I am not nearly ready for a trip we will be taking NEXT week; 6 days in London and 6 days in Paris. Yikes. I have done the forum viewing for a couple of months but still feel nervous and unprepared. Regarding PARIS..here are a couple of unresolved questions... where can I use internet for accessing ratp? where exactly is the auto show held (just found out we will be there during it)? being an avid runner, are there any great running routes? We are staying in a budget hotel my daughter stumbled on last summer in the 11th arrondissement called Hotel Belfort. Any restaurant suggestions?

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-in-paris.cfm

http://www.mondialautomobile.com/

A search here on 'Paris restaurant' will lead to good choices.

In the 11th:

Repaire de Cartouche 8 blvd Filles du Calvaire (wine restaurant)

Near your hotel:

Au Vieux Chene, http://www.vieuxchene.fr/EN/index.htm

Near the Gare de Lyon:

A la Biche au Boix, 45,avenue Ledru-Rollin,
01 43 43 34 38

I don't know where the auto show is, but I'm sure you can find it by looking at the URL www.mondialautomobile.com. I think it's usually out in the burbs somewhere, probably at the exposition center at Porte de Versailles.

There is a cyber cafe on bd Beaumarchais I often use when staying in that area. It's on the east side of the street, approximately across from metro Chemin Vert. I forget the name. I don't ever use the internet to access RATP when I'm in Paris, though, not sure why you'd need to do that. I guess if you wanted to check for any problems on the line or something, you could do that.

I like the brasserie Bofinger's a lot, it's on rue de la Bastille, just west of place de la Bastille.

http://www.ratp.info/touristes/index.php?langue=en

I'm no runner myself, but you do see people running in the parks. I don't know if you're allowed to run in the Père Lachaise cemetery, which is close to your hotel. Otherwise, I'd suggest going down to Bastille, from where you can run along the Promenade Plantée:
http://www.anyportinastorm.proboards...ad=4088&page=1

Thanks for the great links! I will try running the Promenade Plantee. I had heard RATP was a must for "getting around" the city. ???

RATP is the name of the agency that runs public transportation in Paris. You take the metro and the bus to get around the city, and that is probably what people meant who told you the RATP is a must for getting around.

There is a website, the link to which appears in Patrick London's post. You can check it out from home before you go to Paris. It will show you the bus and metro routes and help you plan a route. But a map of the lines can be obtained at any metro station. Ask for the one called "Grand Plan Lignes et Rues" for a bus and metro lap overlaid on a street map.

andressd - You should do your best to have a run in Parc Montsouris. There are dozens of people running on the wide pathway. You can be right outside the gate if you get off the RER station 'Cite` Universitaire'. Otherwise get the metro to Porte D'Orleans then hop on the tramway to the park- only a stop or two further on. You should consult your metro map to see the easiest route.

Nikki, thanks sooo much... I have been having the worst time trying to figure out what lines I will need in London and Paris... leaving Thursday... not ready. I will check it out from the Paatrick London's post. Is that accessible through Google?

Tod, wonderful tip. We look forward to running with Parisians. Do you know the Kilometers of the route?

Ah! Found RATP on the link you provided, Patrick. Tx!