Wondering what to do/arrange/pack for your trip? Here is my …
Checklist for Paris France – to get you started :-)
Are you planning a trip to Paris? People ask, “What do I need?” “What should I take with me?”
The video is 1:58 mins long, and the transcript is below:
Here is a list of some of the things I like to recommend:
two to four months ahead of time — organise your airport bus pick-up, flight paid for, and accommodation arranged
important documents to think about: passport validity with a long expiry date, arrange an Entry Visa if required for your country
one to two months ahead — arrange for your mail to be held at the post office, organise pet boarding and French lessons
list your clothing to take, and another list of small items like smart phone and camera, plugs and cables, voltage converters if required
if you’re taking a laptop or ipad — take USB plugs, power cords, battery charger, back-up drive — and leave a full back-up AT HOME for your return – just in case :-)
if you need medical stuff, take prescriptions for eye glasses and medications with you, buy extra meds to take with you just in case
other stuff — a French phrase book, mini Paris pocket street directory (called Plan de Paris, it’s red)
Has this Checklist for Paris France helped?
Please do let me know if you have any questions or feel like a chat.
When I moved to France many, many moons ago, I had a couple of words and phrases Id remembered from lessons at school when I was 12 years old – not necessarily grammatically correct:
Bonjour! (Hello!)
Bonsoir! (Good evening!)
Bon nuit!) (Good night – when going to bed)
Je m’appelle Teena et je suis Australienne. (My name is Teena and I’m Australian.)
Je ne parle pas bien français. (I don’t speak French very well.)
Je voudrais … (I would like …)
Il n’y a pas des nouages au ciel. (There are no clouds in the sky.)
Not a whole lot be able to speak with a French person :-)
So I signed up for a one month French Class with a Vietnamese tutor (who was lovely).
There were about 20 adult students from many different countries, and we were NOT allowed to speak any language other than French in the classroom.
At the end of the month I could order coffee or cocktails, buy grroceries, and ask questions – I was thrilled!
These days it’s possible to learn French at home in your pyjamas/pajamas, in a few minutes a day.
DUOLINGO
I signed up with Duolingo a few years ago, and every day I do my 5 minute French lesson to keep French alive in my brain when I’m no longer living in Paris.
I play French music when I’m in my car (a little purple Ford KA whom I lovingly call Purple Piaf!).
I can pretend I’m in Paris every time and it’s truly delightful :D
What about you? Do you have favourite French songs or songs about Paris?
Let me know – I’d love to hear what they are xo
EDITH PIAF
‘Sous le Ciel de Paris’ – Edith Piaf
EARTHA KITT
‘Under the Bridges of Paris’ – Eartha Kitt
CHARLES AZNAVOUR
“La Boheme”
JOSEPHINE BAKER
‘J’ai Deux Amours’ – Josephine Baker
and I must also include a couple of my other favourite French songs from Edith Piaf:
“No, Je ne regrette rien”
“La Vie En Rose”
Have a spectacular day, wherever you are in the world!
May these French songs help you to daydream about the City of Love and Light, and help us to start planning our next visit when COVID-19 and the Coronavirus have gone and are far behind us xox
This is the first in the Series – there will be new sayings and a choice of colours in a few days, but I just wanted to get this first one on the website a.s.a.p. – so excited!
“Quoi de Neuf?” is French for “What’s New?”
New T-shirts
Je parle comme une vache espagnole
(usually used to describe someone’s foreign language skills – not a compliment)
I woke this morning here at the beach near Brisbane, Australia about 6:30am, walked out to my desk to charge my iPhone, and saw I’d missed a message from my friend Helen in the UK.
I was NOT prepared for what I read!
“Notre Dame is on fire!!”
What????!!!!
I ran to turn on the TV and it was on the news — as I looked on, I was in total shock, and started crying.
This beautiful Cathedral has lived through 850 years of wars and all kinds of other hardships and devastations, and survived.
Recently she had been feeling a bit fragile, and desperately needed some work to keep her going; she was surrounded by scaffolding as the work crews started a daunting task.
I don’t know how the fire started, possibly something to do with the renovation, whatever the reason it is a miracle that there is any of it left.
And such a miracle that no-one was hurt or perished, for that I am truly grateful.
This has been a sad, sad day for Paris, for my friends, and all the people visiting Paris at the moment — my heart goes out to everyone, and I’m sending all my love and hugs across the kilometres.
