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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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.

Metro stations are the easiest place to buy tickets; you’ll find automated ticket machines and walk up windows. I would recommend using the walk up windows during busy periods. The automated machines can be a bit confusing and it is aggravating to have a group of people line up as you fumble with your ticket purchase.

You may even be tempted to buy tickets from someone standing next to the machine. Avoid these frauds, they’ll sell you used tickets at a premium.

You can purchase single tickets or a pack of 10 (carnet). A ticket will allow you to transfer between multiple metro trains, However it doesn’t allow unlimited transfers of buses. You’ll save money and time buying tickets 10 at a time. These are good options for those visiting Paris for less than a week.

You can purchase weekly tickets that are valid Monday through Sunday. these are not available to purchase every day. if you buy one on Friday-Sunday, they won’t take effect until the following Monday. These unlimited tickets come in several flavors, Carte Orange and Passe Navigo are the most common. Short term visitors may want to look into the Paris Visite pass, which ends up being cheaper than individual tickets, more expensive than Carte Orange or Navigo, but you pay for just one to 5 days.

Unlimited travel saves money and time

you’ll want to upgrade to a carte orange or navigo pass if you will be staying longer or returning at a later time. Carte orange is an older method for purchasing a ticket that allows you to pay once a week or month. The ticket allows unlimited use of the metros or buses within the designated zones. You will probably want the basic set, zones 1 and 2, this includes the city limits and the suburbs right outside the city.

You will need to provide a passport style image; most major metro stops feature photo booths for this purpose. Just take the photo to a ticket booth and request a carte orange for the desired time period. They will create an identity card and hand you a holder and special ticket. You’ll need to sign your id card and write your id card number on your ticket to make it valid.

To use the metro, pass your carte orange ticket through the collectors as you would a normal ticket. On buses, show the driver your valid ticket and id when you get on.

Carte Orange is being phased out in favor of Navigo.  It may not be available for much longer.

Navigo

Navigo is much more convenient to use. However, you need to mail your passport photo to the RATP and receive your identity card in the mail a few weeks later. It uses RFID technology instead of a ticket for passing through the toll gates and getting on a bus.

You can also register your Navigo pass to work with the Velib rental bikes. There are two types of Navigo passes, depending on whether you live/work in the Paris vicinity or not.

I wont drive a car in Paris… no, no, no

Owning a car in Paris is a liability more than a benefit. Drivers  have to find parking, fuel is expensive, and traffic jams make commuting a slow arduous process. Bertrand Delanoë, the mayor of Paris, has made alternate transportation a priority to reduce congestion and the effects of pollution. The tiny smart car and motorcycles are common alternatives for personal transportation.

Life with the Paris metro

The nearest metro station is a reference point for business and personal addresses. You may find yourself looking for a hotel or apartment located near your favorite metro line. The various metro lines criss-cross the city, touching just about every neighborhood within the city limits.

you’ll rarely have to walk more than a quarter mile to reach a station.

The dynamic duo – metro and bus

Paris has a world-class bus system as well as the metro. Your metro ticket is valid for both. Use the metros for faster commuting and the buses for shorter trips, sightseeing, or when you’d rather enjoy the view. Buses are also more popular with the elderly and those who want to avoid the many steps inside metro stations. You can also grab shuttle boats on the Seine during summer.

Freedomlist is a web site that features free internet providers around the world. You may want to check out the free French internet providers to satisfy your connection needs while setting up your permanent accounts.

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Now playing: Billie Holiday – Trav’lin’ Light
via FoxyTunes

Moving to Paris has been a dream of mine for many years. It’s a goal that is now within finger’s reach. But oh my has this been the week of Heck in the city of lights.

My friend Pam, who lived in Paris for several years, warned me about this. She told me the following joke years ago. Never has this seemed so darn appropriate

There’s a really nice guy in heaven and he’s having a nice time. Everyone loves him and he’s more than content. However, he finds the area just a wee bit too boring. One day, he visits God and asks him:

“You know God, I really like it here but I need a vacation. I’d like to visit Hell for a week to see what it is like. Can I do that?”

