Toilets In Paris – Before You Go You Should Know

Greg
-
0
Toilets In Paris – Before You Go You Should Know

For some travellers finding public toilets in Paris can be a traumatic experience, for one reason or another. You may be pleased to know that the city’s sanitation system has come a long way in the last ten years.

Ten years ago the majority of public toilets were paid toilets, now you will be hard -pressed to find a paid toilet. In some cases there may still be a tipping tray for the toilet attendant who cleans and maintains the facilities, however this is not a compulsory fee.

Toilet Talk

Using the term “bathroom” or “restroom” in Paris will probably not get you the end result you’re looking for. These terms are not commonly used basically because a bathroom usually does not have a toilet in it. Look out instead for a recognizable illustration, or the words Toilettes and W.C. If you see the Term “lavabo” be careful not to confuse this with “lavatory”; the term lavabo actually means washbasin.

Turkish Toilets

Known as elephant feet toilets, Turkish toilets or squatting toilets, this is a sight which many of us dread in Paris. Although they are not as common as they once were, you will still find them in older buildings. In fact one of the basketball venues I played had were only equipped with this kind of toilet. These are probably the most uncomfortable and unsightly toilets you will come across. You may find yourself scratching your head as to how it actually works.

turkish toilet paris
Photo Author | Cristic

For full instructions on how to use a Turkish Toilet, which includes pictures, check out this WikiHow link. It just goes to show you really can find anything on the internet.

Warning: When you flush a squatting toilet, sometimes the water can come out quite aggressively and spill out of the bowl onto the floor and anything that’s on the floor.

Locate a Wall

Finding a wall to urinate on is not recommended however it is a common sight if you live in Paris long enough. Watch this video from the wall street journal which I find amusing which is about the toilet police (Brigade des Incivilités) in Paris.

The “Brigade des Incivilités” are not just in charge of finding public urinaters, they actually look for other offences like illegal dumping, not picking up dog defecation and cigarette, as well as littering. I have seen people on the act of urinating on walls many times, and always cringe at smell and sight of it. I once saw a man withdrawing money from a bank (or at least pretending to withdraw money from a bank), while urinating on the wall. Needless to say I don’t use this bank machine anymore.

Finding a Toilet In Paris

Previously it was hard to find a W.C. in Paris, however recently there have been a few new tools made available which can help you find one quickly.

Paris Toilet Website: Here is a link which will help you find one of the many ‘sanisettes’ which have been installed around Paris in recent times (http://meslieux.paris.fr/sanisettes). I recommend saving this website as a bookmark to your smartphone before you arrive in Paris. Although its content is in French, the tool is self-explanatory. Simply add your address or Arrondissement and it will show you the locations of the sanisettes closest to you.

Paris Toilet App: The second tool is a smart device application available on ios and android called “Toilets of Paris”. This app is based on the same concept as the website which was previously mentioned, but I have found it not to be always accurate. However, it may result in more options than the previous tool. This app will include restaurants, cafes and a number of different choices in your search, although it does not describe the precise location of the toilet. The app simply specifies where a toilet may be located, using a drop pin on the map.

Self-Washing Toilets (Sanisettes): Paris has over 400 Sanisettes or self-washing toilets placed strategically around the city. In previous years these were known known as public pay toilets. Since 2006 however, Paris Council has made all of these free to the public. Since 2009 the Council began removing the old pay toilets and replacing them with the new designs, which come with many luxury cons when fully operational.

Self Washing Toilet Paris

According the city of Paris the new sanisettes are supposed to look like a tree trunk, and to include the following attributes;

  • The use of renewable energy
  • Disinfection and automatic cleaning after use
  • Wheel chair accessibility
  • Emergency fire opening, extinguisher and lighting
  • Multilingual directions
  • Heating in winter
  • Automatic Doors
  • Automatic unlock after 20minutes
  • Hangers
  • Mirror
  • Drinking fountain
  • Background music
  • Fragrance spray

How to use Sanisettes paris

If you are interested in seeing a Paris self-cleaning toilet and it’s insides then here is a video which might interest you.

Note: Sanisettes will often be out of service after 10pm and before 6am. Threy are a technical piece of machinery which can often be out of order. It is recommended that children under ten years of age be accompanied by an adult when in use. (reports have been made that these toilets may initiate the cleaning cycle while smaller children are inside.)

Fast Food Toilets: For many visitors to Paris finding a toilet in places such as KFC and McDonalds should be a sure thing. While there is usually a toilet in these fast food restaurants, nine out of ten times you will need to have a receipt from your purchase to use them. Either you will have to show the security guard standing at the door, or find the code on your receipt and enter it into a touchpad for access.

Cafes and Restaurants: Generally speaking, most places that serve food or drinks such as cafés and restaurants will have a toilet. It is typically polite and expected that you buy a drink or something cheap from the bar. With this said many travellers can and will simply stroll in of the street posing as a customer, not making eye contact and their restrooms. You can usually find them at the back of the restaurant or downstairs in a dark tiny dungeon like area.

