PARIS - France 2014 - page 99

On Foot
Paris Walks
This company offers a variety of two-hour walks, led by British and American guides.
Toursarethoughtfully prepared andentertaining. Don'thesitate tostandclose totheguide
to hear (€16, generally 2/day—morning and afternoon, private tours available, family
guides and Louvre tours a specialty, call 01 48 09 21 40 for schedule in English or check
printable online schedule at www.paris-walks.com ) . Tours focus on the Marais (4/week),
Montmartre (3/week), medieval Latin Quarter (Mon), Ile de la Cité/Notre-Dame (Mon),
the “Two Islands” (Ile de la Cité and Ile St. Louis, Wed), the Revolution (Tue), and Hem-
ingway's Paris (Fri). They also run less-regular tours of Paris' Puces St. Ouen flea mar-
ket and of the Catacombs, plus a themed walk on the Occupation and Resistance in Paris
during the 1940s. Call a day or two ahead to hear the current schedule and starting point.
Most tours don't require reservations, but specialty tours—such as the Louvre, fashion, or
chocolate tours—require advance reservations and prepayment with credit card (deposits
aren't refundable).
Context Paris
These “intellectual by design” walking tours, geared for serious learners, are led by do-
cents(historians,architects,andacademics).Theycoverbothmuseumsandspecificneigh-
borhoods, and range from traditional topics such as French art history in the Louvre and
the Gothic architecture of Notre-Dame to more thematic explorations like immigration
and the changing face of Paris, jazz in the Latin Quarter, and the history of the baguette.
It's best to book in advance—groups are limited to six participants and can fill up fast
(€60-100/person, admission to sights extra, generally 3 hours, tel. [phone], US tel.
800-691-6036, www.contextparis.com ). They also offer private tours and excursions out-
side Paris.
Connecting with the Culture
Paris hosts more visitors than any other city in the world, and with such a robust
tourism industry, many travelers feel cut off from the “real life” in the City of
Light. Fortunately, Paris offers beaucoup ways for you to connect with locals—and
thereby make your trip more personal...and more memorable.
Staying with a family is a simple way to experience everyday Parisian life
firsthand. Several agencies set up bed-and-breakfast stays in private homes (listed
on here ) . Other opportunities abound: