Elsa’s Pick for Personal Safety: The Screaming Alarm

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Have you ever been so afraid that you couldn’t scream? I have. Hook the Ila alarm to your handbag or belt loop, pull the string, and let it scream for you!

Source: Screaming Personal Safety Alarm — from CorporateTravelSafety.com.

The Ila Dusk alarm is and is $27.95

The Ila Dusk alarm is 3″ x 1.5″ x 3″ and is $27.95 at Corporate Travel Safety.com.

Imagine: You’re walking down the street at night in a foreign country with map in hand trying to find your lodging. You sense a man walking behind you, picking up his pace, and you start to fear he intends to rob you. What do you do?

Studies show that cries for help are more likely to get a response than alarms and whistles; after all, how many times have you heard a car alarm go off and ignored it as just another noise? At the pull of its string, the Ila Dusk alarm registers a female scream at 130 decibels that is meant to disorient and/or scare off a would-be attacker. I wish I had had it when I was in Paris last year: I was visiting Pere Lachaise Cemetery, and I was in a fairly secluded area where no one else was around when two men approached me and came within an inch of my face. They taunted me as I held onto my handbag and muttered that I didn’t speak French well. They eventually left. Had I had the Ila alarm, they would have left much sooner — and in a hurry.

In addition, I could have used it when I was robbed about 100 yards from my apartment building: I had taken a shortcut after walking to the grocery store, and there was no one around because everyone was in front of their TVs waiting for the kickoff of the Superbowl. I wanted to throw a glass bottle of white vinegar at my three attackers who approached me from behind, but I was shaking so hard I couldn’t manage to get my hand into my plastic grocery bag. They ripped my brand new handbag off of me and left me clutching a strap. I couldn’t even scream as they walked away from me, scouring my handbag for stolen loot. I needed someone — or something — to scream for me.

Please note that the product description states the decibel level as 130, but the graph puts the decibel level at 101. I emailed the company requesting clarification of this inconsistency, but I never received a reply. No matter: 100 decibels is roughly the sound the sound of a wood shop (you know, the sound of a wood-cutting blade), which is still more than enough to ward off a would-be attacker. Just do yourself a favor and think twice before pulling the alarm on an airplane or other tightly-enclosed place.

 

Au revoir!

 

Image of Ila Dusk Screaming Alarm from CorporateTravelSafety.com.

 

 

 

 

Two Magic Words Get You Paris Opera Tickets for 10 Euros Each

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Get Paris Opera tickets for bargain-basement prices. Just know how to ask for them in French.

Source: Two Magic Words Get You Paris Opera Tickets for 10 Euros Each – French Morning

Isn't the lighting of the Paris Opera House beautiful?

Isn’t the lighting of the Paris Opera House beautiful?

The Paris Opera offers discounted (some obstructed view) tickets to all of its performances at its two locations; they are called sans visibilite tickets.  (Note: My theme doesn’t fully support French accents yet.) You have to go in person at least 30 minutes before the performance you want to see and ask for them in French: “Puis-je avoir deux sans visibilite billets pour...[insert performance name] (May I have two without visibility tickets for [insert performance name])?

At the Palais Garnier, it is possible to get a box seat with these tickets. At the Bastille location, they are standing-room only.

Consider how much you’re saving. For Capricco, an opera by Richard Strauss at the Palais Garnier from January 19 – February 14, 2016, tickets generally range from 190 euros ($216.60) for Optima seats, to 45 euros ($51.30). Would you rather pay $216.60, $51.30, or $11.40 to see a Paris opera? Perhaps it depends on how much you love the opera, and what your travel spending plan allows.

Click here to see the performance schedule, seating plan and prices.

 

Au revoir!

 

“La lampara de la opera” by Paloma Leon y Luismi Cavalle, Flickr, CCBY 2.0.

11 Things to Know Before You Visit Paris

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All cities have their idiosyncrasies. Here are 11 things to remember when visiting Paris.

Learn some basic French phrases before travelling to Paris.

Learn some basic French phrases before travelling to Paris.

1.  Learn at least some basic French phrases before stepping on the plane. Yes, I know this sounds obvious, but being a guest in a foreign country means doing your best to conform to them, not expecting natives to conform to you. You will win more points than you could know — even if the other speaker answers you in English (or in your own language).

Your credit card number and passport information can be stolen even if they never leave your pocket or purse.

Your credit card number and passport information can be stolen even if they never leave your pocket or purse.

2.  Buy an RFID-blocking wallet or case for your passport and credit cards. You can be robbed while travelling without a credit card or passport leaving your person. I previously published a post on this based on this story.

Have enough euros on you when you land in Paris for an emergency; if you have a layover first, even more of a reason.

Have enough euros on you when you land in Paris for an emergency; if you have a layover first, even more of a reason.

