Paris

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Paris

From Airport Assuming you are arriving at Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport there are different ways to get to Paris. Your apartment is at 39 (#TBD) Rue Saint-Ambroise in the 11th arrondissement). Therefore the closest metro station is Rue Saint-Maur (line 9) and Oberkampf (lines 5 and 9) and Saint-Maur (line 3). Ask for a free metro map at any metro station.

Taxi Taxi: they have a meter so you pay whatever says on the meter. About €50 for a ride to Paris during the day (more at night or early morning). Extra for a second big suitcase. You tip no more than 10%. Train (RER B) About 30 minutes + metro. Depending on the terminal you’re arriving at, there are different ways to get to the RER station. Terminal 1: take the free shuttle CDGVAL (6 minutes). Terminals 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F and 3: walk to the station. Terminals 2A and 2B: walk or shuttle N1. Terminals 2G: shuttle N3 (10 minutes). Don’t worry, just follow the sign. It’s easier than it looks. Ticket: €8.7/person to be bought at the station (booth or vending machine). Stop at Gare du Nord and connect to the metro line 5 direction Place d’Italie. Get off at the 4th station: Oberkampf. Use the same train ticket for the metro (10 minutes). Avoid taking the train at night.

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Paris

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Paris, 11 arr.

Your Neighborhood Bus • Roissybus direct to Opera. 50 minutes (depending on traffic). Every 20 minutes. €9.10/person. Then take the metro (buy another ticket) line 3 direction Gallieni. Stop at Rue Saint-Maur (about 20 minutes). • Air France bus direct to Porte Maillot and Charles-de-Gaulle (line 2). 50 minutes (depending on traffic). Every 30 minutes. One way €15, €7.50 for kids under 12. Return €24. Get off at Charles-de-Gaulle and take the metro (buy another ticket) line 1 direction Chateau de Vincennes. Stop at Franklin Roosevelt to connect to line 9 direction Mairie de Montreuil. Stop at SaintAmbroise (about 30 minutes). • Air France bus direct to Gare de Lyon (line 4). 50 minutes (depending on traffic). Every 30 minutes. One way €16.50, €8 for kids under 12. Return €27. Then take metro (buy another ticket) line 1 direction Chateau de Vincennes. Stop at Nation to connect to line 9 direction Mairie de Montreuil. Stop at Saint-Ambroise (about 15 minutes). Besides taking a cab, I would suggest you take the train (RER B) as long as it’s during the day. it will be the quickest way as it’s not depending on traffic. Roissybus to Opera is also a good option.

The apartment you have picked out (39 Rue Saint Ambroise we assume) is located in the 11th arrondissement, one of the 20 arrondissements or districts that make up the city of Paris.

The 11th is a working man’s neighborhood full of actual factual Parisians and very few tourists. After a week staying at your little place on Rue Saint Ambroise you three should feel like locals! To the right of your front door is a Café/ Tabac called Le Gallia. It’s a old school French dive bar which is the perfect place to rub elbows with your neighbors, order up a glass of wine, enjoy a sandwich, purchase metro/bus tickets, scratch loto tickets, chewing gum etc etc.. Kitty corner to that you will find a little boulangerie with your basic breakfast fare, croissants, pain aux chocolats, brioche and more. There are two grocery stores near by for stocking your petite kitchenette; a Franprix on Rue Servan and an organic grocery store called Bio C’Bon at 52 Ave Parmentier. In terms of beverage, I suggest you wander towards the leafy and lovely Square Maurice Gardette, just a block away. At number 28 Rue Guilhem there is a wine shop called Le Vin de Bohème for your boozy needs and at Salon L’Autre Thé at 17 rue Lacharrière you will be able to find tea and other hot beverages. The advantage of this location is that you are just a quick walk away from the Marais which is one of the hippest and most exciting parts of Paris. The rents in the Marais (3rd and 4th arrondissements) have climbed in the past couple of years so trendsetters have sought higher ground and cheaper leases north of the Marais in the 11th. So in and around your apartment you will find a few hotspots that the in-the-know-crowd is talking about. One is smackdab in

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Paris, 11 arr.

front of your door, Tool Box Records. The other is a Crêperie called West Country Girl, ‘west country’ in this case referring to the western region of France, Bretagne, which is where the crêpe originates, 6 Passage St Ambroise. Crêpes, by the way, are a fantastic meal for vegetarians as you can pick and choose your fillings! Beware, the apple cider served here will be of the adult variety :)

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Paris, 11 arr.