Monuments and Shopping Malls: You can almost certainly find free toilets around or within popular monuments and shopping malls in Paris. Malls such as Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, So Ouest or the underground shopping mall at the Louvre are the perfect place to locate a free W.C.

Hopefully this information will help prevent the call of nature from causing unnecessary anxiety and interrupting your day in Paris too much.

Paris Japanese Gyoza Bar Review

Greg
-
0
Paris Japanese Gyoza Bar Review

After a recent craving for an Asian restaurant one of our friends suggested something a little different than we usually review. Located in a 2nd Arrondissement amongst a series of small alleyways called Passage Des Panoramas is a Japanese Gyoza Bar buzzing with customers. Passage De Panoramas conveniently intersects with Boulevard Montmartre which hosts a number of popular bars, theatres and cinemas.

The Gyoza restaurant is quite small and only seats about fourteen customers at a time. With only bar seating inside and two raised tables outside in the alleyway it is not ideal for large gatherings. The tone of bar was buzzing with murmurs of couples engaged in conversation. The décor was simple but modern with minimal lighting which helped improve the atmosphere.

Food
We enjoyed watching our food being cooked similarly to a Teppanyaki restaurant but without the flare and theatrics that Teppanyaki often displays. Megan and I each ordered eight gyoza’s each with a coke and side of rice. Having never tried a gyoza, we really enjoyed the taste and thought the sweet, salty sauce which came with the dish were complimenting flavours.

japanese gyoza paris

Each gyoza was a thin piece of pastry filled with pork, steamed on the top and crunchy underneath. The look of a gyoza is similar to a tortellini however the taste is completely different. Megan was full after eating six gyoza and I was satisfied after ten, however I’m sure I could have stomached twelve. You may need to have an understanding for chopsticks as I didn’t see a knife and fork in sight.

Staff
The staff were friendly and hard working. With two chefs behind the bar, two waiters and a steady stream of new customers, the staff always seemed to have something to do.

gyzoa restaurant paris

Recommendations
Originally we were only going to order twelve gyoza’s and share them with sides of rice and noodles. The waiter informed us that each customer must order a plate of at least eight gyoza’s which is fair enough.

gyzoa restaurant parisThe meal will probably not take you more than twenty minutes as they are cooked quickly and eaten just as quick. The fact that they are cheap and quick to eat makes it the perfect meal if you are running late for a show or movie in the area.

I would recommend attending the bar with no more than a group of four people. This would prevent possibly not getting a seat and having to yell across each other in conversation. Also I have read and been told that on busy nights there is a line outside the restaurant of customers waiting for a seat. This was not the case for us when we attended at 8pm on a Wednesday night, we were able to get a table immediately.

Before attending the Gyoza Bar I read a number of mixed reviews. One thing that was mentioned is that they have nice Japanese beers. This I cannot attest to as Megan and I chose not to drink alcohol. I also read that a number of others were disappointed because their pork filling was dry or there was no vegetable’s inside which traditional Gyoza’s include. Maybe the chef over cooked their meals, however our pork was not dry and yes it is true there isn’t vegetables within these gyoza’s which did not trouble with us.

Rating
As per my last review of “The Place To” restaurant, I will also be giving the Gyoza Bar a 5/5 start rating. It really ticked all the boxes as to what we were expecting and although it was a brief meal we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Address: 56 Passage des Panoramas, 75002 Paris
Phone: 01.44.82.00.62
Website: http://gyozabar.com

Here an an image of the Gyoza Bar menu, it is simple but affordable priced paris gyoza bar menuFor those who are interested here is a copy of our receipt

20150513_215339

Tipping Etiquette In Paris and France |Taxis, Restaurants, Hotels…

Greg
-
4
Tipping Etiquette In Paris and France |Taxis, Restaurants, Hotels…

Tipping a waiter, usher or taxi driver in Paris can be very different in comparison to other countries. In the Next few paragraphs we will attempt to clarify some of the common mistakes made when tipping in France, and the recommended denominations that you should give in each situation.

Taxis

Taxi drivers in Paris usually expect some sort of a loose change tip at least, however I have an issue with tipping taxi drivers in Paris. I have tipped taxi drivers in Paris in the past, but only if they are friendly or helpful. I personally have not had many good taxi drivers in Paris in fact have found them to be extremely rude, telling me to go away, taking me the long route to my destination and 8 out of 10 times they refuse to speak English.

I have given up on regular taxis in Paris now, and only use an uber taxi due to the great prices, customer service and the review process.

With that being said, if you do manage to find a good taxi driver in Paris, I suggest tipping the driver 0.50 to 5 euro, depending on the length of the journey.

