Today marks my 30th day since I have arrived in Paris from Manila. Lets see if I can make 30 items that Ive learned so far...
1 Art supply stores in Paris are like patisseries to a diabetic: be cautious of spending too much
2 The best mass transportation system I've ever encountered: the Metro, RER and SNCF lines
3 Avoid buying food from tourist traps like Notre Dame, Sacre Ceour or Trocadero - way too expensive.
4 Autumn in the city means sunny with high temperatures of about 24 degrees, with sudden rain and gusty winds, and very chilly 5 degrees without warning: be prepared
5 People fall in line to buy tickets for exhibitions...even under the rain and for several minutes
6 Visit smaller museums first and leave the Louvre for the best days
7 National museums are free for everyone on first Sundays of the month
8 Parks and gardens and squares are free and offer relaxing respite especially on sunny days
9 Church buildings are owned by the State
10 Pigeons are a pest to national heritage: they poop and nest and stand on statues' heads.
11 Metro passes for the week and the month are better deals than tickets
12 Buses are more scenic, but also slower
13 Having a car to drive around Paris is a nuisance: challenging parking
14 Its better to walk sometimes: It IS better to walk.
15 Keep to your right. Use the left if you are in a hurry.
16 Don't buy souvenirs from ambulant vendors, don't fall for the "I found a ring, could this be yours" scam, do not give 20€ to people pretending to be from UNICEF. Be cautious.
17 Do not attempt to take pictures at the Musée d'Orsay
18 Draw more than shoot.
19 The Eiffel Tower is NOT the only landmark in Paris worth visiting
20 Musicians in the Metro almost always play or sing Bach's Ave Maria
21 Des Halles, the largest department store/ mall in the city is UNDERGROUND near Chatelet
22 BHV has everything. EVERY THING.
23 Notre Dame is NOT the only beautiful church in Paris
24 It is better to take a photo of the Eiffel from afar than from it. The same skyline is better seen at Sacre Ceour, sans the vertigo
25 Montmartre has ukay ukay! Rummage at Sympa, metro Blanche
26 There are automated, self-washing toilets scattered throughout the city: know where they are.
27 Do not tip the waiter unless you are a regular. The tip is part of your bill (service)
28 Always say SVP, greet Bonjour or Bonsoir and say Merci, avoir to cashiers, clerks, attendants
29 Hold the door for the person following you: good manners
30 Paris is the loveliest but also loneliest city in the world
1 Art supply stores in Paris are like patisseries to a diabetic: be cautious of spending too much
2 The best mass transportation system I've ever encountered: the Metro, RER and SNCF lines
3 Avoid buying food from tourist traps like Notre Dame, Sacre Ceour or Trocadero - way too expensive.
4 Autumn in the city means sunny with high temperatures of about 24 degrees, with sudden rain and gusty winds, and very chilly 5 degrees without warning: be prepared
5 People fall in line to buy tickets for exhibitions...even under the rain and for several minutes
6 Visit smaller museums first and leave the Louvre for the best days
7 National museums are free for everyone on first Sundays of the month
8 Parks and gardens and squares are free and offer relaxing respite especially on sunny days
9 Church buildings are owned by the State
10 Pigeons are a pest to national heritage: they poop and nest and stand on statues' heads.
11 Metro passes for the week and the month are better deals than tickets
12 Buses are more scenic, but also slower
13 Having a car to drive around Paris is a nuisance: challenging parking
14 Its better to walk sometimes: It IS better to walk.
15 Keep to your right. Use the left if you are in a hurry.
16 Don't buy souvenirs from ambulant vendors, don't fall for the "I found a ring, could this be yours" scam, do not give 20€ to people pretending to be from UNICEF. Be cautious.
17 Do not attempt to take pictures at the Musée d'Orsay
18 Draw more than shoot.
19 The Eiffel Tower is NOT the only landmark in Paris worth visiting
20 Musicians in the Metro almost always play or sing Bach's Ave Maria
21 Des Halles, the largest department store/ mall in the city is UNDERGROUND near Chatelet
22 BHV has everything. EVERY THING.
23 Notre Dame is NOT the only beautiful church in Paris
24 It is better to take a photo of the Eiffel from afar than from it. The same skyline is better seen at Sacre Ceour, sans the vertigo
25 Montmartre has ukay ukay! Rummage at Sympa, metro Blanche
26 There are automated, self-washing toilets scattered throughout the city: know where they are.
27 Do not tip the waiter unless you are a regular. The tip is part of your bill (service)
28 Always say SVP, greet Bonjour or Bonsoir and say Merci, avoir to cashiers, clerks, attendants
29 Hold the door for the person following you: good manners
30 Paris is the loveliest but also loneliest city in the world
Eiffel tower from the Palais de Challiot, Trocadero
The Jardin de Luxembourg
Pantheon
Atelier Brancusi: its free
Why do people want to pay a fee to go under the Arc de Triomphe when its better to see it from across the road?
Beware of scammers in this area: Jardin du Carousel and Jardin se Tuillerie
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