Walking Tours in Paris

On my recent trip to Paris, I took 4 informative, engaging, walking tours with Paris-Walks.com, a leading Paris tour company, that offer more than 20-themed tours.  The tour guides are enthusiastic, witty, smart, and passionate about the history and culture of Paris.  They offer 3-6 tours, daily, rain or shine.  The cost at September 2013 is 12euros.

Lovers are embracing everywhere in Paris!

http://www.paris-walks.com/summer-walks.html

Founded in 1994, Paris-Walks.com offers 2-4 Daily Walking Tours in English, led by a small team of professional guides with many years' experience in Paris

More than 20 different tours.  Rain orHere are the company's descriptions of the four walking tours that I took:

THURSDAY 2:30pm The Marais Circuit 2 (all year) Stories of royalty, mistresses and intrigue in this beautiful historic neighbourhood. On circuit 2 we explore the Northern side of the Marais. Elegant classical mansions with graceful courtyards and gardens, the old Jewish quarter with the picturesque rue des Rosiers, and the peaceful place des Vosges, the city’s oldest square. Meet at metro St Paul There is always an extra tour on Sunday.

My neighborhood grocer

Meeting point for Ile de la Cité and Notre Dame tour

Famous L'As du Falafel in Le Marais

FRIDAY 10.30am Hemingway's Paris Explore this charming district in the Latin Quarter with the old houses of the Mouffetard market street, an impressive fragment of the medieval city wall, and the lovely historic church of St Etienne-du-Mont. It is associated with many writers: Joyce, Orwell, Balzac, Hugo, Verlaine and immortalised by Hemingway in A Moveable Feast. Meet at metro Cardinal Lemoine (March to end November)

SUNDAY 10.30am The Village of Montmartre On this picturesque walk you will discover old winding streets, the vineyard, artists' studios (Renoir, Lautrec, Van Gogh) quiet gardens, historic cabarets, the place-du-Tertre with its artists and the Sacré Coeur Basilica. Meet at metro Abbesses (use the station elevator, it is quite deep!) (All year)

 

MONDAY 10.30am Ile de la Cité and Notre Dame Read the stories in the medieval sculptures, and hear how the cathedral was built. We explore the history and architecture of the Island, the old streets, the flower market, quiet gardens, secret courtyards and the poignant memorial to the deported. Meet at metro Cité

 

The Leading English Language Walking Tour Company in Paris.
I look forward to taking more of their walking tours on my next trip, especially these special event tours:

Paris during the Occupation, Jefferson's Paris, Medieval Paris and the Templars, and Art Nouveau Architecture

http://www.paris-walks.com/summer-walks.html

I look forward to taking more of their walking tours on my next trip, especially these special event tours: Paris during the Occupation, Jefferson's Paris, Medieval Paris and the Templars, and Art Nouveau Architecture

Founded in 1994, Paris-Walks.com offers 2-4 Daily Walking Tours in English, led by a small team of professional guides with many years' experience in Paris

More than 20 different tours.  Rain or shine. 12 euros.

Here are the four walking tours that I took:

 

 

THURSDAY 2:30pm The Marais Circuit 2 (all year) Stories of royalty, mistresses and intrigue in this beautiful historic neighbourhood. On circuit 2 we explore the Northern side of the Marais. Elegant classical mansions with graceful courtyards and gardens, the old Jewish quarter with the picturesque rue des Rosiers, and the peaceful place des Vosges, the city’s oldest square. Meet at metro St Paul There is always an extra tour on Sunday.

 

FRIDAY 10.30am Hemingway's Paris Explore this charming district in the Latin Quarter with the old houses of the Mouffetard market street, an impressive fragment of the medieval city wall, and the lovely historic church of St Etienne-du-Mont. It is associated with many writers: Joyce, Orwell, Balzac, Hugo, Verlaine and immortalised by Hemingway in A Moveable Feast. Meet at metro Cardinal Lemoine (March to end November)

 

 

Love is Always in the Air in Paris-Scenes and Stories

 

On my recent visit to Paris, I was reminded of the days when I traveled frequently to Japan and Europe on business.  On one hand, in Europe (especially in Paris), I regularly witnessed lovers embracing with no reservations about expressing affection in public.  In contrast, while in Tokyo, I would see long lost couples or family members reunite and display no emotion in public.  I prefer the Parisian scenes of inhibited love.

Here are some scenes that recently brought a smile to my face:

 

The Love Locks Bridge.

Here is the story the Love Lock ritual: A couple writes their names on a padlock and locks it onto one of the bridges. To seal their love for eternity, they throw the key into the Seine river. 

 

Love-locks started appearing in European cities in the early 2000s, and the original favored Paris spot was the Pont des Arts, a footbridge crossing the Seine from the Louvre. But in May 2010, those love-locks disappeared overnight, without explanation.

