A New Parisian

Stop the Presses! Paris Metro/Bus routes are now interactive!

I’m not one to go gaga for flash and animated JavaScript driven web sites. The SNCF/TGV sites have been driving me crazy for an hour or so. But then my friend pointed me to the new interactive Paris Metro and Paris Bus maps and let me say they are AWESOME!!!!!

Locals and tourists are going to find these very helpful. I just found out that I could take a bus from my apartment to the Eiffel Tower. These maps give you traffic warnings, time estimates, connections, and much more.

It’s only in French, but easy enough to use for non-french speakers. You can also see what the metro stations look like with my interactive metro photograph map.

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Versailles has been restored recently and is a fabulous place to visit. However, there are a few things to know in advance.

1. There are few restrooms, so try to plan in advance, if you know what I mean.
2. Buy a ticket to Versailles in advance. You can easily more than an hour to purchase a ticket.
3. Buy your return RER ticket as soon as you arrive in Versailles. The machines will not be busy. You’ll have to wait in line as all of the other people purchase tickets to go home at the end of the day.
4. Don’t leave early and miss the water fountain display.

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I just came across this great resource for electrical outlets and plugs: Domestic AC Power Plugs and Outlets. It’s an exciting topic, down right electrifying. Sarcasm aside, this was the perfect answer for which transformer I need for a trip to Romania in the morning.

The Europlug is used in Class II applications throughout continental Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Iceland, Slovenia, Poland, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Turkey, Bulgaria). It is also used in Middle East, most of Africa, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Bangladesh, Indonesia as well as the former Soviet republics, and many developing nations.

This plug is intended for use with devices that require 2.5 A or less. Because it can be inserted in either direction into the socket, live and neutral are connected at random.
Domestic AC Power Plugs and Outlets

I’ve been to several Pride Parades in California and was looking forward to seeing one in Paris. I expected a similar format: groups of floats, bands, people in cars, Dykes on Bikes, and politicians riding down the route as thousands of people watched and cheered.

I was really shocked when I arrived at the route a couple hours before the start and saw no signs of an event about to happen. Where were the crowds? Where were the signs, the chairs, the families?

I should have known better. This is Paris, not California. this is a country where protests, rallies, and parades are a common occurrence. They are participatory events. There were thousands of people in the parade, just not watching the parade.

The Pride Parade follows the standard parade/rally format. People show up at a designated area to prepare and coordinate. At the scheduled time, or after the standard delays, people start marching/walking/dancing/participating along the route to the final destination. Upon completion of the parade, there will be more music, dancing, eating, talking, and discussions.

If you’ve become bored of the French Pride Parade, take a trip to California or New York for a new perspective. Likewise, the Paris parade is a great alternative to the standard American exhibition.