Dalai Lama
Post card collected in Paris, France
NAVIGATING THE CITY:
The Paris Metro
When arriving in a new city, one of the most challenging parts is trying to get to where you want to go. In Paris you'll be using the Metro lines on a daily basis, which can be intimidating at first but will soon become a routine and ordinary task. Los Angeles fails in providing a proper and extended public transportation system; to get anywhere you need a car and hours of time. One of the best things about Paris is being able to go to different parts of town and being able see multiple things in one day because of the convenience of public transportation. However, public transportation also comes with its own set of complications - which includes trying to understand how and what exactly you need to do in order to get to where you want to go.
Post card collected in Paris, France
Right: Misc. Metro Station
Photo by Allison Planck; Minolta x-700
Tip #1: Download the RATP app. This is going to be the most beneficial aid to getting around the city. All you have to do is type in where you want to go and the app will show you all of the transfers you need to make and where to get off the metro. If you do not have Internet when away from Wi-Fi, look up where you want to go ahead of time and screen shot it. Carry an RATP map with you as well, that way you can track where you are in accordance to the stops on the map - this will get you more acquainted with the different metro lines that are offered in and around Paris.
Tip #2: Buy a Navigo card. You might think that this is an unnecessary step, but trust me when I say that it is a requirement. Depending on how long your stay is, you can purchase a card for a couple of days, to a week, to a month. The prices might seem high, but in reality you’ll be paying more without a Navigo if you want to go multiple places a day. Your alternative is paying for a one-way each time you want to get on the metro, which takes time and is also inconvenient if you do not have exact change (some machines only take coins and cash). I had a 30-day Navigo pass, which allowed me to take the metro whenever I wanted, where ever I wanted, and however many times I wanted. After my card ran out at the end of the month and I only had a little more than a week before flying back home, so I decided to buy paper tickets. This idea lasted for about 2 days and then I refilled my Navigo for a week to make my life easier.
Tip #3: Hold on to your bags! To ladies in particular - this one is VERY important! Pick pocketing is a major problem in Paris, unlike Los Angeles. Keep your phones in your front pockets, and hold your purse instead of letting it freely dangle about. There are many people who make a living this way and you won't even know that your wallet is gone until you try paying for something. Groups of girls - often tourists - are targeted for being unaware and busy; these people are everywhere so be aware of your surroundings!
Right: Allison waiting for the Metro
Right: RATP RER and Metro Map
Photo by Kelly Kohler; Minolta x-700
After you become more accustomed to Le Métro, you'll start to see notice more of the charming and unique aspects of the Paris transportation systems. Many of the popular platform stops are very artistically done - some to reflect the area you are about to go into and others just for the sake of making the daily commute more enjoyable. In addition, some of the entrance ways to the steps of the metro have a classically designed structure and while others have commissioned entrances from artists like Jean-Michel Othoniel (picture below). Musical performers often occupy the larger spaces of the walkways within the metro and many will jump on the Metro to preform for an audience. These small things bring add to the unique charm of city life that Paris is famous for.
