Paris Pratique - The American University of Paris

ParisPratique_AUP.qxd 2/07/04 13:02 Page 2 

Paris Pratique 

Your Ticket to AUP and Paris 

Editor-in-Chief 

Megan Bardoe (‘04) 

Assistant Editor 

Caroline Laurent (‘04) 

Concept Design Consultants 

Tara Butler and Jacco Houbiers 

With Special Thanks to 

Philippa Nevin 

Paul Marcille 

Ahmed Tawfik 

Works Cited 

Parisgraph 2003 

Travel Tips 

AUP Catalog 

Paris Pratique 

Office of Student Affairs 

The American University of Paris 

Paris 2004


Table of Contents 

Introduction 6 

Bloody French – All You Need to Know About Them 7 

The American University of Paris Essentials 9 

AUP Campus Map 9 

AUP Campus Telephone Numbers 10 

Emergency & Other Useful Telephone Numbers 11 

AUP Health Services 11 

AUP Academic Programs 14 

AUP Academic Procedures 15 

The Essentials of Everyday Life in Paris 21 

Paris Orientation & Local Transportation 21 

Financial Matters 25 

Banking 25 

Housing 28 

Doing Laundry 33 

Telephone 33 

Internet 35 

Computers 36 

Post Office 37 

Eating In: Grocery Stores 37 

Epiceries or General Grocery Stores 37 

Specialty Stores 40 

Health Food Stores 40 

Markets 41 

Eating Out: Restaurants & Boulangeries 44 

Traditional French Restaurants 45 

Traditional French Boulangeries 46 

International Restaurants 46 

Restaurants & Boulangeries Around AUP 49 

Cafés 51 

Quick Sandwiches & Snacks 52 

Going Out: Bars, Lounges & Clubs 53 

Bars & Lounges 53 

Open Late Night 55 

Mini Guide to Bars in Paris 56 

Clubs 60 

Shopping 64 

Clothing Stores 64 

Beauty 66 

Bookstores 67 

Sports & Fitness 70 

Sports At & Around AUP 70 

Gyms 71 

Outdoor Sports 72 

Home Excercise Equipment Stores 76 

Cultural Activities 77 

Cultural Program Office 77 

Museums 77 

Short List of Parisian Sites & Activities 84 

Movie Theatres Around or Near AUP 85 

Varied Activities In or Near Paris 86 

Paris Opera 87 

Parks & Green Spaces 88 

Personal Paris 91 

General Travel Information 95 

Youth Discount Cards 95 

Youth Hostels 96 

Travel Agencies 96 

Online travel Specialists 97 

Air Travel 97 

Airports & Airport Shuttle Companies 98 

Car Travel 101 

Train Travel 101 

Before You Leave 104 

Travel Outside of France 105 

Handy French 109 

Simple Basics 110 

Transportation and Travel 111 

At the café/restaurant 111 

Shopping 114 

Going out 115 

Phrases for a problem situation 115 

Phrases for a medical problem 116 

Gym 116 

Haircut 117 

Numbers 117 

Days and Months 118 

Street Slang and Profanities 118 

A few idiomatic bits and pieces 119 

Outro 120 

Confessions of an AUP Graduate 120


Introduction 

Paris is one of the most cosmopolitan and exciting of the world’s 

capitals. It is busy, sophisticated, expensive, confusing and can be 

overwhelming to newcomers. However, if you take some time to ease 

yourself into the life of the city and have realistic expectations 

about the adaptation period that you and all newcomers experience, 

then you will soon find yourself part of the vibrant community that is 

AUP and Paris. 

This guide is designed to give you some of the information that you 

will need in the next few weeks. It is not designed to be exhaustive. 

Rather, it contains the information that you will be exposed to at the 

Orientation workshops and the information that we have found by 

experience that most new students need in their first few weeks at 

AUP. 

Both at AUP and in Paris, you will be meeting people from very 

different national, cultural, socio-economic, political and religious 

backgrounds. It’s probably unnecessary to advise you to be openminded. 

You wouldn’t be at AUP if that were not already the case. 

However, you will find your open- mindedness and tolerance for 

differences stretched to lengths that you did not know existed. This 

is not always easy, and you should expect to feel tired, annoyed, 

overwhelmed, and, sometimes, even angry at the way the French do 

things. This is normal, and we’ve all gone through it when we first 

arrived here. The adaptation period for new comers, that is the period 

before which you will feel completely at home in France, varies from 

person to person. For many, it can take the entire first semester for 

students to feel comfortable in their new surroundings. Give 

yourself all the time you need to adapt. 

For many of you, this will be your first time living away from home or 

living in your own apartment. This will entail spending much more time 

than you are used to taking care of yourself, e.g. shopping, cleaning, 

doing laundry, getting back and forth from school, and managing an 

independent social life. Don’t be surprised in the beginning about the 

amount of time these tasks take. Doing them for the first time, let 

alone in a foreign country, can take a great deal of effort and time. 

It’s important to realize this when budgeting time for your studies. 

Welcome to Paris and AUP and good luck with your first semester of 

studies. 

6 

Bloody French – All You Need to Know About Them 

Story by Jonathon Ramsey 

Updated by Olivier Laurent 

French people have a tendency to stare. If you’re American 

you may find it an unpleasant habit. Unlike America though, when 

French people stare it does not automatically mean they want to take 

you home or rob you. They’re just looking, and you are allowed to 

look back at them. 

Small French shops (which is most of them) don’t stock much 

change, mainly because they don’t have the space to stock it or are 

afraid of being robbed. If you’re buying an inexpensive item with a 

large bill, you may be asked if you have la monnaie, change, or at 

least the cents to make it even. In rare cases, particularly at those 

cute little boulangeries early in the morning, they won’t serve you, 

which isn’t so cute. 

The French don’t really have any great desire to speak to 

you beyond bonjour and au revoir when you enter and exit a room. 

Meeting French people is a must if you’re going to learn the language, 

but it can be difficult. The French are more than willing to get very 

close – riding the metro, clubbing, or even walking down the street 

can be full contact -but once there they can be as quiet as you like. 

And speaking of walking down the street, sidewalks generally come in 

two sizes: tiny and “Single file, everybody!” Even the larger sidewalks 

can be blocked by one person, due to a French habit of walking in 

anything but a straight line. 

About lines, I don’t know if the French actually enjoy waiting 

in them, but they certainly don’t have anything against it. One reason 

for the abundance of les queues is the French propensity to have just 

one person running the show (small shops, boulangeries since they 

cannot afford to hire more employees), or to put one person to work 

while the rest…do other things (the bank, grocery stores). Even when 

there are enough people, the lines can still be outrageous. No matter 

what time of day you visit, be prepared to wait at McDonald’s. Of 

course, it may be that the reason they don’t mind lines is because they 

also have no qualms about stepping into the line somewhere in front 

of you, and you should not bother doing so too. 

Strikes. Des grèves. They are going to happen, without fail, 

so don’t take any public or private service for granted. People on 

strike may still receive an income and they will still have health 

benefits, which means they can go the distance when it comes to 

shutting down the mill. Last year transportation workers were on 

strike, which meant no train, subway or buses running. Of course, 

this happened during exams week, and it is very likely to happen again 

in this semester. Keep an eye on televisions in the metro, because 

they’ll tell you what days and at what times the metro drivers are 

going to go on strike, and on which line. 

Going to the doctor in France is probably not like it is at 

home. Healthcare is free, of course, and this seems to give French 

doctors the urge to prescribe ridiculous amounts of medication. For a 7


throat infection I was given a prescription for six different pills, to 

be taken each day. The structure of the system is also somewhat odd. 

One student, after having been to the doctor twice for an allergy 

remedy, was given a prescription for a shot. When she went to the 

pharmacy, she was handed a loaded syringe. Not being trained in this 

endeavor, she then had to make another appointment with the doctor. 

Another student with knee trouble was sent by her doctor to a lab 

for x-rays. The doctor’s orders before leaving were for her to look 

at the x-rays, and if she saw anything wrong with them to call the 

doctor back for an appointment. This system is likely to be changed by 

the new French government in the near future, which means more 

strikes soon in the medical field. 

Sexism is alive and well, and racism too, if you’re used to 

American standards. Certain French male behavior that would earn a 

sexual harassment lawsuit or a visit from the police in the United 

States (except in Central Park after Puerto Rican Day parades) will 

go uncommented upon here. 

The bureaucracy is of interstellar proportions. T’s must be 

crossed, papers must be signed, stamps must be affixed, things must be 

documented. Everything you’ve heard about it is true, so don’t 

underestimate it. Getting angry will not make things go faster, on the 

contrary “fonctionnaires” (public workers) will make your life a living 

hell if you dare complain. 

French people are not in a hurry. You shouldn’t be either. 

Remember this especially when you’re eating out, wondering why 

people who look like servers are doing everything but serving you. 

When you get their attention they may say “J’arrive.” It means “I’m 

coming,” but don’t take it as an indication that they’ll be coming any 

time soon. Once you finally have ordered, the same rule applies. You’ll 

get your drinks and your food when you get them. And you’ll like it. As 

for tipping, it is not necessary, but most servers will be very happy if 

you do, even if you only give 1 Euro. 

Lots of streets have the same name, so make sure you know 

your rue from your ave, boulevard, cour, passage, and parc. Some 

buildings share the same number, so check for bis and ter also. To 

enter most residential buildings you need to know the security code 

for the outer doors. Make sure to get the code number beforehand, 

because you usually can’t get to the intercoms until you’ve gotten 

through the doors. Yet another good reason to have a cell phone. 

French do not like big groups of loud tourists, even groups 

of French. You will get rolled eyes, annoyed sighs and not-so-friendly 

comments, but you should not worry too much about it, most 

complainers will look away as soon as you notice them complaining. 

All these “special features” are part of your experience in 

France. Enjoy! 

About the original author of this article 

Jonathon Ramsey, class of ‘00, edited The Planet, where this 

Orientation article first appeared in Sept. 2000. He produced the 

The American University of Paris Essentials 

AUP Campus Map 

1. 31 avenue Bosquet 

Classrooms, Student Cafe, Student Affairs, Registrar, Housing, 

Cultural Programs, Student Government 

2. 10 bis rue Amelie 

Bookstore, Classrooms 

3. 9 rue de Monttessuy 

University Library 

4. 147 rue de Grenelle 

Classrooms, Faculty Offices, Computer Lab, Writing Lab, Academic 

Advising Center, Cafeteria 

5. 102 rue St. Dominique 

(entrance: 16 Passage Landrieu) 

Bursar’s Office, Summer & Continuing Education Programs 

first on-line edition of The Planet. 8 

9


6. 6 rue du Colonel Combes 

Admissions & Student Finance Center, Alumni Office, President’s Office, 

Classrooms 

7. 11 rue Pierre Villey 

Classroom, Faculty Offices 

AUP Campus Telephone Numbers 

Offices and Facilities by Building 

Each office may be telephoned directly by dialing 01.40.62.0 + 

ext. 

31 avenue Bosquet 

Office of Academic Affairs ext. 604 

Office of the Registrar ext. 612 

Office of Student Affairs ext. 643 

Cultural Programs ext. 596 

Housing Office ext. 599 

Internship Office ext. 625 

Student Government Office ext. 589 

Art History Department ext. 607 

Computer Science, Mathematics & Science ext. 577 

European Cultural Studies & Philosophy ext. 638 

Career Counseling ext. 634 

AMEX Café ext. 620 

10 bis, rue Amelie 

Bookstore ext. 594 

9 rue Monttessuy 

University Library ext. 550 

11 rue Pierre Villey 

European Cultural Studies & Philosophy ext. 638 

147 rue de Grenelle 

Faculty Secretary's Office ext. 660 

Comparative Literature Department ext. 673 

Economics Department ext. 685 

French Studies & Foreign Languages ext. 677 

Intensive English Program ext. 718 

History & Social Sciences Department ext. 686 

Academic Advising Center ext. 671 

Computer Laboratory ext. 651 

Writing Lab ext. 672 

10 

102 rue St. Dominique 

Division of Summer & Continuing Education ext. 635 

Bursar's Office ext. 711 

6 rue du Colonel Combes 

Office of the President ext. 719 

Office of International Admissions ext. 720 

Financial Aid Office ext. 727 

Alumni Affairs ext. 632 

International Business Administration ext. 579 

International Affairs & Politics ext. 691 

International Communications ext. 676 

Emergency & Other Useful Telephone Numbers 

The American University of Paris: 01.40.62.06.00 

Police: 17 

Fire: 18 

American Hospital in Paris: 01.46.41.25.25 

British Hospital in Paris: 01.46.39.22.22 

SOS Doctor (24-hour service): 01.47.07.77.77 

SOS Dentist (24-hour service): 01.43.37.51.00 

SOS Help Line (English crisis hotline): 01.47.23.80.80 

Ambulance Service: 01.45.65.20.26 

Poison Control Center (24-hour service): 01.40.05.48.48 

Pharmacy (24-hour service): 01.45.62.02.41 

AUP Health Insurance Company (24-hour service): 

01.42.81.97.00 

Directory Assistance: 12 

Time: 3699 

Taxi Bleu: 01.49.36.10.10 

Locksmith: 01.45.51.82.86 

Plumber: 01.45.51.95.14 

Electrician: 01.45.67.84.84 

Lost or stolen carte bleu: 01.42.77.11.90 

Lost or stolen checkbooks: contact your bank 

AUP Health Services 

If you are insured by the AUP health insurance plan, the 

services of each of the practitioners listed below are paid for 

directly by European Benefits. If you are not covered by this 

insurance, you are encouraged to use these services, but you 

must pay directly for them. 

11


Dentists 

Dr. Olivier Besserman 

34, rue de la Victoire, 75009, M˚ Notre-Dame de Lorette 

Tel. 01.48.78.49.50 

Dr. Celine Bismuth 

7, rue Bernard Clairvaux, 75003, M˚ Rambuteau 

Tel. 01.48.87.61.61 

Dr. Alex Chagari 

22, rue Cler, 75007, M˚ Ecole Militaire 

Tel. 01.47.05.40.10 

Dermatologist 

Dr. Brigitte Marchal 

40, avenue Bosquet, 75007, M˚ Ecole militaire 

Tel. 01.45.51.04.40 

General Practitioners 

Dr. Patricia Nizard 

41, avenue Bosquet, 75007, M˚ Ecole Militaire 

Tel. 01.45.55.66.15 

Dr. Lorin De Reure 

176, rue de Grenelle, 75007, M˚ Latour Maubourg 

Tel. 06.60.10.50.40 

Dr. Nancy Salzman 

36, rue du Colisée, 75008, M˚ Franklin D. Roosevelt 

Tel. 01.45.63.18.43 

Dr. Francis Slattery 

32, rue Vignon, 75008, M˚ Madeleine 

Tel. 01.47.42.02.34 

Gynecologists 

Dr. Anne-Francoise Neiman 

150, rue de l’Université, 75007, M˚ Invalides 

Tel. 01.45.56.03.30 

Dr. Tatiana Oppenheim 

17, boulevard du Temple, 75003, M˚ Filles du Calvaire 

Tel. 01.48.87.22.63 

Hospitals & Emergency Rooms 

(Tell the hospital admissions office that you are an AUP 

student) 

American Hospital of Paris 

63, boulevard Victor Hugo, 92202 Neuilly-sur-Seine, M˚ Pont 

de Neuilly 

Hertford British Hospital 

3, rue Barbes, 92300 Levallois-Perret, M˚ Anatole France 

Tel. 01.46.39.22.22 

Medical Laboratories 

Laboratoires d'Analyses Médicales 

14, rue Dupont des Loges, 75007, M˚ Ecole Militaire 

Tel. 01.47.05.84.37 

Laboratoires d'Analyses Médicales 

16, rue José-Maria de Heredia, 75007, M˚ Ségur 

Tel. 01.47.83.24.13 

Ophthalmologist 

Dr. Esther Blumen 

41, avenue Bosquet, 75007, M˚ Ecole Militaire 

Tel. 01.45.55.65.45 

Optician 

Optique Monnery 

49, rue Cler, 75007, M˚ Ecole Militaire 

Tel. 01.47.05.18.67 

Walter Optician 

107, rue St. Dominique, 75007, M˚ Ecole Militaire 

Tel. 01.45.51.70.08 

Pharmacies 

Pharmacie Rouche 

104, rue St. Dominique, 75007, M˚ Ecole Militaire 

Tel. 01.47.05.83.95 

Pharmacie Derhy (24-Hour Pharmacy) 

Galerie des Champs-Elysées 

84 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008 

M˚ Georges V 

Tel: 01.45.62.02.41 

Psychologists/Psychiatrists 

The International Counseling Service 

Tel. 01.45.50.26.49 

X-Rays 

Centre d”imagerie Médical 

199, rue de Grenelle, 75007, M˚ Ecole Militaire 

Tel. 01.45.55.08.09 

Tel. 01.46.41.25.25 12 

13


Day-After Pill Information 

If necessary, the morning-after pill, taken with 72 hours of 

the event, is available in Paris. There are two types, neither 

of which are 100% effective. One of these, Norlevo, is 

available without prescription in pharmacies. 

