Beat the rush – start early and other Paris, France General Tips

Favorite Thing: Most tourist destinations in Paris open at 1000 (an exception being the Orangerie which opens at 1230). It seems though that most people, locals or tourists, don’t start moving till late: so one secret is to be among the few early starters. You will find that an 0900 start will give you an excellent start to the day for visiting outdoor places such as parks. Then, by mid afternoon when the numbers have swelled everywhere, you can head for somewhere quiet and relax, having covered your day’s programme with minimal fuss.

The photo shows the queue outside the Orangerie just after opening at 1230: by that time, a bunfight is unavoidable.


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Fondest Memory: This cast iron structure is called a “Colonne Morris” . Why these are called (in English) Morris Columns, or who they are named after, I do not know. It appears their only purpose is to support streetside advertising posters, so perhaps they were introduced by the Morris Advertising Agency or something? I’ll be happy to be enlightened! They have been a part of the Paris streetscape for many years, however, to the stage that they are almost emblematic of Paris.

Update Thanks to my VT friend Kokoryko, I can now advise that Morrises take their name from a Parisian printer Gabriel Morris, who developed this advertising media in 1850 and they were introduced in 1855-1860 by a specialised advertising company with his name. Some of them rotate and some contain toilets.

Update 2 Further thanks to my VT friend JLBG for reassuring me that Morrises are not going to become extinct and, in fact, are expanding to other French cities. (I had heard they were being progressively removed).

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Favorite Thing: These Wallaces are nothing to do with “Scots wha’ hae”! Wallace Fountains are large cast iron drinking fountains, named after the Englishman Sir Richard Wallace who donated them to Paris after the troubles of the early 1870s had destroyed much of the city’s public water supply. Paris just would not be the same without them!

The fountains were originally in four different styles, though I have seen only the “Large” style seen here: 65 remain in operation. These are indeed large, weighing over 600kg and standing over 2.7 metres tall! The drinking water falls through the centre, between four caryatids (Greek female figurines) representing kindness, simplicity, charity and sobriety, seen in the second detail photo. Until the 1950s, when they were removed for health reasons, two tin cups also were part of the arrangement.

It’s worth looking for one during your visit, but note that the water is turned off between 15 November and 15 March, to avoid problems of damage from freezing. You will find the addresses for all in Wikipedia.


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Favorite Thing: While in Paris, I found myself very taken by the floral window boxes which adorn the city. It isn’t surprising, in a way, because for the residents of units in the multi-storey buildings, this is the only garden they own. The window boxes do add a distinctive character to the city though, as do the identifiably Parisian roofs and chimneys in the background of the second photo.


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Favorite Thing: One of the world’s ‘great’ rivers, the Seine has been immortalised in songs and paintings. As may be seen in these photos its importance does not stem from its size or, for that matter, from its length. No, the Seine derives its ‘instant recognition’ status from its locale and historical significance, not to mention the romance associated with it. Should you wish to take a short cruise, there are plenty of ferries and tours available, but I was content simply to wander along the shores, enjoying the views and the passing river traffic .

Whatever tourists may make of it, the Seine is still very much a commercial river, with extensive river traffic passing through Paris. I thought you might care to ‘virtually’ share some of that variety with me.

The main photo might be of particular interest to other motoring enthusiasts, because parked on the back deck of this barge is a red ‘Amphicar’, a curious (and now rare and collectable) amphibious motor car produced in small numbers in the 1960s. I wonder if it is intended as a lifeboat or as a shopping trolley when in port! The second photo shows a canal boat, possibly off on a holiday cruise. No question about the third photo though, it is a cargo barge being pushed by a no-nonsense tug, while the fourth photo shows a tour boat passing Notre Dame.


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Favorite Thing: One of the very real highlights of our Paris visit was to be driven back to our hotel through central Paris, late at night, in a friend’s historic Renault 4CV motor car. I’ll admit happily that, as an enthusiast for these vehicles, riding in the car was a special event itself, not least because so many young people identified the car as a French classic and shouted calls of appreciation! But, although most Paris visitors may not have such an exotic vehicle choice available, doing such a drive past the Arc de Triomphe, along the Champs Élysées, through the Place de la Concorde, and past the Louvre and Ile de la Cité is definitely to be recommended – even if it involves a taxi!

I’m sorry about the lack of sharpness in most of these photos, there is just no way of holding a camera steady enough late at night in a moving vehicle. You can tell which were taken while we stopped at traffic lights!

Main photo: Two tourists and the 1957 Renault 4CV
Second photo: Passing the Arc de Triomphe.
Third photo: Down the Champs Élysées
Fourth photo: Past the Louvre
Fifth photo: Alongside the Seine.


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