Eeeeeebordeaux.

[tenlittlebullets]

*flail* I'm going to France in two days.

And I need to remind myself that I am going to France, not Outer Mongolia, and that if there is something I need that's not immediately necessary for travel, I can buy it there. Such things include but are not limited to bike/suitcase locks, maps and guides to Bordeaux, train passes, etc. (Actually, buying the tickets individually from SNCF was way cheaper than the pass I was looking at.) I also need to remind myself to pack light, because I will be lugging all my suitcases from the airport to the bus to the hotel, from the hotel to the train station, all the way through Montreuil-sur-Mer, on the train and RER, and up about a hundred steps to get to my hostel in Paris. And to leave some room in my suitcase, because I will undoubtedly be leaving with more books, clothes, and random shit than I arrived with.

And I must admit that as nifty as the language program in Bordeaux might turn out, it's Paris that has me salivating with glee. Five days is not nearly enough to do everything I want to do in Paris--I'm going to have to set aside a day for some conventional tourist stuff, a day for hardcore LM nerdiness, a day for shopping...

I can't waaaait. Even if I'm all nervous and flaily.

(And wtf, almost 50 euros for a 5-zone, 5-day Metro pass? Will probably need it, but... damn.)

Comments

[brittlesmile.livejournal.com]

You're going to have so much fun! I can't wait to hear about the language program in Bordeaux.

Also, I think we've already established that our Paris trips don't coincide, but we're leaving on the same day. Oooh, spookiness.

[duva.livejournal.com]

GO TO THE BIG SEPHORA ON CHAMPS-ELYSEES HOMG! Ahem.

A 3-day zone 1-6 travelcard here is about £40, I think, so... and then a week one is about £5 more which is ridiculous.

[ladyshrew.livejournal.com]

Hugo house!!!!

I don't know that you'll actually need full zone Metro pass, also.

[10littlebullets.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Airport's out in zone 5 and the tickets to go out that far seem to be like 8 euros each way. (Also, I'm debating whether to make a stop in Montfermeil, which is also zone 5.)

And oh yeah, Hugo house is definitely on the list. So's the sewer tour, haha.

[ladyshrew.livejournal.com]

Haaahaaa. Yeah I didn't have time for the sewer tour. I did the Hugo house last time.

And boo on the airport. We came in from the eurostar this last time, and the first time I went we were a group and hired a bus.

But did you look up the prices for the little book of ten tickets? There's a lot you can do just by walking around, that you might only need two tickets a day. Also, you can share those tickets with other people.

[misentropic.livejournal.com]

Have fun!! It sounds like a hell of an adventure. :D

[cosmicautumn.livejournal.com]

Right when you get to the first train station, buy the Carte 12-25. It will seriously save you half on most of your train rides and you can use it immediately. You'll need a passport size photo for it. The pass for Paris metros is also wonderful because you can use it on the bus and the funicular that goes up to Sacre Couer. But they have one for fewer zones that is cheaper. Hugo's house is free, except for special exhibits. Hmm... what else? Oh yeah, contact solution is only at pharmacies, not at grocery stores. And you have to scan and weigh your fruit/veggies yourself at the stores. Sorry, that's a lot of info. I just want to save you from my own mistakes!

And go to the Catacombes. And order a demi-peche at the bar. Delicious.

[cosmicautumn.livejournal.com]

Oh...and have fun! And I know I can come across as a psycho on the internet, but take the advice on the train carte if you're going to be traveling.

[cosmicautumn.livejournal.com]

I just thought of something else (and there's more where this came from if you want a laundry list of advice) Don't take the train from the airport!!! It's kind of scary. Take the Air France bus.

[10littlebullets.livejournal.com]

I already bought my train tickets, actually--though I will keep that in mind if I decide to take a weekend trip somewhere else in the country.

Catacombs are high on my list of things to do in Paris--I love subterranean things, be they caves or subways or catacombs. (And speaking of which, have you done the sewer tour or the Notre-Dame crypt? Are they worth it?)

And when you say the train from the airport into the city is scary, do you mean the RER? How so?

[cosmicautumn.livejournal.com]

I didn't know you could buy SNCF tickets ahead of time. Make sure to composte them in the yellow box before you get on the train. And if you do miss your time, they'll still work if it's the same length and voyage. The area around Bordeaux is beautiful, and you might want to journey out for some wine tasting.

I've been in the Notre-Dame crypt, it was pretty awesome. I haven't done the sewers because I've heard that it smells like... well, a sewer. In terms of Hugo related stuff, I've been to his grave in the Parthenon (definitely worth it), his house (where the guards are pretty chatty if you're interested in talking to them), to the Rodin museum (there's a huge statue of Hugo and lots of models), and just random streets and place mentioned in his novels. Most were on accident. I don't know if you've heard of London Walks, but they have a Paris Walks too. They have a French Revolution walk, and they might have something Hugo related.

The scary thing about the train, is that there are a lot of pickpockets who prey upon jetlagged Americans with lots of luggage. However, there are no pickpockets on the Air France bus and they also help you with your luggage when you get on and off. It also goes directly to the Gare de Lyon, which might be where your train for Bordeaux leaves from, which saves you transferring on the metro. Oh, the pickpockets. Be careful of them in the Louvre, too. Some guy tried to pickpocket my mom's backpack. Unfortunately for him, she only had a broken umbrella in it. Also, watch out for the guys who will put a bracelet on your hand and make you buy it. And the women who will ask you if you speak English and then give you a note about some tragedy. Sometimes they have the fake arm with the fake baby so they can be sneaking about it. I'm not trying to scare you, but if you'll be alone it's always good to be careful.