Restaurants and Cafés

The first thing you need to know about restaurants in Paris and throughout France, is that they already include a 15% service compris (tip included) tax. I am aware that some of my French friends will never tip at restaurants solely because of the 15% VAT Tax, out of principle.

tipper a waiter france paris
Photo Author | Paul Rysz

French waiters and waitresses legally must receive a wage and do not live off tips as seen in North America. Presently the minimum wage in France is a little under 9 euro. It is also a legal requirement for employees in France to receive health care, paid vacations, and retirement benefits.

Clearly France is not your typical tipping country, however most people will leave some loose change or possibly something greater if they received good service from their wait-staff.

If you wish to leave a tip and are using a credit card I strongly suggest that you don’t add the tip onto the final bill, because it is more than likely that the waiter will not see a cent of that money. Just because there is a 15% tipping fee does not mean the waiter will receive this money. In this example it is recommended that you leave a few coins in the tipping tray instead.

Hotel Porters and Concierges

All over the world hotel porters are usually tipped. The proper amount for France would be approximately 1euro per piece of luggage as a rule-of-thumb.

If your hotel concierge has been helpful to you and polite during your stay, then some kind of note in euros would be an acceptable tip. The total value would be a personal choice taking into consideration of just how helpful the concierge has been to you, combined with the calibre of hotel you have stayed at. It is recommended to wait until the end of your stay to tip the concierge, otherwise if you tip for every phone call or event tickets, it could become very expensive, very quickly.

tipping in paris
Photo Author | Jenny Downing

Coat Check

Often coat check stations will have a sign which will inform you of how much it is to check your coat. In this situation tips are not necessary. Conversely if there is no sign or price displayed then a 1 or 2 euro tip per item should be enough.

Toilet Attendants

On rare occasions you may see an attendant at the entrance of a Paris restroom. Similar to a coat checker, if there is a sign stating a monetary value then a tip is not necessary, and in fact you are paying to use the toilet. However if they do not imply I price to use the bathroom then you can leave a tip if you are satisfied with the cleanliness of the toilet, as it is their job to clean them. 0.50 to 1 euro is typical in this situation.

Tour Guides

Tour guides are usually paid pretty well in Paris and can often get away with not paying tax or as they say in France, “working on the black”. If the tour was already really expensive to start with then I would probably not give a tip unless the tour was amazing.

If you choose one of the many and now very popular FREE walking tours, then a tip is very much expected, but 5 or 10 euro should be enough due to the often large numbers on these tours. These are my favourite kind of tour, because the guides have to work for their money and they learn to find many ways to please customers while on the tour.

Simply put, if the tour was bad then don’t tip. If the tour was good leave a tip. If the tour was amazing, be a little more generous.

Hairdressers & Barbers

The etiquette at a barber or hairdresser in Paris would be to give a few euro tip on top of the final bill. This is especially the case if you would like to return this barber or hairdresser on a regular basis and don’t wish to walk away with a bad haircut. Personally, if I was not happy with the hair cut I would not leave a tip.

Ushers

I have not encountered this situation as yet, however from what I am told it is necessary to give a 1 or 2 euro tip to an usher who shows you to your seat. This may occur at major events such as the opera or a concert, as well as small private theatres. I have also learned that if you forget to tip then ushers may remind you of your tipping duties.

In recent times it was not uncommon for usherettes to receive no wage from theatre owners. This is not the case any more, and by law ushers must be paid a wage in France.

Iya Traore – Football Street Performer Freestyler in Paris

Greg
-
0
Iya Traore – Football Street Performer Freestyler in Paris

Iya Traore is a very talented and recognised free-styling footballer whom often makes an appearance as a street performer at the iconic Sacre Coeur in Pairs.

Iya was born in 1986 from Republic of Guinea, Africa. His father moved him to Europe in 2000 in order to continue his studies and provide him with a better chance of becoming a professional footballer.

In this time Iya has been a part of Parisian teams such as ESP, Paris FC and even Paris Saint Germain (PSG). In an effort to continue his studies and continue helping his father with his business, Iya was affected by the heavy work load and as a correlation the PSG football club decide not to renew Iya’s contract.

Note: Sorry for the shaky camera work in the beginning of the video.


[Inédit !] La France a un incroyable talent… par M6

Iya’s positive attitude enabled him to keep honing his skills as a freestyle football artist and now continues to dazzle visitors from all around the world. Iya has been featured on many television shows, competitions and expedition matches since then. Even as his notoriety and celebrity status continues to rise he still stuns his audience as a street performer on a regular basis.

For more information about Iya head over to his website or Facebook page below.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iyatraore.officiel
Website: http://iya.fr/en

football street performer sacre coeur

The Place To Restaurant Review

Greg
-
0
The Place To Restaurant Review

Recently we were visited by some of our Australian friends and we decided to try a new place I had heard about through the grape vine. The restaurant was called “ The Place To” and given its obscure name there is not much information about it on the internet.

“The Place To” Restaurant is located on Avenue de Wagram at the bottom of the hill near Place de Ternes in the 17th Arrondissement. This street is a part of the spider webbed formation of roads extending from the Arc De Triomphe Roundabout.