3.  Change at least $100 to euros per person before leaving. Some taxis don’t have credit card machines, and you want to be prepared for emergencies. Quite some time ago, I was literally hijacked by a taxi driver when I arrived in Athens, Greece, for a trip back to the U.S. Through an interpreter (as I said, he hijacked me: he took me to a Greek hotel where the manager served as interpreter) he demanded $50 (all of the money I had on me), which was to serve as payment for him “looking” for my destination, as well as my cab ride with the next guy. (A kickback?) Although I stood my ground as best I could and told him “my government will be looking for me” if I didn’t get to my destination in time for my next flight, had I had more money on me, I would have walked out of the hotel and flagged down the next cab that came my way.

Signage like this at Gare du Nord is to protect travelers as much as it is to direct them.

Signage like this at Gare du Nord is to protect travelers as much as it is to direct them.

4.  Don’t take a taxi from a Paris airport except from designated areas. I’ve generally used Charles de Gaulle Airport flying in and out of Paris. There were signs telling travelers where to pick up a taxi (outside glass doors), and a recording over  a loudspeaker warning travelers not to follow a taxi driver who comes into the airport to greet you. (Then, before you get in, check to be sure he has a credit card machine, if that’s your preferred method of payment.)

Don't give too much information to people in a taxi you don't know.

Don’t give too much information to people in a taxi you don’t know.

5.  Don’t share a taxi with someone you’ve just met and tell them where you’re staying. Seen Taken (2008) anyone?

The cavernous hallways and staircases of the Paris metro can be intimidating to the uninitiated.

The cavernous hallways and staircases of the Paris metro can be intimidating to the uninitiated.

6.  The Paris metro is a beast. Accept this before you go. The Paris metro is one of the largest and oldest metros in the world. Considering that you would be pressed to walk 10 minutes in the city and not find a metro stop, that means the lines are extensive and many. Bring your reading glasses if you need them because the print is small. Very small.

The souvenir shop at Le Tours France near the Eiffel Tower.

The souvenir shop at Le Tours France near the Eiffel Tower.

7.  Buy a souvenir you like as soon as you see it. This isn’t just because it might not be there when you go back to purchase it, it might increase in price, like what happened to me when I decided to buy a second frame I liked. The price had increased by 7 euros!

My experience has taught me that French women keep to themselves while shopping.

My experience has taught me that French women keep to themselves while shopping.

8.  If you’re a woman, don’t talk to fellow (French) woman shoppers. Many women bond with other women while shopping, as in, “Oh! Isn’t this cute?” or “What a great skirt/blouse/jacket!” French women will likely look at you uncomfortably and ignore you. I’ll give you 10 guesses how I know this. (By the way, if you’re a man, I’m not sure what would happen if you spoke to a French woman who is shopping. You’ll have to find that out for yourself.)

Have your purse or wallet handy to shove your euros into when receiving change after a purchase.

Have your purse or wallet handy to shove your euros into when receiving change after a purchase.

9.  Be prepared to shove your money in a pocket or purse the instant you get your change. I like to be very organized, but being and remaining organized takes time. I was at the receiving end of a glare or two while I tried to shove my euros into my Filofax’s plastic money pouch after receiving change. I later gave up using my Filofax for money and used a money pouch instead, better to stay out of the next customer’s way.

You won't get your way by screaming like a banshee in Paris. Keep cool, be civilized, and say "Bonjour" before calmly recounting your problem.

You won’t get your way by screaming like a banshee in Paris. Keep cool, be civilized, and say “Bonjour” before calmly recounting your problem.

10. If you’re upset about something, say “Bonjour” (Hello) before calmly recounting the reason you’re upset to the person who can help you. On several occasions over the course of a month, the Paris metro fare card machines would not accept my Visa debit card. Frustrated, the last time this happened I stormed over to the metro official behind the glass at Blanche station and started to launch into a tirade about my frustration. He took a deep breath and said, “Bon-jour, Madame.” I blinked at him. His greeting brought me back to reality: I was in Paris, where you were expected to act like a civilized person even when you are very upset — not like America, where the angriest and loudest among us are the ones who are catered to. Lesson learned.

A Parisian waiter takes a break in the "back room."

A Parisian waiter takes a break in the “back room.”

11. Remember when your favorite seafood/meat/produce guy at your local grocery store had a bad day and wasn’t as friendly as usual? That happens in France, too. Perhaps even more often, since Paris is one of the most-visited cities in the world, and as a consequence, Parisians have to deal with many lost and hungry tourists who don’t speak a word of French. If a French person happens to be not particularly friendly to you, don’t judge all French people based on your experience with that one person, just as you wouldn’t want a foreign traveler in the U.S. to base their perceptions of all Americans based on one American’s behavior. Am I right?

Au revoir!

