Pets can not live alone. That is why many people come to Paris vacation with their pets. But how big their surprise is when they recognize that their lovely cats and dogs can not be welcomed with pleasure. Unfortunately it is true. In many places pets are often forbidden or accepted only under certain conditions about with many people have no ideas.
The main feeling you get from visiting Notre-Dame Cathedral (Notre-Dame de Paris) is “déjà vu”. Everyone who has been to Paris, feels obligated to get a picture with lancet arches, Gothic steeples, “rose” windows backgrounds or take a picture of himself at the background of H-shaped facade, where the author of the novel “Notre Dame” saw the first letter of his name – Hugo.
Notre Dame de Paris – view from the Seine river
By the beginning of new millennium the Cathedral, blackened by urban smog, has been thoroughly cleaned, and the fronts still look unusually white. Despite of the crowds of tourists Notre Dame is a current cathedral, on Sundays masses take place (four in the morning and one in the evening), and sometimes magnificent wedding ceremonies are arranged here.
The great French novelist Victor Hugo was inspired by the Notre Dame Cathedral
In the very heart of Paris one can find two small natural islands in the Seine River – Île de la Cité where Notre Dame de Paris is situated, and Île Saint-Louis (named by Saint Louis). They can be easily found both from the Left Bank and the Right Bank. You can come here any time of the day or night when you first get to Paris. Though you will still have to get back in the morning – because of the Conciergerie (La Conciergerie), the Sainte-Chapelle or “The Holy Chapel” (La Sainte-Chapelle) and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Île Saint-Louis and Île de la Cité – a bird’s-eye view
This aniseed-flavored liqueur appeared in France in the 1930s as some kind of absinthe substitute which was a very popular drink at the end of 19th and early 20th centuries. A bitter tincture of wormwood, it had the effect of a strong hallucinogen. Famous poets and artists – Van Gogh, Verlaine, Rimbaud, Baudelaire, Manet, Wilde, Degas, Toulouse Lautrec, Gauguin, Jarry and Picasso were actually addicted to it.
Le Pastis – an anise-flavoured alcoholic drink
Even the smallest streets are clearly named. The name of the street and district is written in white letters on a dark blue plate and the house number is located next to it. The system of numbering the buildings first appeared in Paris during Napoleonic times. The house numbers begin from the Seine and work outwards from there. Dark blue plaques with the names of old Parisian streets can be bought as souvenir key chains from many gift shops.
Classic dark blue plate with the name of the street
Only London, Glasgow and Budapest developed a Metro system earlier than Paris, in 1900.
The Parisian metro was created by engineer Fulgence Bienvenue (Fulgence Bienvenue) in whose honour one of the metro stations is named – Montparnasse-Bienvenüe. Most of the stations were built before World War II, although in the1990s a new line, #14, was opened with modern stations and trains without operators. The transparent doors to the platforms open automatically when the train stops. On other lines you need to pull the handle to open the train doors to get on and off.
Arts et Métiers metro station in Paris
In Parisian restaurants a menu is called a map (la carte). The word “menu” itself is used to mean a fixed menu with several choices such as a ‘menu du jour’. These meals change daily and are similar to ‘daily specials’. So called “formulas” (formules) or combos allows you a choice of salad and the side dish you want to accompany your main meal. If you prefer to order something special (à la carte) it may take a little longer. All restaurants and cafés display their menus so that you can see the choice of food and the prices before entering.
“La carte” means menu in France
People wearing a blue-green uniform with RATP symbols are only found working in groups. It is too dangerous to work alone as a ticket controller. You will rarely see controllers walking through the metro carriages – they prefer the periods between RER stations and the narrow corridors during the changes where all the exits can easily be blocked.
Public transport tickets in paris
The controller’s favourite place for checking tickets is near the turnstiles to catch those trying to go through the barrier without a ticket. On buses, inspectors check tickets carefully and pay more attention to those getting onto the bus rather than those who are already riding. If you have been caught, it is impossible to escape.
All the controllers realize how difficult it will be for offenders to get a visa next time if you have a record with the police. The only thing that you can do is bargain about the amount of the fine (amende). Controllers know that you most probably do not have too much cash and will set a fine to be paid within two months. However if you can pay the fine immediately it may save you about €20-40, depending on the type of offense committed.
An elevator is a rare item in an old Parisian apartment. In the 18th century elevators had not been invented and later on in it was not always possible to install a shaft. Some buildings have mounted superstructures to accommodate tiny elevators. Sometimes you need to dial a code to make the elevator work in order to restrict door-to-door salesmen and beggars. Most of the buildings have steep circular stairs that look like huge snails (escalier en colimaçon) instead of modern elevators.
Tiny elevator in one of the hotels in Paris
The original doorkeepers appeared in Paris in 19th century when each building had a separate small lodge (loge) on the ground floor for the doorkeeper or concierge. Today the automatic coded doors have replaced some of these jobs but there are still a surprisingly high number of them, especially in the old areas of the city.
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