Moulin Rouge -Do it once! and other Paris, France Tourist Trap Tips

It was our wedding anniversary trip to Paris and my dear wife - a dancer and lover of shows - wanted to go to The Moulin Rouge. I read the Tourist Trap reviews here and tried to steer us away, but then booked two tickets to make her happy! The cost was 100 Euro each, with half bottle of champagne each in the price. We got there at 8.30, lashed out 2 Euro to leave our coats in the cloakroom, and 8 Euro on the big glossy souvenir programme. then were efficiently ushered to our seats (which we shared with two nice guys from Philadelphia who were already seated). Our bottle of Champagne arrived on ice (plenty enough to see us through the show), a singer entertained til all were seated. The girls were stunning, the costumes spectacular, though they really allowed the girls only to parade and pose most of the time so the choreographer was overpaid! The music was a bit "canned" but was OK. The show was 2 hours, non-stop, with excellent male acrobats, and very impressive & funny juggler/drummer (go and see!) between the dances. The very fast can-can, by both male and female dancers was impressive, and we left very happy. The feared hard sell did not materialise. We did pay 25 Euro for the photo of us at the table but it was a special anniversary, and we felt no pressure to have the photo taken. So! I'm glad I went. A lovely evening, costing only a bit more than decent seats at a musical in London!

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At Least Do This: Have a local meal at a brasserie or bistro, then go to the show. Pigalle/Boulevard de Clichy is mainly Peep Shows etc, but we've often walked here in the evening to go to bistros & shops (there's a Monoprix supermarket across from Moulin) without feeling uncomfortable, though it may be different after midnight. Beside Moulin Rouge is Rue Lepic, where you immediately leave any seediness behind and enter Montmartre. A busy little street, lined with small local shops, delicatessens and lively bars/brasseries. One is the "2 Moulins" where "Amelie" works in the film of the same name. Go in any of them for a beer, a coffee or a simple but tasty meal at good prices (3 courses and a glass of wine about 20 -25 Euro). Some have live music. Lepic rises to Rue Abbesses at the top, again lined with good bars and restaurants haunted by students and locals. Turn right, and in a few hundred metres you will pass Abbesses art nouveau Metro entrance, follow the signs another 100 metres to the foot of Butte Montmartre with Sacre Couer at the top, floodlit at night. Walk up 200 steps (or take the funicular!) for views over Paris. Whenever you go, you wont be alone - people from across the globe will be sat on the steps sharing the view with you, and the younger ones will have a guitar & be singing! Behind and to the left of Sacre Couer is Place de Tertre - bars/cafes & pavement artists, touristy yes, but nice to stroll narrow cobbled streets or have a beer and watch the world go by! As you leave the shops and cafes turn down left, to pass two old wooden windmills. You are now back on Rue Lepic, which will curve round back to Moulin Rouge, or shortcut down some steep steps to the same destination. Great day or night!