On the other side of the coin, something I am so, so thrilled about is that I’ve spent some amazing summer days and evenings in and near Notre Dame over several decades, and I have wonderful videos and photos of me with friends right outside her doors.
Are you celebrating Mothers Day in Paris this year? How absolutely marvellous!
There are so many wonderful things to do, from picnics in the park, to special lunches and dinners in restaurants, to relaxing with family and friends just about anywhere!
Here are a few places to whet your whistle for things to see and do:
List of Covered Passages in Paris, known as les Passages Couvertes
Passage des Panoramas
Galerie Vivienne
Passage du Grand-Cerf
Galerie de la Madeleine
Passage Verdeau
Passage Brady
Passage des Princes
Passage Jouffroy
Galerie Véro-Dodat
Galerie Colbert
Passage du Caire
Passage Choiseul.
In the 19th century, these arcades were built in Paris and covered with amazing glass roofs so visitors could see the sky and all the seasons.
They were created by building right through other buildings, which is a typically Parisian architectural feature. In many of them we can find restaurants, shops, and tearooms.
Around 20 of them can be found in Paris in the vicinity of the Grands Boulevards.
One of the oldest is the Passage des Panoramas, dating from 1799. It’s home to the Théâtre des Variétés, which was inaugurated in 1807 and still provides entertainment.
Each of these marvellous passages couverts / arcades has its own charming character. Here are some details of some of them
Passage Brady — Little India, houses numerous Indian, Pakistan, Mauritian and Reunion shops.
Passage Verdeau — antique dealers.
Passage du Caire – the longest and the narrowest in the capital (more than 360 metres long) – wholesalers of ready-to-wear clothing and other clothes manufacturers.
Galerie Vivienne (which is next door to the Palais-Royal) is one of the most iconic covered passages.
Galerie Véro-Dodat — upmarket shops (including Christian Louboutin’s workshop-boutique).
Passage du Grand-Cerf, 12 metres high, one of the most spectacular arcades in Paris.
Galerie Colbert is totally different because it has no shops. It houses the Institut National d’Histoire de l’Art and the Institut National du Patrimoine.
The public can walk through the gallery and have lunch at the Grand Colbert brasserie (located at the entrance in art deco style).
Where are the Covered Passages in Paris?
1. Passage des Panoramas
11 boulevard Montmartre, Paris, 75002
The first covered walkway in Paris, wonderful for window shopping and strolling.
2. Galerie Vivienne
4 rue des Petits-Champs, Paris, 75002
Built in 1823, is one of the most iconic covered arcades.
3. Passage du Grand-Cerf
145 rue Saint-Denis, Paris, 75002
The beautiful Grand-Cerf covered passage is almost 12m tall, and was created in 1825, not far from Turbigo (Montorgueil district).
4. Galerie de la Madeleine
9 place de la Madeleine, Paris, 75008
This delightful covered passage is in the very chic Place de la Madeleine in the 8th arrondissement.
5. Passage Verdeau
6 rue de la Grange-Batelière, Paris, 75003
The Passage Verdeau, in the Grands Boulevards district, was built in 1847.
6. Passage Brady
46 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, Paris, 75010
Quite often called “Little India”, visit and find where India resides in Paris. The Passage Brady was built in 1828, is one of the rare Parisian arcades composed of two parts – covered and open air.
7. Passage des Princes
5 boulevard des Italiens, Paris, 75002
The history of the Passage des Princes has been very eventful. Built in 1860 and then destroyed in 1985
8. Passage Jouffroy
-12 boulevard Montmartre, Paris, 75009
Since it was built in 1836, Passage Jouffroy has been one of the most visited covered arcades in the capital
9. Galerie Véro-Dodat
19 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Paris, 75001
In an ideal location, very close to the Louvre.
10. Galerie Colbert
4 rue Vivienne, Paris, 75002
Built in 1823, Galerie Colbert is a short walk from Galerie Vivienne.
11. Passage du Caire
2 place du Caire, Paris, 75002
Built in 1798, the oldest covered arcade in Paris takes its name from the Egyptian capital city Cairo.
12. Passage Choiseul
40 rue des Petits Champs, Paris, 75002
This beautiful, iconic passage is in the Opéra district.
Map of the Covered Passages in Paris
Have you visited any of the Covered Passages in Paris?
I’d love to hear what you thought about any of these amazing architectural delights.
