Category: Helpful Information

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Great Touristy Things to do Helpful Information Uncategorized

Notre Dame Concerts

Following the re-opening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after the devastating fire on April 15th 2019, one new idea to add to your Paris itinerary might be to take part in an evening concert at Notre Dame.

These are held on almost every Tuesday but occasionally on other dates too. I’ve been to a Notre Dame concert practically every month since January and they have always been ‘interesting’ some amazing and some plain wild as the music styles I’ve heard encompassed everything from Gregorian chanting to 15 minutes of what can only be described in my brain as breaking glass LOL.

Tickets are already on sale for those Notre Dame concerts already confimed up to August 2026. This link is in French and I’ve done that on purpose. By all means change the language to English but note that for certain concerts access is listed on the French pages – perfect examples being the concert with YoYo Ma in March and the concert with the Ukrainian National Symphony orchestra in July!

If there is a Tuesday without a concert it is very possible it will be filled later in the season. If tickets are listed as Sold Out don’t worry because they re-release more tickets about 3-5 days prior to the concert. Make a diary note 🙂

PRICING

Pricing is €25 for an organ recital. For all other concerts there is an option to pay €40 too. There is no ‘stage’ for the performers and obviously for an organ recital it doesn’t matter where you sit to listen however it’s a good idea to be close to one of the big screens between the columns because then you will be able to watch the organist’s hands and feet moving like mad over the 5 keyboards and zillions of pedals!

Paying €40 allows you to be seated in the front section of about 25 rows. However, if you have my luck you will still be sitting behind the ‘Dutch family’ and not see a thing (me on row 3) LOL.

SEATING

There is seating for the Notre Dame concerts for 1 300 people in three aisles; the larger central aisle and aisles both left and right, each side of the columns. There are also a few seats at the front for people sitting with their backs to the North and South windows looking side-on to those singing / playing.

The seats are only 50cm wide, they are flat, wooden and very unforgiving for boney bottoms and they are attached in rows so in winter when wearing your bulky coat it’s a really tight squeeze!

Every concert is sold out and you get your seat on a ‘first come first served’ basis, therefore, if you are keen, it’s a good idea to get in line early in front of the Cathedral, like not long after 7pm!

ONCE INSIDE :

As you lined up an hour ago and took advantage of the toilets in whatever brasserie you were in prior (I recommend an early supper at Brasserie Les Deux Palais, there are also public toilets to the right of the Cathedral which is signposted ‘somewhere’, you are very likely in the first 100 to enter the Cathedral. You now have 30 minutes before the concert starts to wander down either side to look at the various chapels etc and take photos.

Unfortunately this isn’t an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and visit the whole Cathedral as access is blocked past the North and South Rose windows around the back of the alter. Plus, security whoosh you out after the concert and make sure you head straight to the door.

PRACTICALITIES :

  • You cannot take photographs during the performances and the priest who makes the welcome speech and introduces the performance will say this – In French.
  • Dress Code (English page) : You MUST NOT wear a hat.  You MUST cover your shoulders. However – Dress code (French page) : Dress code is ‘respectful’ and you are encouraged to wear clothing that covers your shoulders, chest, stomach and thighs and not to wear tight fitting or see-through clothing.
  • The gift shop will not be open during concerts.
  • No luggage or big bags are allowed inside the Cathedral and it’s not a good idea to even take a backpack or very large handbag to the concert because you will be the people pulled over for a bag search, no-one else, which will slow down your ability to get the best seats!!!
  • You are expected to be quiet once inside – you cannot make phone calls!!
  • I repeat, there are NO toilets inside ☹

A très bientôt,

ROSEMARY

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Helpful Information

June 9th – Foreign Tourists arrive!

FINALLY! France IS opening up to foreign tourists from 9th June!

VACCINATED Europeans, plus a few other countries, will be able to visit France WITHOUT taking a PCR Test or even an antigen test. ‘Vaccinated’ means ADULTS who have been fully vaccinated more than 14 days previously by the Pfizer, AZ or Moderna vaccines authorised by the Agence Européenne des Médicaments(AEM) or 30 days after their 1 dose J&J vaccine.

Green Zones

This rule is for residents in GREEN zones and as at June 2nd 2020 ‘GREEN’ is : The European Area including Switzerland, Australia, South Korea, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand and Singapore. These countries are considered “safe” in terms of virus circulation.

Orange Zones

The ORANGE zone includes the vast majority of other countries in the world, including the UK, the US and Canada.

All Adult travellers VACCINATED by one of the AEM approved vaccines (listed above) from Orange Zone countries are allowed to visit France from 9th June so long as they also have a negative PCR test less than 72 hours old or a negative antigen test less than 48 hours old.

Minors (under 18) are classed as vaccinated IF their parents are vaccinated, whether they actually are or not. If minors are between 12-18 they need to take a PCR or antigen test before entering France. Under 12 years old children don’t currently need to take any tests but this is likely to change in July when the Europe-wide pass is accepted at which time any child over 6 will need a negative test.

Adults travelling who are not fully vaccinated will still need a ‘compelling reason’ to visit France and must self-isolate for 7 days on arrival. If they visit with their children they will also need to self-isolate.

Explanation or red, orange and green zones for travel to France

Red Zones

The RED zone includes South Africa, India and quite a few South American countries. To be allowed into France, foreign tourists from these countries will need a compelling reason to enter , even for vaccinated passengers. They will ALSO need a negative PCR or antigen test AND A MANDATORY 10 day quarantine is required for unvaccinated passengers. Vaccinated visitors will still have to SELF ISOLATE for 7 days.

Covid Map

Another positive thing for foreign tourists is that IF you’re required to take a PCR test to be allowed back into your own country, all PCR tests are FREE for locals and all foreign tourists. You can just bowl up to a local French pharmacy (you know there’s one on every street corner!!!) or I can organise an appointment with a local doctor or clinic because . That’s one less cost for you 🙂

As at today’s date the information from France is clear, it just needs to dovetail with the rules or guidelines for anyone leaving their respective country.

The US government has just changed their recommendations and have now agreed that vaccinated citizens can travel abroad to certain countries, including France, Spain and Italy but, for the moment, not the UK.

More information in French and this in English.

If you’re so excited you want to check out possible dates straight away LOL, click the big purple button anywhere on my website or these links for the B&B if you’re on your own or there are 2 of you or the Apartment if you are 2 – 4 wanting to stay.

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Events Helpful Information

Anyone for Tennis?

I realise that tickets to watch the Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros are normally like Gold Dust. However every year Galeries Lafayette create their own viewing point complete with deckchairs in front of a giant screen. You can watch the tennis games direct, via France Télévision without hacking out to the 16th arrondissement to watch this and it’s probably more fun than being at home!

It’s free, but obviously it’s first come first served for the deckchairs!

Buy your own deckchairs styled by the Roland Garros tennis tournament

You can watch every day until 13th June and if there is no play on the courts you can always turn your gaze to the Eiffel Tower.

Rendez-vous at Galeries Lafayette on their Rooftop Terrace which is on the top of the building selling Ladies’ clothing etc with the beautiful glass coupole. Bring your own strawberries and cream 🙂

Information on ticketing here : https://tickets.rolandgarros.com/en/informations/public#1

and tickets are available here : https://tickets.rolandgarros.com/en/ Resales are even available as from late April so don’t lose heart (but do NOT buy from non-official parties as they will be fake).

By the way, click on the deckchair photo and buy your own official deckchair!

A très bientôt,

Do join me on Facebook for more witterings and general information on what’s going on in Paris 🙂

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Eating Experience Great Touristy Things to do Helpful Information Holidays

Best local restaurants in Paris and lots more information

Best local restaurants in Paris French food

Even in Paris, a capital city famed for its gastronomy, it takes a little planning in order to have the most amazing culinary experiences. Here are some hints on how to avoid the tourist traps, navigate the ‘dining rules’,  and eat like a local in some of my favourite and best local restaurants in Paris.

Continue reading “Best local restaurants in Paris and lots more information”
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Great Touristy Things to do Helpful Information Holidays Trips and Tours

Find the best guided tour of Paris for you

How do you choose the best guided tour of Paris for you? There are hundreds of ways of finding out all about Paris, some free and some not so free.  You can take a tour whilst walking, running, riding a bike, motorbike or a segway, taking a bus, a tuk tuk, a boat or whilst sitting down in a comfy seat watching a theatre performance to name but a few.

But if you only have an hour or three, here are my Top Choices for having fun and finding your best guided tour of Paris :

I love walking so for me this is the best : A great, and (technically) FREE choice is  www.discoverwalks.com  Take one of 5 trips round the Marais, Montmartre, ‘Parisian Landmarks’ The Left Bank (the South side) or the Islands with a young, bilingual Frenchman or woman, vividly – dressed in pink waistcoats or shirts so you can’t lose them.  These are not history lessons, they are full of facts, very funny anecdotes and stories about current events.  Great fun. Your guides exist on tips.

If you are a lot more energetic you could sign up as for the FREE running tours on Wednesday mornings at 10am.  Your guide is Luke, an Australian, and you can meet him at the pointy end of Ile de La Cité opposite the Statue of Henri IV (right by one of my favourite restaurants, the Taverne Henri IV).   Just turn up or sign up to his Facebook page.   Please don’t think for one moment that I have done this, I have just got some mad friends!

Gorgeous guests Jeff and Laura suggested I tell all of you about the Left Bank Scooters who will take you on a 3 hour journey around Paris; one of you on the back of a motorcycle and the other in a sidecar, helmets etc provided. Both of them are tall but neither of them said they felt crushed and they came back raving, they loved it.  These tours are only offered in the Winter months, from November to the end of March and for the braver, they offer Vespa scooter hire too.

Finally, so many of you have watched and adored the Theatre show “How to become a Parisian in one hour”. It is not a guided tour but it does guide you through how to understand the Parisians, their foibles and how we need to behave to get along in Paris.  It was created and is performed by a Frenchman, Olivier Giraud, in English and has been a smash hit for years.  A laugh a minute tho a little on the blue side perhaps.  The theatre show is every Friday – Monday night and tickets cost from €24 – ask if you want me to book for you.  And it is not far, go to Galeries Lafayette at the bottom of the hill and turn right!

I hope this will give you food for thought as to how to find the best guided tour of Paris for you and your family, whether it is your first trip or not and I look forward to your comments.

If you found this interesting, please take a look at my Handy Guide to Living Like a Local or perhaps you want to know some of my great restaurant choices?

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