When we first arrived in Paris, we were given a book called the Paris Insider's Guide. We have found it to be invaluable in adjusting to life in this new city of ours; it offers advice on everyday things like banking, shopping, tipping, schooling, etc.
It also pointed us in the direction of the Paris Greeters program, which is an organization comprised of volunteers who take visitors on a 2-3 hour guided walk of their neighborhood. The official mission of the program is to "change the traditional view that tourists have of Parisians and their city." In other words, a major Paris PR campaign to show a kinder side of the city that is often deeply associated with snobbery. And I'll tell you what - it works! We booked a tour a few weeks ago by telling them a little bit about ourselves and some dates we would be available for a walk. A volunteer proposed a walk last Saturday through the neighborhood he grew up in, which included the Luxembourg gardens and the area around the Sorbonne. We had an absolutely fantastic time, and learned a lot more about Paris than we ever could have from a guide book or walking around on our own. A few highlights included an impromptu visit to the Sainte-Genvieve library, were the students were furiously studying for the Bac (end of high school exam, with a lot more pressure than SATs) and the Lycée Henri IV, one of the three most prestigious high schools in Paris. I didn't take a whole lot of pictures, as we were really just cruising around while talking about life in Paris, but here are a few pics below. And for those of you planning trips to Paris, and have a free afternoon to spend with a local (we do not count), it's completely free and a really great way to see a different side of the city.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorBecause why not get married and move to Paris to really kick off your thirties? Archives
December 2016
|