AIDS or Le SIDA Information 

Information about the precautions to take to avoid 

contracting AIDS or other STDS (MSTS or maladie 

sexuellement transmissible) is prevalent throughout the city. 

If your prevention strategy has come adrift, then free 

screening for STDs is available at the French Red Cross. The 

Paris city government, la Mairie de Paris, also runs special 

centers, the CIDAG, which offer anonymous screening free of 

charge. 

Croix Rouge Française 

43 rue de Valois, 75001 

M˚ Palais Royal 

Tel: 01.42.97.48.29 

CIDAG 

2 rue du Figuier, 75004 

M˚ Pont Marie 

Tel: 01.49.96.62.70 

Website: www.ap-hp.fr 

AUP Academic Programs 

Majors 

The American University of Paris offers majors in fourteen 

disciplines: 

Applied International Finance 

Applied Economics 

Art History 

Comparative Literature 

Computer Science 

European Cultural Studies and Philosophy 

Film and Media Studies 

French Studies 

History and Social Sciences 

International Affairs 

International Business Administration 

International Communications 

International Economics 

Minors 

A minor consists of 18 to 22 credit hours in specified areas. 

All minor courses beyond the introductory level must be 

completed at AUP with a 2.0 average and with no grade lower 

than C-. The minor does not require additional credits beyond 

the 120 needed for the BA or BS degree. AUP currently 

offers minors in the following disciplines: 

American Studies 

History 

Applied Mathematics 

Information Technology 

Art History 

International Business Administration 

Cities: Architecture and Urban Culture International 

Communications 

Comparative Literature 

International Economics 

Computer Science 

Medieval Studies 

Developing Countries 

Philosophy 

Environmental Studies 

Political Science 

European Cultural Studies 

Psychology 

Fine Arts 

Social Sciences 

French 

Theater & Performance 

Gender Studies 

World Politics 

AUP Academic Procedures 

Student Status 

Full-time students are those taking 12 or more credit hours in 

a semester. The average student takes 15 credit hours or 5 

courses per semester, allowing them to accumulate the 120 

credit hours required for graduation in four years. 

Students registered for less than 12 credit hours are 

considered part-time students. Part-time students are not 

eligible for a student visa and do not qualify for University 

financial aid. 

Psychology 14 

15


Student Classification 

Students are classified as follows according to the number of 

credit hours they have completed. 

Freshman: 1-29 

Sophomore: 30-59 

Junior: 60-89 

Senior: 90-120 

Attendance 

Students at AUP are expected to attend all scheduled class 

sessions. Many professors consider attendance and 

participation as a part of the final grade. Each professor’s 

attendance and grading policy are outlined on the course 

syllabus. Exceptions to required attendance are: 1.) 

Involuntary absence due to illness or a personal emergency, 

and 2.) Participation in course-related study trips which cause 

absences from other courses. In all cases of missed classes, 

the responsibility for communicating with the professor and 

arranging to make up missed work rests with the student. 

Grading & Credits 

Grades are reported at the end of each semester. Students, 

whose work is unsatisfactory in any course at the midpoint of 

the semester, will receive a Midterm warning. Midterm 

warnings and final grades are mailed to each student's 

financially responsible person (FRP) when permission to do so 

has been given by the student. The following grading system is 

used: 

Excellent Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory Failure 

A = 4.0 B+ = 3.3 C+ = 2.3 D+ = 1.3 F = 0.0 

A- = 3.7 B = 3.0 C = 2.0 D = 1.0 

B- = 2.7 C- = 1.7 D- = 0.7 

C/NC Credit/No Credit 

W Withdrawal 

I Incomplete 

AU Audit 

Credit/No Credit (C/NC) 

Students may designate one course per semester to be graded 

Credit/No Credit (C/NC). This option must be chosen by the 

deadline announced in the University calendar. Once chosen, 

this option cannot be changed. When the C/NC option has been 

selected for a course, the student will receive credit for the 

course if he/she completes the course requirements with a 

16 

performance equal to a C grade or above. Credits so earned 

will count toward degree and graduation requirements, but 

no grade will be used in calculating the grade point average. 

Course Withdrawal 

Students may withdraw from a course(s) up to the end of the 

ninth week of classes each semester. The actual deadline is 

indicated in the University calendar. Courses from which a 

student has withdrawn will be listed on the student’s 

transcript with the designation W. Students will receive no 

grade and no credit for courses from which they have 

withdrawn. 

Incomplete Grade (I) is assigned in exceptional circumstances 

where the requirements for a course have not been completed 

for justifiable reasons, e.g., documented illness under the 

care of a physician, hospitalization, or documented family 

emergency. A grade of Incomplete must be approved by the 

Professor, the Department Chairperson and the Academic Dean. 

The grade of Incomplete will become an F if the deadline for 

completion established by the professor is not met. In no 

instance may this deadline extend beyond the midterm grade 

reporting deadline of the subsequent semester. 

Audit 

Full-time students may audit one course per semester with 

permission of the Registrar and the professor concerned. An 

Audit Petition must be submitted to the Registrar during the 

Drop/Add period at the beginning of each semester. Courses 

that are audited will appear on a student's transcript, but no 

grade or credit will be received. 

Repeated Courses 

Courses in which a student has earned a C- or below may be 

repeated. In such cases, the higher grade will be used in 

calculating the cumulative grade point average, although a 

record of all courses will remain on the student's transcript. 

Credit can only be earned one time for any course. Repeating a 

course will not earn additional credit. 

Drop/Add 

During the first six class days of each semester and the first 

two class days of summer session, students may Drop one or 

17


more courses, and no record of the course(s) will appear on 

their transcript. Students may also add courses, when space is 

available in the class. To Drop/Add a course(s), students 

simply go to the Registrar’s office and complete a Drop/Add 

form. 

Calculating Grade Point Average (GPA) 

Each letter grade received in a course is assigned a numerical 

value (see chart above) from 0.0 to 4.0. This number is 

multiplied by the number of credits assigned to the course in 

order to obtain the quality points for each course. The 

semester GPA is calculated by dividing the sum of the quality 

points for a semester by the sum of the credit hours attempted 

(including credits for classes with an F grade) for the 

semester. The cumulative GPA, on which probation, dismissal 

and academic honors are based, is calculated by dividing the 

sum of quality points for all courses by the sum of all credits 

attempted. 

Dean's List 

Students who have earned at least 12 credit hours in a 

semester with a GPA of B+ or 3.3 and with no grades below C 

or 2.0 receive academic honors and are placed on the Dean's 

List, which is published at the end of each semester. Courses 

taken C/NC cannot be included in the 12 credit hours required 

for the Dean's List. 

Academic Standing 

All degree-seeking students, including part-time degreeseeking 

students, must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 

2.0 in order to be in good academic standing. Students whose 

GPA drops below 2.0 are automatically placed on academic 

probation. Students whose GPA is unacceptable for several 

semesters will be dismissed from the University. First semester 

freshmen are permitted a period of one semester's grace if 

their first semester GPA falls below 2.0. 

Probation 

Students who have earned fewer than 24 credit hours and 

whose GPA is below 1.5 will be placed on special probation. 

They will be required to follow a specified course of study, 

which may include repeating courses in which their grades 

where below 2.0. Students placed on probation may register 

18 

for no more than four courses and are not permitted to 

participate in University extracurricular activities. 

Dismissal 

Any student who is placed on probation for three consecutive 

semesters or whose cumulative GPA drops below the amount 

specified in the University catalog, will be dismissed from the 

University. Decisions concerning dismissal may be appealed to 

the university Appeals Committee. 

University Withdrawal 

A student who wishes to withdraw from the University must 

notify the Registrar and complete a University Withdrawal 

form. Tuition refunds are calculated using the refund 

schedule published in the University catalogue. To be 

officially withdrawn, students must clear all financial or 

other obligations with University offices. Withdrawal from 

the University will be indicated on the student’s transcript, 

and no grades or credits will be earned for classes taken 

that semester. 

Transcripts 

A University transcript is the official record of courses a 

student has taken and the credits and grades they have 

earned. The transcript is produced by the Registrar’s office. 

Students may obtain copies of their transcript by contacting 

the Registrar’s office. 

Transfer of Credit 

Up to ninety (90) semester hour credits may be accepted in 

transfer towards a BA or BS degree. Students are still 

required to complete all University general education and 

major requirements. One-half of the upper-level required 

courses must be completed at the University. Up to sixty-six 

(66) semester credit hours may be accepted from a junior or 

community college. The Registrar is responsible for 

evaluating and granting transfer credit and reserves the 

right to accept transfer credit conditionally pending the 

successful completion of one semester at AUP with a minimum 

GPA of C (2.00). Transfer credit is accepted from accredited 

American colleges and universities and from non-American, 

nationally recognized universities. 

To receive credit for courses taken outside the University, 

19


currently enrolled students must first have prior approval of 

the Registrar before taking the course(s). The student must 

provide a catalog or course description from the institution 

offering the course. Transcripts of the approved course(s) 

must be submitted to the Registrar within six weeks after the 

completion of the course. 

Advanced Standing 

Advanced standing and credits may be granted to students 

having taken and received a grade of 4 or above on Advanced 

Placement Tests of the College Board, GCSE “A” Level exam, 

French Baccalaureate, German Abitur and International 

Baccalaureate degrees. 

Internship 

Students may earn 0, 1 or 3 credit hours per semester on a 

Credit/No Credit basis by doing an internship, which is a 

professional work experience. Students may apply up to 6 

internship credits toward graduation. In additional to 10 to 20 

hours work per week, interns must fulfill specific academic 

requirements directly related to the work experience. In 

order to do an internship, students are required to have a 

minimum GPA of 3.0, be of junior or senior class standing, and 

meet the specific requirements for internship offerings. 

Graduation Requirements 

A bachelor's degree usually requires four academic years of 

study and a minimum of 120 credit hours. Each completed course 

counts as three to five credits towards a degree. Students 

graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree for a major in the 

humanities and social sciences and a Bachelor of Science (BS) 

for a major in computer science or applied economics. 

BA & BS degrees are awarded to candidates who meet the 

following criteria: 

Completion of a minimum of 120 credits, distributed among 

general education requirements, major requirements and 

electives. At least 30 credit hours, including the last 15, 

must be earned in residence. At lease one half of upper-level 

degree 

courses must be completed at AUP. 

A minimum GPA of 2.0 (C) with no grade below C- in courses 

specified as requirements for the major. 

20 

The Essentials of Everyday Life in Paris 

Paris Orientation & Local Transportation 

Paris is a relatively small city, divided into sections or 

arrondissements numbered from one to twenty. The close 

suburbs span a number of départements, the smallest 

geographical unit of French regional administration, and you 

will hear them referred to by their number (le 93, for 

example). The Paris arrondissements are divided into a spiral, 

resembling a snail’s shell, beginning in the center with the 

first arrondissement and winding outwards to the twentieth. 

Most AUP students tend to live close to the university 

buildings, in the seventh, eighth, fifteenth and sixteenth 

arrondissements. All postal addresses in Paris have an area 

code beginning 75 and then followed by the number of the 

arrondissement (for example, in the seventh, your code will be 

75007). The River Seine divides the city into two parts, the 

northern side, generally referred to as the Rive Droite (Right 

Bank as the river runs west towards the sea) and covering the 

greater area than the Rive Gauche or Left Bank (southern 

side). In Paris mythology, the Rive Gauche is younger, and 

trendier, home to ancient institutions of learning and a 

vibrant cultural life. The Rive Droite is said to be more 

conservative and is home to the major museums, theaters and 

the opera houses. 

It is fairly easy to get your bearings in Paris. All streets have 

the characteristic blue and white street signs on the sides of 

buildings at every street corner with arrondissement numbers. 

Within a short walk of any point in the city, you will come 

across a flight of steps leading down into the ground, marked 

by a map and an M sign of some kind or another. This is the 

access to the city center underground system or the Métro. 

Métro 

The first line of the Métro opened in 1900, and the service 

has been extended ever since. Unlike the London Tube, the 

tunnels are close to the surface and stations are, on the 

whole, very close together. Each line has its own 

characteristics: line 1 is sleek and modern, cutting right 

across the Rive Droite from east to west; line 4, running 

north to south, links the Gare Montparnasse to the Gare du 

Nord and has a mixed reputation; line 2, which for a stretch 

21


along the southern edge of the eighteenth arrondissement is 

quite scenic, running along a viaduct, takes you from the 

twentieth across to the west of the city and the Porte 

Dauphine. 

Métro tickets are sold individually, or more economically in a 

carnet of ten pull-off purple tickets. Guests, here for a few 

days, should probably buy a carnet or a weekend pass. You 

can also get a monthly Carte d’Orange, which costs around 

47 for limitless travel by Métro and bus in central Paris and 

to some close suburban stations. If in Paris for a year, it 

might be worth looking into getting a special student card, 

the Carte Imaginaire R, which allows you limitless travel in 

the zones you have paid for, at 50% below the standard rate, 

as well as limitless travel through all zones on the 

weekends. 

RATP Online 

www.ratp.fr 

For all information regarding public transportation. 

Carte Imaginaire R 

Tel: 08.91.67.00.67 

Website: www.imagine-r.com 

Bus 

Paris has an extremely efficient bus system. The RATP (Régie 

autonome des transports parisiens) Métro tickets, which need 

to be put through the composteur machine on the bus, work on 

both the bus as well. Show your Carte d’Orange to the driver 

as you get on. Be sure not to put your monthly pass into the 

ticket machine, as it will destroyed. Although more pleasant 

than the Métro, buses can be slower, especially during the 

evening rush hour between 5pm-7:30pm. Note that bus 

services are not as frequent on weekends and on public 

holidays. The red arrêt demandé button allows you to tell 

the driver you want to get off at the next stop. A sign on the 

front of the bus indicates the bus line and its direction. 

When the bus approaches a stop, signal the driver by holding 

out your hand to show that you would like to get on. 

The Paris Métro and bus systems stop each night between 

12:30am-1am. For service after hours, there is a night bus 

22 

system called the Noctambus. The Noctambus works the same 

way as a normal bus, except that all Noctambuses leave from 

one point: Place du Châtelet. All of the buses work on the 

same schedule, leaving every hour on the half-hour during the 

week, and every half-hour on the weekend. the buses are 

lettered, and each one heads to a different part of the city. 

Not all areas are serviced by the Noctambus, but it can often 

make getting home much cheaper than a taxi and much faster 

than walking. 

Noctambus Website: www.citefutee.com 

Public Transport Strikes – La Grève 

Public services in France have occasional strikes, politely 

referred to as a mouvement social or une grève. Scan the 

newspapers for news of days when public transport will not 

be operating at full service. However, in the event of a 

Métro strike, the national rail company can reimburse you for 

a taxi. You just need to ask the taxi for a receipt and hand 

the receipt in at any SNCF desk. The down side is that it can 

take up to several months to receive the check. 

