Warning: We are not going to get into any touristic information or set out in detail any of the following places.About this information please check our section "The World of the Travelling". In this present section we are going to give personal information such as our own experience from our trips, anecdotes, recommendations,etc; the sort of useful information you search for before beginning your trip on, but impossible to find in any touristic guides.
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FRANCE
The best season to visit this country is spring or autumn. Winters are cold and summers are hot; its temperatures depend on latitude. There is a wet climate in the Atlantic coast; a Continental east climate with hot summers; and a Mediterranean climate with dry long hot summers and milder winters.
PARIS. It is better you book hotel before going. It is such an important touristic place that it is practically high season throughout the year. July and August is quite empty of French people, but crowded with tourists.
Paris is a quite safe city. There is not much urban deliquency, but there are many pickpockets and bag snatchers (as in many other parts of the world). You must only have precaution and keep your documentation and values at the hotel.
The Underground is undoubtedely the cheapest and fstest means of transport. You can go anywhere, since there are more than 360 stops. It is not very clean though. 4 million people move around by underground every day. Its stops and rates are well indicated. There are very demanding people who insist very much, but they do not go further than this.
The Bus is also a good means of transport to know the city, although it is slowly due to traffic jams, as in Paris these are very common. That´s why do not even imagine to visit Paris by your own car, leave it in a car park.
The access to Paris by road are easy and signs are well pointed out. There is a big ringroad all around Paris and where access to the different city aereas or districts are organized by naming them as " La Gare di Italia" (The Gate of Italy) or " La Gare de Versalles".., etc.
Taxis. We do not recommend them to you. Taxi drivers only admit three passengers; they avoid helping you with your luggage and they are not very kind in the way they speak to you. Also, sometimes, they do not drive you through the shortest cuts&ldots;and even can be stuck in traffic jams for hours. Furthermore, if they do not like the route you need to take, they ask you for getting off their car.
The beast means of transport to know Paris is the "Bateaux Mouches", a sort of a boat-bus that run the Sena and stop along it: the Eiffel tower, Notre Dame, Mentmatre, etc. This voyage (quite relaxing) let you feel the pleasure of navigation and the beauty of Paris bridges, with its pictoresque places from the Sena prespective. You have to mind your head when getting on these boats, as their ceilings are very low and it is easy for you to bump your head. They are two-floor boats, being the top part uncovered.
Banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Credit cards are very current and there are plenty of cash dispensers. If you have some francs left (execept coins) can be changed into your own currency again.
It is very commom to give tips (about a 10%); even we advise you to do so to avoid unpleasant situations.
French character: If the Italians are extroverted and deferential towards the tourist, the French people, even not being impolite, they are generally indiferent, let´s put it this way.
To have a first approach of the city, you can take the so-called tour arround the city "Excursion-tipo" that drives you non-stop around the most interesting places during three hours. Later, you can visit the places you have liked the most: Louvre, New Bridge, Cité Island, the Cathedral, the Bastille, the latin neighbourhood, the Elysian fields, the Triumphal Arch, the Eiffel tower, the Opera, Notre Dame, Concord Square (where there is the famous Luxor Obelisk).
There is a very typical night tour: "Paris la nuit". There are two alternatives to this tour. One tour could be done visiting the most interesting places which are lightened (very beautiful, as you must remember that Paris is the city of the enlightement ) and then a show in the Lido, Moulin Rouge, or Crazy Horse included on the price; the other version would be the same but there is no show. We recommend to opt for the second version, and go to the Molin Rouge (at Piage square) by your own (book the entrance in advance at the same hotel). The Molin Rouge is the most typical , or at least oldest and most emblematic cabaret (Tolousse Lautec) where you will be able to witness the real "can can". The Lido is also a high quality show, and the Crazy Horse represents more international values.
Louvre Museum : It is closed on Tuesdays and on Sundays the entrance is free. The Entrance is through the Grand Pyramid . 250.000 pieces of art exhibitioned (just focus on the most interesting). Do not miss a visit to Leonardo Da Vinci´s hall where there are such important pieces of art as:La Grocumele, The Rocks Virgin, St. John the Baptist. There are cafes and restaurants inside. At the entrance you can hire a tape recorder in your own language that guides you through the different halls.
Pompidou centre. An ultramodern and very controversial building, built in the old aerea of Paris. Such building breaks the armony with its big glass-wuindows, its stell bars, and its colourful pipes within sight of everyone. In this spectacular building we can find the National Museum of Modern Art.
Orsay Museum. We truthly recommend it ( you can get there by the Bateaux Moneles). Although this museum has many sections, we point out the impressionist section. You can admire pieces from Van Goch, Monet, Renoir, Degàs, Cézenne, etc.
Montmatre. You take a funicular lift till the Church of the Sacred Heart.In this place there are many street artists and bohemian people.
We also recommend you Notre Dame. Admire the bridge of Alexander the Third (although you will go by many times by the Bateaux).
The Eiffel Tower : It was built by the engineer so-called Eiffel, owing to the Universal Exposition of 1899. It is an obligatory lift! There is an elevator system and three levels. From the top level (at about 300 metres) you can behold an amazing view of Paris.
We leave Paris. France is a country that offers many attractions. We will suggest you the most important ones; in case you want further information you can ask us for it.
Euro-Disney. It is placed on the outskirts of London. It is a copy of the Magic Kingdom in Orlando (USA). If you want to see it, you need three days at least. We advise you to stay at one of the hotels in the same park. There are different hotels according to your finantial situation. If the hotels are placed in the same park you will have more movility and you will take more profit of it. Furthermore, these hotels are spectacular.
Poitiers. Futuroscope complex. It is a thematic center devoted to science and the inventions. There are IMAX cinemas. You only need one day to visit it. The hotels are very near the center (Campanelle chain).
Loira castles. Fantastic view, castles surrounded by dream-like landscapes: castle of Amboise, castle of Chambort.
Normandy and Brittany. There are the Sword beaches (Normandy landing during the second World War) leading to the boarder with Brittany, where Mont St.Michael is placed. This is a medieval Benedictive abbey of 500 years old (all the staff go dressed in epoch suits). This abbey was built at the top of a rock, and when the tides go up, the abbey becomes an island. It is extremely interesting its visit (there are guides to show it to you).
Versalles. It is near Paris. It is about the most famous palace in the world, and where all the France history is kept. It was built to be the court of Luis XIII but this palace didn´t reach its maximum splendour till it lodged Luis XIV, the Sun King. We point out its royal chapel, its halls of Hercules, Mars and Mercury and overall its Mirror Gallery (where the Versalles Treaty was signed to end up with First World War). Apart from its palaces (as it is a palace complex) there are also its beautiful garden to visit it. These gardens occupy a land of about 900 hectares. Gardens to dream about with its fountains and ponds (Neptune pond for example). An unforgettable memory of Versalles.
At the entrance you can hire a tape recorder in your own language that guide you in perfect order through all the interesting places in Versalles
Mont
Sant Michael.