Atypical things to do in Paris
Jul 5th, 2006, 06:53 PM
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Atypical things to do in Paris
I have been to Paris a couple of times now and I am looking for some unusal "tourist" attractions. I have been to all the major and many of the minor museums, the canal ride etc.
Ideas? Merci.
Ideas? Merci.
Jul 5th, 2006, 07:04 PM
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Les Egouts (the sewers)?
...and still on my list of things I eventually plan to do, one of these days...
http://www.pasteur.fr/pasteur/musees...sentation.html
Best wishes,
Rex
...and still on my list of things I eventually plan to do, one of these days...
http://www.pasteur.fr/pasteur/musees...sentation.html
Best wishes,
Rex
Jul 5th, 2006, 08:31 PM
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I've done many of the major and minor attractions also but I have many things left to see and do! On my list of things to do next trip is to walk around the Passages and to visit the Cluny Museum to see the Lady and Unicorn tapestries. I'm also printing out the walks that Degas has posted and will try a couple of them. I hope to have enough time to take the train to Chantilly and see the castle. Have a fun trip!
Jul 5th, 2006, 10:07 PM
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Go to the moulogn rougue(??????), serious eye candy their. Paris is a very sexy city if you look. I would also recommend the ferris wheel,within sight of the louve. I saw it my first time their and vowed I would ride it if I ever returned, I was not dissapointed.
Jul 6th, 2006, 12:42 AM
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Hi
Have you checked out the catacombs?
Regards
Gard
My Paris trip report: http://gardkarlsen.com/Paris_France.htm
Have you checked out the catacombs?
Regards
Gard
My Paris trip report: http://gardkarlsen.com/Paris_France.htm
Jul 6th, 2006, 01:10 AM
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The ferris wheel (previously mentioned), is the best place to hear Country Western music in Paris. I was on the ferris wheel with a German family, and I seemed to be the only person who thought that it was unusual to be looking down the Champs se Elysee with "The Devil went down to Georgia" playing in the background.
Jul 6th, 2006, 01:17 AM
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Find an Arab quarter (there is one near the Passages) and enjoy Algerian, Tunisian and Moroccan meals. In Pariscope listings magazine look for Arab music and song.
See the current exhibition at the Institut du Monde Arabe, web site
http://www.imarabe.org/index-ang.html
In the same magazine look for evenings of the songs of Charles Aznavour, Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel, and Trenet.
If you are Christian, go to Mass at 10.30 on a Sunday in St George’s Anglican church near the Etoile, and sign in for Sunday lunch in the company of English speaking long-term Parisians. Their site is http://www.stgeorgesparis.com/. (Actually, they welcome non Christians too)
Ben Haines, London
[email protected]
See the current exhibition at the Institut du Monde Arabe, web site
http://www.imarabe.org/index-ang.html
In the same magazine look for evenings of the songs of Charles Aznavour, Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel, and Trenet.
If you are Christian, go to Mass at 10.30 on a Sunday in St George’s Anglican church near the Etoile, and sign in for Sunday lunch in the company of English speaking long-term Parisians. Their site is http://www.stgeorgesparis.com/. (Actually, they welcome non Christians too)
Ben Haines, London
[email protected]
Jul 6th, 2006, 01:21 AM
#8
The "promenade plantée" that goes from Bastille to the edge of the city will give you a very different view of Paris.
The daily outdoor movies at the Parc de la Villette are starting soon; sometimes they draw a crowd of more than 10,000 picnickers, and the giant inflatable screen is a wonder to behold.
The daily outdoor movies at the Parc de la Villette are starting soon; sometimes they draw a crowd of more than 10,000 picnickers, and the giant inflatable screen is a wonder to behold.
Jul 6th, 2006, 01:52 AM
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Friday night roller blade parade - www.pari-roller.com
Jul 6th, 2006, 02:19 AM
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If you can get it, the so-called "Closed Metro Tour" The A.D.E.M.A.S. often organizes some trips (mostly during the night) in an old Sprague Subway from the 1930's:
A.D.E.M.A.S. (Association D'Exploitation du MAtériel Sprague)
17, rue des Abondances
92100 BOULOGNE BILLANCOURT
FRANCE
Phone: 01.48.25.13.32 (from France) or +33.1.48.25.13.32 (from abroad)
A.D.E.M.A.S. (Association D'Exploitation du MAtériel Sprague)
17, rue des Abondances
92100 BOULOGNE BILLANCOURT
FRANCE
Phone: 01.48.25.13.32 (from France) or +33.1.48.25.13.32 (from abroad)
Jul 6th, 2006, 03:09 AM
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Scrolling through the posts, I'd say to definitely check out the Promenade Plantee, le Parc de la Vilette and the canal St. Martin (to walk along, not ride) - and I totally agree that the ferris wheel in the Tuileries is really fun. Also:
La Mosquee de Paris in the 5th, near le Jardin des Plantes - beautiful mosque, garden, cafe, oasis of calm.
Le Musee Monet-Marmottan in the 16th - small house filled with gorgeous Monet canvases.
If you are there on a Sunday (and like this sort of animal-related thing), start right by la St. Chapelle and look at the bird market (marche aux oiseaux), then walk along the right bank Quai de la Megisserie in the 5th-4th-1st and see pet shop row - tons of pet stores and florists...You could have a great lunch along the way at Le Trumilou, Quai de l'Hotel de Ville!
More animals (sort of)...there's Desrolles, a rather odd but interesting shop in the 7th, Rue du Bac - a former taxidermist's shop, it's filled with stuffed creatures, great posters and all sorts of cool things. Near L'Epi Dupin for lunch!
