NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm going to Paris four days from now. I'll stay there for a little over three months. (hehe! yay! :D)
I was wondering whether any of you have been there before for a longer period of time. I've been there and I've done all the touristy things that can be done in about week's time.
What else is there to do though? I realize that during the month of August there will be close to no one there (other than tourists, of course).
Any advice on what to do during that time? I'm working 5 days/week, but that still leaves me enough time to explore the city.
I'm sure that there will be some festivals, but where and what and when?
*Sigh* I'm just very excited to go there :)
Thanks for your help, all comments will be appreciated.


...well... maybe not quite all of them. you know what I mean. :p

I realize that during the month of August there will be close to no one there (other than tourists, of course).
Any advice on what to do during that time?

Go looting? Sell bogus souvineirs to other tourists?
Or stray outside of Paris and go visit the fabulous countryside in France.

Sell bogus souvineirs to other tourists?

that does sound like fun...
*muahaha*

Actually, I managed to get a fairly good bust of Napoleon for ten Euro's, bronze (VERY thin layer) over lead, I think, although Im not sure. It still looks cool and can be used to bludgeon people to death.

Anyway...advice...
Always check your shoes before going indoors. Dont eat at any Italian resturaunts. Dont eat at any French resturaunts.
Frankly, its best to eat at McDonalds until you get home, unless you want to eat at a 'real' French place and go home a few thosand dollars poorer :P

Anyway...advice...
Always check your shoes before going indoors. Dont eat at any Italian resturaunts. Dont eat at any French resturaunts.
Frankly, its best to eat at McDonalds until you get home, unless you want to eat at a 'real' French place and go home a few thosand dollars poorer :P
Check my shoes? ... do people...steal them?
And aren't restaurants there for you to ... eat there?
..you kind of confused me there. :confused:

People in Paris dont pick up after their dogs very well, in my experience ;)
Of course, they might steal them if you leave them outside unnatended to dry after you clean the dog crap off.

And some of the resturaunts can be quite hazerdous. Ill be honest and say that in a few, waiters will intentionaly 'mishear' you and bring you whatever they think is the most horrible thing on the menu, because your American (if you are, Im not sure. If not...meh :P), whereas some are just not very good resturaunts.
Best to find the local Safeway equivalent :)

People in Paris dont pick up after their dogs very well, in my experience ;)
Of course, they might steal them if you leave them outside unnatended to dry after you clean the dog crap off.

And some of the resturaunts can be quite hazerdous. Ill be honest and say that in a few, waiters will intentionaly 'mishear' you and bring you whatever they think is the most horrible thing on the menu, because your American (if you are, Im not sure. If not...meh :P), whereas some are just not very good resturaunts.
Best to find the local Safeway equivalent :)
Oookay. I had a mental picture of random people trying to steal your shoes off you while you're walking :D ...
As for the anti-American sentiments (if they do exist, I really don't know, that's just what I've been told) I don't have to worry about that, I'm European myself.
I guess that also legitimizes me asking... what's a 'Safeway'?

Aye, they do exist. Theyre concentrated in Paris, it seems. Most FRENCH people would admit that they dont like Paris. Its kind of like Canada and Quebec.

Safeway is a grocery store, they do pretty good chicken in their deli.

I'm going to Paris four days from now. I'll stay there for a little over three months. (hehe! yay! :D)
I was wondering whether any of you have been there before for a longer period of time. I've been there and I've done all the touristy things that can be done in about week's time.
What else is there to do though? I realize that during the month of August there will be close to no one there (other than tourists, of course).
Any advice on what to do during that time? I'm working 5 days/week, but that still leaves me enough time to explore the city.
I'm sure that there will be some festivals, but where and what and when?
*Sigh* I'm just very excited to go there :)
Thanks for your help, all comments will be appreciated.


...well... maybe not quite all of them. you know what I mean. :p

whether tourist or not be careful so as not to get pickpocketed in Paris. Many of the pickpockets are children. I have even seen one where the theif had a baby in a carrier on her front. She would drop the money with the baby because she knew most people in public are likely to hesitate before grabbing at a baby.

Enjoy the bread though.... their bread is best I have tasted so far in the worldl They do have true bragging rights there. I don't know your age... but there are many student travel discounts... better than what they have in America. Check also if you will need a international driver's license while there. Driving in Paris is known to be quite the challenge though. You can avoid the pricey restaurants and go shopping at the open air markets or the equivalent of our supermarkets... I know in the south of France that the Prisunic use to be good. Get good at taking trains and get a bike if you can,

Aaah - Paris... (Homage to Indiana Jones and his famous Venice-line)

Actually, ask the French people you work with about "insider"-information on Paris. That worked for me, besides having a French friend who lives there. (I know. Shocking: Germans who befriend French people :D).

If you've already done all the touristy things (Louvre, Palais Royal, La Tour Eiffel, Dôme des Invalides, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Panthéon, Saint Etienne du Mont, Jardin du Luxembourg, Marais, Place des Vosges), rent a car if you can and go visit Bretagne or Normandie to get out of Paris on a weekend.

I'd probably spend most of my free time in museums during the day and in some pub during the night :D

Anyway, enjoy your stay!

Here is a link about Paris festivals this summer:

http://www.letsgo.com/PAR/00-DiscoverParis-230?PHPSESSID=61975436da634f45ae46b6594e150011

And some of the resturaunts can be quite hazerdous. Ill be honest and say that in a few, waiters will intentionaly 'mishear' you and bring you whatever they think is the most horrible thing on the menu, because your American (if you are, Im not sure. If not...meh :P), whereas some are just not very good resturaunts.

Good to hear that the tradition which Orwell chronicled in his Down And Out In Paris And London is still alive and well. If all they gave you was the 'most horrible', then you probably got off quite lightly.

whether tourist or not be careful so as not to get pickpocketed in Paris. Many of the pickpockets are children. I have even seen one where the theif had a baby in a carrier on her front. She would drop the money with the baby because she knew most people in public are likely to hesitate before grabbing at a baby.
That shouldn't be too much of a problem, I do look like a poor student :D
But you're right, I've heard lots about this and the few times I was there it did strike me that there were a lot of kids/young mothers begging and stealing.

Enjoy the bread though.... their bread is best I have tasted so far in the worldl They do have true bragging rights there. I don't know your age... but there are many student travel discounts... better than what they have in America. Check also if you will need a international driver's license while there. Driving in Paris is known to be quite the challenge though. You can avoid the pricey restaurants and go shopping at the open air markets or the equivalent of our supermarkets... I know in the south of France that the Prisunic use to be good. Get good at taking trains and get a bike if you can,
We have pretty good bread here, too, and I think I might actually miss that. (My brother's a baker :D) But their baguette is really good!
I'm planning on taking advantage of all the student discounts. Sounds great to me :)
I already have an international driver's license, but even though I have been driving in France, I don't know if I really wanna try driving in Paris... very scary thought...
And as to trains and bikes... they're my main means of transportation here, too, taking trains seems like the normal thing to do to me and I really wouldn't know what to do without my bike... though I do curse it in winter time. I really need to buy a lock that doesn't freeze shut in winter time... ;)

Aaah - Paris... (Homage to Indiana Jones and his famous Venice-line)

Actually, ask the French people you work with about "insider"-information on Paris. That worked for me, besides having a French friend who lives there. (I know. Shocking: Germans who befriend French people :D).

If you've already done all the touristy things (Louvre, Palais Royal, La Tour Eiffel, Dôme des Invalides, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Panthéon, Saint Etienne du Mont, Jardin du Luxembourg, Marais, Place des Vosges), rent a car if you can and go visit Bretagne or Normandie to get out of Paris on a weekend.

I'd probably spend most of my free time in museums during the day and in some pub during the night :D

Anyway, enjoy your stay!
You're probably right about just asking my co-workers, but I'm just too excited to wait that long ;)
Weekend trips to Bretagne or Normandie sound very interesting, I'm probably doing that... no wait... I'm definitely doing that :)
I'd join you in the pub, but during the daytime, if I have some spare time, I prefer to spend it outdoors. ...I heard they had several kayaking clubs in and around Paris ... awesome! :D

I can sooo feel with you. The excitement before a travel is only topped by the feeling you have when returning to home, sweet home.

(As for the museums, yes, during a nice summer day, almost nothing is better than to enjoy it outside. I'm just not good around too many people - and tourists, for that matter - right now)

Wish you all the best and enjoy, have fun. Mmh. Ca, c'est la vie!!!

I can sooo feel with you. The excitement before a travel is only topped by the feeling you have when returning to home, sweet home.

(As for the museums, yes, during a nice summer day, almost nothing is better than to enjoy it outside. I'm just not good around too many people - and tourists, for that matter - right now)

Wish you all the best and enjoy, have fun. Mmh. Ca, c'est la vie!!!
Why, thank you! :D
There's only one thing left to add:
"Que c'est beau.... c'est beau la viiiiiiie" :)

....Louvre, Palais Royal, La Tour Eiffel, Dôme des Invalides, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Panthéon, Saint Etienne du Mont, Jardin du Luxembourg, Marais, Place des Vosges), rent a car if you can ...a Car is the best way to enjoy France...

if you are to stay more than a month..."Achat-Rachat" system is better than rent-a-car fees

a Car is the best way to enjoy France...

if you are to stay more than a month..."Achat-Rachat" system is better than rent-a-car fees
Since I will be staying in the city of Paris, I'm not too comfortable renting a car. It's so much easier just using public transportation, and I won't have to worry about where to park either. ;)