PARIS - France 2014 - page 101

Jacques Rousseau, Mo: Louvre-Rivoli or Etienne Marcel, tel. [phone],
www.o-chateau.com ) .
Conversation Swap: Parler Paris isafree-formconversationgrouporganized
for native French and English speakers who want to practice in a relaxed environ-
ment. In a small group, you'll discuss interesting topics—for the first 45 minutes in
French, then for 45 minutes in English. Your first visit is free; after that it's €12 a
session (several meetings per week possible, tel. [phone] or 01 40 27 97 59,
www.parlerparlor.com , [e-mail] ).
Walking Tours from Fat Tire Bike Tours
These lowbrow, light-on-information but high-on-fun walking tours are run by Fat Tire
Bike Tours. Their 3.5-hour Classic Walk covers most major sights (€20, usually at
10:00—see website for days of week; meet at their office at 24 Rue Edgar Faure, Mo:
Dupleix, tel. [phone], www.classicwalksparis.com ). They also offer neighborhood
walks of Montmartre, the Marais, and the Latin Quarter, as well as themed walks on the
French Revolution (€20, tours run several times a week—see website for details). The
company promises a €2 discount on all walks with this topic.
Fat Tire Bike Tours also offers Easy Pass skip-the-line interior tours of major sights,
including the Louvre, Catacombs, Eiffel Tower, Orsay, and Versailles (€40-85/person, in-
cludes entry and guided tour). Reservations are required and can be made on their website
orbyphone.TheirEiffelTowertourinparticularishandyifyouaren'tabletogetadvance
tickets.
Local Guides
For many, Paris merits hiring a Parisian as a personal guide. Arnaud Servignat is an ex-
cellent licensed guide (€190/half-day, also does car tours of the countryside around Paris
for a little more, mobile [phone], www.french-guide.com , [e-mail] ) . Th-
ierry Gauduchon is a terrific guide well worth his fee (€200/half-day, €400/day, tel. 01
56981082,mobile[phone], [e-mail] ) . Elisabeth Van Hest isanoth-
er likable and capable guide (€190/half-day, tel. [phone], [e-mail] ) .
Sylviane Ceneray is gentle and knowledgeable (€200/half-day, tel. [phone],
www.paris-asyoulikeit.com ) .
Food Tours
Friendly Canadian Rosa Jackson designs personalized “Edible Paris” itineraries based on
your interests and three-hour “food-guru” tours of Paris led by her or one of her two col-
leagues(unguideditinerariesfrom€125,€300guidedtoursforupto3,mobile[phone]