My Paris for You!

Quite a lot of people who are about to go to Paris, have asked me what is there to see and do in Paris. 

What I usually tell them is "Google it, you genius!" 

OK. That I don't do, usually. 

Well. Paris is awesome all year around. Yet. Last January-February it was rather freezing. So If you want to take the most of it, dress properly or wait for the warmer times. 

Budget and accommodation.

If you like all luxurious, I can recommend you to go to few nice bars and restaurants. And hotels, The Ritz is unfortunately closed for refurbishment, but they used to have a fabulous Coco Chanel suite with a gorgeous view over the Place Vendome. I can't remember the exact price for a one night stay, but I remember it being more than 10 monthly incomes of average Estonian.  

Even the average middle class accommodation is rather expensive for average Estonian, but it's Paris and you can't go there every weekend (normally)....+ Estonian Air has no more direct flights there from Tallinn. And neither to London. :D

You could try the couch surfing too, yet. It is very important to be careful with this, because....there are a lot of strange people out there. And, you shouldn't be staying for for ever, because....the apartments of a average parisians are tiny and noone wants to have a 100 people living on their 10m2 called home. 

So, a hundred for a night might be expensive, but you'd get a sort of adventure out of it. Living in the city, where everything is in walking distance (mostly)... no crazy scary Arabic neighbourhoods. And you could save on public transportation and taxi. 

Other than that, everything is expensive (if you are an average Estonian). 

Getting there from the airport.

Taxi - about 50-60 eur. 

Easiest and less expensive is Roissybus. From the airport CDG, straight to Opera. Cost: 10 eur.

What you need to know about Paris. 

The city is divided into 20 different neighbourhoods which are called "arrondissements". The neighbourhoods are called by their number, for example, if you lived in 7th, then it will be 7eme or 7e in French. All arrondissements are spirally spreading from the centre, like a snail, in numerical order. All postal codes are 750XX, the last two nr are the ones that change and show the arrondissement. 7th is 75007. When taking a taxi, then be sure to give the postal code, or else you might end up at the address you gave, but in a wrong neighbourhood. Happened to me once - dressed for success and about to have a fancy night out and the taxi driver took me to a gheto! Really!?

And! If lost, there are always arrondissement number on a house, you know, where they have a street name...there is the neighbourhood nr too, so it is easier to figure out how to not be lost anymore. :) 

The arrondissements & What Maria would do:

1er - Louvre, Palais Royale

This is the geographical center of Paris and a haven for tourists. The Louvre, Les Halles and the Palais Royal are all here. Les Halles, there is many places to go to have a drink, many vintage shops and other than that, a centre of strangeness. Which is because of the big trainstation and metro - many metro and RER lines pass by this station, due there is a variety of stange people walking around this neighbourhood 24/7. 

2ème - Bourse

A primarily business district. The Paris Stock Market (the Bourse) is located here and the Place des Victoires is a favorite destination for shopping in trendy boutiques.

3ème - Marais, Picasso Museum

Along with the 4ème arrondissement, this neighborhood makes up the Marais, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris. The Picasso Museum is found here, and many 17th century mansions that once housed the noblest families in Paris are still to be seen in this quiet and ungentrified neighborhood.  PS. Piccasso Museum is closed for refurbishment. Sorry. :) 

4ème - Marais, Hôtel de Ville

The heart of the Marais is a lively neighborhood with lots of trendy bars and restaurants and it's also known as the center of Gay nightlife. The rue des Rosiers is a centerpiece of Jewish lifestyle in Paris and the Ile St. Louis and the Ile de la Cité are the oldest parts of Paris.My favourite vintages are located near the gay-hood. I love those tiny streets and there is this special feeling happening in this area. My favourite. :) 

5ème - Latin Quarter

This fabled neighborhood takes its name from the Sorbonne, where Latin was the common tongue for all students during the Middle Ages. The neighborhood has the feel of a small village and students mix freely with professionals in its winding streets. The rue Mouffetard is a primary artery where shops, international restaurants and student bars and cafés are found. My favourite!

6ème - Saint Germain

Once the hangout for bohemians and intellectuals, this district has undergone gentrification and is now one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Paris. Trendy upscale boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants can be found throughout this district. My favourite. :) There is so many galleries and boutiques, I used to love to do my window shopping there. 

7ème - Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower, the Musée d'Orsay, the Rodin Museum and the market street, Rue Cler can be found here. This very wealthy district is also known for being the home of foreign embassies and many international residents. My home arrondissement. And my favourite. 