Choux which will bring you to the heart of the Marais from where you can find all sorts of places to eat, drink, shop and while away your days. Another cool part of town near your place is the Oberkampf neighborhood. Rue Oberkampf is the epicenter of this area and easy to find from Rue St Ambroise, just hang a left at the corner of your apartment onto Rue St Maur, walk three blocks and you’ll run right into it. Rue Oberkampf is filled with bars and concert halls that are charming in the afternoon and pretty rowdy in the evening. The surrounding streets aren’t very interesting and can get a little seedy. The closest metro stop to your place is St Maur line 3 and St Ambroise line 9. The bus #69 runs through your neighborhood and is a fantastic bus route for you guys! It goes from your part of town to the Eiffel Tower via all of the major monuments that run along the Seine Rive, like the Louvre and Orsay museums. The stop closest to you is on the corner of Rue de Chemin Vert and Ave Parmentier.

The closer you get to the Marais the more interesting boutiques, bars and restaurants you will find. Head south on Rue St Ambroise, past the church for which your street is named and cross over the wide and largely unappealing Boulevard Voltaire and Boulevard Richard Lenoir. Once you have made it to Boulevard Beaumarchais you are almost there. On this boulevard you will find Merci and Bon Ton, two incredibly hip stores who together mark the unofficial entrance to the Marais. Merci (111 boulevard Beaumarchais, 3rd arr.) is a mecca for French hipsters featuring designer clothes, homeware and great gifts. On the lower level you will find a café with good veggie options and on street level you will find a used book shop/coffee shop also run by Merci. Two blocks down you will find BonTon at 5 Boulevard Filles du Calvaire, same street, it just changes names at this point. Bon Ton is a temple of designer fun for kids, from stuffed animal mounted mouse heads to chrochet tea pots you will love exploring in here. They also have a candy and coffee bar plus a hairdressing salon for the whole family, kids cuts are €25, dads are €30 and moms are €45. From Boulevard Beaumarchais continue heading south on Rue Pontaux

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Paris

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Market, Orsay, Seine River, Canal

Sunday, November 21 Bastille Market One of the largest outdoor farmer’s markets takes place a hop skip and a jump from your apartment on Thursday and Sunday mornings from 7am to 2pm. Head down Boulevard Richard Lenoir towards Place de la Bastille and you will run right into it. If you are not competing (race at 10.15 am), you can then go to Orsay Museum. Take metro line 1 direction la Défense and stop at Tuileries. Cross the Tuileries park towards the Seine and take the pedestrian bridge passerelle Senghor to cross to the left bank. The Orsay museum will be on your right. Or rent a bike and ride on the river banks (see below). Musee D’orsay One of my favorite museum in the world. Not only is the building awesome (an ex train station) but the art collection is breathtaking. There are so many pieces of art that you have heard of that it’s unbelievable thy are all in the same museum. Open everyday (except Mondays) from 9:30 am to 6 pm (9:45 pm on Thursday). Ticket €8/adult. Free for under 18. On the Paris Museum Card list. Keep your ticket and visit the Garnier Opera for free. River Banks Another favorite thing to do on Sunday for Parisians is walk, bike, rollerblade on the Seine banks banned to cars every Sunday (9 am to 5 pm). So do the same. Bike rental:

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Market, Orsay, Seine River, Canal

Sun, Nov 21

There is a bike rental company not far from your place: Paris Velo sympa (parisvelosympa.com): 22 Rue Alphone Baudin. 11th. Open Monday-Friday 9:30 am to 5:30 pm (lunch break 1 to 2 pm). Weekend from 9:30 am to 6 pm. Closed on Tuesdays. Bike €15/day. They also have bike tours in English. Right bank: from Tuileries to Charles-de-Gaulle bridge (12th arr.)

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Market, Orsay, Seine River, Canal

Sun, Nov 21

Saint Martin Canal There are a lot neighborhoods closed to cars on Sundays. My favorite one is along Saint Martin Canal, also because the shops are open (rare in Paris on Sunday), usually from 10 am to 5 pm. It’s also not far from your place, so a good spot on your way home. Metro Jacques Bonsergent (line 5). Access through rue de Lancry. Trendy shops on the canal and also on rue des vinaigriers, rue Bichat. Restaurants around: • Chez Prune: 36 Rue Beaurepaire, quai de Valmy. Fish and vegetarian dishes. • Le Point Ephemère: 200 Quai de Valmy. It’s the restaurant of a concert venue. modern, in a ex warehouse. Also an art gallery in the same building.

Left Bank: from Quai Branly (close to Eiffel Tower) to Quai Anatole France (7th arr.)

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