Travel Tips

It rains sometimes in Paris especially in Winter and in Springs. And your concern can be : what can we do ?

# Museums : all the museums are covered but you must avoid those of which the queue is outdoor like Louvre, Centre Pompidou or partially, Orsay. Avoid also, Rodin : a part of the statues are in the garden.

# Cinema : there are a lot of theaters which present the films in original language. Buy the Officiel des Spectacles to choose your film.

They are ancient quarries used to received at the end of the 18° Century the bones of the Paris cemetaries which are full.

Recently restored and reopened. Previously, a lamp was necessary. Now, I hope the light has been improve.

1 place Denfert-Rochereau (Metro : Denfert-Rochereau)
9AM - 4PM excepted Tue 11AM - 4PM - Closed on Mon.

Price : 5 euros

If it is raining outdoor, go underground to visit the Paris sewers.

Place de la Résistance - Left Bank. - Pont de l'Alma corner with Quai d'Orsay (Metro : Alma-Marceau)

Closed on Th & Fr

11AM - 5 PM (no entry after 4PM)

If it falls too much water on your head, put the water under your feet and have a roof.

I mean make a cruise on the Seine on Bateaux Mouches or in Batobus.

The departures are at the Pont de Iéna and at the square du Vert Galant.

# Galeries Layette and Le Printemps (Bd Haussmann - Metro : Chaussée d'Antin or Opera) occupy several neighbor buildings. You can pass from a store to an other store without be damp. Some are linked by a covered footbridge. Take the lift and go the last floor to have a look on the district.

# Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville (Rue de Rivoli - Metro : Hotel de Ville) : it is known to supply all you need in matter of «do-it-yourself"(underground floor) but you may go upstair to see the apparel, furniture, toys, ... Cross (quickly, if it rains "cats and dogs") the Place de l'Hotel de Ville and go on the right, quai de la Mégisserie, to visit the pet shops. Going so sheltered shop to shop, you arrive at the Samaritaine (a second department store) which is in front of the Pont Neuf (New Bridge).

# Take the metro RER to the station La Defense and use the exit "Les Quatre Temps". You visit one of the larger mall of Paris (40.000 m2), mainly focused on the apparel, gift, perfumes, multimedia, restaurants. A bright interval, cross the parvis (50 meters) to enter in the CNIT which is an other mall which shelters several shops and restaurants and "la FNAC", a huge store of records, books, computer, multimedia.

# Square Georges Brassens (Metro : Convention). It is covered.

# There are some covered galleries in Paris with original shops. They are often close by eachother. I recommmend on the Boulevard Montmartre (metro : rue Montmartre) the passages : Jouffroy, des Panoramas and in the neighborhood (metro : Richelieu-Drouot), des Princes (in Rue de Richelieu), Verdeau (in Bd des Italiens).

# The shops under the Arcades of some streets : rue de Rivoli, Palais Royal, Place des Vosges (few shops), rue de Lyon (near La Bastille)

Christian and his "fan club" sing each Sunday or ferial day from 11AM to 2PM, during the market. If it rains, the neighbour merchant borrows a protection.

Each Sunday a great event in the Paris life (see why on the travelogue "rue Mouffetard").

9 Rue Drouot (metro : Richelieu-Drouot or Le Peletier). The morning (11AM), you can see the items to sell and the afternoon (2PM) you may attend the auction. But keep quiet, a mouvement can be interpreted as a bid.

The pretiest things are sold here.

The Antiques shops nearby worth to be visited.

Closed in August.

Website : www.gazette-drouot.com

2 place du palais Royal 1° arrondissement (Metro : Palais Royal).

250 antiques shops are gathered in this mall. The best items of Paris are presented here because the high level of safety.

Website :
http://www.louvre-antiquaires.com/pages/galeries/default.asp

If you accept to be damp but not by the rain, go to the Aquaboulevard (Forest Hill - 4/6 rue Louis Armand 15° arrt - Métro : Balard).

It is a covered amusement park with pools, tennis, squash, fitness, ...

Choose the area PACHA to be more quiet. Do not leave valuables without survey. Put them to the cloakroom.

Cost for Pacha : 23 Euros per day.