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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2016 14:58:09 GMT
I'm wondering now if this is the same place I saw Dernier Tango (not the Vincent and Flavia show) in 1979? That was a flea pit, a fire trap and smelly. Or perhaps there were loads of these places all over Paris back then...
If so, I've spent all these years not knowing it was quite the thing to say I'd been there!
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Post by viserys on Sept 27, 2016 15:09:49 GMT
Never been but I intend to do it some time... The sewers! In the steps of Jean Valjean! There are all the usuals to do- Eiffel Tower, Bateaux Mouches, Louvre, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur- but don't forget the Musee d'Orsay. For something a bit different too add Musee Rodin and the fascinating Musee Carnavalet, which is a stunning little museum of the city. Oh, and do visit the cemeteries- Pere Lachaise and Montmartre! (They are chock full of famous graves- artists, composers, performers... The latter has a beautiful one of Nijinksky.) Wish I was coming with you now! (Keep meaning to say I'm really sorry that your trip to see Phantom has been scuppered... Of all the bad luck. I saw Les Mis in that theatre a million years ago.) Warning: The Musee Carnavalet is CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS until 2018... I know this because it was the one museum I had planned to visit during my own trip in early December. Argh. Woe. For the Les Mis fans - do visit the Musée Victor Hugo in Place des Vosges in the Marais - it's one of the prettiest squares in Paris to begin with and the museum (his residence) is free to enter, so you can just have a short wander. I've used the Gare du Nord during all my Paris trips (the Thalys trains from Cologne arrive there too) and I've never had a problem in the station itself or the surrounding area. I think for Paris goes the same as for every other big international city - keep your wits about you, your valuables close and ignore people who are offering "help" or approach you for whatever reason. Fwiw, a friend of mine went to London with her mother and other family members some years ago and her mother had her purse stolen from her handbag in the tube. So it can happen anywhere really. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2016 15:43:45 GMT
Ferme? Zut alors!
(Enjoying the Les Mis Google map, which I didn't know existed... Merci!)
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Post by Mr Snow on Sept 27, 2016 15:58:55 GMT
I'm wondering now if this is the same place I saw Dernier Tango (not the Vincent and Flavia show) in 1979? That was a flea pit, a fire trap and smelly. Or perhaps there were loads of these places all over Paris back then... If so, I've spent all these years not knowing it was quite the thing to say I'd been there! If there was a 'foreign' drunk slumped in one of the seats, then that was it.... In my memory in the days before, the internet, Youtube etc. having seen certain films or owned some LP's, gave you a certain cachet. To have to travel to see it, wow! Today even live theater is now streamed in so many ways that one can no longer impress with a casual "...for Hamlet, I never saw anyone to compare with Johnny". One could witheringly dispatch a friend/foe's argument merely by referencing something they hadn't seen. Watch old episodes of Frasier to see how its done. (Oh the Irony!!) |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2016 16:26:21 GMT
I misread your first line as "If there was a 'foreign' drunk slumped in one of the seats, then that was I..."
We could have been in the same place at the same time, Mr Snow! Just think, we might have been slumping together, as it were.
Alas my LP collection gave me little cachet. While my contemporaries bought Bowie and Brian Eno, mine was made up largely of Film Soundtracks and Cast Albums. Now there's an irony...
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Post by Phantom of London on Sept 27, 2016 17:29:02 GMT
Avoid Rome and Barcelona then. I know off the subject but just to say I've never had a prob in Barcelona or Rome. Not a tiddle. Just Paris. Sad but true. I think Gare du Nord is so well known now as a problem that probably the crooks have moved on. Maybe. Got pick pocketed in Rome on the famous 63 bus that goes from the centre to the Vatican, cleared €60 out of my wallet and £2000 out of my bank.i will be in Barcelona tomorrow, where its reputation proceeds it. in Paris definitely go to the Louvre, the Mona Lisa looks every bit more amazing in real life, especially when her eyes follow you around the room. The Musee d'Orsay is brilliant too, if you love Impressionism. Also the Monet Musemn is God value. |
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Post by Flim Flam on Sept 27, 2016 17:53:28 GMT
Someone tried to steal my phone in Brussels a couple of years ago. They dropped it when I immediately realised what had happened and turned on the person I knew had 'bumped into me'. Also,they probably dropped it because it wasn't an expensive phone!
