Going to Paris on Sunday (1/14/01),for a week. Any advice on what's going on, what to see, what to avoid, beware of, etc. I know to bring an umbrella.

Dear Steve, <BR> <BR>You might try the following url: http://www.pariscope.fr/ it is all in french and is the e-version of the weekly Pariscope that you can by at the news stands in Paris. If you subscribe they will send you an email dispatch once a month. <BR> <BR>Ciao, <BR> <BR>Randall Smith

Steve, <BR>Got back last night from a week in Paris. Weather wasnt too bad, temp was in the 40's plus all week. I think it only rained once. There are not a lot of tourists there now, so everyones relatively chilled out. I dont think I waited more than 20 minutes anywhere. <BR>The longest line I stood in was to see an exhibition with some Terra Cotta Warriors in it. <BR>Mondays (maybe tuesdays too..) Most of the Museums are closed. So pick something else to do those days. <BR>If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. <BR>Bob <BR>

Hard to say as you haven't stated your interests, but there are several special temporary art exhibits that have been well-reviewed at the Grand Palais (late 19th-20th Cen artists' works of the Mediterranean) and 50 early Italian masterworks (eg, Boticelli), newly restored, at the Musee Jacquemart-Andre. I think there is a special exhibit at the louvre involving magic/supernat. stuff and Egypt. Aside from that, you are in luck as the biannual big dept store sales (Soldes!)began on 1/10 and will go on for a month or so--you will see big ads for these in the metro stations; you can actually some good deals at these major sales (not sure, but I think I've read by law the big stores can only have these sales twice a year, the other time is in July when I've been), but best to shop early to get the best deals and selection. It is raining right now but so far a mild winter in Paris. I would avoid the Champs-Elysees (yes, see it once and it's a great vista from the bottom, but gen. a big mall and def. avoid the overpriced cafes and restaurants around there--I do like the Virgin Records store on it, though, and they have a ticket agency in the basement for about anything around Paris); avoid the area right around St-Michel metro stop, rue de la Huchette and the fast food tourist restaurants and shops on that street and gen. vicinity(avoid any restaurant that has guys standing out in front with menus trying to get you to come inside); avoid/beware of kind people trying to help you use your ATM card, sell you unused metro tickets, etc. around tourist locations and metro stops. Avoid dinner cruises on the Seine (overpriced for the food) and avoid "cabarets". Avoid white wine with meat or red wine with fish (the waiter will sneer); avoid very new red wines; avoid trying to get American coffee at cafes (you will prob. get instant Nescafe); avoid lardons (a favorite in French salads, don't ask).

Hi again, <BR> <BR>I found another website for you which give the current events in Paris. It is as follows: http://paris-anglo.com/events/ <BR> <BR>It is a great source for Paris info. <BR> <BR>Salut, <BR> <BR>Randall Smith

Try www.timeout.com also - - they keep reasonably up to date. Here's two examples from their site: <BR> <BR>Piste <BR> <BR>This Christmas season extravaganza offers the usual lively mix of trapeze acts, juggling, unicycles and other traditional acts as well animals to captivate the kids - a tame black panther to stroke, a tiger on a very tight leash and a menagerie of jumping and skipping pigs, goats and Shetland ponies. It's good family fun for kids who are old enough to sit still for two-and-a-half hours - including an interval for candyfloss and popcorn. <BR> <BR>Until Jan 28, Tue & Fri-Sat 8.30pm, <BR>Wed, Sat-Sun 2.30 & 5.15pm, Cirque <BR>d'Hiver, 110 rue Amelot, 11th (33 1 <BR>4929 0978). <BR> <BR>or <BR> <BR>Morellet <BR> <BR>François Morellet is one of the great <BR>names of geometrical abstraction in <BR>France, yet as this retrospective of his <BR>paintings and neons clearly demonstrates, his work is not formalistic but extremely varied and often pioneering. Morellet began using neon as far back as 1963, as in '16 cercles de néon rouge avec circuit aléatoire' where the spectator operates the switch that will alter the installation's form. Whether in multiple square paintings, chromatic works, overlaid webs and black and white grids in adhesive tape and pure white canvases hung at angles, Morellet has never ceased leave space for chance and the absurd. <BR> <BR>Until Jan 21, Tue noon-9.30pm, Wed-Fri <BR>noon-7pm, Sat-Sun 10am-7pm Jeu de <BR>Paume, 1 place de la Concorde, 1st (33 <BR>1 4260 6969). <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Be extra cautious of well-dressed young people on the subway who are actually purse-snatchers. Avoid sitting near the doors of the Metro if you have packages.

Take a day out of Paris to see Versaille one of the other chataeus. In Paris, just walk, and walk and walk, and admire the beauty of the city. Paris has one of the best metro train system in the world. It is easy to get anywhere - if you plan to catch it every day (Paris is too big and expensive to do it any other way) it would be easier to buy a ticket that covers that number of days instead of trying to work out which ticket for which trip and how to buy it. You can buys these in your home country before you leave - I recommend this. Also, try your hardest to learn what you can in French - I found their reputation is true, they expect you to speak to them in French even if you live over the other side of the world.