Taxis 

Taxis can be a very practical mode of transportation in Paris, 

although they are often few and far between in many parts of 

the city. Taxis are also something of a risk for your wallet, if 

you are not familiar with the pricing system. The compteur, or 

meter, should be on tariff A if you are traveling inside of 

Paris from 7am-7pm, tariff B if you are traveling inside of 

Paris from 7pm-7am or outside of Paris from 7am-7pm, tariff C 

if you are traveling outside of Paris from 7pm-7am. You can 

tell if a taxi is available or not by the light on the top of the 

car. If the taxi is displaying a large white light, it is free; if 

one of the smaller orange or blue lights is on, the taxi is 

taken. Keep in mind that taxis often will not stop when 

hailed. Many times you will have to find a taxi stand (a large 

green pole with a blue light at the top) and wait there until a 

taxi comes to you. The following are private taxi companies 

you can telephone, but keep in mind that when you call a taxi 

the meter starts running from the second you hang up the 

phone: 

23


Les Taxis Bleus 

Tel: 08.25.16.10.10 

Alpha Taxis 

Tel: 01.45.85.85.85 

Public Transport Strikes – La Grève 

Public services in France have occasional strikes, politely 

referred to as a mouvement social. Scan the newspapers for 

news of days when public transport will not be operating at 

full service. However, in the event of a Métro strike, the 

national rail company can reimburse you for a taxi. You just 

need to ask the taxi for a receipt and hand the receipt in at 

any SNCF desk. The down side is that it can take up to several 

months to receive the check. 

Biking 

Paris is not the safest city in the world for bike riders. 

Nevertheless, local government policy is to get Parisians on 

their bikes and the number of pistes cyclables (bike lanes) is 

being increased. Some streets have lanes for buses and taxis 

only, which provide cyclists with some relief from the press of 

traffic. To get out of the city, cycle-ways now run along the 

canals leading north out of the city to St-Denis and east to 

the Sevran Forest. 

Bike Rentals 

Paris-Vélo 

2 rue de Fer-à-Moulin, 75005 

M˚ Censier-Daubenton 

Tel: 01.43.37.59.22 

Bike Sales 

Fat Tire Bike Tours Paris 

24 rue Edgar Faure, 75015 

M˚ Dupleix 

Tel: 01.56.58.10.54 

Website: www.FatTireBikeToursParis.com 

Go Sport 

Locations all over Paris 

Website: www.gosport.fr 

24 

Banking 

Financial Matters 

Opening an Account 

Foreigners need several documents in order to open an 

account with a French bank. Most require a passport, a 

residence permit and a proof of address. The proof of address 

is usually accepted in the form of a letter by your landlord, 

or a phone/electricity bill in your name. Also, students 

housed by the AUP Housing Office can request a proof of 

address from the Housing Office that will suffice. The 

required minimum deposit will vary from bank to bank. The 

following is a list of banks close to AUP and who have agreed 

to open accounts for AUP students: 

Crédit Lyonnais 

2 bis avenue Bosquet 

Tel: 01.44.11.30.13 

Website: www.creditlyonnais.fr 

BNP Paribas 

37 avenue Bosquet 

Tel: 08.20.82.00.01 

Website: www.bnpparibas.net 

Société Generale 

106 rue St-Dominique 

Tel: 01.47.53.55.00 

Website: www.societegenerale.fr 

CIC – Crédit Industriel et Commercial 

16 T avenue Bosquet 

Tel: 08.20.01.00.91 

Website: www.cic.fr 

Bank Cards 

Shortly after opening your account, you will most likely 

receive a Carte Bleue ATM card. This allows you to withdraw 

cash at practically any ATM, and make purchases in most 

stores. The Carte Bleue functions as a debit card with all 

charges being debited at the end of each month. This is not a 

credit card. You much have adequate funds in your account to 

cover all charges. Do not forget your code – for most banks, 

the micro chip technology does not as yet allow you to change 

your code into something you can remember easily. 

25


Checks 

Checks are still widely accepted as a form of payment in most 

French establishments. Be aware that it is illegal to have a 

check bounce in France. Likewise, it is illegal to have an 

overdraft of your account. Both offenses will put you in 

grave disfavor with the Bank of France, which will place 

detrimental restrictions on your ability to open an account 

with another French bank, and will restrict your Carte Bleue 

eligibility. If you believe that you may be overdrawn, speak 

with your bank immediately. Often, your bank will allow you a 

temporary overdraft or can assist you in better managing your 

finances. 

Transferring Money 

If you have a bank account in France, money can easily be 

wired to it. All that is required is the appropriate account 

number, bank code (RIB) and branch number. Transfers will 

take little time if you are wiring money from an associated 

bank. If you are wiring funds from a non-affiliated bank, it 

usually takes a minimum of five days, but can take up to a few 

weeks. Foreign-fund checks deposited in your French account 

will take a few weeks to a few months to clear and will incur 

high fees during which time the money is not available. This 

should be avoided at all costs. 

Cortal American Express 

11 rue Scribe, 75009 

M˚ Opéra 

Tel: 01.47.14.51.20 

If you do not have an account in France, you can wire money 

using the Cortal American Express service. The minimum is 

$100. A cash transfer from an overseas sender who has an 

American Express card takes about one hour. 

Travel Ex Moneygram 

73 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008, M˚ Georges V, Tel: 

01.45.62.89.55 

25 boulevard des Capucines, 75002, M˚ Madeleine, Tel: 

01.42.96.26.78 

This service can take as few as ten minutes. The sender goes 

to any Travel Ex Bureau in the world and pays the amount of 

money to be wired, plus the Moneygram fee. The sender then 

receives a reference number for the transaction. When the 

recipient is informed of this number, the money can be 

26 

collected at any Travel Ex office. The two closest to AUP 

are listed above and are open seven days a week from 9am-8pm 

(Moneygram services Sundays from 10:30am-6pm). 

Western Union Worldwide Money Transfer 

56 rue Cler, 75007 

M˚ Ecole Militaire 

Tel: 08.25.00.98.98 

The sender should visit a Western Union agency, pay the 

amount of money to be wired plus the fee and receive a 

transfer code. With that code, the recipient can withdraw the 

money, usually as soon as ten minutes later, either at a 

Western Union office or at selected post offices around 

Paris. The closest post office to AUP with Western Union 

services is listed above. 

Changing Money 

There are many different money changing services located in 

Paris. Listed below are some that AUP students frequent. 

Change et Collection 

1 rue Rouget de l’Isle, 75001 

M˚ Concorde 

Tel: 01.40.15.95.37 

Weekdays from 9:30am-1pm and 3pm-6pm, Saturdays from 10am- 

1pm and 3pm-5pm 

Always call in advance for large amounts and anticipate a 

small commission charge. 

Change Alliance 

101 boulevard Raspail, 75006 

M˚ St-Placide 

Tel: 01.45.49.18.40 

Monday to Friday from 9am-6pm 

No commission added, except for Euro Travelers Cheques. 

Change du Claridge 


M˚ Franklin D. Roosevelt 

Tel: 01.45.63.99.28 

No commission added. 

27


Housing 

Patience and determination will enable you to find the 

apartment of your dreams in Paris, or somewhere suitable for 

student life. French students, if not in university 

accommodations, are increasingly sharing flats. When looking 

for a flat, you will soon discover that the French think in 

metres carrés or square meters. AUP has a dynamic Housing 

Office with a good selection of student flats, which come up 

for rent as students finish their degrees or decide to move. 

Finding Housing & Moving In 

Incoming students are often placed in a Parisian alternative 

to a real apartment, the chambre de bonne. The chambre de 

bonne, as the name implies, is a converted maid’s room. Rooms 

are usually located on the sixth or seventh floor of Parisian 

apartment buildings. It will most likely be accessible through 

a separate service entrance. All chambres de bonnes rented 

through the AUP Housing Office have a shower and kitchen, 

though the toilet is often located in the hall, where it is 

shared with other tenants on the floor. The main benefit is 

the inexpensive price. 

If you do not think that a chambre de bonne is for you, you 

can always opt for a room in an apartment with a French 

family. The AUP Housing Office has many options available in 

this category with varying extras included. Some rooms, for 

example, include meals in the rent, while others simply offer 

the room and leave you on your own to prepare your food. 

The upside to the room in an apartment is that it will allow 

you to practice your French on a regular basis. The only 

downside is that often some degree of privacy is sacrificed. 

If you are seeking to escape the charm of the chambre de 

bonne it is always possible to find a real apartment in Paris, 

provided that you are equipped with two necessary items: cash 

and perseverance. You will save a lot of trouble and hassle 

if you manage to find an individual renting their apartment or 

renting a room in their accommodation. This will save you the 

paperwork, the annoyance, and the money required by going 

through a housing agency, which will typically charge a fee 

equivalent to one month’s rent. There are several other 

options to discover. Below, are a few locations with bulletin 

boards featuring housing offers, as well as publications: 

28 

FUSAC Magazine 

26 rue Bénard, 75014 

M˚ Pernety 

Tel: 01.56.53.54.54 

Website: www.fusac.fr 

A free English language publication featuring many housing 

ads. You can pick up a copy at most Anglophone establishments 

in Paris, as well as at AUP. It is worth checking out their 

website for housing ads posted prior to publication. 

Particulier à Particulier 

40 rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 

M˚ Volontaires 

Tel: 01.40.56.33.33 

Website: www.pap.fr 

A weekly newspaper dedicated solely to housing ads. Get up 

early Thursdays to pick one up at your local newsstand. 

The American Church of Paris 

65 Quai d’Orsay, 75007 

M˚ Alma Marceau or M˚ Invalides 

Tel: 01.40.62.05.00 

Bulletin board located near the courtyard, open Monday- 

Saturday, 10:30am-10pm, and Sundays 10am-7:30pm. 

Shakespeare and Company 

37 rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 

M˚ St-Michel 

No telephone. 

Open noon to midnight, seven days a week. Bookshop with a 

bulletin board. 

Concierge Etiquette 

Your building’s concierge or caretaker knows all, hears all, 

tells all, and is an essential person with whom to get along. 

Their job is to keep the stairwells clean, distribute the mail, 

do minor repairs, cart out the garbage cans, etc. When you 

move in and at Christmas, it is a good idea to tip your 

concierge as much as you can afford (20 is normal) and 

according to the amount of extra work you make for them. 

Concierges are valuable allies and powerful enemies. If 

problems arise over such things as noise after 10pm, your 

concierge can often prevent or create problems for you. 

29


Paying Rent & Bills 

When the first of the month rolls around, it usually means it 

is time to start forking over the rent. The best way to pay 

your rent, especially if you are housed through AUP, is by 

cash. Landlords may not accept any other form of payment 

for fear of bad checks or the French tax authorities. It is 

also possible to pay rent by bank transfer. If you prefer this 

option, check with your bank and landlord. Paying bills can 

be quite easy if you have a bank account. In the back of your 

checkbook are tear-out forms called relevé d’identité 

bancaire (RIBS), which you can fill out and send along with 

your first bill. Then, the company will automatically deduct 

all payments directly from your account. Otherwise, you can 

send a check or go to the establishment and pay cash. 

Something Broken, Something Fixed 

When you move into your apartment or room, you must 

complete an inventory or état de lieu with the landlord. This 

is a detailed inventory of the state of the apartment as you 

found it upon arrival. This will be compared to the état de 

lieu you will complete when you move out and will insure that 

you get your security deposit back. Etat de lieu forms are 

available from the AUP Housing Office. 

If something breaks in your apartment, you are responsible for 

repairs. If a pipe leaks and it is visible to you, you must pay. If 

it leaks and the pipe is behind the walls, the landlord is 

responsible. When something in your apartment does break, 

speak to your landlord, because often they will be able to 

recommend a repairman, plumber, electrician, or locksmith. 

Finding a repairman on your own can be next to impossible and 

more expensive. Also, it may be beneficial to contact your 

insurance company, as damages may be covered, depending on 

how they were incurred. If you have been housed through the 

AUP Housing Office, always check with them for assistance. 

Electricity 

When you first move into your apartment, the electricity and 

possibly the gas will have to be connected in your name so you 

can pay for what you are consuming. Call the EDF to have the 

company’s technician come and get things running. When you 

leave your flat, you will have to go through the same 

procedure in reverse order. You can also call the local EDF 

office. You need to show proof of address to the technician, 

30 

for example your rental agreement. Make sure to take a 

meter reading when you move in to avoid paying for the 

previous tenant’s bills (it is also a good idea to find out the 

name of the last tenant to avoid further complications). 

When you move out, you need to make an appointment with the 

EDF to read the meter and turn off the electricity. 

EDF – Electricité de France 

Tel: 08.10.33.33.02 

Website: www.edf.fr 

Insurance 

French law requires that you have renters insurance. If you 

received housing through AUP, your student account will be 

charged a small fee for insurance. If you found housing on 

your own, you must make sure you have insurance as well. 

Your landlord will require it. The Bursar’s Office can 

register you with AUP’s insurance company or you can get 

insurance through your bank. If your apartment is ever 

robbed, you must file a police report, otherwise your 

insurance will not cover your losses. Any damage to your 

apartment should be reported directly to the insurance 

company. 

Buying Appliances 

There are several major places in Paris to shop for household 

appliances. The BHV sells everything from hairdryers to 

washing machines. In addition, they sell clothing, a wide range 

of household items from linens to lighting, and it has a great 

hardware section in the basement. Darty is also a good place 

for appliances and other household electronic goods. They 

service what they sell even on Sundays and they deliver. 

Castorama is the place for do-it-yourself home improvements. 

They sell hardware, paints, tools, plumbing, and electrical 

parts. There are several IKEAs just outside of Paris, which 

are accessible by RER, which is the place to go for inexpensive 

home furnishings. They have a catalog from which you can 

order by fax or phone. You can also order through their 

website. However, delivery usually only applies to larger 

items, which they deliver and assemble for free. 

31


B.H.V. – Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville 

52 rue de Rivoli, 75001 

M˚ Hôtel de Ville 

Tel: 01.42.74.99.00 

Website: www.bhv.fr 

Darty 

8 avenue des Ternes, 75017 

M˚ Ternes 

Tel: 01.42.79.79.30 

Website: www.darty.fr 

Castorama 

1 rue Caulaincourt, 75018 

M˚ Place de Clichy 

Tel: 01.53.42.42.42 

Website: www.castorama.fr 

IKEA 

50123 rue de Buttes 

Roissy-Charles de Gaulle 

Website: www.ikea.com 

Moving Out 

When the time comes to leave your Parisian apartment you 

will, just as when you moved in, be met with a few tasks. Upon 

moving out, you should request your security deposit back. If 

you have not broken or damaged anything, the landlord 

should return the entire security deposit to you. There have 

been many a tale of stingy landlords not returning the full 

deposit with banal accusations of unnoticeable damage or 

dirtiness. Such opposition can be avoided by filling in an état 

de lieu before you move in and doing it again when you move 

out. 

When all of that has been settled, you may be met with the 

task of shipping your belongings back to your country of 

origin or to your next destination. All major moving 

companies have correspondents in France. Call to get an 

estimate. Below, are a few moving and shipping companies. The 

FUSAC magazine features many ads for additional moving and 

shipping companies. 

32 

Moving & Shipping Companies 

AGS: 01.40.80.20.20 

Allied/Arthur Pierre: 01.34.75.92.92 

Grospiron International: 01.48.14.42.42 

Trans Euro Worldwide Movers: 01.34.48.97.97 

Self-Storage 

Access Self-Storage: 01.53.01.90.00 

Doing Laundry 

Below is a list of laundromats and dry cleaners near AUP. Be 

prepared to wait a decent amount of time while your clothes 

are cleaning; washers take up to an hour, and dryers take up 

to thirty minutes. Bring change, although most laundromats 

have change machines for bills up to 20 . Bring your 

textbooks in order to use the time constructively. 

Laundromats 

Laverie Amélie: 9 rue Amélie, Tel: 01.45.55.97.51 

Redon Blanc Service: 2 rue Comète, Tel: 01.45.51.02.87 

Dry Cleaners 

5 à Sec: 53 bis rue Cler, Tel: 01.47.53.88.98 

5 à Sec: 116 rue St-Dominique, Tel: 01.47.05.83.25 

Telephone & Internet 

French Phone Numbers 

All French phone numbers consist of ten digits, with the first 

two digits indicating the region. All Paris numbers begin 01 

followed by eight other digits, for example. There are four 

other zones in France, beginning with 02, 03, 04 and 05. 

Mobile phone numbers begin 06. Private phone company 

Cégétel’s numbers begin with 07. Free numbers begin with 08. 

Note that the country code of France is 33. Dialing from 

abroad, you do not need to put the initial 0 of the local 

number after 33. An engaged number is said to be occupé. 

Note that public phones function only with phone cards or 

cartes téléphoniques. A reversed charge call or collect call 

is un appel en PCV. For directory enquiries or les 

renseignements, dial 12. 

33


Land or Fixed Line 

To order a telephone line, call the France Telecom English 

line, call your local operator at 1014, or stop by the nearest 

France Telecom boutique. 