When I reported it they tried to convince me that I had in fact dropped it myself. One way to keep the crime stats low I suppose.
Sadly, I think part of the problem is that thieves simply hone in on visitors in all major cities. I was amazed at how targeted an American friend of mine was whenever we were hanging out together in London (not all outright pickpockets, but by all sorts of people approaching and hassling her).
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Post by d'James on Sept 27, 2016 18:03:59 GMT
Paris is actually the worst I've experienced (not that I've been to Rome recently, but I've done loads of France and Spain). As others have said people trying to take your money and sneaking you on to transport (be careful on the funicular at Montmartre). Not so much pickpocketing but just dodgy behaviour by people pretending to help.
The only things I've had problems with in Barcelona is waiters badgering you to come into their places. Every single person I spoke to about Barcelona said be careful of pickpockets, yet none of them had been pick pocketed before. Maybe it's an old reputation that has been passed on by word of mouth and isn't that much of a problem. That, or people are just more careful over there now - although I don't think I was any more careful than in any other big city.
I guess really it just depends on if you're unlucky once, you remember that place for it.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2016 18:46:43 GMT
I had my wallet stolen in Constanța. Despite the irritation of it I have to admire the skill of the pickpocket. What I was less impressed with was the response of the banks, who failed to notice anything suspicious about someone withdrawing cash on a card at a location over 2000km away from anywhere the card had been used before. Then back in the UK they did block a transaction with a website I'd previously used for something to be delivered to the cardholder's address, because apparently that's suspicious as hell.
Thanks, banks.
(They did refund the stolen money in the end. Given that the card was used a considerable distance from where it was stolen I suspect the pickpocket knew of someone in the bank who wouldn't ask awkward questions.)
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Post by Phantom of London on Sept 27, 2016 18:57:33 GMT
I got my £2000 refunded by the bank, but a load of hassle.
Be careful of distractions, in my case it was this very old bloke looking at a young kid, in a very blatant way that he should give up his seat, he should have got an Olivier.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2016 23:17:15 GMT
I visited Paris with my boyfriend for the first time two months ago and I loved it!
We really liked Montmartre, which is behind the Sacre Coeur. What a nice neighborhood.
Restaurants are expensive. We discovered one place called Buffalo Grill, which is in front of the Moulin Rouge, and thought it was great.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2016 23:38:42 GMT
Btw we didn't book in advance for the Eiffel Tower. We paid 12€ each: stairs to 2nd floor (600-700 steps) and then lift to top.
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Post by wickedgrin on Sept 28, 2016 23:55:57 GMT
600-700 steps - oh to be young!!!
When I was young and travelling around Europe I climbed every tower I could! I said "I'm doing it now as I won't be able to when I'm old"! How true that was!!!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2016 1:41:25 GMT
600-700 steps - oh to be young!!! When I was young and travelling around Europe I climbed every tower I could! I said "I'm doing it now as I won't be able to when I'm old"! How true that was!!! Well, you can take the lift to the second floor too. It's more expensive of course. |
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Post by profquatermass on Oct 1, 2016 9:53:22 GMT
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Post by ShoesForRent on Oct 1, 2016 18:28:15 GMT
This is actually great- I've bookmarked it. Thank you!!  And thanks everyone! I start travelling tomorrow and wrote down everything from here, will see how much I can squeeze in |
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Post by boybooshka on Oct 2, 2016 10:21:18 GMT
I completely disagree with the previous comment about the Moulin Rouge, i adored it, one of my most favourite nights out ever. Yes it's expensive but all the money is there on the stage to see, if you like cabaret at all its a must.
Also the Vendages du Monmarte wine harvest festival is on during your visit, i'd really recommend spending some time there. Food and wine tastings, street performances etc all centred around the Sacre Coeur.
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