God says: “Are you sure you want to go down there? It’s not what you think it is…”

The man says yes and God books the trip. When the man arrives in Hell, it is absolutely wonderful. The food is great, the weather is warm, people are drinking, partying, having sex, the whole nine yards. The man has the most fun during that week in his entire life. Afterwards, he returns to Heaven and talks to God.

“God, that was a fantastic experience. Hell was great. The people had so much fun, it was warm and gorgeous and Satan is a pretty neat person after all. I’d … I’d … I’d like to move there. Can I?”

God was shocked at the thought and suggested the man should really think it over. The next day they talked again and God was convinced to let the man move to Hell. A week later the man enters Hell.

The place is hot and steamy. The people are angry and yelling at each other. There’s no food, no water, no booze, no drugs, and certainly no sex. Just misery and aggrevation. The man walks up to Satan and asks him what happened to the sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Where’s the fun times he experienced just a week ago…

Satan replied “Don’t mistake vacation with immigration!”

Pam Fong

So that last line has always been in the back of my mind as I thought of moving to Paris. Here are some of the lessons/experiences I’ve learned over the week. If you want to move to Paris:

1. Get a relocation agent to help. I was blessed to have Graziella at Acta Services Intl at my side. She arranged for about a dozen apartment viewings and assisted the bank account management. I learned a lot from her and would have been completely lost without her.
2. Save up a lot of money. I mean a lot of money. Did I say that you needed money?I was about to rent a small apartment for 1,000 euros/month. Originally I was told that I would need to pay the first month plus two additional months rent for deposit. Also the apartment agency would get 12% of the annual rent. So, before I could move in, I needed 4,440 euros in the bank. It could have been more as the agency fee may have needed value added tax added. When I arrived to sign the lease, they also wanted to make sure that I was going to pay the rent. In france, tenants have much more rights than landlords and they don’t want to mess with deadbeats. So, she wanted me to deposit an additional 10,000 euros into a blocked account in France to insure that I would pay my rent. So, lets summarize. A 1,000 euro/month apartment requires 14,4000 euro (a little over $19,000) up front.
3. Converting dollars to euros ain’t cheap, even within a bank. I brought some travelers checks to pay for the apartment deposits. I hoped to simply deposit the money into my new French account. Oh no, I needed to go outside the bank to their currency converting booth and pay 1.44 dollars to a euro instead of the going rate of 1.35. For a thousand dollars, that is a significant amount. I then had to deposit that into the account.
4. I’m hoping HSBC is going to be a good bank for me. I set up an account in the U.S. and a new account in France. It would be nice if they spoke to each other and facilitated the transfer of money back and forth. However, my new branch near the Paris Yahoo! office can barely share information with the branch a few miles away, so let’s see. So far I am cautiously optimistic about this. Oh, and there’s no such thing as free checking in Paris. You’ll pay a monthly fee.
5. Spread your money around and bring all of your debit cards. I have the majority of my money in Washington Mutual and they put a hold on my card 3 days ago after using an ATM once. I’ve never had them block it before. I tried calling and they said it was open again, but the transactions are still blocked. Don’t count on one American bank. I wish I had transferred more money to my American HSBC account or thought ahead and brought my ATM card for my credit union.

Arrrgggghhhh! This has been very frustrating. I am not money obsessed but this whole move has completely depleted my resources and I still don’t have an apartment. I still don’t have a phone account. I still don’t have a visa or final contract but that is another story that I don’t want to get into.

I must say the French people have been very nice and friendly, as they always are. Even the demanding apartment agency put up a nice front as she began requesting any future born children, my left arm, the money in my wallet, and anything else she could get as a deposit/guarantee.

Here are a few quick things to help you prepare for your move to Paris:

1. Get a relocation agency, such as Acta International Services.
2. Put as much money as you can afford into an international bank, such as HSBC, before going to Paris.
3. Read: Living and Working in France, a guide book that explains the idiosyncrasies of French life.