France Telecom 

36 avenue de la Motte-Picquet, 75007 


Tel: 08.00.10.14.75 

English Line: 08.00.36.47.75 (only from 9am-5:30pm) 

To cut down on your phone bills, try to make most of your 

calls during the evening or on the weekends when prices are 

reduced. You can also save by purchasing phone cards for 

long-distance calls. Cards with good rates are available for 

sale at the AUP Bookstore. 

Mobile Phones or Le Portable 

You might opt not to get a fixed line. Today, cell phones are 

almost a necessity in Paris. There are three mobile phone 

companies, SFR, Bouygues, and Orange, all of which offer 

several call packages and telephones. 

The first decision you will have to make is whether to get a 

mobile phone that comes with a contract (abonnement or 

subscription). You can also choose a phone with no fixed 

contract for which you buy cards to recharge your credit and 

pay as you go. The contract option is generally cheaper and 

gives you options that might not be available with a 

rechargeable card phone, such as being able to use your 

phone in other European countries and making international 

calls directly from the phone. If you are going to be in 

France for only a short time, it is advisable to get a phone 

without a contract, which you are supposed to have for a 

minimum of one year (however, there are ways to cancel 

early). It is also possible to rent cell phones for short or 

longer periods of time. 

To get your phone, you can visit one of the many different 

phone shops around Paris. You might want to shop around to 

see what deals different stores and companies offer and see 

what suits your phone needs the best. Most packages with a 

contract will give you a monthly subscription, with a choice 

34 

of services (e.g. caller ID) and a set number of hours of calls 

per month for a fixed rate. For such a contract you will need 

to have a bank account in France, as the monthly fee will be 

debited automatically from your account. Listed below are a 

few of the major phone companies in France. 

Bouygues: www.bouyguestelecom.fr 

Orange: www.orange.fr 

SFR: www.sfr.fr 

Internet 

France has over 200 Internet access providers, each offering 

their own dial-up and other business connections. If you have 

an Internet service provider from home, check to see if they 

have an access number in Paris. If not, Noos, Club-Internet, 

and France Telecom’s Wanadoo offer several months of free 

connections with a subscription. Noos offers package deals 

that include cable TV access as well. The best way to get 

Internet and cable hook-ups is to go to your closest provider’s 

establishment and talk to them directly. Be aware that you 

must sign a contract with providers, which binds you for 

several months. If you are a visiting student, make sure you 

will be here to pay your Internet bills. 

Internet Access Providers 

Noos: www.noos.fr 

Club-Internet: www.club-internet.fr 

Wanadoo: www.wanadoo.fr 

Free.fr: www.free.fr 

Internet Cafés in Paris 

Baguenaude Café 

30 rue de la Grande Truanderie, 75001 

M˚ Etienne Marcel 

Tel: 01.40.26.27.74 

Weekdays from 11am-9:45pm, Weekends from 2pm-9:45pm 

Cyber Luxembourg Micro 

81 boulevard St-Michel, 75005 

M˚ Cluny – La Sorbonne 

Tel: 01.46.33.27.98 

Monday to Saturday from 9am-11pm, Sunday from 10am-11pm 

35


XS Arena 

43 boulevard Sebastopol, 75001 

M˚ Châtelet 

Tel: 01.40.13.02.60 

Open 24/7 

Wireless Internet Spots in Paris 

Below are listed a few of the WiFi Internet spots in Paris 

recognizable by large rectangular stickers at designated 

zones. 

McDonalds 

65 boulevard St-Michel, 75005 


Tel: 01.40.51.86.48 

Website: www.mcdonalds.fr 

Le 2001 

11 cour Debille, 75011 

M˚ Voltaire 

Tel: 01.43.48.41.75 

Daily 3pm-2am 

HOTCAFE.FR 

This website directs you to the free WiFi spots throughout 

Paris. One is listed below. 

Bistrot Marguerite 

1 Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, 75004 


Tel: 01.42.72.00.04 

Daily 8am-11pm 

Computers 

If the AUP Computer Lab is not adequate for your computing 

needs, PCs and laptops are available for purchase in a variety 

of stores in and around Paris. It is possible to get a QWERTY 

keyboard as opposed to the French AZERTY one, as well as 

operating systems and software in English. 

At some time in your Parisian life, you are bound to have a 

problem with your computer or other electronic equipment. 

Foire Surcouf in the twelfth arrondissement is the place to 

36 

go to get things sorted out. They do repairs on computers, 

cameras, and just about any other electronic device. The 

downside is that it usually takes a long time for repairs and 

they charge an assessment fee before they will begin work. 

There are also smaller, individually owned shops that 

specialize in computer repairs. Many of these shops surround 

Surcouf and offer cheaper prices, as they are in competition 

with their much larger neighbor. 

Foire Surcouf 

139 & 141 avenue Daumesnil, 75012 

Tel: 01.53.33.20.00 

Website: www.surcouf.com 

Post Office 

A post office is easy to find in any area. Near AUP there is 

one on the end of rue Cler and one on avenue Rapp. Stamps 

can also be bought at a Tabac for international and local 

postage. 

56 rue Cler, Tel: 01.43.17.31.70 

37 avenue Rapp, Tel: 01.44.11.32.80 

Monday to Friday from 8am-7pm, Saturday from 8am-12pm 

The Main Post Office (Open 24/7) 

52 rue de Louvre, 75001, Tel: 01.40.28.20.00 

M˚ Louvre-Rivoli 

For express mail it is advisable to use DHL or FEDEX, which 

are more reliable than the French Chronopost. 

For information, please call: 

DHL: 08.00.20.80.80 

FEDEX: 08.00.12.38.00 

Eating In: Grocery Stores 

Epiceries or General Grocery Stores 

Listed below are general grocery stores near AUP. You will 

find these companies throughout Paris including the larger 

general store Monoprix, but excluding Auchan. 

37


Ed: 84 rue St-Dominique, Tel: 01.53.59.70.15 

Franprix: 27 rue Cler, Tel: 01.40.62.95.81 

G20: 143 rue St-Dominique, Tel: 01.45.55.55.24 

Shopi: 42 avenue La Motte Picquet, Tel: 01.53.59.12.00 

Monoprix: 19 rue Linois, 75015, Tel: 01.45.75.02.40 

Auchan: M˚ La Défense, Tel: 01.41.02.30.99 

Tips for Grocery Shopping 

Remember to bring your own durable plastic bags, backpack or 

grocery caddie (un chariot). Grocery Stores provide their own 

plastic bags, but if you would like a larger and thicker plastic 

bag, they run up to 2€ each at the checkout point. 

Shopping carts are available at most grocery stores. Some 

carts require a 1€ coin deposit into the lock which will be 

returned upon re-locking it. 

Many grocery stores will deliver your groceries to your home, 

and some offer free delivery if you spend a certain amount of 

money. You must be in their delivery zone and you will have to 

fill out a form with your address, door code, floor, door 

(gauche, droite or face), and phone number prior to doing your 

shopping. 

In order to use your credit card or carte bancaire, you must 

spend at least 15€. 

Expect to weigh your own produce on the scales provided with 

price tags to stick on your item. If there are no scales, the 

cashier will weigh your items at the checkout point. 

Milk is available fresh and cold in the refrigerated section 

and on room temperature shelves. Fresh milk is meant to be 

stored for long periods of time. French milk is distinguishable 

by its cap color. Whole milk (entier) has a red cap, low fat 

(demi-écrémé) has a blue cap, skim milk (écrémé) has a light 

green cap, and organic whole milk (lait bio) has a white cap 

(N.B. those with green caps contain added fiber). 

Flour has a numerical categorization of the powdery wheat 

by-product that can make it confusing to buy, but can also 

make all the difference in your baking. All-purpose flour 

38 

(farine de blé) is labeled type 45, which can be found in small 

print on the side of the bag. Stronger white flour (also 

called farine de blé) is labeled 55. Farine fluide can be used 

in liquid batters such as crepes and sauces, farine à gâteaux is 

self-rising cake flour, farine de blé complet is whole wheat, 

farine de sarrasin or de blé noir is buckwheat, and farine 

tamisée is pre-sifted flour. Breadcrumbs (la chapelure) can be 

found among the various types of flour. 

Sucre en poudre is the most commonly used sugar, and can 

also come in cubes (morceaux) for drinks. A less fine sugar is 

sucre cristal. Powdered sugar (sucre glace) comes in round 

plastic containers and boxes and is particularly hard to find 

around Christmas. Brown sugar (sucre vergeoise blonde or 

sucre vergeoise brune – light & dark) is sometimes difficult to 

find and is not found in all stores. Sugar substitutes are 

available and are called edulorant de table, or by the brand, 

Canderel. 

French & International Grocery Stores 

La Grande Epicerie de Paris 

38 rue de Sèvres, 75007 

M˚ Sèvres Babylone 

Tel: 01.44.39.81.00 

Website: www.lebonmarche.fr 

Lafayette Gourmand 

M˚ Havre-Caumartin, 75009 

Tel: 01.42.82.34.56 

Website: www.galerieslafayette.fr 

The Real McCoy 

194 rue de Grenelle, 75007 

Tel: 01.45.56.98.82 

American Grocery Store that also sells American sandwiches 

and snacks. 

Late-Night Epiceries 

The small grocery stores owned and operated by North 

Africans usually stay open between 12-2am, depending on your 

area. These are especially convenient for late-night snacks, 

drinks, and sometimes cigarettes. However, expect to pay more 

than you normally would at a regular grocery store. 

39


Ghoul Jemaa 


Tel: 01.47.05.45.21 

Green Alimentation 


Tel: 01.45.51.15.70 

Specialty Stores 

Boulangeries & Pâtisseries 

French bakeries are the home of the infamous baguette and 

are convenient for snacks and meals to go that are made 

fresh daily and are fairly inexpensive. Food can be 

microwaved upon request. For the baguette, it is possible to 

get a demie-baguette, half a baguette for half the price. 

Often, you will hear customers specifying their orders bien 

cuit (well done & crusty) or pas trop cuit/bien tendre (less 

baked & doughier). For a special treat, ask for a baguette 

traditionelle, the original baguette that is slightly more 

expensive, but has a better consistency and more filling than 

the regular baguette. You can also ask for a baguette cut in 

half (une baguette coupée en deux) for easy transport. 

Fromageries 

These pungent cheese shops offer more than just cheese. 

Fromageries sell fresh butter, fromage blanc (white cheese 

that is a cross between cottage cheese and sour cream), crème 

fraîche (a rich cream used in sauces and on desserts), and 

fresh milk. In some shops, eggs can also be purchased, but 

only brown ones are available. 

Boucheries 

Try a butcher for fresh meat. N.B. the poulet rôti is a 

specialty: A whole chicken roasting on a spit with potatoes 

baking below, catching all the tasty juices dripping down 

offers a delicious homestyle meal. 

Health Food Stores 

Grocery stores carry some healthier options, and some even 

have their own brands of health foods. Monoprix has their 

own health food brand, called Bien Vivre, which includes lowfat 

foods, as well as whole wheat and Omega-3 fortified 

foods. N.B. that food packaging must be marked, AB 

(Agriculture Biologique) to ensure it is a certified 

40 

Naturalia 

38 avenue de la Motte Picquet, 75007 


Website: www.naturalia.fr 

Carries a wide variety of organic and diet foods, herbal 

supplements, vitamins and natural hygiene products like soap 

and shampoo. Twenty Paris locations. 

Biocoop 

44 boulevard de Grenelle, 75015 

M˚ Dupleix 

Website: www.biocoop.fr 

A large organic and health food selection including fruits, 

vegetables, cereal products and dairy products. 

The closest organic open-air market to AUP is at boulevard 

Raspail in the 6th, between rue de Rennes and rue de Cherche- 

Midi, Sundays 9am-1pm at M˚ Sevres-Babylone. 

Markets 

Make a trip to one of the 84 open-air markets located in Paris 

and the surrounding suburbs. These markets are open two or 

three times a week, usually between 8am and 1pm, and are 

excellent sources for fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, 

cheese, and flowers. The produce changes with the season. 

One of the best and well known is the Versailles Market, near 

the Chateau de Versailles, as the name implies. It offers the 

finest products from France and specialty shops from around 

the world. It has an extensive selection of products at 

unbeatable prices. You will become familiar with the market 

near school on rue Cler. The full market days are Tuesdays, 

Fridays, and Sundays, but shops located in the covered 

pavilions are open every morning except Mondays. There are 

also organic food markets (les marchés biologiques) in Paris, 

where the food is free of insecticides and where you can find 

homemade bread, dried fruits, farm-raised chicken, ducks, 

geese, and natural wine. Below is a list of the various 

markets in and around Paris. 

Moving Markets 

Dupleix: bd de Grenelle, between rue Lourmel and rue du 

Commerce, 15e. M˚ Dupleix. Wednesday and Sunday. 

41


Edgar-Quinet: On the island of bd Edgar-Quinet, 14th. M˚ 

Raspail. Wednesday and Saturday. 

Javel: Rue St-Charles, between rue Javel and Rond-Point-St- 

Charles, 15e. M˚ Charles-Michel. Tuesday and Friday. 

Lecourbe: rue Lecourbe, between rue Vasco-de-Gama and rue 

Leblanc, 15e. M˚ Place Balard. Wednesday and Saturday. 

Monge: Place Monge, 5e. M˚ Monge. Wednesday, Friday and 

Sunday. 

Raspail: bd Raspail, between rue du Cherche-Midi and rue de 

Rennes, 6e. M˚ St-Placide. Tuesday and Friday. 

Covered Markets 

The covered markets are generally open Tuesday through 

Saturday, from 8am-1pm and 4pm-6:30pm, and on Sunday from 

9am-1pm. Little has changed since the turn of the century in 

many of these markets. 

Saint Germain: Among rue Lobineau, rue Clément and rue 

Mabillon, 6e. M˚ Mabillon. 

Ternes: Rue Lebon, rue Faraday and rue Torricelli, 17e. M˚ 

Ternes. 

Permanent Markets 

The street markets are open Tuesday through Saturday from 

9am-12:30pm or 1pm and normally close for the rest of the 

day. On Sundays they are open from 9am-1pm. 

Rue des Belles Feuilles: Begins av Victor Hugo, 16e. M˚ Victor 

Hugo. 

Rue Cler: Begins av de la Motte-Picquet, 7e. M˚ Ecole 

Militaire. 

Rue Mouffetard: Begins rue de l’Epée-de-Bois, 5e. M˚ Monge. 

One of the oldest and most animated markets in Paris. 

Rue de Seine/Rue de Buci: Begins bd St-Germain, 6e. M˚ Odéon. 

42 

Organic Markets 

Marché Boulogne: 140 Route de la Reine, 92 Boulogne-sur- 

Seine. M˚ Boulogne-Pont de St-Cloud, or via the No. 72 bus. 

Open 8am-4pm the first and third Saturdays of each month. 

Marché Joinville-le-Pont: Place Mozart, 94 Joinville. M˚ RER 

Line B to Joinville, then via the suburban No. 106 and 108N 

buses. Open 8:30am-1pm the second and fourth Saturdays of 

each month. 

Marché Sceaux-Robinson: Rue des Mouille-Boeuf. M˚ RER Line B 

to Robinson. Every Sunday, 8:30am-1pm. 

Flea Markets 

Marché de Montreuil: av de la Porte de Montreuil, 12e. M˚ 

Porte de Montreuil. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. This is 

probably the least touristy of the flea markets. Located on 

the eastern edge of Paris at the newly revamped Porte de 

Montreuil, this market is noted for its huge, cluttered tables 

of used clothes. Here, if you’re not overly bothered by the 

idea of rummaging through old clothes and are filled with 

patience, you may find high quality and other wrinkled 

sweaters, skirts, dress shirts, ties, etc. of fine materials for 

tiny prices. Otherwise, there are loads of old junk, some fine 

antiques, and piles of useless bric-à-brac. You may not be able 

to bargain quite as much as you imagined, but you usually can 

get things for 20-30% less than the asking price. It’s not 

incorrect to try in any case. There is talk of closing down the 

Marché de Montreuil in the near future. 

Marché de la Place d’Aligre: Place d’Aligre, 12e. M˚ Ledru- 

Rollin. Daily from 9am to noon. One of Paris’ best and least 

expensive open air markets. 