The atmosphere in the restaurant is happy, buzzing and relaxing. We really enjoyed the décor of the café and could only be described as rustic with a touch of greenery. The vertical garden, old rusty monuments and eccentric wall arts were really easy on the eyes and well thought out.

the place to cafe paris 20150406_161335

The Staff

The staff members were excellent, they were happy and talkative without going over the top and being intrusive. Unlike many waiters in Paris that want you to hurry up and make a decision, when I had a number of question about the menu our waitress answered with a smile and patience.

The Food

Both of our friends and Megan ordered the chicken burger with a side of chips and salad. The chicken burger looked fantastic and tasted just as good. The chicken was coated with crispy crumbs and placed inside of two soft tasty buns. The chips were cooked perfectly and were not too fat or not too thin to be classed as French fries. The ginger beer had the perfect amount of spice to it however I would have liked it to be a bit bigger.

IMG-20150505-WA0000

My choice was a large pork steak covered in mushroom sauce and a side of mashed potato. The mashed potato was light and fluffy with a hint of pepper and something smoky which I could not put my finger on. Placed on top of the mashed potato was a yummy stick of grilled cheese. The pork steak was tender as well as juicy and the sauce was complimentary to both the steak and the mashed potato.

the place to restaurant review

Recommendations

Initially when I read reviews about “The Place To” Restaurant, one of the negative aspects that popped up a few times was the lack of good wines. I can’t deny or confirm this accusation as i did not try the wines however I did love their Ginger beer.

The chicken burgers were more like a crumbed chicken schnitzel burger and it would be a really safe choice if you can’t decide what to order. If you are not sure of anything on the menu just ask, the staff were very helpful with explaining portion sizes and dish specifics. I admit that I did hold up the waiter with lots of questions and she still answered with a smile.

the palce to restaurant paris

Grab some lunch at This Café/Restaurant, I will 100% recommend this to all our friends especially since it can be hard to find a non-touristy place to eat near the Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe. This restaurant has a medium price tag with dishes ranging from 10 to 30 Euro.

I will be giving this restaurant my first 5 out of 5 star rating. Honestly everything was perfect. The staff, food, atmosphere and location were amazing. It was a pleasure to review “The Place To” restaurant and we can’t wait to go back again.

Address: 47 avenue de Wagram, Paris 17e
Phone: 01.45.74.79.28
Email: bonjour@theplaceto.paris
Website: http://www.theplaceto.paris

 

Place du Tertre in Montmartre Paris

Greg
-
0
Place du Tertre in Montmartre Paris

Known for its painters, portraitists, caricaturist and silhouette artists, Place de Tertre welcomes thousands of travellers every day. By day the streets are usually packed with tourists seeking a portrait; by night you hear the constant din of people chattering and enjoying a meal and a glass of wine at one of the many restaurants in the square.

The square of Place du Tertre is considered by many to be the heart of Montmartre, located high on the hill approximately 300 metres from the Sacre Coeur Basilica.

The artists located in the square of Place due Tertre pay an annual fee of just over 550euros for a 1msq space, which is shared on an alternating roster with another artist. Essentially they only work half the week. Nevertheless, with more than ten million visitors per month to this fine street, this has the potential to be a lucrative business.

Place du Tertre portrait cost
Photo Author | ahaerlibnis

Currently an artist must make an application and display proof of their artistic abilities to an official at the town hall of Montmartre, then they may be invited to join the ten year waiting list for acceptance. Currently there are a little under 300 painters, portraitists, caricaturist and silhouette artist’s formally and legally operating at Place du Tertre.

Place du Tertre Portrait Cost

At Place du Tertre, prices for art can range from as low as 25euro and in excess of 100euro. Don’t get caught! A common tourist trap is not setting a price first before the artist begins the portrait.

Tip: Many people end up with a portrait that looks nothing like them even though the artist’s samples look good. It is advisable to walk around and watch the artists working on the portraits of actual customers in order to determine which are the good portraitists.

Place du Tertre Restaurants and Cafés

The two most popular and historical restaurants in the Place du Tertre square are the La Crémaillère 1900 and La Bohême du Tertre. A great feature about La Crémaillère 1900 is its large outdoor terrace area which is handy on a nice sunny day.

artist square Place du Tertre
Photo Author | darekrusin

Personally I recommend a nice little café called Soul Kitchen, which is located about two minute’s walk from the square and sits on the northern side of the mountain. Most of the restaurants in Montmartre and around Place du Tertre have poor to average quality food but come with high tourist price tags.

Tip: There are artists who stroll around the back streets of Place du Tertre hassling visitors to paint their portrait. These artusts are usually not licensed, and I would not recommend using them.

If you’re just looking for a quick snack or coffee then you may be pleased to know that there is a Starbucks sitting right on the corner of the street. There is also a creperie located next to Starbucks which produces decent Paris street crepes. They may not be quite as good as the ones seen in this (best crepes in Paris) video, but they are still enjoyable.