 

“French Homework” by Ahson Wardak, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Image of thief with credit card by CanStockPhoto. Image of wallet with euros by Fufu Wolf, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Gare du Nord Signage by Brian Stokle, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. “Paris Taxi at Night” by Cberthel, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. “Metro Paris” by Doril Photography, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. “Le Tour’s Souvenir Shop” by Rui Riet, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Female Parisian shopper image by CanStockPhoto. Purse at the ready by CanStockPhoto. Image of Aristocratic Couple by CanStockPhoto. Waiter taking a break by Will Wilson, Flickr, CCBY 2.0.

25 Paris Sites in the Movies

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Paris is a beautiful city with sites to be seen for their own historical significance. But sometimes it’s fun to see sites featured in movies, either to imagine yourself in a role or to figure out how the filmmakers worked their magic at that location. Here are 25 Paris sites featured or mentioned on film, identified by arrondissement, and how to get each one.

I. M. Pei's pyramid at the Louvre is gorgeous at night.

I. M. Pei’s pyramid at the Louvre is gorgeous at night.

1. Louvre
1st arrondissement
Metro: Palais Royal-Musee du Louvre

The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world and is known by many as the home of the Mona Lisa. It was originally built as a fortress by Phillip II in the 12th century; the only remnant of the original building still visible is in the crypt. The Louvre was altered frequently in the Middle Ages, and Charles V converted the building into a residence. Francis I renovated the site in French Renaissance style, and it was his collection (including the Mona Lisa) that became the nucleus of the Louvre’s holdings. After Louis XIV chose Versailles as his residence in 1682, the Louvre was used as a residence for artists. During the French Revolution, the Louvre was transformed into a public museum.

It has been featured in many movies, of late at the beginning and the end of The Da Vinci Code (2006). I. M. Pei’s pyramid in front of the Louvre is gorgeous lit up at night.

A grieving mother is aided by a magical cowboy in a segment of Paris je t'aime.

A grieving mother is aided by a magical cowboy in a segment of Paris je t’aime.

2. Place des Victories
2nd arrondissement
Metro: Bourse, Pyramides or Etienne Marcel

The Place de Victories is a round-about (circle), located a short distance northeast from the Palais Royal and straddling the border between the 1st and the 2nd arrondissements. It is at the confluence of six streets: rue de la Feuillade, rue Vide Gousset, rue d’Aboukir, rue Etienne Marcel, rue Croix des Petits Champs, and rue Catinat. At the center of the Place des Victoires is an equestrian monument in honor of King Louis XIV, celebrating the Treaties of Nijmegen, which concluded in 1678-79. King Louis XIV negotiated the Treaty of Nijmegen which ended the Franco-Dutch War of 1672-78; this lay the groundwork for other treaties involving France, the Dutch Republic, Spain, Brandenburg, Sweden, Denmark, the Prince-Bishopric of Muster, and the Holy Empire – collectively, The Treaties of Nijmegen.

In Paris, je t’aime (2006), in a story of the same name as the arrondissement, a mother (Juliette Binoche) has a hard time accepting her son (Martin Combes) has died, and she is helped by a magical cowboy (Willem Dafoe), which her son loved. This also seems to be a commentary on French culture: In America, it wouldn’t be unusual for a mother to mourn for months, but in this segment, a father (Hippolyte Girardot) tells his wife, “It’s been a week, already.”

 

The beautiful garden at Square du Templar used to house the Knight Templars' palace before being torn down to modernize. On the main lawn, there is a plaque with the names of 85 children from the 3rd arrondissement deported to Auschwitz -- one of France's many memorials to those lost in WW II.

The beautiful garden at Square du Templar used to house the Knight Templars’ palace before being torn down to modernize. On the main lawn, there is a plaque with the names of 85 children from the 3rd arrondissement deported to Auschwitz — one of France’s many memorials to those lost in WWII.

3. Square du Temple
3rd arrondissement
Metro: Temple

The Knights Templar are only referred to in flash back in The Da Vinci Code. Still, they are an integral part of the story, since in Dan Brown’s storyline, they were charged with protecting a secret bloodline of Christ.

The Knights Templar were real, though Dan Brown mixed fact with fiction in his portrayal of them in "The Da Vinci Code."

The Knights Templar were real, though Dan Brown mixed fact with fiction in his portrayal of them in “The Da Vinci Code.”

In reality, they protected pilgrims in the Holy Land, and were officially endorsed by the Catholic Church. Their secret initiation ceremony created mistrust of the order and Phillip IV ordered many of the Knights Templar to be rounded up and burned at the stake on Friday, October 13, 1307. Some believe this is the origin of Friday the 13th being an unlucky day.

Notre Dame has grounds on the other side for quiet contemplation -- or for learning the one you loved loved you in return, as in "Midnight in Paris."

Notre Dame has grounds on the other side for quiet contemplation — or for learning the one you loved loved you in return, as in “Midnight in Paris.”