Marché de la Porte de Clignancourt (St. Ouen): rue des 

Entrepots,75018. M˚ Porte de Clignancourt. This is the largest 

and most overwhelming of all Paris flea markets. Careful of 

pickpockets. 

Marché de la Porte des Lilas: 75019, M˚ Porte des Lilas. 

Sunday and holidays. 

Marché de la Porte de Vanves: av Georges-Lafenestre, 75004, 

M˚ Porte de Vanves. Saturday and Sunday. Particularly strong 

in antiques, old jewelry, and furniture. 

43


Marché aux Oiseaux: Same location as the Marché aux Fleurs. 

Sunday mornings. Bird amateurs from all over bring their 

birds to sell, trade and exhibit. 

Marché aux Timbres: Métro: Rond Point Clemenceau, 75008, 

Sunday mornings. Stamp collectors unite to trade and sell. 

Marché aux Fleurs: Ile de la Cité, 75001, M˚ Cité. Daily 

assortment of fresh flowers and exotic plants. 

Eating Out: Restaurants & Boulangeries 

Settling into a new country can be quite stressful and you 

might be tempted to drop by Pizza Hut, McDonalds, or the 

Chinese takeout on the corner. But avoid the temptations of 

comfort foods, because France is the country of gastronomy. 

A traditional French meal could take hours; its participants 

moving from entrée to main course, to cheese, to dessert, and 

finally to coffee. This is a way for family and friends to chat 

and catch up on the daily routines of life. Parisians usually 

have a light breakfast, a sandwich or salad for lunch, and 

then a full meal in the evening. Be aware that meal times are 

later in France compared to the United States. Breakfast is 

usually from 7-9am, lunch is from 12-2pm, and dinner is from 

around 8-11pm. There are many restaurants, cafés, bistrots, 

brasseries, and salons de thé in Paris where you can try 

French regional cuisine. There are also numerous 

restaurants showcasing cuisine from around the world. Many 

are a reflection of France’s former status as a colonial 

power, while others are an indication of today’s immigration 

trends. Go out, explore and discover your own favorite spots. 

As a sample, here are some of AUP’s favorites: 

Price Codes 

€: under 10 euros 

€€: 10-20 euros 

€€€: 20-40 euros 

€€€€: 40+ euros 

44 

Traditional French Restaurants 

Crêpes-Show 

51 rue de Lappe, 75011 

M˚ Bastille 

Tel: 01.47.00.36.46 

Thought crêpes could only be desserts? Think again. Whole 

meals presented in a crêpe with an abundance of choices, 

highlighting France’s different regions. Great natural fruit 

drinks to complement the crêpes. 

€€ 

La Crêpe Rit du Clown 

6 rue des Canettes, 75006 

M˚ Mabillon 

Tel: 01.46.34.01.02 

Located in the shopping district of St-Germain. Stop by for 

lunch and relax into a cozy stone and wood décor. Excellent 

crêpes, perfect hideout amid la folie of shops and people all 

around the neighborhood. 

€€ 

Le Sud-Ouest Monceau 

8 rue Messonier, 75017 

M˚ Wagram 

Tel: 01.47.63.15.07 

A fine neighborhood restaurant, it is also a hidden treasure. 

The food is a true representation of the Southwest of France 

and the ambiance is cozy and comfortable. Try the confit de 

canard. 

€€€ 

La Maison de L’Aubrac 

37 rue Marbeuf, 75008 

M˚ Georges V 

Tel: 01.43.59.05.14 

For 24-hour food service, this is the place to go. Regional 

French cuisine from the Aubrac territory that is well known 

to be the best in France for its meat products. It is possible 

to order a café or cocktail if you are not hungry. 

€€ 

45


Traditional French Boulangeries 

La Maison Kayser 

14 rue Monge, 75005 

M˚ Maubert Mutualité 

Tel: 01.44.07.17.81 

The art of bread-making runs in the Kayser family. This 

establishment is one of the oldest and best to buy breads and 

pastries in Paris. Try the petit pain à l’abricot or just a 

traditional baguette. 

€ 

Poilane 

8 rue de Cherche Midi, 75006 

M˚ Sèvre Babylone 

Tel: 01.45.48.42.59 

This family-run business has been operating since World War I. 

It now sells its bread in area supermarkets, but there is 

nothing like their traditional breads. 

€ 

Le Moulin de la Vierge 

77 rue Cambronne, 75015, M˚ Cambronne. Tel: 01.44.49.05.05 

166 avenue Suffren, 75015, M˚ La Motte Piquet-Grenelle. Tel: 

01.47.83.45.55 

These bakeries still hold true to the ancient décor of a 

traditional French boulangerie. Inside, they make bread the 

old-fashioned way and just by the taste you can tell the 

difference. Very popular with the locals. 

€ 

International Restaurants 

Koukeri 

40 rue Championnet, 75018 

M˚ Simplon 

Tel: 01.46.06.23.28 

Visit Sofia, capital of Bulgaria, or the Mediterranean 

coastline of this Eastern European country. Koukeri has 

great Bulgarian food, as well as a lively ambiance on Friday 

and Saturday nights. Earn the respect of the server by saying 

Dobry vecar (pronounced do-bree vay-chair) if you go in the 

evening. 

€€ 

46 

Au Grenier du Village 

3 rue Capron, 75009 (restaurant downstairs) 


Tel: 01.43.87.20.17 

This traditional Ivorien (Ivory Coast) restaurant prepares its 

food in a wood-fired oven. The plantains and the hearty 

servings of chicken and fish are excellent. If you seem 

curious and open, the waitress may allow you to try a little 

bit of everything. 

€€ 

Chicago Pizza Pie Factory 

5 rue Berri, 75008 


Tel: 01.45.62.50.23 

This American style restaurant with deep pan pizzas is 

excellent for a night out with friends. Young, upbeat 

clientèle. A good variety of pizzas, great location if you plan 

to do some upscale clubbing afterwards. 

€€ 

Le Nioumré 

7 rue des Poissonniers, 75018 

M˚ Château Rouge 

Tel: 01.42.51.24.94 

A Senegalese restaurant located in the Goutte D’Or serving 

the large Senegalese and West African population in the 

neighborhood. 

€€ 

A la Mexicaine 

68 rue Quincampoix, 75003 

M˚ Etiénne Marcel 

Tel: 01.48.87.99.34 

Haute cuisine à la Mexicaine, it’s gourmet and also rustic. The 

cooks are from Mexico. It is the best you can find in a city 

replete with Tex-Mex. An opportunity for an extraordinary 

Latino taste for your palette. 

€€ 

47


L’As du Falafel 

34 rue des Rosiers, 75004 

M˚ St-Paul 

Tel: 01.48.87.63.60 

This is the place to go for the best falafels in Paris. This 

small family owned and operated restaurant is neither flashy 

nor trendy, but the delicious all-Kosher cuisine keeps 

customers coming back for more. The take out bar gets quite 

crowded on the weekends so plan to patron this gem in the 

Marais during the week. 

€ 

Bangkok Thailand 

35 boulevard Auguste Blanqui, 75013 

M˚ Place d’Italie 

Tel: 01.45.80.76.59 

This very charming Thai restaurant seems more like a museum 

than anything else. It is owned by a large Thai family who 

greets their customers with open arms. The brochettes are 

delicious and homemade, with peanut sauce accompanying every 

meal. 

€€ 

Si 

14 rue Charlot, 75003 

M˚ Filles du Calvaire 

Tel: 01.42.78.02.31 

This Italian restaurant is inspired by Southern Italy. The 

ambiance is warm and upbeat with relaxing music playing in the 

background. Classic Italian cuisine is offered, but try the 

risotto or the pasta with pesto sauce. 

€€€ 

Le Passage Brady 

Entrance at 33 boulevard de Strasbourg, 75010 

M˚ Château d’Eau or M˚ Strasbourg - St-Denis 

A covered street which is home to Indian and Pakistani 

restaurants. You just have to go and walk along until you 

come upon the most convincing one. There will always be 

someone trying to sell you their cuisine. Inexpensive food 

made by Indian and Pakistani immigrants; a wide selection in one 

place. 

€ - €€€€ 

48 

Restaurants & Boulangeries Around AUP 

Apollon 

24 rue Jean Nicot 

Tel: 01.45.55.68.47 

Apollon is a restaurant with a take out attached where you 

can buy sandwiches to go. Excellent, authentic Greek food 

and produce. The staff speak English and are ready to explain 

the contents of each meal. Flavorful, and if you have a sweet 

tooth, the desserts are delectable. 

€€ 

I Pupi 

21 rue Malar 

Tel: 01.45.51.65.15 

Great Italian restaurant if you have time for a long lunch or 

dinner. Usually full of neighborhood professionals during 

lunch. You will pick up quite a few Italian phrases from the 

waiting staff who will speak to you in Italian as soon as you 

enter. Try their pizzas, which are available for take out as 

well. 

€€ 

La Boulangerie 


Tel: 01.45.51.84.32 

Large sandwiches, tasty salads, and a wide range of snacks. 

This boulangerie stands out in the neighborhood for its 

variety of products for lunch and especially its chicken curry 

sandwich. 

€ 

Maison Poujauran 

20 rue Jean Nicot 

Tel: 01.43.17.35.20 

This award-winning boulangerie and pâtisserie sits around the 

corner from the Combes building and offers a wide selection 

of breads and pastries. Prepare to stand in line at peak hours, 

but it is well worth the wait. 

€ 

49


Café du Marché 

38 rue Cler 

Tel: 01.47.05.51.27 

Located on the rue Clear market street, this restuarant is 

renowned for its salads. Perfect in the spring or summer for 

sitting on the terrace and people watching. 

€€ 

Columbus Café 


Tel: 01.45.55.45.45 

This is about as close to Starbucks as you get in France, aside 

from the few Starbucks in Paris. Locations throughout Paris. 

The coffee is good, the muffins keep the hunger pains away, 

and the barstools are comfortable. It is entirely non-smoking, 

which is rare in Paris. 

€ 

7ème Sud 


Tel: 01.44.18.30.30 

Located just down the street from the Grenelle building, this 

restaurant serves a fresh and original Southern 

Mediterranean cuisine from countries such as Spain, Italy, and 

Morocco. The oriental decoration helps you relieve your city 

stress and takes you far away to the Southern tip of Europe. 

Try the reduced price fixed menus which are mouth watering 

and copious, and will not have you leaving with empty pockets. 

€€ 

Café di Felice 


Tel: 01.44.18.08.23 

This Italian inspired café is just a throw of a stone away from 

the Grenelle building and offers one of the few authentic 

Italian espressos in the area. The lunch specials are light and 

the service is rapid for a quick bite between classes. 

€€ 

Café de l’Alma 

5 avenue Rapp 

Tel: 01.45.51.56.74 

This café has a great terrace that is open year round and 

offers views of the Eiffel Tower and the Seine. Great for 

people watching. 

€€ 

50 

Cafés 

Cafés are a universal feature of the French lifestyle. Here, 

hot and cold drinks are served at all hours of the day and 

many cafés serve lunch specials and midday snacks. This is a 

place to people watch, visit with friends, or experience your 

first café crème or kir royale. 

Café Leonard 

57 rue de Turbigo, 75003 

M˚ Arts et Metiers 

Tel: 01.48.04.07.55 

A quaint café reflecting on Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings and 

impressions. The atmosphere is friendly and there even is a 

giant Mona Lisa hanging on the wall. 

€ 

Baz’Art Café 

36 boulevard Henri IV, 75004 

M˚ Bastille 

Tel: 01.42.78.62.23 

An eclectically decorated café near Bastille with mismatched 

chairs and tables tastefully detailed with fabrics and sparkly 

stones. The service is quick and amiable. 

€ 

Mucha Café 

227 boulevard St-Germain, 75007 

M˚ Solférino 

Tel: 01.45.51.06.30 

Renovated to resemble a trendy café in New York in the heart 

of St-Germain. Vast selection of fruit juices and alcoholic 

beverages for a summer day. 

€ 

Café Rouge 

79 avenue Kléber, 75016 

M˚ Kléber 

Tel: 01.44.05.96.15 

Vibrant café located in the heart of the 16th. Great service, 

friendly staff, and a BCBG clientèle. The café crème is 

amongst the best in Paris. The red leather chairs, trendy and 

deco, and lounge music make this café an absolute must. The 

terrace is perfect for catching a few rays in the summer. 

€ 

51


Angélina 


M˚ Concorde 

Tel: 01.42.60.82.00 

At this café you will find the best hot chocolate in Paris. 

Proust amongst other famous authors used to patron this 

literary hot spot. 

€ 

Quick Sandwiches & Snacks 

Lina’s 

8 rue Marbeuf, 75008, M˚ Alma Marceau 

19 avenue Kleber, 75016, M˚ Trocadéro 

An upscale lunchtime sandwich chain with shops located all 

around Paris. Here, you can get fresh sandwiches with all 

sorts of fixings. There is a take-out or dine-in option. Those 

closest to AUP are listed above. 

Toastissimo 

14 rue d’Alger, 75001, M˚ Tuileries 

55 rue Pierre Charron, 75008, M˚ Georges V 

An Italian sandwich chain with shops located all around Paris. 

Good for a quick bite, and the best part is that the sandwiches 

are quite tasty without costing a fortune. There is a take-out 

or dine-in option. Those closest to AUP are listed above. 

Aux Pains Perdus 

39 rue de Berri, 75008, M˚ Georges V 

40 rue de Longchamp, 75016, M˚ Kléber 

9 rue de 29 Julliet, 75001, M˚ Tuileries 

Lunch time establishment serving sandwiches and salads with a 

rustic french décor from the 50s. These are convivial 

sandwich shops with a good regional French taste. There is a 

take-out or dine-in option. The closest to AUP are listed 

above. 

Bert’s Sandwich Club 

4 avenue du President Wilson, 75008 

M˚ Alma Marceau 

This trendy, New York style delicatessen offers American 

style sandwiches and side dishes. There is a take-out or dinein 

option. Try the Po’boys and do not forget your box of 

Oreos for dessert. 

52 

Going Out: Bars, Lounges & Clubs 

Get yourself installed at one of the many barstools or in a 

cozy chair at a table and enjoy the beginning of a Parisian 

night out. Here, you can go to have an after dinner drink, 

meet up with friends prior to going out, or just stay awhile 

and enjoy the musical beats playing in the background. 

Bars & Lounges 

The Hideout 

11 rue du Pot de Fer, 75005 

M˚ Place Monge 

Tel: 01.45.35.13.17 

This late night bar and Irish pub offers nightly drink specials 

and live DJs. A favorite spot for the Anglophone community 

and AUP students. 

Cocktails start around 6€ 

Rhubarb 

18 rue Laplace, 75005 


Tel: 01.43.25.35.05 

The sister bar of The Hideout, another late night bar and Irish 

pub. Look for flyers around the AUP campus for drink 

specials and DJ schedules. 

Coctails start around 6€ 

Café Martini 

11 rue du Pas de la Mule, 75004 

M˚ Bastille 

Tel: 01.42.77.05.04 

Five meters from the Place des Vosges, you have a wonderful 

martini lounge with a young and interesting crowd. It is 

perfect for relaxing, chatting, or just hanging out. Happy 

hour specials change daily but there is certainly something 

for everyone. 


Poona Lounge 


M˚ Georges V 

Tel: 01.40.70.09.99 

53


This Indian inspired lounge is sure to make you go subcontinental. 

Although it is more than a lounge with Indian 

specialties on the menu, the best time to come is at night. Try 

the Poona glass of champagne, a mixture of rose, strawberry, 

and peach. The Basketball Shooters are sure to knock you 

out. 


Le Somo 

168 rue Montmartre, 75002 

M˚ Grands Boulevards 

Tel: 01.40.13.08.80 

This restaurant-lounge is perfect for a few drinks during the 

week. They serve a variety of cocktails that are not exactly 

printed on the menu, so all you have to do is ask. The music is 

trendy and the establishment is elegantly decorated. 


Le B4 Café 

6-8 Square de la Croix de la Brettonnerie, 75004 


Tel: 01.42.72.16.19 

This bar is great for “pre-partying” as its name suggests. The 

music is great and the drinks are sublime, especially their 

wines from France and Italy. 

Drinks start around 8€ 

Bubbles 

6 rue Edouard VII, 75009 

M˚ Madeleine 

Tel: 01.47.42.77.95 

This champagne bar has a variety of champagnes to taste. 