If you are in Paris in July (or January), check out the department stores, especially Au Bon Marche, as they have great sales (soldes) at these times of year. Au Bon Marche also happens to be right across the street from L'Epi Dupin and not far from Desrolles. If you do go there, get stuff for a picnic, as their prepared foods are astonishing.
Finally, my all-time favorite thing to do in Paris: get up early and walk the city - anywhere is fine, but the left bank quai from the Quartier Latin to the Pont Alexandre III makes a nice loop - seeing the sun slowly light up the various monuments and buildings along the way is breathtaking. If you are up and out by 6:30, especially on a weekend, you'll have the city to yourself - I always do this the first day in town and it just reminds me how lucky I am to be back in such a magical place. Then, of course, I go back to bed until a more reasonable hour.
Bon voyage! (sorry to blather on...)
-mimi
La Mosquee de Paris in the 5th, near le Jardin des Plantes - beautiful mosque, garden, cafe, oasis of calm.
Le Musee Monet-Marmottan in the 16th - small house filled with gorgeous Monet canvases.
If you are there on a Sunday (and like this sort of animal-related thing), start right by la St. Chapelle and look at the bird market (marche aux oiseaux), then walk along the right bank Quai de la Megisserie in the 5th-4th-1st and see pet shop row - tons of pet stores and florists...You could have a great lunch along the way at Le Trumilou, Quai de l'Hotel de Ville!
More animals (sort of)...there's Desrolles, a rather odd but interesting shop in the 7th, Rue du Bac - a former taxidermist's shop, it's filled with stuffed creatures, great posters and all sorts of cool things. Near L'Epi Dupin for lunch!
If you are in Paris in July (or January), check out the department stores, especially Au Bon Marche, as they have great sales (soldes) at these times of year. Au Bon Marche also happens to be right across the street from L'Epi Dupin and not far from Desrolles. If you do go there, get stuff for a picnic, as their prepared foods are astonishing.
Finally, my all-time favorite thing to do in Paris: get up early and walk the city - anywhere is fine, but the left bank quai from the Quartier Latin to the Pont Alexandre III makes a nice loop - seeing the sun slowly light up the various monuments and buildings along the way is breathtaking. If you are up and out by 6:30, especially on a weekend, you'll have the city to yourself - I always do this the first day in town and it just reminds me how lucky I am to be back in such a magical place. Then, of course, I go back to bed until a more reasonable hour.
Bon voyage! (sorry to blather on...)
-mimi
Jul 6th, 2006, 03:22 AM
#15
Cinema program : http://www.villette.com/manif/manif....=US&id=985
Unfortunately, even in the English version of the site, they left the film titles in French, no matter what the origin of the film -- so you might need to do a web search to find a title that means something to you (e.g. "L'impossible Monsieur Bébé" = "Bringing Up Baby"
. In any case, all films are in original version with French subtitles.
The metro station is Porte de Pantin.
Unfortunately, even in the English version of the site, they left the film titles in French, no matter what the origin of the film -- so you might need to do a web search to find a title that means something to you (e.g. "L'impossible Monsieur Bébé" = "Bringing Up Baby"
. In any case, all films are in original version with French subtitles.The metro station is Porte de Pantin.
Jul 6th, 2006, 04:09 AM
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Yes, in the thread Dr. Do Good topped, I mentioned the hot air balloon ride from the Parc Andre Citroen. Lots of fun to do, great way to get a bird's eye view of Paris, and unlike the Eiffel Tower, no waiting in line.
http://www.aeroparis.com/
http://www.aeroparis.com/
Jul 6th, 2006, 04:33 AM
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Chateau du Vincennes. Nowhere near as impressive as Chantilly, but much easier to get to as it's only a metro ride. The chateau is right in front of the metro station (of the same name). On the other side of the chateau is a large park. Chantilly is also a nice "half-day" trip (and much closer than the Loire Valley).
Cite University has some nice buildings and there is a park there also, plus it's a nice quite neighborhood that tourists virtually never step foot into. Cite University is not actually a university, but is housing for many of the students who attend various universities throughout Paris.
A walk in the 16th to see the art nouveau buildings, the highest concentration of that style building in Paris is in the 16th, though the single best example (in my opinion) is 29 Ave Rapp in the 7th.
There are two nice arches just north of the Marais - port st Denis and port st Martin (both on rue st Denis). Not as large as the Arc du Triomphe but pretty impressive anyway. And not too far from there are the two oldest houses in Paris (or the two that claim that title anyway), one is at 3-5 rue Volta and the other at 51 rue de Montmorency. And also in the area is the Musee of Arts & Metiers, an intersting museum in a beautiful old abbey. All of these are within 15 minutes walk of each other.
Cite University has some nice buildings and there is a park there also, plus it's a nice quite neighborhood that tourists virtually never step foot into. Cite University is not actually a university, but is housing for many of the students who attend various universities throughout Paris.
A walk in the 16th to see the art nouveau buildings, the highest concentration of that style building in Paris is in the 16th, though the single best example (in my opinion) is 29 Ave Rapp in the 7th.
There are two nice arches just north of the Marais - port st Denis and port st Martin (both on rue st Denis). Not as large as the Arc du Triomphe but pretty impressive anyway. And not too far from there are the two oldest houses in Paris (or the two that claim that title anyway), one is at 3-5 rue Volta and the other at 51 rue de Montmorency. And also in the area is the Musee of Arts & Metiers, an intersting museum in a beautiful old abbey. All of these are within 15 minutes walk of each other.
Jul 6th, 2006, 04:50 AM
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