4. Notre Dame
6 Parvis Notre Dame – Place Jean-Paul II
4th arrondissement
Metro: Cite, Hotel de Ville, or St. Michel

Notre Dame was completed in 1345 and is among the first buildings in the world to use flying buttresses. It was built in the French Gothic architectural style.

In Midnight in Paris (2011), Notre Dame plays a supporting role, since the action doesn’t take place in its hallowed interior, but rather in the serene park surrounding the cathedral. While sitting on a park bench, a museum docent (Carla Bruni) translates a diary for Gil (Owen Wilson) written by Adriana (Marion Cotillard), a 1920s French woman he falls in love with by going back in time while visiting Paris.

Shakespeare and Company plays only a minor role in "Midnight in Paris," but like a good-looking actor who is destined to be discovered, you notice it.

Shakespeare and Company plays only a minor role in “Midnight in Paris,” but like a good-looking actor who is destined to be discovered, you notice it.

5. Shakespeare and Company
37 rue de la Bucherie
5th arrondissement
Metro: St. Michel

The original Shakespeare and Company opened in 1919 and moved in 1922. In the early 1920s, it was a gathering place for writers such as Ernest Hemingway and James Joyce. This first location closed during the German occupation of Paris and never re-opened.

The current Shakespeare and Company opened in 1951 under another name and was later renamed in tribute to the original book store.

There are lots of nooks and well-used chairs in Shakespeare and Company to curl up in and read.

There are lots of nooks and well-used chairs in Shakespeare and Company to curl up in and read.

Shakespeare and Company only plays a minor role in Midnight in Paris (a walk-by, more or less), but like a good-looking actor who is destined to be discovered, you notice it. The bookstore has lots of nooks and crannies and used chairs to curl up in and read. You can even buy a book if you want.

With such an emphasis on fresh food in France, it makes sense there would be many outdoor markets like the one on Rue Mouffetard.

With such an emphasis on fresh food in France, it makes sense there would be many outdoor markets like the one on Rue Mouffetard.

6. Rue Mouffetard
The market starts at Place Contrescarpe and ends below at St. Medard Church.
5th arrondissement
Metro: Censier Daubenton

Rue Mouffetard is one of Paris’s oldest neighborhoods, dating back to Neolithic Times. Since food – especially fresh food – has always been a national passion in France with many people shopping for food daily, it makes sense that fruit, vegetables, and meat would be sold at such street markets at their peak of freshness.

The interior shots of St. Sulpice in "The Da Vinci Code" were filmed on a sound stage. You might be surprised by how dark the interior really is.

The interior shots of St. Sulpice in “The Da Vinci Code” were filmed on a sound stage. You might be surprised by how dark the interior really is.

In Julie & Julia (2009), Julia Child (Meryl Streep) shops for groceries at rue Mouffetard where she ingratiates herself to the locals with her charm and personality.

7. St. Sulpice
2 rue Palatine
6th arrondissement
Metro: St. Sulpice or Mabillon

St. Sulpice is the second largest church in the city and is dedicated to Sulpitius the Pious, a 7th century bishop of Bourges, France. Coincidentally, the church is the second built on the site: the original was built in the 13th century. Construction of the current structure began in 1646 and took over 100 years to be what it is today.

Can you imagine being trapped in a falling elevator in the Eiffel Tower's elevator shaft?

Can you imagine being trapped in a falling elevator in the Eiffel Tower’s elevator shaft?

In The Da Vinci Code, Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks)  searches for the “Rose Line,” a fictional name given to the Paris Meridian which is marked by a brass strip on the interior floor of the church. The real exterior of the church is used, but the interior was digitally recreated in the studio.

8. Eiffel Tower
Champ de Mars, 5 avenue Anatole
7th arrondissement
Metro: Bir-Hakeim or Trocadero

The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 to be that year’s entrance arch to the 1889 World’s Fair. It is named after Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the engineer who designed it. Many people didn’t think the design was feasible; later, it was criticized for being an eyesore and many people called for it to be dismantled. Cooler heads prevailed. Today, it is one of the most recognized structures in the world: One cannot think of France without envisioning the Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffel Tower has played many starring and supporting roles in movies, but perhaps one of the most unforgettable is in Superman II (1980) when Superman (Christopher Reeve) saves Louis Lane (Margot Kidder) by flying under the falling elevator she’s in and hurling it into space (letting her off first!), inadvertently freeing three villains from a glass prism-jail when the elevator shatters it in space. This was a white-knuckle stunt to watch at the time.

The Pont Alexandre III is behind the Grand Palais, which is at the east end of the Champs-Elysees.

The Pont Alexandre III is behind the Grand Palais, which is at the east end of the Champs-Elysees.

9. Pont Alexandre III
8th arrondissement
Metro: Charles de Gaulle Etoile (walk down length of the Champs-Elysees to the Grand Palais, the bridge is behind it), George V, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Champs-Elysees, or Concorde

Gabrielle (Lea Seydoux) loves Cole Porter and Paris in the rain in "Midnight in Paris."