Every now and then I receive emails from people who’ve been to Paris with a friend, family member or loved one, and ended up having a terrible holiday.
For some, this trip might be the dream of a lifetime, they’ve saved up for years, then they encourage, cajole or convince someone to go with them, and that person has no plan to do ANYthing in Paris, or is just a royal pain in the backside!
Have a chat with your friend / significant other / travel companion BEFORE you go! Talk about what YOU want to do whilst in Paris, and ask THEM what they plan to do.
Write it all down, discuss each point until you’re both happy with the outcome.
Make sure to be clear you do NOT need to be together 24/7– have a day or a few hours apart often, and meet up in a cafe / bar in the afternoon for an aperitif or coffee to chat and share you day’s adventures! This can be so much fun and so rewarding for you both, as you won’t be getting on each others’ nerves :D
When one of you is unhappy and won’t tell the other
For a lot of people, they may feel extremely disappointed once they’re there (for any number of reasons), and many of them will not even tell the other person how unhappy they are.
OK – that can happen – honestly – so don’t sulk, pout or seethe silently.
Remember … it’s a new situation for you both in a foreign city
Getting along great with someone in your home town might be easy, but travelling overseas has all kinds of other situations you both might not have thought about.
Talk to them – ask them if they’d be OK to spend a few hours on their own, or even a day, take a tour on their own, and meet up later to share adventure stories.
Are you or they an early riser? Talk about how to deal with that.
Do either of you like “quiet” time to write a journal or read a book? Discuss how to manage that. Can one of you go to a cafe to leave the other in peace?
If either of you makes new friends, are you both happy to have them come back to your shared room to visit?
Speak of sharing a room … Set some boundaries BEFORE you leave home so you don’t drive each other crazy. Before you go, talk about:
phones, chargers etc
alarm clocks – who loves or hates them? are they necessary? I use my iPhone
snoring or just noisy
untidiness
suitcases overflowing on the floor and the bed
food in the room – and scraps
having a radio or music going all night to help YOU sleep all night, but which BUGS the other person.
Now honestly – do you still want to SHARE a room? I suggest you find the budget to each have your own room, or rent an Airbnb apartment with 2 bedrooms, which is something I can highly recommend :-)
If you can’t salvage the trip, SMILE, stop sulking and start planning
And by that I mean PLAN ANOTHER trip as soon as possible, and do ALL the things you wanted to do the first time round!
I also mean PLAN to talk to your travelling companion right now, so the rest of the trip can be less stressful for both of you.
Here are some of the questions I’ve heard from nervous travellers:
is it safe to travel to Paris on my own? YES
how will I manage on my own? QUITE WELL if you plan in advance
I’ve never travelled alone – how can I do this? WITH CONFIDENCE
I’m afraid to be on my own. A WONDERFUL ADVENTURE AWAITS!
I’m sure I’ll be so lonely I’ll have an awful time! IF YOU DECIDE to have a GREAT TIME instead, YOU WILL :D
These are just some of things people have written to me.
So – here are a few tips I’ve shared over the years, which might help you to plan a trip on your own to the City of Love and Light!
Have you heard that Paris is for lovers?
Well, yes, it is.
But it’s also for lovers of LIFE, enjoyment, adventure!
You don’t have to be with someone to fall in love with Paris, when you’re IN Paris :-)
A few suggestions on how to fall in love with Paris a second time!
I’ve spoken to many women over the years who have had similar experiences to the ones I mention above — I know this won’t make it any better for you if that’s what you’re going through or have just been through — but it saddens my heart that when we travel with our dearly loved partner they become selfish and think only of themselves.
My suggestion is always — go again, and go alone!
Now you’ve been once — you’ve been in arm’s reach of amazing sights and sounds, and you know enough about Paris to go again — or with a carefully-selected, well-screened friend — and enjoy absolutely every minute of every day!
I’m not sure of your age, but when I divorced in Australia and ended up in Paris — I fell in love with her, the City of Love and Light, and I ended up staying for about three years that first time (before I was offered a new adventure in Greece!). I did go back to Paris and stay for many months at a time, and continue to revisit friends and places I love.
Back then – newly single, I didn’t speak more than a few sentences in French, but I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and willing to learn, knowing there was always going to be a new adventure around every corner if I could speak a bit of the language!
Do mini “practice trips” before you go to Paris
If you think you’d be nervous going on your own, do what I recommend to friends — go to a town or district a small distance from where you live, just for the day, or even a few days if you can.
