The shortest distance between Pointe A et Pointe B, c'est

It depends if you are referring to Euclidian or non-Euclidian geometry.
On a more serious note: Funny guys the French, aren't they? Why do they call all metro stations "La Sortie"?

Erik Sortie was a famous French composer, who formed the Ausfahrt school of music with Friedrich Einbahn.

which Sortie did Erik-Satie use?

Not the one favoured by the Italian maestro, E. Pericoloso Sporgersi.

Very nice information, Robe. We love the buses and for our last trip I did something similar for our Republique area because it is SO well served by the buses. It isn't always easy to find the bus stop going the "correct" way--at least for my direction-challenged self.

bkm

In addition to individual bus route maps, I like to print sections of the "geo" map ("bus with streets").

Save the (pdf) document to your desktop (you get better proportions when printing that way). Open the file. Change to 65%. Click on Tools, Select & Zoom, then the Hand Tool. Now, drag the location of your hotel/apartment to the center of the map. Click on the Printer icon. In the Print window, select Current View, then print. After that, move your hotel/apartment to the upper left corner, print that, lower left corner, print that, etc.

You can always adjust the percentage down for a larger print area or up for larger print.

It's also useful to print (in rather large detail) areas where you will probably transfer frequently, such as Place de la Concorde, Place de l'Opera, St-Germain-des-Pres, as the stop for your connecting bus may be a block in either direction, or even around the corner. (But, you can always check the "Plan du Quartier" where you get off before marching all over looking for your stop.)

Anyway, these one sheet portions of the bus routes map can be folded up and tucked in a pocket (even printed front/back, but I use the backs for notes).

I also download the same areas onto my PDA with Repli-Go, along with all the individual bus routes I think we'll be using.

NB

added to "Paris Superthread"

OR you could do this: on your first day in Paris, go to a big book store (I go to the one at Le Bon Marche) and get a little paperback book that shows each bus line separately and where it goes. Your choice of book may depend on the extent of your French knowledge, if any - but just looking at the picture will probably do the trick. I also have an even smaller book I carry Paris Indicateur Par Rues, which lists every street in the city, where the street begins and ends and the nearest Metro line for each part of that street! I also have a third paperback (-these are all purse-size) called Paris par Arondissement - for each arr., it has 3 maps: regular map (with local attractions), metro map, and bus map.
When you get on a bus, there is usually a linear map above the seats, with lights that go on at each stop when you get to it. If this is broken - you can always ask the driver - or point to the station you need in the little book if you cannot pronounce it.
There's also a big branch of WHSmith - the English book store, across from the Tuileries Metro stop which may be helpful too.
Jess

Thankes Robespierre.

The pocket-sized guide "le Bus" is very handy, easpecially when used in conjunction with the Paris Mapguide.

Update: a new ticket 't+' has been introduced. It allows transfers from bus to bus and bus to tram for 90 minutes after its first use. I don't see where it can be used on the Métro and then a bus, but it is rumored that this is legal.

More here: http://www.ratp.info/informer/ticket_t_plus.php

bookmark

bookmarking

intersting things may happen on buses. We were on one day this past week in March when the bus stopped and out, the driver went to argue with some guy who would not move his car to let the bus pass through. I was amused watching all the passengers leave their seats to move up front to see what was going on. I and my friends were standing.

Bookmarking

bookmark

bookmark