Gabrielle (Lea Seydoux) loves Cole Porter and Paris in the rain in “Midnight in Paris.”

The bridge spans the Seine River and connects the Champs-Elysees quarter with those of Invalides and Eiffel Tower. It is widely regarded as the most beautiful and most ornate bridge in Paris. It was built to celebrate a treaty between France and Russia.

At the end of Midnight in Paris, Gil (Owen Wilson) runs into Gabrielle (Lea Seydoux), a young French woman whose values reflect his own. It starts to rain while they are walking on the bridge, and she tells him she doesn’t mind getting wet, and that Paris is most beautiful in the rain. Since his ex-fiancee hated getting wet and couldn’t see the beauty of Paris, philosophically speaking, the bridge serves as a transition for Gil to follow his values and find personal happiness as a result.

The Arc de Triomphe has exquisite detail, including 6 reliefs on the facades of the Arch and 21 sculpted roses on its interior.

The Arc de Triomphe features exquisite detail, including 6 reliefs on the facades of the Arch and 21 sculpted roses on its interior.

10. Arc de Triomphe
Place Charles de Gaulle
8th arrondissement
Metro: Charles de Gaulle Etoile

The Arc de Triomphe was completed in 1836 to honor France’s war dead of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. It was featured in The Day of the Jackal (1973) when French President Charles de Gaulle (Adrian Cayla-Legrand) rides in a parade to celebrate Liberation Day (August 25, 1944) when Paris was liberated from the Germans at the end of WWII. During filming, the actor playing de Gaulle was mistaken for the former French President – even though he had died in 1969 – causing at least one person to faint. The filming took place during a real Liberation Day parade.

Fountain at Place de la Concorde at sunset.

Fountain at Place de la Concorde at sunset.

11. Place de la Concorde Fountain
8th arrondissement
Metro: Concorde

There are 2 fountains at Place de la Concorde: the south fountain, Maritime Navigation, and the north, River Commerce and Navigation — so named because they were built in the shadow of the Ministry of the Navy.  They were completed in 1840 during the reign of King Louis-Philippe.

In The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Andy (Anne Hathaway) throws her phone into one of the fountains when she’s “done” with Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep).

The Theatre de l'Athenee is said to be one of the most beautiful buildings in Paris.

The Theatre de l’Athenee is said to be one of the most beautiful buildings in Paris.

12. Theatre de l’Athenee (also known as Theatre de l’Athenee-Louis-Jouvet)
7 rue Boudreau
9th arrondissement
Square de l’Opera-Louis Jouvet
Metro: Havre-Caumartin, Opera; RER: Auber

 The theatre was built in 1894 from the foyer of the previous theatre on the site. It is named after Louis Jouvet, who directed the theatre from 1934 – 1951. The theatre is classified as an historical monument.

In Hugo (2011), a boy (Asa Butterfield) lives alone in a clock tower after his father (Jude Law) and then a guardian (Ray Winstone) die. The boy tries to find a key to operate a robot his father left him. A magician named Georges Melies (Ben Kingsley), who eventually helps him, performs a magic trick in the theatre.

Gare du Nord serves approximately 190 million passengers per year.

Gare du Nord serves approximately 190 million passengers per year.

13. Gare du Nord
112 rue de Maubeuge
10th arrondissement
Metro: Gare du Nord

The original Gare du Nord (“North Station”) was built in 1846. It was partially demolished in 1860 so it could expand. The station serves approximately 190 million travelers per year, making it the busiest railway station in Europe.

The Arc de Triomphe has exquisite detail, including 6 reliefs on the facades of the Arch and 21 sculpted roses on its interior.

Gare du Nord railway station is enormous by anyone’s standards.

When Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) in The Bourne Identity (2002) first arrives in Paris, he locks his duffle bag full of spy paraphernalia in a locker in Gare du Nord. I’ve been in Gare du Nord several times and I’ve never seen lockers – I would think they would be a security risk – but I’ve never looked for them, either. I’ve always been too busy getting to where I want to go, similar to Mr. Bourne.

 

Le Pure Cafe is said to be a "genuine bistro experience."

Le Pure Cafe is said to be a “genuine bistro experience.”

14. Le Pure Café
14 rue Jean Mace
11th arrondissement
Metro: Charonne

Le Pure Café is decorated in the Art Deco style and offers classic French dishes as well as burgers and cappuccino. It is often described as “a genuine bistro experience,” and is well-regarded by local Parisians.

Many people now associate Le Pure Café with the film "Before Sunset."

Many people now associate Le Pure Café with the film “Before Sunset.”

While Paris landmarks, like A-List stars, are easy to spot in movies, cafés often play minor roles like that of an “extra” – important to the scene, though nameless. One such café is Le Pure Café in the 11th arrondissement, in Before Sunset (2004), where Celine (Julie Delpy) and Jesse (Ethan Hawke) connect.