BE A TOURIST
go to the Visitor Information office
get maps
go on a sightseeing tour
eat out in cafes and restaurants on your own
take books (about Paris!) and a notebook
enjoy the time on your own.
Treat it like you would if you were in Paris – explore and have adventures!
Talk to strangers :-)
In fact, the best thing I ever could have done when I arrived in Paris was to sign up for a language class. You could do this near your home!
5 days a week, 8 hours a day for a total of 4 weeks I learnt enough French to survive, and my whole Parisian world opened up :-)
In fact, the people I met at the school became my friends, and that made it even more fun to meet them in cafes and chat outside school hours.
That was 30 years ago, and one of those people (a gorgeous Italian woman with a great sense of humour) is still a close friend today!
These days the younger French generations are happy to speak English, but it’s ever so helpful to know a bit of French.
Today I use the Duolingo App every day to practice 5-10 minutes of verbal and written French — it’s such a great easy-to-use program!
I think if you try some of these things, you will understand that Paris isn’t “over” — it’s really just beginning. And your next adventure is ahead of you, beckoning you with open arms, to come and explore on your own, without any negativity from a travel friend.
And if you’d ever like to talk about Paris, I’d love to Zoom (or Skype) with you — we can work out a time to suit us both, and we can chat about the things you LOVED about Paris! I’d love that if you’re up for it!
To answer the questions I’ve received:
Paris is for lovers of life!
If you have any other questions, please do get in touch (by email or on Facebook) so we can chat further.
Here is a guide to hotels and other accommodation in Paris, organised by arrondissement district (neighbourhood).
There are 20 arrondissements in Paris, each one has a unique personality, some are well-known tourist areas, others are quieter away from the madding crowds. The choice is yours.
Where to Stay in Paris – Index of arrondissements / districts / suburbs
[Coming Soon!]
Questions to consider before booking
how long will you be visiting?
have you decided on an area to stay in?
how much is your budget for hotels or other accommodation?
do you like to walk, or are you less mobile?
Different types of accommodation available
[Coming Soon!]
Right Bank – the Marais
Le Marais, which translates to “the marsh” or “the swamp” was once an area filled with vegetable farms.
It’s where I lived for 3 years, and is dear to my heart. I could walk out through the huge doors of the private courtyard for the apartment building where I lived on Rue St Antoine, and to my right I could see and walk towards the Bastille monument at the end of my street. The area surrounding la Place de la Bastille was always buzzing with traffic and there were oh so many cafes where I could sit on the sidewalk and watch the world go by. Although that was quite a few years ago now, I still remember it vividly and pop over to visit whenever I return to the city I love.
In this district you’ll also find the city’s delightful Opera House, movie theatres, cafés, a marina (that’s new since I lived there!) which is connected to the River Seine by a “lock” (where boats traverse the waterways), and streets which head north into the Oberkampf restaurant and nightclub area.
This delightful hotel is decorated in a 17th-century style, and is around the corner from where I lived in the 4th Arrondissement, so on a visit back to Paris from Australia I decided to stay there in my old stomping ground.
A delightfully charming little hotel, staff were wonderful, service and accommodation fantastic.
There is a delightful small garden courtyard at this hotel, which has 31-rooms and is located between the Rue Saint-Antoine and the River Seine, and is very close to the Bastille Métro.
Standard in-room amenities include a mini-fridge, an electric kettle with tea and coffee, free Wi-Fi, and a real treat – a gift of a bottle of wine. Such a nice touch!
Hello hello — if you’re new to Postcards from Paris — Bonjour ! Salut ! Bienvenu ! (Hello! Hi! Welcome!)
My name is Teena Hughes, I’m an Australian who has lived in Paris several times over a period of about thirty years, and I love to go back once a year if possible, and spend about six weeks feeling like a local Parisienne again :-)
While I’m there, I catch up with my friends I met there over twenty years ago, plus I host Adventures. I’ve also written a couple of books about Paris, and I love this city more than any other.
Enjoy the little French tidbits I have for you today, and do get in touch if you’d like to chat or ask a question. Here we go!
Le Loir Dans le Theiere became one of my favourite places when I lived in Paris in the late 1980s, and I’ve heard that the name of this Tea Salon came from an unlucky dormouse which was thrown into a teapot during the Mad Hatter’s feast in the Alice in Wonderland story.