8ème - Champs-Elysées

This upscale neighborhood is in fact quite diverse. The area around the famous Avenue des Champs-Elysèes has lots of shopping and lots of tourists, while in the area to the East, between the Champs-Elysees and Place de la Madeleine, you'll find a mixture of 19th century buildings intermingled with businesses. This area is in many ways similar to parts of the 16th, but is generally less pretentious. Nice to walk up and down the Champs, but! Too many tourists, still a must go!

9ème - Opéra, Pigalle

A diverse residential area popular among an artistic crowd. This Southern portion is similar to the 2nd arrondissement, with a mix of residential and business buildings. The Paris Opera is located here as well as Les Grands Magasins (Galeries Lafayette and Printemps). Further North is Pigalle, home of the famous Moulin Rouge and the fading Red Light district. 

10ème - Canal St. MartinThe two great train stations in Paris are here, the Gare de l'Est and the Gare du Nord. This multi-cultural neighborhood also contains a bohemian element. The cafes and restaurants along the Canal Saint-Martin make it a popular destination for both Parisians and tourists. Another centre of stangeness. :)

11ème - Bastille

Place de la Bastille and the New Opera are found here. This is a primarily residential district popular among artists. It’s well known for its nightlife which is centered around the Rue de la Roquette and the Rue Oberkampf. Nice places to go out to. 

12ème - Bercy

A residential neighborhood bordered on the east by the Bois de Vincennes. The Promenade Plantée, an elevated greenbelt that stretches for almost 3 miles from Place de la Bastille and the indoor arena, Palais Omnisports de Bercy are also located here. It's so beautiful there. 

13ème - Place d'Italie

A multi-cultural residential neighborhood which includes Paris' Chinatown and the ultra-modern Bibliothèque François Mitterand. The modernist Place d’Italie is the site of one of the most ambitious French urban renewal projects and the Butte aux Cailles neighborhood with its cobblestone streets and numerous restaurants, cafes and nightlife, preserves a village-like atmosphere within Paris. Good food!

14ème - Montparnasse

Montparnasse and the Cité Universitaire are found in this residential district traditionally known for its lively cafés and restaurants around the Boulevard Montparnasse. From on top of the Montparnasse, there is an amazing view over Paris (better than from on top of Eiffel....because you can see Eiffel. And it's less expensive to climb on top of there.) And! Justin Bieber performed there about around 06/12. Has he ever performed at Eiffel? I don't think so. Just walk the footsteps of Justin, for once! :) 

15ème - Parc des Expositions

This large primarily residential neighborhood ranges from very upscale in the area bordering the 7th arrondissement and the Seine, to relatively safe and affordable in the more outlying areas. Nice architecture! 

16ème - Trocadéro

Although it is not as exclusive as the 7th arrondissement, the 16th is widely regarded as the neighborhood for the wealthy. The areas around rue de Passy and Place Victor Hugo offer upscale shopping and the Place de Trocadéro offers a splendid view of the Eiffel Tower from its trendy cafes. Nice view from the place de Trocadero, yet, during daytime it's too touristy. In nighttime, it is the place to enjoy sparkling Eiffel. The coolest one is the last one of the day. where they turn of the other lights and there are only the sparklings... The last one is usually at 1am, during the summertime the times are moving a bit for later. Sooooooo nice. 

17ème - Palais de Congrès

This diverse district really contains more than one neighborhood, with the portion, in the West, near the Arc de Triomphe and Parc Monceau, being very upscale. It's allright. 

18ème - Montmartre

This artsy residential neighborhood situated at the top of a hill overlooking Paris has a small village feel. The view across Paris from the Sacré Coeur church is breathtaking and the nearby Place du Tertre is a popular tourist destination. It is so nice up there. Yet, when you go there, don't settle for just the stairs and the view from there.... go discover the tiny streets behind the church and you might find one of the coolest squares with many restaurants and artists at work and tiny shops for wine, cheeses etc.... So worth going there. My favourite. 

19ème - Parc de la Villette

The Parc des Buttes Chaumont. A residential neighborhood with many ethnic restaurants and shops. Parc de la Villette is located here with its Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie museum and cultural center.

20ème - Belleville, Père Lachaise

Belleville, Ménilmontant and the Père-Lachaise cemetery. Although traditionally working class, this outlying residential area is slowly becoming yuppified due to its affordable prices and its popularity among artists and creative types. Ethnic shops, culture and restaurants abound.

The 19th and 20th, to be honest, I remember myself once when lost looking up at a house tag and wondering that how the earth have I ended up at 20th! That's all I remember. Probably was nice. But, when you go there, tell me what was it like there. 

I guess I don't need to mention the Pierre Herme, Ladureeee... etc

Voilaa. 

Oh yeah, almost forgot. The Best Chocolate Cake you could get from Paris: Les Cocottes de Christian Constant restaurant. 135 Rue St Dominique, 75007. 

I miss my Paris so much! 

Bisous!