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I don’t have any tips since I’ve never visited Paris. I am just writing to say, “you lucky !+#$%^&*”.

I have always wanted to visit Europe. If I ever do, Paris is at the top of my places to go (followed by London, Berlin, Prague and Vienna).

Man it must be great living in Europe, so close to so much history. I really envy you.

The great thing is that Paris is less than 2-hours away. The strange thing is that, despite this, I’ve only ever driven through the city in the past - I’ve never actually done the tourist thing there. Weird eh?

Oh oh oh, why didn’t I read this earlier? I DO have some suggestions, although I can’t remember all the actual names of the places you should visit!

I’ll tell you what I remember the most fondly, though, from my trip to Paris a few years ago.

First of all, you’ll definately want to get either a day pass or better yet a WEEK pass to the Metro. It’ll pay for itself I promise, and the Metro IS parisian culture. Bring your camera, for the stations have such great graphical angles, shapes and looks. The trains run on rubber wheels, which I find quite fascinating. The Metro works so well it’s insane. You can get anywhere in Paris, fast. It’s so easy to use that someone like me, with only “bon jour, deus pan au chocolat s’il vous plait” (two chocolate buns, please) in my language arsenal, can find my way pretty to much anywhere. In fact, some of the days, me and my friends would just go somewhere because “I read about that place in a book”, because it was so easy. For instance, I read that “Gare du Nord” (central train station) had great architecture, so we went, and discovered that it was in fact quite boring. So we had an Orangina and went on to the latino quarter.

THIS place, I so enjoyed. The whole mood, the lighting, music seaping out of windows, and there was a park where people would meet and play chess. I remember we ate … some dish… what was it? It was good anyway :). This is indeed one of my fondest memories from Paris.

Oh, and if you go to “Les Halles”, (which is really nice, by the way), and go to a restaurant there, don’t ask for “Le Salade des Halles”. It’s “pie de porc”, pork feet.

I did go to see both L’arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower. Both tourist places, and in my opinion, actually not worth visiting! The Triumph arch is actually more resemblant of a freeway, and the Eiffel tower, while beautiful and somewhat fun to be up in, is not at all the “rush” people think it is. I’d much rather spend a day eating “President Camembert” on baguette near the Seine.

Final advice. When you handle money, don’t “show it”. “Someone” has already identified you as “tourist”, and will just snatch it if you wave it around. It almost happened to my friend, had it not been for the help of a friendly parisian.

GOOD choice of visiting Paris. No matter what happens I’m sure it’ll be great.

The tip about the metro pass is indeed correct: It will pay for itself. Something else wortwile is The Catacombs and Pere La Chaise. You can read up on it here: http://indigo.ie/~kfinlay/jbarrington/jonah63.htm

As for clubbing: extremely expensive. The entrance prices are huge. As for restaurants, i would keep away from the big boulevards: expensive as hell. You can eat cheaper and far better in the small streets, away from those boulevards. Oh, before i forget: Montmartre… kewl place to visit dude.

NOTE: This comment has been edited by its author! Additions are shown in italics, deletions with a strike-through.

Thanks for the advice and suggestions Joen and Luc.

• The first thing I will do is get a week pass for the Metro
• I will be discreet when handling money (I guess this applies wherever one travels)
• I will have my camera with me at all times (especially on the Metro)
• I will definitely visit the Latino Quarter, the Catacombs and Pere La Chaise

When I asked about clubbing I wasn’t explicit enough (why do I always assume that people reading this blog know everything there is to know about me?) I’m not interested in nightclubs, I’m more into smoky jazz joints, these will be the types of clubs I look out for.

Some of you may have realised that I am really passionate about architecture and “urban exploration”. This is my principle reason for being attracted to Paris. Expect loads of photographs and the odd article or two covering these aspects of the city.

I’m getting really excited about this trip now!

Any more feedback anyone?

The latino quarter (as far as I remember), is a jazz joints galore! I remember visiting one where Charlie Parker had played, I keed not.

Damn now I wanna go to Paris too!

By the way, is there a problem with “remember my details”? It doesn’t seem to remember them — or is it just I who can’t remember whether I’m commenting in Explorer or Firefox at work or at home?

The latino quarter, is a jazz joints galore!

That’s brilliant Joen. If that’s the case, I shall probably spend my evenings there. I just love that atmosphere and the music… it’s so emotive.

Just over a week to go…

is there a problem with “remember my details”?

Not as far as I know. I’ll test this, but I think it’s okay.

it’s been quite a few years since i visited Paris…

about the Eiffel Tower - it’s great fun walking up the stairs, i mean it. you get to meet people and the photos you take are superb. the lift is so boring.

i’m quite fond of eating. there was this one romanian restaurant (can’t remember exactly where) with great cheap food.

I promise to climb the stairs at the Eiffel Tower! :-)