Place du Tertre Hours

The opening times for Place du Tertre are not set in stone, but usually the portraits are packed up around dark due to poor lighting conditions. You may find a few artists still standing after dark, and you can be sure that restaurants in this area will stay open late. Mondays and winter time in Montmartre can be a little slow at times so this may not be the best time to visit. Also, Montmartre does not really wake up ’til about 10am. After this the square is fully set up with all artwork on display, and so I suggest visiting the square after this time.

Place du Tertre night
Photo Author | olivier pasco

History of Place du Tertre

Place du Tertre used to be the main square in the village of Montmartre before it was absorbed into the modern day city of Paris. Artists such as Van Gogh, Picasso, Pissarro, Modigliani and many more, have all drawn inspiration from what has become known as “The Artist’s Square”.

Aside from largely being a great vantage point in “The Battle of Paris” and also in World War II, two interesting events can be traced back to these streets.

Photo Author | Teschendorf (Provided by German National Arcives)
Photo Author | Teschendorf (Provided by German National Archives)
Restaurant “A la Medre Catherine”, Paris, June 1940

It is purported that in 1898 on Christmas Eve, Louis Renault’s first automobile was driven up the steep hills of Montmartre to Place du Tertre. This is said to have ignited the beginning of the automobile industry in France.

Another popular claim in Parisian history is that during “The Battle of Paris”, Place du Tertre became the birth place of the word “Bistro” into the French dialect. Located at street number 6 is Chez la mère Catherine cafe, and it is here that in 1814, Russian soldiers would shout “Bystro Bystro” at the waitresses. In the Russian language “Bystro” means “quickly”, and the soldiers were calling for the waitresses to hurry and provide them with one last drink before rejoining their ranks.

Getting to Place du Tertre

The most common way to get to the area is to catch a metro line to station Abbesses (line 12) or Anvers (line 2). Coming from Anvers you will have to walk up many stairs to reach the summit, however if you choose the Abbesses Metro then it is possible to walk up the winding streets of Montmartre without using the stairs. Alternatively, you can pay to use the Montmartre Funicular railway located near the base of the Sacre Coeur stairs to the summit if you are not of able body or simply can’t be bothered climbing.

You would be very lucky to find any parking in this area, and I also suggest not attempting to drive thorough Place du Tertre due to the large numbers of tourists on the roads (who have no intention of steppibg asude for a car). Address: Place du Tertre, 75018 Paris

Also located here is the Syndicat d’Initiative or Montmartre Tourism Office
http://www.montmartre-guide.com/en/

Address: 21 Place du Tertre, 75018 Paris
Phone: 01 42 62 21 21
Operating Hours: 10am – 1pm and 2pm – 6pm

 

Kong Restaurant Review – Seen On Sex In The City

Greg
-
0
Kong Restaurant Review – Seen On Sex In The City

The Kong Bar and Restaurant was put on the map when it was featured in the final series of Sex in the City. Kong is situated on the 5th and 6th floor of the Kenzo building in the 1st Arrondissement of Paris overlooking the Seine River and Pont Neuf Bridge.

The 5th floor is where the elevator will drop you off and you will be greeted by a hostess who will show you to your table, and take your coat. Also on the 5th floor of Kong is the bar and lounge area where you can grab a coffee, cold beverage or you might possibly be seated here if the 6th floor is full.

The 6th floor is a stunning indoor rooftop terrace restaurant which has an amazing abundance of natural light. If you are lucky enough to get a good seat near the window you could have a good view of the Seine River and Pont Neuf bridge.

sex in the city kong restaurant

Megan and I went to the Kong restaurant as a part of her belated birthday celebration. We chose the Sunday brunch option because we did not find the images of the lunch and dinner menus very appealing. It’s also worth noting that the Sunday brunch menu is considerably cheaper.

kong bar review

We did have to call and make a reservation, however we were told that it was not possible to reserve a table upstairs. The seating was based on the weather. Luckily there was a free table in the glass top roof room and we did not have to sit downstairs in the bar area.

We thought the most pleasing think about the restaurant was the atmosphere. Even though it was a cloud-covered miserable day outside, the exraordinary natural light in the roof top restaurant created a feeling of vibrancy. I’m not 100% sure what the theme of the restaurant really was; it felt like fine dining mixed with remixed dance music and Asian manga comics.

birthday at kong resaurant paris

What We Ate At Kong For Brunch

We started with a simple baguette with butter and two drinks of ginger beer and pineapple juice. The drinks were both good. The ginger beer had a little spice but not too much, and the pineapple juice was not too acidic. The baguette was a little chewy, however this is common at restaurants as they are rarely fresh from the boulangerie nor cooked fresh in-house.

Kong Restaurant Paris Brunch Menu

I chose the Eggs Benedict with a slice of crusty potato sheds. The dish was nice and as good as any Eggs Benedict I have had. We also enjoyed the crispy potato slice as a bit of different twist to a very common and traditional dish. It was nice and crunchy on top and a little soft underneath to create a really nice complimentary texture when combined with the eggs.