Paris Town Hall expressed concern over the growing number of love-locks, saying: "they raise problems for the preservation of our architectural heritage". It's not only the Town Hall that expressed doubts; from time to time a dejected ex-lover has been seen desperately hacking at a padlock with a pair of pliers.

Shortly after this announcement, the bridge was found all but bare following a nocturnal clean-up.

Since the disappearance, lovers have shown their indignation by building-up collections once more, this time on Pont de l'Archevêché, next to Notre Dame.

A year after their mysterious disappearance, the "love-locks" of Paris are back on the city's bridges, more plentiful and vibrant than ever despite lingering suspicions that unromantic officials from City Hall may again swoop with their wire cutters and remove the tokens of couples' love.

On the Pont de l'Archevêché, a bridge which crosses from Notre-Dame Cathedral to the Left Bank of the Seine, thousands of ribbons and padlocks attached to its railings create a brightly-colored mosaic that can be seen glimmering in the sunlight from the banks of the Seine.

Over the past year, lovers from around the globe have come to add their own testimony of love, engraving their initials on the padlocks – be it a pretty pink bike lock or a heavy duty brick of steel – fastening it to the railings, and tossing the keys into the Seine in a declaration of undying love.

I Love You Wall

 

The I Love You Wall, a work of art conceived by Frédéric Baron and Claire Kito, is a must-see for couples from all over the world visiting Paris, the city of romance. The enormous wall, measuring 430 sq. ft., is composed of 612 squares of enamelled lava, on which 'I love you' is featured 311 times in 250 languages (including Braille). The splashes of red on the fresco represent parts of a broken heart, symbolizing the human race which has been torn apart and which the wall tries to bring back together. This unusual monument, dedicated to love, stands in a Square at the Place des Abbesses in Montmartre.

 

Paris at last-after 18 years!

Paris at last-18 years later

 

I finally reconnected with my beloved Paris after having been away for 18 long years.  It has changed and so have I but I still felt at home.

In preparation for my trip, I spent weeks studying maps of neighborhoods, reviewing the metro map and bus routes, watching YouTube travel guides, and brushing up on my French by listening to French language CDs and online programs, and more.

I also created a long list of more than 30 activities-each 1-4 hours in duration-in which to engage.  Also, I had a schedule of walking tours.

I kept this list with me at all times and slowly crossed off items, one at a time.  There are always places I miss and I save them for the next trip.

As a result, I was well-equipped with a variety of ideas about how to spend my time.

What I was not prepared for was the 6 of 7 days of rain that I encountered, in this city known as an "open-air museum".  Although the rain required me to dig deeply into my contingency-plan-bag -of -tricks, I was nonetheless able to thrive; in fact, I came, I saw, and I conquered. 

Here are some of the highlights of my trip:

·         My hotel was in a lively and interesting area of town.  Specifically, I stayed in a small, boutique hotel located only 10 minutes from Le Marais and Place des Vosges, and only 5 minutes from the bustling Bastille area. My metro line was #8 and it was a quiet, one-line stop.  Nearby, there was a plethora of choices for dining, shopping, neighborhood grocers, cafes, and boulangeries/pastisseries (bakeries).  The staff at my hotel was helpful and friendly.

 

 

 

 

·         I took 4 excellent walking tours conducted by smart, passionate, witty guides from a company that offers 3-6 daily tours, rain or shine.  They feature more than 20-themed tours.  My small group tours cost 12 euros each.  Here are the brief tour descriptions, of tours I took, written by Paris-Walks.com:

THURSDAY 2:30pm The Marais Circuit 2 Stories of royalty, mistresses and intrigue in this beautiful historic neighborhood. On circuit 2 we explore the Northern side of the Marais. Elegant classical mansions with graceful courtyards and gardens, the old Jewish quarter with the picturesque rue des Rosiers, and the peaceful place des Vosges, the city’s oldest square. Meet at metro St Paul There is always an extra tour on Sunday.

The famous L'As du Falafel

Saint Paul

 

FRIDAY 10.30am Hemingway's Paris Explore this charming district in the Latin Quarter with the old houses of the Mouffetard market street, an impressive fragment of the medieval city wall, and the lovely historic church of St Etienne-du-Mont. It is associated with many writers: Joyce, Orwell, Balzac, Hugo, and Verlaine and immortalized by Hemingway in A Moveable Feast. Meet at metro Cardinal Lemoine.

I took this tour IN THE RAIN!

 

SUNDAY 10.30am The Village of Montmartre On this picturesque walk you will discover old winding streets, the vineyard, artists' studios (Renoir, Lautrec, Van Gogh) quiet gardens, historic cabarets, the place-du-Tertre with its artists and the Sacré Coeur Basilica. Meet at metro Abbesses (use the station elevator, it is quite deep!) (All year)

 

 

 

 

 

MONDAY 10.30am Ile de la Cité and Notre Dame Read the stories in the medieval sculptures, and hear how the cathedral was built. We explore the history and architecture of the Island, the old streets, the flower market, quiet gardens, secret courtyards and the poignant memorial to the deported. Meet at metro Cité. 

BTW, Notre Dame turned 850 this year

 

 

 

Love Locks Bridge

 


Lovers write names on lock and throw away key into Seine

 


Kelly & Kim locked in love for 30 years!!

 

Place Saint Michel

 

 

Notre Dame Gargoyles

 

 

·        La Cuisine.  I dined on some of my favorites including: steak frites, crepes, sandwich grec, salade nicoise, quiche Lorraine, escargots, and fresh baguettes and pain au chocolats--hot from the oven.

Dinner with Susanne and Steve Zimmerman

16Euro formule

Salade Nicoise

 

·        Strolled in some of my favorite neighborhoods and places such as Latin Quarter, Bastille area, Mouffetard, Marais, Gare St Lazarre/Haussman, and Montmartre, I did A LOT of walking, even when I used the metro for transportation.

•  Seeing young lovers everywhere

 

·        Visited the breathtaking and serene Jardin de Luxembourg.  It was as much of a feast for the eyes as I had remembered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·        Took great photos with (and of) Paris’ monuments, both daytime and nighttime.

 

·        Took the metro and bus (28 rides total) all over Paris.  Yes, the metro is the most convenient and inexpensive method of traveling around the city.  I also really felt “a part of” while joining the masses on the daily trudge.  It is not glamorous, but it is authentic.  I used my Metro App to guide me on how to connect.  A book of 10 metro tickets cost 13euros30.  The single ticket price is 1,70€.   (September 2013)

See excellent article on how to use the Paris Metro here:
 

http://parisbytrain.com/tag/paris-metro/

   

·         Enjoyed long, scenic city bus rides on routes that enabled me to see famous sites such as the Opera house and famous plazas such as the Place de la Republique, all above ground.  This is obviously a great alternative to taking the Metro because you are able to see all the sights along the way.  Also, whenever I took the bus, it was never crowded. I could easily get two or four seats to myself and I had ample room to take out my camera and snap sights along the way.  Bus line # 20 stopped right near my hotel, at my metro stop: Chemin Vert.  Of note, metro tickets are valid on city buses.

 

 

 

·         Having a meal from a pastry shop.  My favorite is to go window-shopping in a pastry shop and settle on a quiche Lorraine or quiche with 3 cheeses, freshly baked, hot from the oven.  These rich snacks cost under 3 euros.

 

Assorted quiches from my nearby boulangerie

 

Visited my favorite history museum of the city of Paris, Carnavalet.  This museum showcases art and artifacts of Paris with an emphasis on the Revolution and new republic periods.  What I like most is the variety of artifacts from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries including metal shop signs, guillotine miniatures, personal items (hair combs, cutlery, pistols, hair of famous Parisians), and portraiture. 

 

·         Nightly strolls through vibrant areas.  Tops were lively quartiers of St Michel area, Champs-Elysées, Bastille area, and Le Marais. 

Here are some observations I made from the perspective of a former resident who had been away for decades:

Smoking is prohibited indoors.  The passage of anti-smoking laws in France really surprised and impressed me! I never thought I would see the day…… I noticed a difference this makes; I was free to sit indoors everywhere without being assaulted by others’ invasive, bad habits.

I was surprised to see electronic – cigarette storefronts.

Everyone is disengaging from the world around them because they are buried in activity with their smart phones – – just like everywhere else. This was especially noticeable on the metro where heads were looking down as people tapped away on their devices, oblivious to the world around them.

People spoke to me in French first in restaurants and cafés and other business establishments, and on the streets.

People often approached me and asked me for directions in French. I was flattered that a) I looked as though I knew what I was doing and b) that people presumed I was French.

I was surprised by how many French people speak English now.

Starbucks is everywhere in the tourist areas. They carry American-style desserts such as cakes, pastries and cookies and doughnuts etc.

People appear to look sad in the metro.

There are still musicians inside the Metro cars performing and asking for money.  That has not changed.

Black is definitely a popular clothing color. I also remarked at the number of men wearing brightly colored pants such as red or orange or pink.

 

 I am still savoring the memories of having finally reconnected with my beloved Paris!!!!!

See my arrival Day Video here:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esNhZsPBWpc&feature=c4-overview&list=UUxSSpGWbBgeFOH44NKlgS7A