shoot, man, they’s plenty o’ places what’s good ta ride in Paris. Ain’t much else goin’ on there. If’n ya ride or run, watch out fer them big ole’ black dawgs near the green house going north of town. Y’all do mean Paris, Georgia, right?