Megan chose the club sandwich with potato chips. I also had a taste if this dish and we both agreed the there was a sauce or mayonnaise of some sort which tasted a bit strange. Out of the two dishes I would recommend the Eggs Benedict.

Our Review of Kong Restaurant

If you have read other reviews online, a lot of people say that the food and service is not worth the price tag. Personally, I have come to terms with waiters in Paris not being overly talkative or very friendly. However, with our review of Kong staff we have nothing to complain about. While they were not overly sociable, we did not find them rude.

I would somewhat agree that the food may not be worth the price tag, however the brunch menu prices were quite reasonable. It’s important to understand if you’re visiting Kong, that you are paying for the experience more than the food.

Personally I think it deserves 4 out of 5 stars for a few reasons. The food was good but not great, and the same goes for the staff. I was disappointed about the reservation process to find out that even though we reserved a table it was possible if the restaurant was to full that we would be sitting down stairs. The main attraction to this restaurant for us was the glass roof and if we were sat down stairs I think we would have walked out.

We would recommend this restaurant to people but purely as an attraction, and the experience of dining at the famous Kong restaurant.

Where is Kong Bar and Restaurant

1 Rue du Pont Neuf, 1st
M° Pont-Neuf
Tel 01 40 39 09 00
Website: www.kong.fr

The Kong restaurant is located near the popular shopping street of Rue De Rivoli, within walking distance of the Louvre, very close the Seine River and love lock bridge.

Street Sign Art From Paris to Japan By Clet Abraham

Greg
-
0
Street Sign Art From Paris to Japan By Clet Abraham

You may find yourself walking around cities such as Paris, Rome, Japan and a number of others, chuckling at street signs which have been altered in an amusing or artistic manner. It is more than likely that what you are looking at is a piece of art created by street artist Clet Abraham.

At the risk of being caught and penalized by authorities, Clet goes to great lengths to pursue his artistic passions by attaching adhesive stickers to street signs all over the globe. These street signs can depict light hearted comical transformations or a more serious transformation with a hidden meaning.

47 year old Clet Abraham is originally from France, has lived in Italy for the last 25 years, and currently lives with his partner Mami Urakawa in Florence, Italy. Although most commonly known for his street art stickers Clet has created numerous other profitable works such as “The Common Man” located on Ponte alla Grazie bridge in Florence.

clet abraham steet sign stickers

As reported on Clet’s Facebook Page, in the past he has received a fine of 400euro. As the Japan times reports, his partner in crime and life, Mami Urakawa, was recently arrested on suspicion of vandalism.

Local authorities all argue that it’s an act of vandalism, and that Clet’s artwork is no different to a graffiti artist skulking around at night and vandalising public property. Personal I enjoy spotting another piece of street sign art and think it is a really creative way to have people talk about you as an artist.

street signs paris, rome, japan
steet sign changed Photo Author | LivornoDP — Photo Author | Patian

The popularity that this artist has achieved from his method of artistry can be quantified by his Facebook page, which is followed by almost 7000 people, or by simply typing his name into Google images where you will find hundreds of designs posted from multiple sources.

clet abraham art signs
Photo Author | Patian — Photo Author | LivornoDP

 

 

2 Days in Budapest from Paris

Greg
-
0
2 Days in Budapest from Paris

As a part of our Paris Journey we have a number of short trips planned from Paris to other countries in Europe. This month we travelled to Hungary where we stayed for 2 days in Budapest.
We found Budapest to be an amazing city and I think that 2 full days is more than enough to enjoy what the city has to offer. Even though Hungary is a part of Europe they do not use the Euro as a primary form of currency. We found that entertainment, food and especially the alcohol was very cheap compared to Paris prices.

From Paris to Budapest

We started our trip from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in the late afternoon of the 30th of April. Everything went smooth at the airport and we arrived in Budapest with just under two hour of flight time. The trip was perfect we were able to score the exit seats and soak up the extra leg room. We both fell asleep just after take-off and woke up as we were landing.

With a smooth transition into the country and no customs or passport checking required we headed to find our previously booked mini bus transfer service. Unfortunately this was probably the only thing that went wrong for us on the trip and it really got us in a bit of a negative mood to start the vacation.

We thought that it would be as simple as getting on a group shuttle and waiting our turn to be dropped off. Instead we were given a number and told to stare at the TV screen shown below until our number receives a green light. After waiting 50 minutes I complained and the rude attendant told me to be patient. Long story short, we left the airport after an hour and ten minutes of waiting and then we were unlucky enough to be the last ones dropped off at our hotel.

budapest minibus

Best Western Hotel Ambra

With that negative experience behind us we checked into the Best Western Ambra hotel and started getting ready for a buffet dinner boat cruse which we booked on arrival at the hotel. Our experience of the hotel was amazing and couldn’t have asked for more. The hotel was a great price, included an adequate breakfast, the rooms were clean, the location was close to everything and the staff were very helpful and nice. When we arrived I flooded the concierge/reception with questions and he showed us where it all was on a large tourist map as well as booked reservations and transport all with a smile.