Le Train Bleu Restaurant, inside Gare de Lyon station, was named after a luxury train of the same name.

Le Train Bleu Restaurant, inside Gare de Lyon station, was named after a luxury train of the same name.

15. Le Train Bleu Restaurant
Gare de Lyon, Place Louis Armand
12th arrondissement
Metro: Gare de Lyon

Le Train Bleu is a restaurant built in 1901 in a hall of Gare de Lyon railway station. Initially called “Buffet de la Gare de Lyon,” it was renamed in 1963 after a luxury train of the same name that ran between Calais and the French Riviera. It is decorated in the Renaissance style with frescoes on the walls and ceilings, gilded cherubs, and light fixtures with numerous bulbs.

Le Train Bleu serves as the backdrop for Nikita’s (Anne Parillaud) first mission as a trained assassin in La Femme Nikita (1990). I fully admit I included Le Train Bleu because the décor is so gorgeous I couldn’t resist.

Avenue de Choisy, part of the Asian Quarter in Paris.

Avenue de Choisy, part of the Asian Quarter in Paris.

16. Quartier Asiatique (“Asian Quarter”)
13th arrondissement
Metro: Tolbiac, Olympiades, or Port d’Ivry

 Quartier Asiatique is roughly the shape of a triangle formed by the confluence of avenue de Choisy, avenue d’Ivry, and boulevard Massena, as well as the Les Olympiades complex. It is the largest commercial and cultural center for the Asian community of Paris.

 In the Port de Choisy segment of Paris je t’aime, a new beauty products salesman (Barbet Schroeder) runs into “sales resistance” by a salon owner (Li Xin) in Chinatown.

Doc (Roy Scheider) in "Marathon Man."

Doc (Roy Scheider) in “Marathon Man.”

Le Dome Cafe opened in 1898 and offers sumptuous seafood meals.

Le Dome Cafe opened in 1898 and offers sumptuous seafood meals.

17. Le Dome Café
108 boulevard du Montparnasse
14th arrondissement
Metro: Vavin

Le Dome Café opened in 1898, and similar to Shakespeare and Company, served as a gathering place for writers and artists on the West Bank. Today, it is said to be one of the best seafood restaurants in Paris.

In Marathon Man (1976), Doc (Roy Scheider) meets with his superior Janeway (William Devane) at Le Dome Café to talk about his concerns for his safety.

 

Le Cordon Bleu was closed during the German occupation of France and reopened in 1946 under the tutelage of Madame Elisabeth Brassart.

Le Cordon Bleu was closed during the German occupation of France and reopened in 1946 under the tutelage of Madame Elisabeth Brassart.

 

18. Le Cordon Bleu
8 rue Leon, Delhomme
15th arrondissement
Metro: Convention

Le Cordon Bleu (“The Blue Ribbon”) is one of the world’s most renowned and prestigious cooking schools. The school has its roots in La Cuisinere Cordon Bleu Magazine founded by Marthe Distel in the late 19th century. The magazine featured cooking lessons by some of the best chefs in France. Le C0rdon Bleu opened in 1895 but closed during the German occupation of France (1940-1944). Madame Elisabeth Brassart relaunched the school in 1945 and managed it until her retirement in 1984.

In Julie & Julia, Julia famously attends Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, where she learns to master the art of French cooking.

The folding-over of rue Bouchut is a stunning special effect in "Inception."

The folding-over of rue Bouchut is a stunning special effect in “Inception.”

19. Rue Bouchut
15th arrondissement
Metro: Sevres-Lecorbe

Rue Bouchut is a quintessential Paris street due to its architecture: buildings with many stories and windows, wrought iron bars holding window boxes, and decorative molding giving the building facades definition and character. There is also a round-about at one end of the street. Perhaps it is the street’s quintessential French character that persuaded Christopher Nolan to select the location for a sequence in Inception, in which Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) teaches Ariadne (Ellen Page) about the dream state while they walk around Paris. While the two are talking, Ariadne folds rue Bouchut unto itself.

Rue Bouchut has a round-about at one end.

Rue Bouchut has a round-about at one end.

Unfortunately, there was construction underway on rue Bouchut when I was in Paris in the fall of 2014, so I couldn’t take my own picture. I hope you are more fortunate.

A beautiful sunset at Pont de Bir-Hakeim.

A beautiful sunset at Pont de Bir-Hakeim.

20. Pont de Bir-Hakeim
Connects 15th & 16th arrondissements
Metro: Bir-Hakeim (15th arrondissement)

The bridge was constructed between 1903 – 1905, and replaced a bridge built in 1878. Pont de Bir-Hakeim has two levels: one for motor vehicles and pedestrians, and a viaduct above for Line 6 of the Paris metro.

In Inception, Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) instructs Ariadne (Ellen Page) to never create dreamscapes from memory while the two walk on the pedestrian walkway. Ariadne finds out why in the form of Mal (Marion Cotillard) walking up to her and “killing” her – which wakes her up.