There are house mixes, flavored mixes, and colorful 

champagnes. This is a great place to begin experimenting with 

all the different ways champagne can be consumed. Though 

prices are high, Bubbles is worth the visit. 

Glasses of champagne start around 12€ 

The Bottle Shop 

5 rue Trousseau, 75011 

M˚ Ledru-Rollin 

Tel: 01.43.14.28.04 

Here, you will find a very mixed crowd from local Parisians to 

54 

fellow foreigners. The ambiance is cool, groovy, dance to 

rock and roll, but the place is small, so get there early. 

Popcorn or peanuts are always served. 

Between 5-8pm all of the cocktails are 4€ as opposed to 6€ 

Le Zéro Zéro 

89 rue Amelot, 75011 

M˚ Oberkampf 

Tel: 01.49.23.51.00 

Happy hour begins at 6:30pm and runs until 8pm at this tiny 

establishment. Here, you can meet new people and chat 

amongst your friends while sipping on one of the house’s daily 

concoctions. 


Open Late Night 

Le Grand Café 

4 boulevard des Capucines, 75009 

M˚ Opéra 

Tel: 01.43.12.19.00 

Here, you can digest traditional French cuisine at all hours 

of the day or night. Try the crêpes if you are in the mood for 

a light and tasty snack or the oysters if you are in the mood 

for fresh seafood. 

Le Pré 

4-6 rue du Four, 75006 

M˚ Mabillon 

This trendy café in the heart of St-Germain serves drinks and 

light snacks until 6am. 

Pizza Pino 

31-33 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008 


This Italian eatery is known throughout Paris as the place to 

go for pizza at 3am. The service can be slow at times but 

always friendly. 

55


56 

57


58 

59


Clubs 

For part of the year, the story goes that Paris is the party 

town of the world’s jet-setters, stars and those still 

dreaming of their five minutes of fame. There are also plenty 

of fairly average 16-35 year olds out having a good time in the 

city. The main neighborhoods to experience Paris shining at its 

60 

nocturnal brightest are: Odéon/St-Germain, Champs-Elysées, 

Bastille/Oberkampf, and Place de Clichy/Pigalle. The French 

can be very open when they are out to have a good time. 

Getting out to nightspots is the best way to get some 

experience of the various denizens of the city. Here is a rundown 

of some of the better-known places, coded according to 

type of music played. 

Music Codes 

HH = Hip-Hop 

RB = Rhythm & Blues 

H = House 

T = Techno 

G = Groove 

L = Latino 

C = Commercial 

R = Reggae 

D = Disco 

Jet-setter Clubs 

Dress très à la mode, or as they say in French, fashuuun. If 

you are on a student budget and not acquainted with a few 

stars, check these places out during the week, especially 

Thursday nights. Do not forget to bring cash, because the 

cover charges and drink prices at these clubs will lighten 

your wallet. Most of the addresses are in the central-west 

Champs-Elysées district. 

VIP 


M˚ Georges V 

Tel: 01.56.69.16.66 

HH, RB, H 

L’Etoile 

12 rue de Presbourg, 75016 

M˚ Charles de Gaulle-Etoile 

Tel: 01.45.00.78.70 

C 

Man Ray 



Tel: 01.56.88.36.36 

HH, RB, H 

61


Le Milliardaire 

68 rue Pierre Charron, 75008 

M˚ Georges V 

Tel: 01.42.89.44.14 

H, G 

Le Queen 


M˚ Georges V 

Tel: 01.53.89.08.90 

H, T, D 

Cabaret 

2 Place du Palais Royal, 75001 


Tel: 01.58.62.56.25 

H, G, HH 

Les Bains Douches 

7 rue du Bourg-l’Abbe, 75003 


Tel: 01.48.87.01.80 

H, T, RB, HH 

More Fun, Less Hype 

A few of the more relaxed, easier access places. Try not to 

appear as if you have had one too many drinks before you 

reach the door of any establishment. Always show that you 

are ready to go and party. 

Montecristo 



Tel: 01.45.62.30.86 

L 

Le Six Seven 

67 rue Pierre Charron, 75008 


Tel: 01.58.56.20.50 

C 

62 

La Scène 

2 bis rue des Taillandiers, 75011 

M˚ Ledru-Rollin 

Tel: 01.48.06.50.70 

H, G 

Barrio Latino 

46 rue du Faubourg St-Antoine, 75012 

M˚ Bastille 

Tel: 01.55.78.84.75 

L 

L’Atlantis 

32 Quai Austerlitz, 75013 

M˚ Gare D’Austerlitz 

Tel: 01.44.23.24.00 

R, HH, RB 

Le Hammam Club 

94 rue d’Amsterdam, 75009 


Tel: 01.55.07.80.00 

R, HH, RB 

Latina Café 


M˚ Georges V 

Tel: 01.42.89.98.89 

L, HH, RB 

Gibus 

18 rue du Faubourg du Temple, 75011 

M˚ République 

Tel: 01.47.00.78.88 

H, D 

Favela Chic 

18 rue du Faubourg du Temple, 75011 

M˚ République 

Tel: 01.40.21.38.14 

L 

63


La Locomotive 

90 boulevard de Clichy, 75018 

M˚ Blanche 

Tel: 01.53.41.88.88 

C, H, T 

L’Enfer 

34 rue du Départ, 75015 

M˚ Montparnasse 

Tel: 01.42.79.94.53 

H, T 

Shopping 

Clothing Stores 

There is no question that Paris is a city for shopping. To the 

French, shopping is a cultivated activity. You just have to 

study the window displays, and within a few minutes, you could 

be well on your way to having all of the savoir-vivre that the 

Parisian possesses in this domain. Style permeates every 

aspect of life. The presentation of self in the urban space is 

all important. Paris is la mode. Here are a few suggestions 

for all sorts of budgets to help you get your Parisian 

wardrobe started, should you so wish. 

Labels & Boutiques 

H&M 

120, rue de Rivoli, 75001. M˚ Chatelet. 

54 boulevard Haussman, 75009. M˚ Havre-Caumartin. 

53 rue de Passy, 75016. M˚Passy. 

Trendy and affordable men’s and women’s urban inspired 

clothing for those on a budget. Shops are located 

throughout Paris. 

Benetton 

71 rue Passy, 75016. M˚ Passy. 

3 Place de l’Opéra, 75002. M˚ Opéra. 

Italian inspired clothing at a fraction of the cost. Clothing 

for men and women. Locations throughout Paris. 

64 

Zara 

128 rue de Rivoli, 75001. M˚ Chatelet. Tel: 01.44.82.64.00 

44 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008. M˚ Franklin D. 

Roosevelt. Tel: 01.45.61.52.00 

This Spanish clothing empire is urban chic and you will not end 

up spending a fortune. Men’s and women’s clothing. Several 

locations throughout Paris. 

Energie 

49 rue Etienne Marcel, 75001 


Tel: 01.45.08.85.99 

Trendy boutique selling brands such as Miss Sixty and Energie. 

Mostly denim and urban inspired selections. Men’s and women’s 

clothing. 

Le Shop 

3 rue Argout, 75002 


Tel: 01.40.28.95.94 

Boutique selling sporty and authentic cosmopolitan clothing 

designs. You can find very original items here. 

Paul et Joe 

46 rue Etienne Marcel, 75001. M˚ Etienne Marcel. Tel: 

01.40.28.03.34 

14 rue Commines, 75003. M˚St-Sébastian Froissart. Tel: 

01.42.74.24.68 

62 rue des Saints Pères, 75006. M˚ St-Germain-des-Pré. Tel: 

01.42.22.47.01 

Casual chic clothing which is a bit costly but well worth the 

price. Men’s and women’s clothing. 

Mango 

82 rue de Rivoli, 75004. M˚ Chatelet. Tel: 01.44.59.80.37 

6 boulevard des Capucines, 75009. M˚ Opéra. Tel: 

01.53.30.82.70 

Another clothing institution with Spanish influence. Here 

women can find casual buys at cheap prices. 

Madelios 

23 boulevard de la Madeleine, 75001 

M˚ Madeleine 

Tel: 01.53.45.00.00 

65


The only empire just for men in the city of Paris. Here you 

will find all the pricey designer items such as Dior, Gucci, 

Paul Smith, New York Industry, etc., all for men only. there is 

even a café on the top floor. 

Department Stores 

Le Bon Marché 

24 rue de Sevres, 75007 

M˚ Sèvres-Babylone 

Tel: 01.44.39.80.00 

Galeries Lafayette 

40 boulevard Haussman, 75009 

M˚ Havre-Caumartin 

Tel: 01.42.82.34.56 

Printemps 

64 boulevard Haussman, 75009 

M˚ Havre-Caumartin 

Tel: 01.42.82.50.00 

La Samaritaine 

19 rue Monnaie, 75001 

M˚ Châtelet 

Tel: 01.40.41.20.20 

Frank et Fils 

80 rue de Passy, 75016 

M˚ La Muette 

Tel: 01.42.15.00.37 

Tips for Sale Returns in Paris 

Pay close attention when shopping in Paris, as a large number 

of stores have very strict return policies, especially during 

the annual sales or soldes, running in January and July of 

each year. It is common to have only thirty days to return an 

item and even then you are rarely reimbursed in cash. 

Beauty 

Hair Salons 

Below are two hair salons that belong to two different 

66 

coiffeur chains located throughout Paris. Both salons accept 

customers without appointments. 

Jean-Claude Biguine: 192 rue de Grenelle, Tel: 01.45.51.11.52 

Jean-Louis David: 83 rue St-Dominique, Tel: 01.45.55.68.44 

Tanning & Waxing Salons 

Below are salons near AUP that offer tanning and waxing. 

Point Soleil 

169 rue de Grenelle, Tel: 01.53.59.95.18, Website: 

www.pointsoleil.com 

Monday to Saturday from 8:30am-9pm, Sunday 9am-8:30pm 

Club cards can be purchased for the following increments 

(cost=credit): 45 =52 , 75 =90 , 115 =145 , or you can pay 

per visit starting from 5 . 

Espace Epilation 

14 rue Cler, Tel: 01.40.62.92.97 

Part of a major chain of epilation centers, Espace Epilation 

offers waxing at competitive prices and also accepts 


Plein Soleil 

16 rue Sédillot, Tel: 01.45.51.21.75 

Plein Soleil offers both tanning and waxing. Accepts 


Euro Santé Beauté 

96 rue St-Dominique, Tel: 01.45.55.12.55 

This beauty institute offers tanning, waxing, massages, and spa 

treatments. Be sure to make an appointment. 

Bookstores 

English Language Bookstores 

W.H. Smith 


M˚ Concorde 

Tel: 01.42.60.37.97 

Website: www.whsmith.fr 

67


Brentano’s 

37, avenue de l’Opéra, 75002 

M˚ Pyramides 

Tel: 01.42.61.52.50 

Fax: 01.42.61.07.61 

Abbey Bookshop – Librairie Canadienne 

29 rue de la Parcheminerie, 75005 

M˚ Cluny - La Sorbonne 

Tel: 01.46.33.16.24 

Fax: 01.46.33.03.33 

Village Voice 

6 rue Princesse, 75006 

M˚ Mabillon 

Tel: 01.46.33.36.47 

Fax: 01.46.33.27.48 

Website: www.Paris-anglo.com/villagevoice 

Shakespeare and Co. 

37 rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 

M˚ St-Michel 

No telephone. 

Tea and Tattered Pages 

24 rue Mayet, 75006 

M˚ Duroc 

Email: tandtp@hotmail.com 

San Francisco Book Co. 

17 rue Monsieur le Prince, 75006 

M˚ Odéon 

Tel: 01.43.29.15.70 

Fax: 01.43.29.52.48 

Email: sfbooks@easynet.fr 

an English language secondhand bookstore where you can buy, 

sell, and trade books. 

Galignani 


M˚ Tuileries 

Tel: 01.42.60.76.07 

Fax: 01.42.86.09.31 

Email: galignani@wanadoo.fr 

68 

Offers extensive French, English and American sections, 

specializing in International Fine Arts. Deliveries made in 

Paris. Special orders mailed worldwide. 

French Language Bookstores 

FNAC 

FNAC Micro: 71 boulevard St-Germain, 75005. Tel: 

01.44.41.31.50 

FNAC Montparnasse: 136 rue de Rennes, 75006. Tel: 

01.49.54.30.00 

FNAC Forum Halles: 1 rue Pierre Lescot, 75001. Tel: 

01.40.41.40.00 

FNAC Etoile: 26 avenue des Ternes, 75017. Tel: 

01.44.09.18.00 

Website: www.fnac.fr (English Language Books Available) 

Extensive selection of French language books as well as an 

extensive selection of international cds, dvds, audio & video 

cassettes, and electronics. 

Gibert Jeune 

If in good condition, you can sell your used textbooks at the 

Gibert Jeune at 26 Blvd Saint-Michel, 75006, and receive cash 

payment if the value of the books you are selling is under 

60€. 

La Chambre Claire 

14 rue St-Sulpice, 75006 

M˚ Odéon 

Tel: 01.46.34.04.31 

Specializes in Photography & Film. English & French Language 

Books. 

La Hune Librairie 

170 boulevard St-Germain, 75006 

M˚ Mabillon 

Tel: 01.45.48.80.99 

Specializes in Art, Architecture & Graphic Design. 

Institut de Monde Arabe 

23 Quai Saint-Bernard, 75005. 

M˚ Jussieu 

Specializes in material on the Arab world. 

69


Online Resources 

Amazon 

www.amazon.co.uk or www.amazon.fr 

Extensive selection of English & French language books. 

FNAC 

www.fnac.fr 

Extensive selection of French language books. English 

language books available. 

Sports & Fitness 

The French are famous for their laid-back attitude toward 

life, and definitely take rest and relaxation very seriously. 

There is, however, another side of Paris that often goes 

unnoticed; an active and exciting side involving all types of 

physical activity. You name the sport, and Paris probably has 

it. 

Sports At & Around AUP 

The Sports & Activities Office at AUP organizes a variety of 

athletic endeavors for students. If you are looking for a fun 

fitness class to take, try Body Combat. If you are looking for 

a less strenuous activity, try Yoga. If team sports are more up 

your alley, there are regularly scheduled basketball and 

soccer games in which you can participate. 

AUP Student Activities Office 

Top floor of Bosquet building 

Tel: 01.40.62.06.37 

Email Phil von Eiff: voneiff@aup.fr 

American Aerobics 

The American Church 

65 Quai d’Orsay, 75007 

M˚ Alma-Marceau 

Tel: 01.47.53.04.56 

The American Church offers American style aerobics taught in 

English by certified instructors. Classes take place about 

four times a week and schedules change each season. The 

program runs à la carte (pay as you go) and costs 8€ per 

class. 

70 

Gyms 

In the 90s, the gyms in Paris were vastly improved and 

modernized. Most now feature state-of-the-art equipment, 

small swimming pools, saunas, and a variety of exercise 

classes. Always take a tour of the gym before joining, and 

make sure to get a good look at all of the equipment. Most 

gyms offer day passes so you can try the place out to see if 

you like it. Be sure to grab a schedule of the exercise 

classes offered with descriptions because most gyms have 

taken the English exercise terminology (e.g. low impact) and 

have put a slightly different spin on it. 

Club Med Gym 

8 rue Frémicourt, 75015 

M˚ Dupleix 

Tel: 01.45.77.70.14 

Website: www.clubmedgyms.fr 

With a location in almost every arrondissement, this chain is 

one of the most convenient. Club Med offers a variety of 

modern classes (Hip-Hop, Modern Jazz, Yoga), as well as 

personal cardio and weight machines, not to mention a 

swimming pool. AUP students have the option of a six-month 

membership (N.B. Parisian gyms usually require a minimum oneyear 

membership) or a full year. You can purchase an AUP 

student membership at the Bursar’s Office: 267€ for six 

months and 500€ for a full year. Once you are signed up, you 

can use any of the Club Med Gyms in Paris. 

Forest Hill Aquaboulevard 

4 rue Louis Armand, 75015 

M˚ Balard 

Tel: 01.40.60.10.00 

Website: www.aquaboulevard.fr 

Another excellent gym offering student discounts. 

Aquaboulevard features a pool, cardio and weight machines, 

running tracks, tennis courts, and offers over thirty 

different activities including aerobics, golf, judo and squash 

among others. The membership can be purchased at 

Aquaboulevard. A one-year contract is required and 

membership allows use of all Forest Hill gyms in Paris: 32€ 

per month or 384€ for one year. 