Man, I can ramble about this. If you have any other questions, let me know. I've lost track of how many times I've been to Paris and I've had some of the greatest and some of the worst experiences. The best things happen just wandering around the city. I've stumbled upon a gay pride parade, a skateboarding competition, and the best ice cream I've ever had (Berthillon, on Ile-St. Louis). So yeah, just enjoy yourself and don't worry too much about being on a schedule. And see Ste. Chappelle on a sunny day and all other churches will pale in comparison.

[10littlebullets.livejournal.com]

I'm actually flying to Bordeaux--four weeks there, then a week to kick around Paris and wherever else I'll be going before I fly out of Paris. So really I'd just need to get to the airport from the city proper; does the Air France bus do pick-ups? *g*

The Paris pickpockets and scammers sound a lot like the assorted lowlifes who hang around the Greyhound station in NYC trying to part fools from their money. I'll be sure to keep my backpack locked up if I carry it around.

And oh, please, ramble more, I need all the advice I can get. XD I might not reply for a few days, because I'm not sure what my internet situation will be in Bordeaux, but I'd be grateful for any help.

[cosmicautumn.livejournal.com]

The Air France bus has, I think, six pick up points around Paris. The other one that I remember is near the Champs Elysee. But yeah, they will take you back to the airport which is really convenient. Because by the end of my Paris trips, I usually get the "heavy" tag at the airport so my luggage is not at a weight I want to drag around. This is usually because I buy too many books from the bouquinistes that line the Seine (recommended, unless you have restraint issues with book purchasing like me). Oh, and they have a pretty good book shop in Hugo's house on the Place des Vosges.

Lets see... oh, if you are going to be making calls back to the states, buy the 100 minutes carte global at a Tabac or internet cafe. Use the call back number and you will actually get 200 minutes out of it. Are you going to get a cell phone? Don't get a plan, get a pay as you go Carte Orange card.

For some reason, not all outlets in France are the same so, weirdly, your adapter may not fit into them even if it is a French adapter. So then you need a French to French adapter for some appliances (french ones). This will probably only be a problem if you need a hair dryer or a straightener over there. I ended up being really unsafe and taping the adapters onto the socket, and the adapter eventually melted. Maybe it would just be best to forget the hairdryer. But I'm vain and stuck with it.

If I think of more, which I'm sure I will, I'll let you know. Bon voyage!

[cosmicautumn.livejournal.com]

Okay, here are my favorite things to do in Paris in general:

-have un cafe or a demi-peche (half-pint of beer with peach flavoring. I usually just drink lagers, but I like this fruity drink) at a cafe and people watch
-Go to the Pompidou, Musee d'Orsay, or the Louvre. All three are overwhelming, but one a day would be enough. It depends what kind of art you like.
-See the street performers on Ile-de-la-Cite or by the St. Michel statue in the latin quarter after dark. I love the flame throwers and random mimes. But don't eat at "bacteria alley" which is in the Latin Quarter and is the small winding street of kebab places. But there is a Maoz falafel place around there that is cheap and amazing. I'm a vegetarian and it's kind of hard to avoid eating a lot of cholesterol in France, so they are a good break from that.
-Get a pastry from Poilane or ice cream from Berthillon. Or get fondue at a cafe if you're with friends.
-My favorite morbid attractions: Pere-Lachaise Cemetery, les catacombes, Montmartre Cemetery, Pantheon... I like visiting graves, I guess.
-Visit the bird market on a Sunday. It's usually a flower market the rest of the week

For some reason, the French will speak English to you if you speak French to them. But they won't speak English to you if you just speak English. Even if you feel like your French sucks, just try it out and they'll appreciate it.

I can't think of anything else. So, speak a lot of French. If a guy asks you if you want to get coffee while you're walking alone he probably wants you to come to his apartment (I learned this the hard and stupid way). I don't know why they think a girl walking alone is obviously out for attention. Maybe I bring it on myself. Anyway, yeah, France is beautiful. Drink the Bordeaux wine.

[toi-marguerite.livejournal.com]

Have loads and loads of fun! ^^

[mmebahorel.livejournal.com]

Eeeeeee, France!

I haven't been in nine years because, well, theatre takes all my money. One of these days, though, I will go back. Just, well, not soon.

[prouvairesylvie.livejournal.com]

Wow! That sounds absolutely amazing! I hope you have a most awesome time there and a blast fangirling! :)I hope time doesn't drag by too slowly while you wait; if I were you, I'd be dying of impatience (but not have gotten started packing. Ah, procrasatination!)

[devils-child7.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you'll be having so much fun!
I eagerly await your recountings of various LM locations, Hugo's house at the Place des Vosges (no, 6, right?), and perhaps the sewer tour. :D

[mmejavert.livejournal.com]

if I could afford to go to France believe me I'd spend two weeks just in Paris. XD But the sad fact is, if I could afford to go to France, there are quite a few other things that I should be spending that kind of money on instead, so I'll just put the France trip off for awhile yet.