If you're interested in the history of fashion, the Palais Galliera is the place for you.

If you’re interested in the history of fashion, the Palais Galliera is the place for you.

21. Palais Galliera (more formal, Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris, “City of Paris Fashion Museum”)
10 avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie
16th arrondissement
Metro: Iena

The museum was a gift of Duchess Galliera and was built to display her family’s works of art. It was designed by Leon Ginain, who also supervised its construction. The museum formally opened in July 1894, and only has temporary exhibits, due to the delicate nature of its collections. The museum is closed between each exhibit. [Note: The museum is temporarily closed until November 2015.]

The Paris Fashion Show that Andy (Anne Hathaway) attends in Emily’s (Emily Blunt) place is held here in The Devil Wears Prada, which was strictly for filmmaking purposes.

A bird's eye view Hotel Camelia International, 17e.

A bird’s eye view Hotel Camelia International, 17e.

22. Hotel Camelia International
3 rue Darcet
17th arrondissement
Metro: Place de Clichy or La Fourche

Hotel Camelia is a budget hotel in pricey Paris. Just remember: You get what you pay for.

In Taken (2008), Bryan (Liam Neeson) finds a girl who had been taken hostage and takes her to the first safe place he can think of: Hotel Camelia, run by an old friend.

The steps to Le Basilique du Sacre-Coeur have been featured in many films.

The steps to Le Basilique du Sacre-Coeur have been featured in many films.

23. (Steps to ) Le Basilique du Sacre-Coeur
(“Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris”)
18th arrondissement
Metro: Abbesse

Le Basilique du Sacre-Coeur, "Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris" is the crown jewel of Montmartre.

Le Basilique du Sacre-Coeur, “Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris” is the crown jewel of Montmartre.

The Basilica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city. It was constructed between 1875 – 1914. Being the highest point in the city means you have to climb many steps to get there: 270, to be exact.

 

 

 

The obelisk at Place des fetes is the site of a sad story in "Paris, je t'aime."

The obelisk at Place des Fetes is the site of a sad story in “Paris, je t’aime.”

24. Place des Fetes (above ground)
Metro: Place des Fetes
19th arrondissement

As a place, it is nearly entirely concrete, though the Square Monseigneur-Maillet, one of Paris’s oldest gardens, is nearby.

The “Place des Fetes” segment of Paris je t’aime is a sad story about a man (Seydou Boro) who dies from a stab wound while being tended by the female medic (Aissa Maiga) he is secretly in love with.

There are many feral cats at Pere Lachaise Cemetery to keep the dead company.

There are many feral cats at Pere Lachaise Cemetery to keep the dead company.

Frederic Chopin's gravesite at Pere Lachaise Cemetery.

Frederic Chopin’s gravesite at Pere Lachaise Cemetery.

25. Pere Lachaise Cemetery
20th arrondissement
Metro: Gambetta

Pere Lachaise Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Paris. It takes its name from Pere Francois de la Chaise (1624-1709), a Jesuit priest who lived on the property. Napoleon established the cemetery in 1804 and declared, “Every citizen has the right to be buried regardless of race or religion.” Few people wanted to be buried here at first due to its location (and its lack of blessing by the Catholic Church). That changed after the cemetery’s administrators decided to move the remains of Jean de la Fontaine and Moliere to Pere Lachaise; soon after, people clamored to be buried with the famous.

Frances (Emily Mortimer) and William (Rufus Sewell) are an engaged couple in a Paris je t’aime segment who argue because he cannot make her laugh. William gets a little help from Oscar Wilde (Alexander Payne) in patching things up with his fiancée.

I went for a coffee after visiting the cemetery. You might want to, too.

 

Au revoir!

 

