Paris Summary Guide - O

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Paris Summary Guide - O - Z

Opening hours

Hours of Service

Because of the long extended Parisian luch hours ,avoid doing "administrative" task during this time. Shops may be closed for an hour or so, between 12 and 2.30pm

Banks tend to open 9am -5pm on weekdays ( many closing for lunch from 12 to 2pm) and close either on Saturdays or Mondays. All banks close on major national holidays and most close early on the day before a public holiday.

Main Post Offices

are open 8am-7pm on weekdays and 8am-noon on Saturdays.

Smaller post offices close for lunch from 12 to 2.30pm, an close at 5 or 6pm.

Grocers, bakeries, tobacconists, food shops

are open from 7 - 8am to 7pm ( or later, sometimes up to midnight) ,Monday -Saturday.

Food shops ( the large grocery shops e.g. Monoprix) are generally closed on Sunday. Only the smaller neighborhood markets are open on Sundays. Sundays the open air markets are in the streets, so everyone generally buys all their fresh produce from the air markets. Small shops usually shut at lunch- time, 12.30-2pm

Other shops,department stores, boutiques are open from 9am ,9.30 0r 10am to 6.30 0r 7pm (sometimes later in the summer), Tuesday to Saturday. Many are closed Monday morning or all day Monday.

Museums

are open 10am-5pm, 5.30 - 6pm (variable). Some including the Louvre, are closed on Tuesdays: others close on Mondays. Major national monuments including the Arc de Triomphe, Pantheon and Sainte- Chaleppe are open daily, except certain public holidays.

Parking

is a nightmare, which is why it's better to walk, use the metro or take a bus.

Photography and Video

All types of blank videotapes are available, but note that prerecorded cassettes sold in France are not compatible with UK or US systems.

If you should venture into FNAC or Virgin record shops, and want to buy DVDS. You should be aware of the ZONE. There are two classes of ZONES.

Zone 1:

this is for DVDS and VIDEOS for US and Canada computer, Laptop, and DVD players. Only DVDS located in the “ZONE 1 area will play on your computer.

Zone 2:

Zone 2 is for France and other European countries. DVDS located in this area will not want on your US computer, they may even damage your computer.

Police

To help identify the police notice the uniform:

Blue -uniformed police - keep law and order and direct traffic and as a general rule are most courteous and helpful.

The CRS - Compagnies republicaines de securite - are the guys, seen wielding batons and quelling demonstrations that have got out of hand.

Gendarmes - Outside Paris and other main cities, the gendarmes, in blue trouser and black jackets with white belts, are responsible for traffic and crime investigation

If you need to call for police help, dial 17 (anywhere in France)

Post office

Hours of Service

These display a blue bird and the sign "la poste". They are usually open from:

8am to 7pm Monday to Friday

8am-noon on Saturday

The city's main post office at:

52 Rue du Lourve is open 24 hours a day ,every day.

The post office at:

71 Avenue des Champs-Elysee

is open until 10pm on weekdays and is opened on Sunday and puble holidays (10am-noon, 2-8pm)

As well as the usual mail services, you can make phone calls, buy telecartes (phone cards) and send faxes. And bring something to read, or your walkman, because there is always a long line!

Letters can even be delivered within hours in the Paris district by sending them postexpress from the post office. Another quick system for delievering a message is the message telephone; tel. 36 55.

While you can buy stamps at the tobacconist (tabacs) or souvenir shops, the salespeople may not sell them to you unless you purchase something to else. You can however but phonecards there.

Restrooms\Toilette

Public toilets come in the form of round curved booths and are found all over Paris. They cost about 2euros to use and clean themselves after the user has left. Bars and cafes also have toilets. If you are not a customer , leave a euro in the dish provided, or at the bar. Some places like the Lourve , toilettes require 50cent euro in the coin drop.

Many of the toilettes are for both sexes. So don't be surprised if the opposite sex is inside.

Telephones

Most Paris public phones only take phonecards (telecartes). You can buy cards of 50 or 120 units at most post offices , tobacconists, and at the Metro stations.

Time Differences

France keeps to Central European Time (GMT+ 1 hr )In the summer clocks are put one hour ahead (GMT +2hrs)

Paris is

6 hours	ahead of New York (est)
7 hours	ahead of Chicago 9 (cst)
9 hours	ahead of Los Angeles (pst)

Tipping

A little tip will go along way in Paris. Service is included in restaurant bills. Although a few waiters may try to persude you other wise. If you plan on returning to the same restaurant, if you leave a tip you will be remembered and warmly welcomed on your next visit.

Tourist Information Offices

Before going to Paris you can obtain a lot of up-to-the-minute information from the:

French National Tourist Office in the States before you leave, trust me it is easier.

In Paris, you will find the :

Office de Tourisme de Paris ( Vistors Bureau)

127 Avenues des Champs - Elysees,

75008 Pairs

tel. (1) 49 52 53 54

FAX (1) 49 52 53 00

The staff will be able to help you with information and hotel bookings.

The office is open 9am-8pm every day except May 1. You can change money there , buy phonecards and the Museum Pass. Other branches are located in major stations, the Eiffel Tower ( May to September) and airport terminals.

There is also one located next to the Virgins record store downstairs in th Lourve.

TransportationBuses ( autobus)

The Metro

Bus transport around Paris is efficient though not always fast. Stops are marked by red and yellow signs, with the bus mumbers posted, and you will find bus itineraries displayed under bus shelters. You can obtain a general bus route plan from metro station ticket offices.

Most buses run from 7am to 8.30pm, some till 12.30am . Service is reduced on Sunday and public Holidays. Special buses for nightowls , the" Noctambus", run along ten main routes serving the capital from 1.30am to 5.30am every hour, with Chatelet Metro stop as the hub.

Bus journeys may take up one , two or three tickets, depending on the distance. You can buy a ticket as you booard, but it is cheaper to buy a book of tickets (carnet) from any metro station. You can also buy special one-three-or five-day tourist passes or the weekly ticket an carte orange. Show these special tickets to the driver as you get on: don't put them in the punching machine.

Metro

Train

the SNCF (French Railways Authority) runs fast.

The high speed TGV operating on selected routes are excellent, but more expensive than the average train. Seat reservation on TGVs is compulsory, and you have to pay for it.

The Main stations in Paris are:

Gare du Nord	for the Eurostar to London, and for Belgium and Netherlands
Gare de l'Est	Eastern France and Germany
Gare Saint - Lazare	Normandy and Clais
Gare d'Austerlitz	Southwestern France and Spain
Gare Montparnasse	Western France
Gare de Lyon	Provence, Switzerland and Italy)

You must get your ticket punched before boarding , by inserting it in one of the orange machines (called a machine a composter) on the way to the platform. If it is not clipped and dated, the ticket collector is entitled to fine you on the train.

Taxi

are reasonable priced thought there will be extras for putting luggage in the boot ( trunk) and for pick up at a station or airport. Also, taxis can refuse to carry more than three passengers.

You will find taxis cruising around, or at stands all over the city. Rates differ according to the zones covered or the time of the day. You will be charged more between 7pm and 7am, and on Sundays.

Water

Tap water is suitable for dirnking , unless marked eau non potable. No one walks around with a water bottle. Some French call this act grazing. If you find yourself thirsty you should find a small cafe and order your water sitting down. Relax.