We left the hotel on route to the Danube River where we would venture on a night time dinner cruise. Immediately once leaving the hotel we were amazed at the number of really nice bars and restaurants that were everywhere. The atmosphere felt safe, clean and unlike Paris it felt okay for people to smile in the street without people thinking you’re a weirdo.

Danube River Buffet Dinner Cruise

After retrieving our tickets we boarded the Dinner cruise boat and were sat at a large round table with two other couples and a single guy. There are some cruise options where you can have a private table but the price is much higher. Our previous negativity of the airport minibus had all but gone once we sat and listened to the live entertainment while drinking some fairly tasty Champaign. The entertainment was perfect. They had two violinists and a cellist which when combined with the mood lighting and candles really set a romantic tone for the night.

budapest dinner cruise

It was probably one of the highlights of the tip if not the best activity we partook. The food was buffet style and everyone pretty much went up at once but there was plenty of food and once a tray was emptied a new one came. The view was stunning with the ability to see all the sights through large glass windows or take your drink up on to the deck and watch it from there. Most of the main monuments that are viewable from the Danube River are lit up like Christmas trees. As you can see in the pictures below the view was stunning. After some great food, entertainment and drinks we called it a night and headed back to our hotel to get some rest for our free walking tour in the morning.

budapest at night

Budapest – Castle Hill Free Walking tour

In the morning we participated in our first free walking tour. Although it is specified as a free walking tour there is an expectation to give a nice tip if you enjoyed yourself and we were more than happy with what our guide offered.

castle hill view

There are a few free walking tours available in Budapest however we chose the (trip to Budapest walking tours). The tour consists of a 3 hour trip around most of the main monuments and areas in Budapest. Some of which include the Danube Promenade, Municipal Concert Hall, Gresham Palace, Academy of Hungarian Sciences, St.Stephen’s Basilica, Chain Bridge, Castle District and more.

Fisherman Bastion budapest

It was a great way to learn about most of the important parts about Hungary and Budapest without having to sort through a Wikipedia or Budapest history website. The tour was completed at the top of the Castle district in front of the Fisherman Bastion where we took ten minute public bus back to the centre of town.

Hotdog Lunch

For those of you who may have read some previous posts or restaurant reviews, I have been trying to seek out a good American style hotdog in Paris with no luck so far. My cravings were definitely subdued when we found a great hotdog shop for lunch on the way back to our hotel. They had a number of different styles however I went with the New Yorker and I was not disappointed. They had soft buns, normal sausages and laced with all the fixin’s.

Traditional Turkish Thermal Baths (SZECHENYI BATHS)

For the afternoon we had planned a visit to the Szechenyi Turkish baths. It is a widely popular tourist activity when you visit Budapest due to it’s long historical significance since the Ottoman Empire took over the country centuries ago. The entire area of Budapest has a vast amount of underground thermal springs which many believe gives the bathes therapeutic properties.

SZECHENYI BATHS turkish baths

There are a number of Turkish Baths to choose from however they are not all mixed genders. The Szechenyi baths is the most popularly vistited baths in the city and it allows men, women and children.

We were glade to experience a traditional Turkish bath experience but it couldn’t help but to feel like a large group of tourists jumping into a hot spa bath together. The water was a nice and hot 37 degrees while the temperature outside the bath was about 6 degrees so getting in and out was a bit of a shock to the system. When entering you have the option to either choose a locker or a cabin to store your clothes. We recommend getting a cabin as it gives you a little privacy to get changed and if you have a lot of stuff like we did then there is plenty of room to store it while you go for a swim.

Shoes On The Danube Banks

After pruning up at the baths for about an hour and a half we jumped back on the metro and headed back to the banks of the Danube River. We became intrigued of a sculpture conceived by movie director Can Togay called the Shoes On The Danube Banks.

Shoes On The Danube BanksShoes On The Danube Banks budapest

The monument is a remembrance piece to signify the Jewish people that were killed by militants during World War II. Women, men and children were lined up along the banks of the Danube and executed so that their bodies would be carried away downstream. The symbolism of the shoes that were left behind creates a very vivid vision and memorial.

Cocktails and Shots

By now it was late afternoon and we decided to slowly walk back to our hotel and stop at a bar or two for some drinks and dinner. We found a quiet bar which had great music, lighting and cheap drinks. After a day of walking and hanging out in hot bath it was a great change of scenery to just sit down, relax, enjoy each other company and get a bit tipsy.

spirits budapest

We ordered two cocktails and a shot of the traditional spirit of Hungary called palinka. The contrails were nice however the palinka shot was rough. It was 55% strength alcohol and supposed to taste like peach however all I could taste was what tasted like mentholated spirits with an extreme burning sensation. All three drinks cost us around twelve Euros which is a great price when compared with Paris prices.

