Travel Paris, Don’t Be a Tourist
If you are traveling to Paris and you are only there for a week or so, then hurry up because there is alot to do and see. Yes, of course go and see the obvious like the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe. But when going to Paris, be a traveler, not a tourist. The difference is that you immerse yourself into Parisian culture, instead of pulling up your tube socks and tucking in your USA t-shirt. Here are some good tips to get the most from Paris and its vast culture.
The most important thing is to dress like you fit in to the scene. You don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb for obvious reasons. Wearing shorts and an American flag t-shirt will give you away as a tourist and tip off pickpocketers that you most likely have cash on you. These days, terrorism is a world wide fear, so for this reason as well, you will not want to particularly stick out. Check the weather and dress accordingly. Wear comfortable shoes, but do not weat bright white new sneakers, or shorts for that matter. These are two things that are specific to America and can possibly draw negative attention.
The Metro is the subway system in Paris. This is how most Parisians get around. So instead of paying ungodly cab fares or wandering into a bad area on foot, immerse yourself in Paris’s Metro system. It is very efficent and widely used in Paris. This is the best way to get around because of the ease of availibility of maps and tickets. It is also very simple to understand. Just locate the closest Metro station and use that as your homebase. There are kiosks at which you can purchase tickets, which are about 1euro each. One ticket gets you into the Metro system and pays for your total trip until you reach your final destination.
If you are going to be in Paris for a week, buy a weekly Metro pass; it costs about 25 euros but it allows unlimited use. Also, you won’t have to worry about how many tickets you have left. The signs in all of the stations are very clear and easy to understand. For example, the lines are color coded, letter coded, and coded at their start and stop destinations. Figure out which way you are going, and follow the according final destination signs, even if you are not going to the listed destination, your stop will be on the way. A positive is that most of the main attractions that a normal traveler would like to see have their own subway stops, ie The Lourve, The Orsay, etc. Another good thing about the Metro is that you will get to see some of the charming performers. At Chatelet, one of the main interchanging stops on the Metro, you will see crowds gather to listen to small bands playing Parisian music. If you are lucky enough, a man might get on your train with an accordian and play until the next stop. If this happens, it is polite to give him a Euro.
Eating at a street side bistro is another must when in Paris. They are all pretty much the same, but try to pick a neighborhood, such as Luxemburg Jardins, to enjoy the local neighborhood. If you want to laugh at tourists, then eat on the Champs-Elyesse. Eating in a small neighborhood lets you take in the local culture as well as the sounds, buildings, and locals.
Order a coffee, but do not expect to get a mug of regualr coffee. It only exists at one of the two Starbucks in Paris. At a restraunt, you will recieve a tiny cup and saucer with espresso. It is meant to be sipped over a longer amount of time than a regular cup of coffee. Be sure you know these key phrases: I would like..- j’e veux dres check please- l’addition sil vous plait. These phrases assure the waiter that you are trying to speak the language, which French people really appreciate!
Shopping is an inevitable feat that must be attempted while in Paris. Tourists go to the Champs-Elyesse to shop at the Lacoste store, where they think they can get their Lacsote polo’s cheaper than in the US, but they can’t. As a part of Parisian culture, you must go where the tourists do not. Head on down to St. Germaine and you will see fabulous shops, along with a few familiar ones such as Herve Chapelier, makes of totes and luggage. In this shopping neighborhood you can take in the small and unique shoe shops with many different types and styles of shoes. A few of the corners are graced with Yves Saint Laurent’s and Dior’s, but this is a more intimate shopping area. However, there is not a direct subway stop to take you directly there. Instead, get off on the light blue line at Luxemburg and walk through the Luxemburg Jardins to get across to St. Germaine. The walk is worth it, you will see Parisians doing everything there from painting to being intimate (in a sweet way).
A final aspect of Parisian culture is the Hookah Bar. These have been popping up all over Paris in the past few years. The key is to go to a small, original Moroccan one. There are many Moroccans who have relocated to Paris, so there is a plethora of this type of culture. A Hooka bar is basically a tobacco bar. Try going to Fifi’s Hookah in the Latin Quarter of Paris, located at 314 rue St. Jacques. You go in and some one asks you which type of tobacco you would like to smoke out of a hookah. The waiter then brings you your tobacco packed into the hookah (a hookah is a smoking device which is about 3 feet tall and is powered by a hot coal, your inhaling, and water). One packed hookah costs about 7 euros and can entertain 3-4 people for at least 30 minutes.
So there you go, a few travelers tips for those who refuse to be tourists. The aforementioned activities will really make you experience and appreciate Parisian culture. Just make sure you bring your digital camera to capture all the fun things along the way, because those are usually the most memorable of an experience!