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Now playing: Charlemagne – August Evenings
via FoxyTunes

This is why some people complain about the horribly rude service during their vacations, while others beam with stories of wonderful treatment. It’s easy to enjoy the best of French people, just understand the following rules.

1. Recognize the proprietor. Shopping in the U.S. is an anonymous activity. We walk into a shop, handle the merchandise, joke with friends about prices and quality, and don’t actually talk to an employee until the mindless chatter at the cash register. It’s difficult to open a store in France. Many times, the owner will be the first person you see as you enter a shop. You are not just walking into a room with merchandise; you are entering a person’s private space and making an intimate connection with them. Acknowledge the store’s workers. A simple “Bon Jour” as you cross the threshold goes a long way. Further, mention how beautiful the décor, merchandise, and/or environment is. Don’t grab merchandise and tease your friends with it. Regardless of making a purchase or not; thank the person as you leave.The bottom line: treat the store as if you’ve entered their home, not just another Walmart or 7/11.
2. Hands off: There are magnificent outdoor markets in France. Every neighborhood in Paris will have a temporary market at least once a week, usually twice. There are also some wonderful permanent market spaces, such as my favorite: Rue Mouffetard. You’ll see a great selection of local and international foods displayed with an artistic flair. The vendors are experts in their fields. They also take great pride in providing you the best choices. In the U.S. we are examine our fruits and vegetables. Each grocery store apple could be handled by dozens of shoppers looking for their favorite one. Don’t do this in France, it’s highly offensive. Simply say hello to the market person and tell them what you’d like. They will select the best fruits, vegetables, cheese, etc for you. Enjoy the pride they take in their work.
3. You are not being ignored: Perhaps one of the biggest differences in French and American culture can be found in restaurants. In the U.S., we expect waiters to check in on us regularly. They ask if the food is ok, do we want more water, to bring the check as soon as we are finished eating, etc.The French waiter is also watching your table but in a more discreet manner. They will watch for telltale signs that you need more water, bread, a plate removed, the next course served, etc. A good French waiter will appear before you think about asking for service.Meals are sacred in France. The restaraunt table is your space until you are ready to leave. You will be provided for and more importantly given privacy until you are ready to leave. This also means you will not be rushed to leave the restaurant for the next set of guests. When you are ready to leave, simply raise your hand to get the waiter’s attention and quietly request the bill.
4. Forget the ice: Sodas are served without ice. Get over it. Learn to drink a Coke without a glass full of ice. Many restaurants have tiny kitchens and don’t stock large supplies of ice for customers.
5. Waiting in line: Americans have no problems waiting in lines. The French do. Don’t get upset if you’ve been standing in line for tickets to a theater and a local cuts in to the line. It’s like a national sport to avoid lines and taxes.
6. Staring is ok. There’s a difference between Americans and French. In America, we prepare for our debut on the way to the office. You’ll see people applying makeup, dressing, shaving, etc in their cars as they head to work. Women will wear tennis shoes with dresses as they head to work. In France, you make your debut as you leave your door. The whole city is a stage. It’s ok to stare at someone, to appreciate their wardrobe, creativity, and style. It’s a very flirtatious society, expect to be admired or viewed by both sexes.
7. Be yourself, don’t dress to impress. Look at the difference between a French and American film. American films are filled with action, little dialogue, and always have a happy ending. French films are filled with dialogue, psychological studies, moral issues, and usually have an unhappy ending. The French are surrounded with literature, cinema, theater, poetry, and art that analyzes a person’s inner self, their morals, issues, and expectations. They’ll see right through someone trying to be who they aren’t. Dress comfortably and true to your personality. Don’t cover yourself with jewelry and expensive clothes unless that is truly your circle. You also shouldn’t dress down. Just be yourself.
8. It’s ok to smoke: Sure there are laws against smoking in restaurants, cleaning up after your dog, and such. But these are not really laws, they are suggestions. If you are from California or another area that enjoys smoke-free areas, you’ll have to get used to some smoke. Don’t tell someone to put out their cigarette or lecture them about their health.