Dinner Spiller Café

After a few drinks we went on the prowl for a good place to have dinner. We found a quirky little bar which seemed to be based around a 1930’s or 40’s boxer called spiller. The food was really nice and well presented as you can see in the photos. We really liked the atmosphere of this restaurant bar hybrid. I would 100% recommend it for a cheap good quality meal with friendly staff. After our meal we slowly walked the street back to our hotel where we ended the night full and fulfilled.

spilner bar restaurnt budapest20150331_193357

Budapest Great Market Hall

The Great Market Hall in Budapest is not a bad place to spend an hour browsing for souvenirs. The ground level of the Markets is mainly just meats, fruit and bakeries. The second level is where all of the souvenirs and takeaway food is found.

great market hall budapest

You can find every type of babushka doll available in this place and you can even buy a can of Budapest air to take home. Upstairs is also a great place to try the traditional Hungarian food of Langos. It basically just tasted like a large round deep-fried donuts with toppings of your choice.

IMG_4566IMG_4569

Mini Bus Hotel to Airport Transfer

So even though the service was horrible on the initial minibus ride to the hotel I am pleased to say that it was a good trip back to the airport. The mini bus shuttle was on time and they had already filled the van with other customers so we headed straight to the airports.

Final Thoughts

We had a great time and thought that the town of Budapest was really nice. Everything was cheap, the people were friendly, the sights were amazing, there was no lack of great places to eat and there is a huge amount of history in the town stretching back to the Mongolian Empire. Two full days in Budapest was the perfect amount of time and I would suggest no more than three days otherwise you might find yourself wondering what else there is to do. We recommend it to people who love to party, love to see the sights, history lovers and foodies. There is however not a lot to do for adolescents and toddlers.

Along the way why not try out a number of different Hungarian drinks and dishes. We were able to try seven different kinds. Our experiments were strudel, kurtoskalacs, langos,  goulash, stuffed cabbage, palinka and another which we are unsure of its name.

langos budapest

Keep an eye out for all the different bronzed statues scattered around the place. Not sure exactly what they are about but we thought they were cool.

IMG_4346

Views of Paris From Parc De Belleville

Greg
-
0
Views of Paris From Parc De Belleville

The 20th Arrondissement is not commonly known as a tourist hang out nor does it stand out for anything in particular when compared with the other 19 districts of Paris. However if you are looking for one of the best free views of Paris then I would have to recommend Parc De Belleville.

Parc de Belleville has been known to be labelled as the “Montmartre without the tourists”. Yes it is situated high up on a hill and has great views of Paris but I would have to say that is where the similarities end.

One of the biggest differences is that you can actually see the Eiffel Tower from the top of Parc du Belleville where as it can be quite difficult to get a clear view of the Eiffel tower from the top of Montmartre. If you don’t mind missing out on the view of the Eiffel tower then I would stick with Montmartre.

view park bellvile

As you can see in some of the pictures, the day we chose to visit Parc de Belleville the city of Paris had a very high pollution rate so this may be something you need to monitor if you want some better pictures.

Photo Author | tchacky
Photo Author | tchacky

The park looks to be a great place to have a picnic in the sun on the grass or read a book on a park bench. You can either enter the park via the bottom or the top end. I suggest entering the park from the top end of the park if you don’t wish to climb the large stairs to the summit.

Located in a number of areas within the park is a public WiFi hotspot, which is quite rare in public areas. There is a three level child’s play ground located at the North East end of the park and is completely internal. Children can climb each level while participating in activities along the way, once at the summit they can descend the playground via a large slide. This playground is recommended for ages six years and up.

Belleville park paris
Photo Author | wikipedia commons

With so many beautiful parks and great picnic spots in Paris to choose from I would say that it just misses out of our top ten parks in Paris. We were also a little disappointed to find out that dogs are not permitted in the park on or off the leash.

The atmosphere in the park feels very multicultural and family orientated. The park feels mostly safe and unlike some of the more touristy parks in Paris I did not see any Roma or Gypsy scams occurring. There is an equal amount of both shade and sunny areas to sit depending on your preference.

Photo Author | Mbzt
Photo Author | Mbzt

It is refreshing to see that this park does have public toilets located at the northern end of the park, even though I did not use them I would not expect much in the way of cleanliness as most public toilets in Paris are not great.

If you want to use public transport then the best metro stops would either be Belleville or Couronnes Metro’s. The official address is (47 Rue des Couronnes, 75020) however as I mentioned before if you want to avoid walking up the stairs located in the park I would suggest entering via Rue Piat.

Park Facilities

Tourist information
WiFi Hotspots
Open air theater
Grass areas permitted for sitting on
Child’s Playground (ages 6 and up)
Public toilets
Lookout with view of Eiffel Tower and Paris

 

1234...7Page 3 of 7