Please send a Comment below, or click the purple icon on the right of this screen — and mention PARIS 2018 –let me know which Adventures sound perfect for you — thank you. Can’t wait to meet you!
One of the first things people ask me about is how to speak French — and that’s a tall order, so I recommend starting with something small, like numbers or common words you might use in a shop or store. Here is a little video to get you started
Over the past few years I’ve had quite a few questions about this, and often it’s the language differences which make it difficult for both sides. I’ve updated this page this month to make it even easier for folks to work out what to do first.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of POSTCARDS FROM PARIS January 2018!
I look forward to hearing from you!
Let me know if you have any questions about Paris or my website, or just want to share some tips about your trip to Paris.
Post a Comment below, send me an email, or click the little “Say Bonjour!” tab on the right side of the screen, or pop over to the Facebook page — I’d love to hear from you!
This Over 40s Lazy Adventure in Paris is for people who don’t want to rush around Paris like mad tourists, — hot, tired, exhausted – and looking to get away from other tourists.
Option 1 — Dates: September 2018 (to be confirmed)
Here’s the scenario:
You want to visit Paris but you don’t feel like buzzing from tourist attraction to tourist attraction, constantly travelling on public transport, getting sore feet with all the constant walking.
You’d really prefer to take it easy, perhaps along these lines:
be met by a mini-bus at the airport who’ll take you to your hotel
enjoy a Champagne Cruise on the River Seine the first night, and a Welcome Dinner in a delightful restaurant
have late breakfasts
do a bit of shopping
have morning and afternoon teas in cute French tea salons
maybe see a movie or wander down a delightful street in “hidden Paris” far from the tourist crowd
take a barge cruise under and around Paris for a couple of hours
drop into a pub we’re walking past in the afternoons for a refreshing beer, glass of wine or a cocktail
and then have a lovely dinner with lots of laughter whilst getting to know the other people sharing the same adventure
on the last evening we’ll have a celebratory Farewell Dinner
after breakfast the next morning, you’re free to use the Airport Bus already arranged for you, or head off to more adventures of your own.
Sound like you?
Spend 3 days and 2 nights where you can be lazy in Paris, and enjoy yourself totally with like-minded travellers. Couples welcome.
Please note:
there will be no visits to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre or any other tourist destination
there will be no standing in queues for any touristy thing – ever, ok?
there will be no running, rushing or being out of breath
there will be lazy walking, strolling, sitting in lots of cafes and restaurants, lazy laughter and a general sense of all-round well-being – you ready for that?
Good, now let’s have some lazy fun!
What’s included in this Adventure?
airport pickup and drop-off in Paris (at a hotel of your choice or let me know if you need help with this)
surprise Welcome Gift :-)
fabulous Champagne Cruise on the River Seine at dusk on your first day
Day 1 Welcome Dinner
Final Night Farewell Dinner
metro/bus tickets for getting to/from our destinations
Barge Cruise
having fun whilst exploring the hidden Paris for 3 days and 2 nights.
Price for 2018 … $US (to be confirmed shortly)
The Lazy Paris Adventure lasts for 3 Days / 2 Nights
Dates: September 2018 (to be confirmed shortly)
What’s not included?
Your expenses in getting to Paris.
Accommodation in a Paris hotel (which may include breakfasts at the hotel)
Meals, drinks and all other expenses not included above.
Option 2 – Don’t have 3 days to spare?
Spend one lazy day with me in Paris for $US (to be confirmed shortly)
Meet and greet coffee or tea is included.
Want to know more about the Over 40s Lazy Adventure in Paris?
If you’re interested in this lazy relaxing way to see just a little bit of Paris, please do contact me today – ask me your questions, and join in the Adventure!
Want to see the other Adventures I host while I’m in Paris? Pop over to the Adventures page >>
I look forward to hanging around and taking it easy with you :-)
Above: the Lazy Paris Barge Cruise
If you enjoyed this, please feel free to share on Twitter, Facebook or anywhere you like (click one of the little icons on this page). PS — I’d love to hear from you!
List of Covered Passages in Paris, known as les Passages Couvertes
My name is Teena Hughes, I’m an Australian who has lived in Paris several times over a period of about thirty years, and I love to go back once a year if possible, and spend about six weeks feeling like a local Parisienne again :-)
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Questions via the Website
Want to know more about the Over 40s Lazy Adventure in Paris?
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