71


Outdoor Sports 

Paris Respire – Paris Breathes 

Website: www.paris.fr 

Certain streets are closed at different times for cycling, 

rollerblading, and walking. This has gone on for several 

years and is known as Paris Respire – Paris Breathes. Yearround 

closures (Sundays 10am-6pm) include rue August Comte 

(from rue d’Assas to the east side of avenue de 

l’Observatoire), rue des Chartreux, rue de Cluny, rue 

Descartes, rue d l’Ecole Polytechnique, rue Herschel, Quai de 

Jemmapes, between rue Louis-Blanc and rue de la Grange-aux- 

Belles, rue de Lanneau, Place Marcelin Berthelot, and rue 

Mouffetard. From March to December, from 9am-5pm, closures 

include Quai des Tuileries to Charles de Gaulle bridge and 

Quai Anatole France to Quai Branly. these listings and any 

changes are available on the Paris Respire website, by clicking 

on Cycle tracks in Paris. 

Cycling 

Website: www.paris.fr 

Bike riding is popular in Paris and is a great way to tour the 

city. Remember, the rules for bicycles are the same as for 

cars: always give priority to those coming from the right and 

make sure to have head and taillights. Note that every 

Sunday, from 9am-5pm during the Spring/Summer season, the 

roads along the Seine are closed for cycling, rollerblading, 

and walking. You will also find specific bike routes mapped 

out on their website. 

Fat Tire Bike Tours Paris 

24 rue Edgar Faure, 75015 

M˚ Dupleix 

Tel: 01.56.58.10.54 

Website: www.FatTireBikeToursParis.com 

Another excellent way to tour Paris by bike or segway. Day 

and night tours are offered through and outside Paris, 

including rides through Versailles and Giverny. Prices for 

students range from 22€ to 65€, depending on which tour you 

choose. Fat Tire Bike Tours are only offered during the 

Spring/Summer seasons and reservations are necessary. 

72 

Rollerblading 

Rollerblading is extremely popular in Paris and there are a 

lot of open spaces for beginners and the more advanced. You 

will find dozens of rollerbladers around Trocadéro and 

Invalides, especially on weekends. Places like these offer 

open, flat spaces, and are best if you need to practice. If you 

are a little more advanced, you might want to try roller 

parks, most of which are indoors and offer several ramps. 

Parc Suzanne Lenglen 

5 rue Camille Desmoulins, 75015 

M˚ Balard 

Rollerparc Avenue 

100 rue Léon Geoffrey – Z.I. Les Ardoines 

94400 Vitry sur Seine 

accessable via RER St-Michel/Notre Dame 

Tel: 01.47.18.19.19 

Website: www.rollerparc.com 

If you would rather blade around Paris, be sure to abide by 

the rules: rollerbladers are to stay on the sidewalks and are 

forbidden in the streets (many skate in bike lanes, though), 

Champs-Elysées streets are forbidden and “catching” onto the 

backs of cars is illegal. Also, many shops and cafés will not 

let you in if you are wearing skates, so make sure to bring 

shoes if you are planning on stopping in somewhere. 

Every Friday Night & Every Sunday Night 

Website for Friday Tours: www.paris-roller.com 

Website for Sunday tours: www.rollers-coquillages.org 

The most exciting rollerblading event in Paris takes place 

every Friday night (during the warmer months) at 9:45pm, when 

thousands of people race through the city for three hours. 

Streets are blocked off while police and paramedics escort 

bladers through Paris. You must be advanced in order to 

participate, as it is very fast-paced and goes through a few 

rough spots. You also have to prove that you have some form 

of medical insurance before participating, or you can purchase 

insurance specifically for this event. This event is always 

cancelled in the event of rain. For meeting places and routes, 

see the website. Rollerbladers do the same thing on Sundays, 

but at a much slower and relaxed pace. 

73


Rock Climbing 

Located on the outskirts of the city, French rock climbing 

gyms are frequented in the winter by climbers who want to 

keep toned but avoid the cold and rain. One gym in particular, 

Mur Mur, has two locations at Porte de la Villette and Porte 

de Versailles. Mur Mur has nearly 500 routes of bouldering, 

lead, and top rope climbing and a sauna to relax your muscles 

afterwards. They also offer courses for new rock climbers. 

climbing prices vary (depending on the day and time), running 

from 6€ to 12€. If you need climbing equipment, Andaska, 

located in Bercy Village at 17 cours St-Emilion, offers 10% 

off all merchandise to new members of Mur Mur. Otherwise, 

Mur Mur rents equipment and shoes for 5€ a piece. Annual 

and biannual package deals are available as well as cards 

which allow you to climb six times (105€), twelve times 

(120€), or three months (206€), equipment rental included. 

Be aware though, the first time you climb at Mur Mur you must 

pay a flat rate of 24€, which includes your equipment rental 

as well as your entrance fee. 

Mur Mur Porte de la Villette 

55 rue Cartier Bresson 

93500 Pantin 

M˚ Aubervilliers Pantin, Quatre Chemins, or RER E to Pantin 

Tel: 01.48.46.11.00 

Mur Mur Porte de Versailles 

boulevard Garibaldi 

Tramway T2 to J.H. Lartigne or RER C to Issy, Issy Val-de-Seine 

Tel: 01.58.88.00.22 

Monday – Friday, 12pm-11pm/Weekends & Holidays, 9:30am- 

6:30pm 

Tennis 

Website with a list of clubs in Paris: www.fft.fr 

Paris has public and private courts in every arrondisment. To 

find courts in your area, simply go to your local Mairie or 

visit the website listed above. Do not forget to pick up a free 

Carte Paris Tennis, which allows you reserve courts up to a 

week in advance. Public courts can be reserved for 5,79 per 

hour for uncovered, and 11,40€ per hour for a covered 

court. 

74 

You also have the option of joining a private club, which is 

more expensive but provides great benefits. At Tennis Club de 

Paris, for example, you can choose partners based on your 

skill level. You receive a list of other players who you then 

call and with whom you arrange playing times. Lessons are 

also available. Before you join a private club, consider 

checking out Aquaboulevard’s extensive courts. AUP rents 

two tennis courts at Aquaboulevard every Sunday from 6pm- 

8pm. See the AUP Sports & Activities Office for more details. 

Tennis Club de Paris 

15 avenue Félix d’Hérelle, 75016 

Tel: 01.46.47.73.90 

Website: www.tep.asso.fr 

Walking 

Les Randonneurs d’Ile-de-France is an organization offering 

extensive walks and hikes in and outside of Paris. The walk 

usually involves a train trip outside of Paris in the morning, 

and another one back in the evening. Choose from short to 

long-distance walks and from slow to fast-paced. Yearly 

memberships are 42€ per person, and trial memberships are 

available on the website. Calendars of events are sent out to 

members only. 

Les Randonneurs d’Ile-de-France 

RIF, 92 rue du Moulin Vert, 75014 

M˚ Pernety 

Tel: 01.45.42.24.72 

Website: www.rifrando.asso.fr 

Running 

Website: www.parisfitness.com 

The parks and gardens in Paris are great running spots. Try 

Jardin des Tuileries or Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris, or if you 

want to get away, take the RER B4 south to Parc du Sceaux, 

just outside of Paris, for wooded sports trails and hills. 

Every Sunday (except in July and August) the city organizes 

runs in different areas in Paris. These take place at numerous 

parks and stadiums thorughout Paris, from 9am-12pm, and best 

of all they are free. For a complete list of where public runs 

are held, visit the website or pick up a Guide du Sport at your 

local Mairie or tourist office. 

75


Stade Emile Antoine 

rue Jean-Rey 

M˚ Bir-Hakeim 

Centre Sportif Suzanne-Lenglen 

2 rue Louis-Armand 

M˚ Balard 

Meet at the tennis vestiares. 

Swimming 

Website: www.swimmersguide.com 

The above website is a comprehensive database of pools 

worldwide. There are many public pools in Paris and they 

usually charge a small fee to get in. Men must wear Speedo 

suits (no baggy shorts) for sanitary reasons and swimming caps 

are usually required. Hours are usually limited during the 

week because of schools’ use. 

Piscine Emile-Anthoine 

9 rue Jean-Rey, 75015 

M˚ Bir-Hakeim 

Tel: 01.45.67.10.20 

Aquaboulevard 

4 rue Louis-Armand, 75015 

M˚ Balard 

Tel: 01.40.60.10.00 

Features a water park and an indoor/outdoor beach. 

Piscine Pontoise 

19 rue de Pontoise, 75005 

M˚ Maubert-Mutualité 

Tel: 01.55.42.77.88 

Association des Naturistes de Paris 

www.naturistes-paris.org 

Nude swimming. 

Home Excercise Equipment Stores 

Citadium 

50 rue Caumartin, 75009 

M˚ Havre Caumartin 

Mostly athletic clothing and shoes, some sporting equipment. 

76 

Décathlon 

4 rue Louis-Armand, 75015. M˚ Balard 

17 boulevard Madeleine, 75001. M˚ Madeleine 

26 avenue Wagram, 75008. M˚ Ternes 

Largest selection of sporting goods in Paris. 

Cultural Activities 

Cultural Program Office 

The Office of Cultural Programs organizes all study trips 

related to University courses. It also organizes a variety of 

day-long and weekend cultural excursions throughout France 

and Europe and facilitates access to the wealth of cultural 

events in Paris. 

AUP Office of Cultural Programs 

Top floor of Bosquet building 

Tel: 01.40.62.05.96 

Email Tara Butler: butler@aup.fr 

Museums 

Paris Museum Pass 

Website: www.museums-of-paris.com 

Valid for 1 (15€), 3 (30€) or 5 (45€) days, the Paris Museum 

Pass gives free and no waiting access to 70 museums and 

monuments in Paris and the surrounding region. Advantages 

include: free and priority admission to permanent collections, 

unlimited visits, and advanced ticket purchase. On sale in 

Paris at participating museums and monuments, major metro 

stations, the Paris Tourist Bureau, and FNAC ticket counters. 

Note that the pass does not give admission to temporary 

exhibitions or guided visits. Most museums are free for those 

under 18, and offer reduced prices to young people between 

18 and 25. Museums are closed either on Mondays or 

Tuesdays. The pass cannot be extended or reimbursed for any 

reason. The rule applies in the event of closure of 

participating museums for public holidays or unforeseen 

events (e.g. strikes) or free-entrance days. Passes may not be 

exchanged or returned. 

77


Local History & Culture Museums 

Musée de l’Armée – Hôtel des Invalides 


M˚ Invalides 

Tel: 01.44.42.37.72 

Website: www.invalides.org 

Everyday from 10am-5pm (registers close at 4:30pm) 

The museum includes military history from prehistoric to 

contemporary and the Eglise du Dôme which houses the tomb 

of Napoleon I. 

Musée de l’Histoire de France 

(Hôtel de Soubise & Hôtel de Rohan) 

60 rue des Francs-Bourgeois & 87 rue Vieille du Temple, 75003 

M˚ St-Paul 

Tel: 01.40.27.60.96 

Website: www.archivesnationales.culture.gouv.fr/chan 

Hôtel de Soubise everyday except Tuesdays from 9:45am- 

5:30pm, weekends 2pm-5:30pm 

Hôtel de Rohan everyday except Tuesdays from 12pm-6pm 

Two museums dedicated to the history of France. 

Musée de l’Histoire de Paris – Carnavalet 

23 rue de Sévigné, 75004 

M˚ St-Paul 

Tel: 01.44.59.58.58 

Website: www.paris.fr/musees/musee_carnavalet 

Everyday except Mondays from 10am-5:40pm 

A museum focusing on the history of Paris from Antiquity to 

Today, including archaeology, paintings, sculptures, furniture, 

drawings, and photography. 

Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme 

71 rue de Temple, 75004 

M˚ Rambuteau 

Tel: 01.53.01.86.60 

Monday to Friday from 11am-6pm, Sundays from 10am-6pm 

A Museum dedicated to Jewish culture. 

Musée de la Monnaie de Paris 

11 Quai Conti, 75006 

M˚ St-Michel 

78 

Tel: 01.40.46.55.35 

Website: www.monnaiedeparis.com 

Tuesday to Friday from 11am-5:30pm, weekends from 12pm- 

5:30pm 

A museum dedicated to the history of money in France from 

ancient to present times. 

Musée de la Vie Romantique 

16 rue Chaptal, 75009 

M˚ Blanche 

Tel: 01.48.74.95.38 

Everyday except Mondays from 10am-6pm 

A museum housing a collection of art from the Romantic 

Movement during the 19th Century. 

Musée des Egouts de Paris 

Pont de l’Alma, face 93 Quai d’Orsay, 75007 

M˚ Alma-Marceau 

Tel: 01.53.68.27.81 

Everyday except Thursdays and Fridays during the Winter from 

11am-4pm and during the Summer from 11am-5pm 

An underground expedition of the Parisian sewers. 

Musée du Vin 

5 Square Charles Dickens, 75016 

M˚ Passy 

Tel: 01.45.25.63.26 

Open everyday except Mondays from 10am-5:40pm 

A museum dedicated to French wine and viniculture. 

Fine & Decorative Arts Museums 

Musée National d’Art Moderne - Centre Georges Pompidou 

Place Georges Pompidou, 75004 

M˚ Rambuteau 

Tel: 01.44.78.12.33 

Website: www.centrepompidou.fr 

Everyday except Tuesdays from 11am-9pm (registers close at 

8pm) 

A national museum housing an extensive collection of many 

forms of modern and contemporary art: painting, sculpture, 

architecture, photography, books, cinema, video, performances, 

music, etc. 

79


Musée d’Orsay 

1rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 

M˚ Solférino 

Tel: 01.40.49.48.14 

Website: www.musee-orsay.fr 

Everyday except Mondays from 10am-6pm (registers close at 

5:30pm), Thursdays from 10am-9:45pm, Sundays from 9am-6pm 

A national museum installed in a former train station housing 

an extensive collection of painting, sculpture, graphic and 

decorative arts, furniture, architecture and photography from 

1848-1914. 

Musée du Louvre 



Tel: 01.40.20.50.50 

Website: www.louvre.fr 


5:15pm), Monday and Wednesday from 9am-9:45pm 

A national museum housing an exceptional collection of 

Western Art from the Middle Ages to 1848 (painting, 

sculpture, objets d’art, prints and drawings) and art from 

antique civilizations (Oriental, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and 

Roman antiquities). 

Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris 

11avenue du Président Wilson, 75016 

M˚ Iéna 

Tel: 01.53.67.40.50 

Website: www.paris-france.org/musees 

Tuesday to Friday from 10am-5:30pm, weekends from 10am- 

6:45pm 

A museum with a permanent collection dedicated to Modern 

and Contemporary Art with an exceptional exhibition space. 

Musée National du Moyen-Age 

6 Place Paul Pain Levé, 75005 

M˚ Cluny – La Sorbonne or M˚ St-Michel 

Tel: 01.53.73.78.00 

Website: www.musee-moyenage.fr 

Everyday except Tuesdays from 9:15am-5:45pm 

An exceptional collection of Medieval Art and Architecture. 

80 

Musée Maillol – Fondation Dina Vierny 


M˚ Rue du Bac 

Tel: 01.42.22.59.58 

Website: www.museemaillol.com 


5:30pm) 

A museum housing a permanent collection of Modern Art as 

well as functioning as an exhibition space. 

Musée Cognacq Jay 

8 rue Elzévir, 75004 

M˚ St- Paul 

Tel: 01.40.27.07.21 

Website: www.paris-tourism.com/museums/cognacqjay/index.html 

Tuesday to Sunday from 10am-5:40pm 

A comprehensive collection of 18th Century Art by the 

founder of Samaritaine and his wife. 

Musée Nissim de Camondo 

63 rue de Monceau, 75008 

M˚ Villiers or M˚ Monceau 

Tel: 01.53.89.06.40 

Website: www.ucad.fr 

Wednesday to Sunday from 10am-5pm 

A comprehensive collection of 18th Century Art by the 

Camondo family. 

Musée Jacquemart-André 

158 boulevard Haussmann, 75008 

M˚ Miromesnil or M˚ St-Philippe-du-Roule 

Tel: 01.45.62.11.59 

Website: www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com 

Everyday from 10am-6pm 

Hailed the most sumptuous residence in Paris with an eclectic 

and comprehensive collection of fine and decorative art. 

