Anyone been to Paris or works in Paris?

[casinovegas]

I'm going to Paris for 4 days next month and wondered if anyone had any recommendations for restaurants/bars etc? I've pretty much got the to do list for activities sorted but wanted some recommendations for food and drinks. Thanks

[DanHorvat]

I can only recommend to practice your "non, merci" to sound like a local to all the lowlifes trying to sell you an Eiffel tower or a string trick. They leave the locals alone.

If a woman asks you is this golden ring yours - it's not.

The girl asking you for a donation for the deaf and mute is neither deaf nor mute.

Food & drink - whatever you choose, double check the price when you get the bill. It has to match what's in the menu. Count the change, and don't take your eyes off the guy giving you change.

You'll thank me later.

P.S. Here is a quick French tutorial for beginners.

[casinovegas]

Ha ha, cheers Dan I will keep that in mind. Looks like it will be le big mac and le chips

[thebookiesoffers]

Ha ha, cheers Dan I will keep that in mind. Looks like it will be le big mac and le chips

i went for the Arc de Triomphe in october, thought it was pretty crap to be honest but didnt really do much apart from watch the racing

[casinovegas]

I've got these below on the to do lists


Arc de Triomphe/Champs-Elysee
Louvre
Eiffel Tower
Montparnasse tower
Catacombes
Pont des Arts
Havre-Caumartin shopping
Galaries Lafayette
Notre Dame Cathedral


Should keep us out of trouble for a few days

[DanHorvat]

Sacre Coeur, La Défense (last stop on metro Line 1), Quartier Pigalle.

[Renee]

If I went back to Paris, the only places I'd go are the Notre Dame Cathedral, The Louvre and the Sacre Coeur.

I learned French for 6 years at high school and when I left all I ever wanted to do was go to France. The people there were total arseholes, even though I could speak fluent French (and according to my french teacher my accent was almost perfect, so it's not that I sounded awful) and I found most of the real touristy stuff quite a let down. The mona lisa for example is about 10% of the size I expected it to be, and you can't even get close enough to see it properly because it is guarded.

PS - You'll need a whole day to see the Louvre, and even then you probably wont see it all.

The Notre Dame was my favourite place, but like Dan said, check the cost against the menu and check the change. We were charged 75 euro at this little coffee shop next to the cathedral for 2 coffees and a sandwich.

If you do go to the notre dame, try to get a tour guide that will explain all the carvings on the outside of the building. It's very fascinating to know that every single one has a meaning.

The arc de triumph has a LOT of stairs in a very narrow circular staircase, so if you're claustrophobic or are not good with stairs, just a heads up.

If you go to the moulin rouge, there is a very dodgy area around there. If you're looking at the moulin rouge, and turn left, don't walk down that way.

I went to this bar in the latin quarter (no idea where exactly it was) but it was pretty awesome.
Low roof and almost like the roof had different coloured panels that lit up.

The other awesome thing is that you can get a nutella and banana crepe on the corner of every street.

[Sergej_AGR]

DanHorvat already had a few great tips. Take care, especially around the "Champs de Mars". There are a lot dubious people hanging around... Always answer with something like "Je ne comprends pas." (I do not understand) or "Je n'ai pas d'argent." (I have no money)

When you visit the Louvre and you get hungry, I can recommend the restaurant "Racines 2". Unfortunately I forgot the names of the other restaurants that we visited...

More places to visit:
Musée d'Orsay, Centre Pompidou, Panthéon, and Moulin Rouge

[casinovegas]

Cheers guys, lots of helpful stuff there

[DanHorvat]

Oh yeah, one more thing. Pay attention when crossing the street. I'm under the impression the guy in the car will run you over just to prove a point.

The pastry is amazing though.

[universal4]

Dan,

What do you think the main points these "men in the car" types are trying to make?

Rick
Universal4

[DanHorvat]

Probably that you have no right to cut him off.

[universal4]

Thanks Dan,

That makes me feel better, I was worried they were just trying to prove that cars were stronger than man.

Look both ways while in Paris....lol

Rick
Universal4

[louie.wilson]

Looks like you guys all "love" Paris!

Well to be honest, most of Dan's points are fair enough. Beware.
Renee, everybody were arseholes?? That's quite a cliche... You may not have met the right people.
True Parisian are not famous for their opening to foreigners, but still!

Anyways, i'm not from Paris, but from Strasbourg, and i believe we know way more how to welcome people around there
Enjoy Paris, despite it's down, there are many ups as a tourist over there, it's still a lovely place to hang around!

Cheers

[casinovegas]

PSG are at home playing Bordeaux might see if the Mrs fancies watching it...........I doubt it though

[Renee]

Looks like you guys all "love" Paris!

Well to be honest, most of Dan's points are fair enough. Beware.
Renee, everybody were arseholes?? That's quite a cliche... You may not have met the right people.
True Parisian are not famous for their opening to foreigners, but still!

Anyways, i'm not from Paris, but from Strasbourg, and i believe we know way more how to welcome people around there
Enjoy Paris, despite it's down, there are many ups as a tourist over there, it's still a lovely place to hang around!

Cheers

Yep they were.
The one guy charged us 75 euro for 2 cups of coffee and a piece of chicken, all because my partner at the time asked for an american coffee, even though I spoke French. Aussies sound nothing like Americans if that is the excuse!

I also went to buy a calling card so I could call my parents from a payphone. As soon as I told the guy I needed it to call Australia, BANG, asshole. I couldn't understand it. He threw my change at me.

There was one nice guy who was making me a crepe. He said he knew I wasn't french but he couldn't quite work out why. We had a little chat about Oz and he gave me a free crepe.

I also almost had a punch up in the line of the Eiffel Tower, although that guy was not French. I guess I can see why they hate tourists

I've heard the south of France is far nicer and people there are far nicer too. So next time I go to France I will go there instead.

[louie.wilson]

Probably, they are more used to tourists, and understand better the potential of treating tourists the right way + have a more natural habit of being nice to people even if they are foreigners.

But no one should judge people on a single bad or good experience. If i had to judge Aussies based on my 1st experience (in Bali) i'd still be thinking you guys are all dumbasses Obviously, you're not!! But my local experience made me think that. True for many other nationalities.

[Renee]

That was my impression of Paris over 6 days, not French people as a whole.

The thing is that you'd probably be right if you thought most Aussies were dumbasses. Especially the ones that frequent Bali (think Shapelle Corby - idiot). Aussies get pissed too much and fight.