Image credits by entry: 1) Louvre by CanStockPhoto; 2) Place des Victoires by Alex1961, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 3) Square du Temple by David McKelvey, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; Knights Templar drawing by Steve Nimmons, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 4) Notre Dame by NBPhotostream, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 5) Shakespeare and Company by Elsa L. Fridl; Interior Photo by Alexandre Duret-Lutz, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 6) Rue Mouffetard by Wally Gobetz, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 7) St. Sulpice Church by Linus Mak, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 8) Eiffel Tower Elevator Shaft by Linus Mak, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 9) Pont Alexandre III by Jean-Marc, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; Photo of Lea Seydoux courtesy of Blu-ray, used by permission; 10) Arc de Triomphe by Richard, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 11) Place de la Concorde Fountain by Christine Kalina, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 12) Theatre de l’Athenee by Haguard DuNord, Wikimedia Commons, CCBY 3.0; 13) Gare du Nord facade by CanStockPhoto; Gare du Nord panorama by Mitch Barrie, Flickr, CCBY 2.0;  14) Le Pure Café by Bertrand, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; Image of Before Sunset courtesy of Blu-ray, used by permission; 15) Le Train Bleu Restaurant by Brendan Lynch, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 16) Quartier Asiatique, Avenue de Choisy by Antoine, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 17) Le Dome Cafe in the Public Domain; Image of Roy Scheider courtesy of Blu-ray, used by permission; 18) Le Cordon Bleu by Tara Tiger Brown, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 19) Rue Bouchut by ParisRiveGauche.com, CCBY 2.0; Rue Bouchut by Mathieu Marquet, Wikimedia Commons, CCBY 2.0; 20) Pont de Bir-Hakeim by Zoltan Voros, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 21) Palais Galliera by Panoramas, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 22) Hotel Camelia International by Hector Parayuelos, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 23) Steps of Le Basilique du Sacre Coeur by CanStockPhoto; Sacre Coeur by Cbarbi, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 24) Place des Fetes by Witguide.free.fr, CCBY 2.0; 25) Pere Lachaise, Photo of Chopin’s Grave by CanStockPhoto; Cat at Grave by Daniel Racovitan, Flickr, CCBY 2.0.

 

Verbiage references by entry: 1) “Louvre” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Film locations for The Da Vinci Code (2000),” by Movie-locations.com; 2) “Place des Victoires,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 3) “Knights Templar,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Square du Temple” by David McKelvey, Flickr, CCBY 2.0; 4) “Notre Dame de Paris,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Film locations for Midnight in Paris (2011)” by Movie-locations.com; 5) “Shakespeare and Company (bookstore),” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 6) “Rue Mouffetard,” Wikipedia, for fact market dates back to Neolithic Times; 7) “Church of Saint-Sulpice, Paris,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Film locations for The Da Vinci Code, Movie-locations.com; 8) “Eiffel Tower,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 9) “Pont Alexandre III,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 10) “Arc de Triomphe,” by Wikipedia, for fact the Arc was completed in 1836 to honor France’s war dead of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars; Day of the Jackal, by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 11) “Fontaines de la Concorde,” by Wikipedia, for fact that two fountains were completed at that location in 1840 during the reign of King Louis-Philippe; 12) “Theatre de l’Athenee,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Film locations for Hugo (2011),” Movie-locations.com; 13) “Gare du Nord,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Film locations for Bourne Identity (2002),” Movie-locations.com; 14) “Le Pure Café,” TripAdvisor; “Film locations for Before Sunset (2004),” Movie-locations.com; 15) “Le Train Bleu,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “La Femme Nikita (1990), Filming locations,” IMDb; 16) “Quartier Asiatique,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Paris je t’aime,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 17) “Le Dome Café,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Film locations for Marathon Man (1976),” Movie-locations.com; 18) “Le Cordon Bleu,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 19) Rue Bouchut, no references; 20) “Pont de Bir-Hakeim,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 21) “Musee Galliera,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; “Film locations for The Devil Wears Prada (2006),” Movie-locations.com; 22) “Film locations for Taken (2008),” Movie-locations.com; 23) “Sacre-Coeur, Paris,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0; 24) “Place des fetes,” Witguide.free.fr; 25) “Pere Lachaise Cemetery,” by Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0.

 

Entries with CCBY 3.0 licenses are available under the “share and share alike” clause.

 

The 45 Best Things To Do In Paris – October 2015

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Source: The 45 Best Things To Do In Paris – October 2015 | Paris Insiders Guide

The Seine River during fall season.

A view of the Seine River during fall season.

If you’re going to Paris in October, here is a list of 45 Best Things to do. Three that caught my eye are: “Skip-the-Line Eiffel Tower Tour & River Cruise,” (I love the water); “Movie Tour of Montmartre,” and “Ghosts, Mysteries and Legends Night Walking Tour.” Of course, there are many cultural events going on, as well — including two of my favorites! The Paris Opera & Ballet Company is starting their new season with performances of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

Also, click here to get a 10% discount on the Paris Pass when you use Paris Insiders Exclusive Discount Code: INSIDERGUIDE. But only for a short time!

Au Revoir!

 

Image of Paris in Fall by Jack Fussell, Flickr, CCBY 2.0.

20 Biggest Travel Mistakes

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This traveler is already a victim of CNN's #1 Biggest Travel Mistakes (Overpacking). Will she also suffer from #6 (Not tightening shampoo caps...all the way)?

This traveler is already a victim of CNN’s #1 Biggest Travel Mistakes (Overpacking). Will she also suffer from #6 (Not tightening shampoo caps…all the way)?

The CNN Travel staff put together a list of what they consider the 20 biggest travel mistakes their own people have made — and in some cases, continue to make.  The list is hilarious, though you might find yourself gritting your teeth and saying, That is SO true.

Which one is your favorite? Mine is #10. Read it for yourself. Do you agree?

Source: 20 biggest travel mistakes

 

Au Revoir!