Paris 2010

The central theme of our Paris was Vélib, the public bicycle system (Vélo-liberté). We were tutored by a Vélib master, Eric, who took us off on a jaunt through central Paris. We learned how to activate an account (5 Euros/week), and the subtleties of getting around. There were no traffic lights that were red enough, one-way streets narrow enough, sidewalks crowded enough or public gardens restricted enough to restrain our bike tutor. There are almost 500 bike stands scattered around Paris; plenty of bikes available, although full racks do present challenges and moments of excitement as the clock ticks away but there is an app for that. The first half hour is free but thereafter the rental charges kick in, so the trick is to cycle in less than 30 minute increments, drop off the bike and if you need to go further, wait two minutes then take a bike and continue. It's like a game, with the clock always ticking away....and then there are bonus minutes available for returning bikes to higher ground. Ready, set, go.....

The treasure hunt was on and we found plenty of it. There are two public scale models of the Statue of Liberty in central Paris. The statue in the Jardin de Luxembourg is largely unknown and goes unnoticed by most that walk past it. The other statue sits on Île des Cygnes, a man-made island in the river Seine within sight of the Eiffel Tower.

It would be easy to miss Julien Auroze, a pest control shop if were not for the stuffed rats hanging in the front window that featured in the animated feature film “Ratatouille”. Pedestrians might also stroll past the unimposing Deyrolle store, but they should step in and venture upstairs into a taxidermist's dream that feels like a natural history museum with stuffed giraffes, kudus, birds and dried insects on display and for sale.

Paris visitors should not miss a visit to the Sewer museum because where else can you pay so little and get more aroma than a parfumerie? And there is the flic (police) museum that features a genuine guillotine blade on display. A better known quirky site is the impressive Père-Lachaise cemetery, home to an impressive array of crypts and graves of Paris celebrities, including foreign entrants Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison. If you can't find a particular tomb, then try findagrave.com on your smart phone. It really works! .

It wasn't all about the underworld in Paris, we did visit some of the better known attractions such as the not-to-be-missed Canal St. Martin, the Promenade Plantée , the outdoor Saturday night dancing along the Seine and the Paris Plage. Yes we did visit some of the conventional spots including Rodin museum, Sacré-Coeur, the Pantheon, more churches than we care to admit to and we did cycle through the Louvre gardens........

Our hosts Eric and Tracy made sure that we experienced an authentic Paris. Their apartment was high up on Montmarte and we got to know some of the best croissants and pain de raisin in Paris. Yes, we were tourists, but we hung out with real locals.