Musée des Arts Décoratifs 



Tel: 01.44.55.57.50 

Website: www.ucad.fr 

Tuesday to Friday from 11am-6pm, Wednesdays from 11am-9pm, 

Weekends from 10am-6pm 

A museum devoted to the Decorative Arts. 

81


Musée de la Mode et du Costume – Palais Galliera 

10 avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie, 75008 

M˚ Iéna or M˚ Alma-Marceau 

Tel: 01.56.52.86.00 

Everyday except Tuesdays from 10am-6pm 

A museum dedicated to the history of fashion from the 18th to 

the 20th Centuries. 

Musée National des Arts Asiatiques – Guimet 

6 Place d’Iéna, 75016 

M˚ Iéna 

Tel: 01.56.52.53.00 

Website: www.museeguimet.fr 


5:30pm) 

An extensive collection of art from China and Japan, including 

a Japanese garden. 

Institut du Monde Arabe 

1 rue des Fossés St-Bernard, 75005 

M˚ Jussieu 

Tel: 01.40.51.38.38 

Website: www.imarabe.org 

Everyday except Mondays from 10am-6pm 

An institution dedicated to the study of Arab and Islamic art 

and civilizations with major works from Syrian and Tunisian 

museums. 

Musée des Arts Africains et Océaniens 

293 avenue Daumesnil, 75012 

M˚ Pore Dorée 

Tel: 01.44.74.84.80 

Website: www.musee-afriqueoceanie.fr 

Everyday except Tuesdays from 10am-5:30pm 

An extensive collection of African and Oceanic Art, including 

a tropical aquarium. 

Paris Museums by Night 

Try visiting Paris Museums by night - the 'nocture' openings can 

be less crowded and it will give you an excuse for a 

fashionably late dinner afterwards or an early snack before. 

82 

Musée des Arts et Métiers 

60 rue Réaumur, 75003 

M˚ Arts et Métiers 

Tel: 01.53.01.82.00 

Website: www.metropoleparis.com/2000/514/514metier.html 

Evenings on Thursday until 9:30pm 

Musée Picasso 

Hôtel Salé, 5 rue Thorigny, 75003 

M˚ St-Paul 

Tel: 01.42.71.25.21 

Evenings on Thursday until 8pm 

Musée du Louvre 

Evenings on Wednesday until 9:45pm 

See museum listings above for more info. 

Musée d'Orsay 

Evenings on Thursday until 9:45pm 


Centre National d'Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou 

Evenings daily until 9pm 


Petit Palais - Musée des Beaux-Arts 

11 avenue W. Churchill, 75008 

M˚ Champs-Elysées - Clémenceau 

Tel: 01.42.65.12.73 

Evenings on Thursdays until 8pm 

Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais 

3 avenue du Générale Eisenhower, 75008 

M˚ Champs-Elysées - Clémenceau 

Tel: 01.44.13.17.17 

Evenings on Wednesdays until 10pm 

Musée du Château de Versailles 

Evenings on Wednesdays until 10pm 

Musée du Luxembourg 

19 rue de Vaugirard, 75006 

M˚ St-Sulpice 

Tel: 01.42.34.25.94 

Evenings on Thursdays, until 8pm 

83


Short List of Parisian Sites & Activities 

Mix and match your explorations according to your interests 

and moods. You’ll never run out of new places to visit. For 

example, Paris has approximately 100 museums. Add the day-trip 

possibilities outside of the city to places such as Versailles, 

Giverny, etc. One could spend a lifetime here and never run 

out of inspiration. These are some ideas to get you started: 

Churches 

Notre Dame de Paris: No. 1 in Paris for its history, size, and 

location. 

St. Chapelle: The most beautiful stained glass collection in 

the world. This royal Chapelle was commissioned by Saint 

Louis to house the relics of Chirst. 

Sacre Coeur: The white marble church is visible from all Paris 

atop the Montmartre hill. 

Plazas 

St. Germain des Pres: The church, the energy, and the cafes 

made this spot a favorite for lost generation expatriate 

writers. 

Place des Vosges: This Marais district square is lined with 

colonnades and elegant 18th century homes 

Place de la Contrescarpe: In the Latin Quarter; full of 

students, shops and cafés. 

Place Stravinsky: Next to the Centre Pompidou; outlandishly 

fun fountain with the sculptures of Yves Tinguely and Nikki de 

St Phalle. 

Monuments and Boulevards 

Place de la Concorde: between the Champs Elysees and the 

Tuillerie Gardens. The Egyption obelisk is its centerpiece. 

Eiffel Tower: The famous tower deserves a trip up its elevator 

for the view or a hike up the stairs for the athletically 

inclined. 

Arc de Triomphe: Napoleon’s famous arch commands the Champs 

Elysees. Climb to the top for an unforgettable panorama of 

Paris. 

Blvd St. Germain: Filled with plazas, shops, restaurants, and 

cafes. 

Cafés 

Les Deux Magots: The best known Paris café; once upon a time 

it hosted Hemingway, Sartre, and others. 

Café de Flore: A few doors down from Les Deux Magots, also a 

lost generation hang out. 

Kiosque Flottant: quai Montebello — a barge floating on the 

Seine near Notre Dame. 

Jazz, Clubs & Music 

Caveau de la Huchette: No place in town jumps like this 

underground club in St-Michel. 

Eglise Americane: Free is a very good price; concerts from 

chamber music to jazz. 

Les Sept Lézards: rue des Rossiérs, great jazz concerts and 

live jam sessions every night, all welcome 

La Guillotine: behind St Julien le Pauvre in the St-Michel 

neighborhood, free jam sessions everynight in their basementconverted 

from a medieval prison. 

Movie Theatres Around or Near AUP 

La Pagode 

57 rue de Babylone, 75007 

M˚ Saint François-Xavier 

Montparnasse 

UGC Montparnasse 

83 boulevard du Montparnasse, 75006 

M˚ Montparnasse-Bienvenue 

Gaumont Parnasse 

3 rue d’Odessa, 75014 


Blvd Champs Elysees: The chicest and highest energy 

boulevard in the world. 84 

85


Bienvenue Montparnasse 

8 rue de l’Arrivée, 75015 


MK2 Parnasse 

11 rue Jules Chaplain, 75006 

M˚ Vavin 

Champs-Elysées 

Gaumont Marignan 

27-33 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008 


Gaumont Ambassade 



UGC George V 


M˚ George V, Etoile 

UGC Normandie 


M˚ George V 

Movie Passes 

Movie Passes exist and for a certain amount per month, you 

can go to the movies as many times as you want. There are two 

passes: UGC and Gaumont-MK2- Pathé. The UGC Illimité is 16.46 

euros per month and can be used in all the UGC movie theatres 

and some independent ones (see list and more information on 

www.ugc.fr). The Gaumont-MK2-Pathé Pass is 18 euros per 

month and is usable in all Gaumont, MK2, and Pathé theatres, 

as well as some independent movie theatres (see 

http://www.mk2.fr/new/carte/index.html for list of cinemas and 

more information, or call 08.25.87.88.78). Note that these 

two cards must be taken for a one-year period minimum. 

Varied Activities In or Near Paris 

Bateau Mouche: Touristy river cruises, but worth the views 

from the river. 

Catacombes: You won’t believe it, a mile-long quarry tunnel 

lined with bones and skulls. 

86 

Promenade Plantée Park: Newly landscaped, three-mile 

promenade atop an old rail bed. 

Versailles: The immense royal complex and grounds of King 

Louis XIV’s royal (about 40 minutes by RER). 

Chartres: A beautiful Gothic church featuring original 13th 

century stained glass windows and an interesting town that 

has managed to keep its Medieval feel (about 45 minutes on 

the train). 

Giverny: the pink and green house and water gardens where 

Monet lived the last forty years of his life and attracted a 

community of other painters. Giverny houses Monet’s stunning 

collection of Japanese prints and the town has an 

underestimated museum of American impressionism. (45 minutes 

on train and a short bus ride) 

Auvers sur Oise: Small village and home where Van Gogh lived 

his last three months; see the landscapes and church featured 

in some of his most dynamic paintings. 

Fountainebleau: built by Francois I. This chateau houses an 

important collection of both Italian and French renaissance 

work. There is a large forest for walks and rock climbing, 

rowing, fishing, and beautiful gardens (about 45 minutes on 

train). 

Chantilly: A beautiful Renaissance chateau situated on water 

built by the Prince de Condé. The magnificent stables feature 

live demonstrations from the equitation schools, and the art 

collection of the castle includes some very important works. 

Paris Opera 

Palais Garnier 

Place de l’Opéra, 75009 

M˚ Opéra 

Tel: 01.40.01.25.14 

Website: www.opera-de-paris.fr 

The museum and temporary exhibition space is open everyday 

from 10am-5pm (last entrance at 4:30pm). 

87


Opéra Bastille 

120 rue Lyon, 75012 

M˚ Bastille 

Tel: 01.40.01.17.89 

Website: www.opera-de-paris.fr 

The Opera also welcomes: 

Groups: 01.47.42 .80.54 

The handicapped: 01.40.01.18.50 

Special programmes for the young 

Individuals: 08.92.69.78.68 

School groups: 01.40.01.19.88 

How to enjoy your evening at the Opera 

Leave on time so as not to be late. Check whether the 

performance is taking place at the Opéra Bastille or the 

Palais Garnier and at what time it starts. Operas start early 

(7:30 pm, sometimes, 7:00 pm or even 6:00 pm) and finish 

between 10 pm and 11:30 pm. If you arrive late, you will be 

invited to watch the beginning of the performance on video 

screens. Use public transport or nearby car parks. Bars 

serving drinks and refreshments are available 45 minutes 

before the performance and during the intervals. You can 

purchase programs and other articles in the Opera boutiques. 

Smoking areas are indicated. Mobile phones may not be used in 

either of the two auditoriums. Youth ticket prices (upon 

presentation of student ID card, or an ID card showing age is 

less than 26 years). 

Parks & Green Spaces 

Website: http://parisfr.ags.myareaguide.com/ 

Arènes de Lutèce (Les) 

47 rue Monge, 75005 

Discretely situated in the 5th arrondissement, these Roman 

ruins are easy to miss. They're a great place to come, however, 

if you're looking for a bit of greenery and a breath of fresh 

air in a friendly neighborhood setting. The ruins were first 

unearthed in 1869, and have since been excavated and 

landscaped. Parts of the Roman amphitheatre are clearly 

visible - a testament to the Romans who founded the city of 

Lutetia, as Paris was first called. On weekends, expect to find 

families and loads of children running around. Or bring a book 

and a sandwich on a sunny weekday, and enjoy the peace and 

quiet. 

Open Hours: 8am-sunset daily 

88 

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise 

16 rue du Repos, 75020, Tel: 01.55.25.82.10 

Paris’s most famous cemetery gets its name from Père de La 

Chaise, religious advisor to Louis XIV and previous owner of 

the property. In 1804 the city of Paris decided to turn the 

land into a cemetery. Famous people buried here include 

authors Marcel Proust and Honoré de Balzac and singers 

Edith Piaf and Jim Morrison (whose grave is one of the most 

visited). Among the many 19th-century sculptures and 

monuments in the cemetery is the Mur des Fédérés at the far 

end, which was placed here in memory of the 147 rebels shot 

here on the 28th May 1871 during the Paris Commune. 

Open Hours: 8am-6pm Mon-Fri; 8.30am-6pm Sat; 9am-6pm Sun & 

public holidays 

Jardin des Plantes (Le) 

57 rue Cuvierm 75005, Tel: 01.40.79.30.00 

A wander around this beautifully composed formal garden is 

the perfect antidote to city stress. Visit the main glasshouse 

for a look at its rare plants, discover the small zoo or 

explore one of the museums on site, which include the Grande 

Galerie de l'Evolution and the Musée de Paléontologie. 

Created in 1635 by Louis XIII’s physician Guy de la Brosse, the 

garden’s initial aim was to illustrate plants’ medicinal 

properties to medical students. 

Admission: park is free; zoo is around 5 € 

Open Hours: 7.30am-8pm daily. Garden closing time varies 

depending on the season (between 5.30 & 8pm) 

Jardin des Serres d'Auteuil 

3 avenue de la Porte d'Auteuil, 75016, Tel: 01.40. 71.76.07 

These charming glasshouses offer visitors to the capital an 

oasis of calm and beauty in the centre of the sixteenth 

arrondissement. There are glasshouses of luxuriant ferns and 

other forest and mountain plants, as well as tropical 

glasshouses of carnivorous plants and a palm house. The 

garden and glasshouses are largely the work of Jean Camillie 

Formigé and were originally built in 1895 for the cultivation 

of plants and flowers for city parks. 

Admission: 0,76€ 

Open Hours: 10am-5pm daily 

89


Parc de Belleville (Le) 

Rue des Couronnes, Rue Piat, 75020 

Recently designed (1988), this park is a favorite among locals. 

In spring, the flowering shrubs are an olfactory miracle. Its 

terraced layout offers an exceptional view of the city 

(including the Eiffel Tower) while out for a jog. In summer, 

children take over the modern fountains and improvise all 

sorts of games. Sports lovers enjoy working out a sweat on 

the basketball and football pitches while the lawns invite 

you for a nap. 

Open Hours: 6am-sunset daily 

Parc de Bercy (Le) 

Rue Paul-Belmondo, 75012, Tel: 01.40.71.75.60 

Until its decline in the 1960s, the area now covered by the 

Parc de Bercy was the bustling centre for wine importation 

and storage in Paris. Wine arrived by barge and by train; the 

rails of the latter can still be seen in what are now the 

pathways of the park. The long-abandoned warehouses have 

been replaced by a neat garden, with wide lawns at one end 

and lines of plants, including a small vineyard, in the centre. 

Landscaped hills, with fountains and ponds, manage to make 

the bizarre architecture of the nearby Palais Omnisports de 

Paris-Bercy (Paris-Bercy Multipurpose Sports Arena) a little 

less of an eyesore. In order that the illustrious history of 

the spot not be forgotten, there is a little exhibition telling 

the story of wine in Paris. The Maison du Jardinage (Gardening 

Centre) is in the Parc de Bercy. 

Open Hours: summer: 7.30am-9.30pm Mon-Fri, 8.30am-9.30pm 

Sat-Sun 

Parc de la Villette (Le) 

Avenue Jean-Jaurès, 75019, Tel: 01.40.03.75.47 

This immense site(over 3 square kilometres)is first and 

foremost a park to play and relax for children and parents 

alike. 

With its wooded islands, its canal across the lawns, climbing 

steps and skate parks, this place is very popular on sunny 

Sundays. In this green universe, there is no limit to your 

imagination: Dragon Gardens, acrobatics, dunes, fog gardens, 

etc. Stay awhile in the Bamboo Garden: kids love listening to 

the wind blowing in the trees and imagine they are in the 

deepest of jungles! Opposite the Cité des Sciences et de 

90 

l'Industrie, there is the Géode and its multi-faceted mirrors 

giving the park an impression of infinity. 

Open Hours: 24hours daily 

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont 

Rue Botzaris, rue Manin, , 75019 

This charming park, opened in 1867, is one of the many 

masterpieces of Baron Haussman, who shaped so much of 

modern Paris. The park is a popular city centre haven for 

nature lovers and walkers as well as families and sportsmen. 

The varied setting includes open lawns, trees, a lake and a 

hilltop "temple" reached by a suspension bridge and offering 

splendid views. Don't forget to visit the famous grotto and 

waterfall. A miniature version of New York's Central Park in 

the heart of Paris! 

Open Hours: 7am-9pm daily 

Parc Andre Citroen 

M˚ Javel, 75105 

The underlying geometry is modernist, embellished with postmodern 

ornament. It is a fine product of a late-twentieth 

century landscape design competition. Alain Provost and Gilles 

Clément explained their design as having four themes (artifice, 

architecture, movement and nature) with an overall 

transition from urban to rural. The use of water and clipped 

plants carry a distant echo of the French Baroque. A White 

Garden and a Black Garden are set into the urban fabric and 

lead on to the park’s central feature - a vast rectangular 

lawn sliced through by a diagonal path. Two glasshouse 

pavilions, separated by a pavement of dancing fountains, stand 

at the urban end of the lawn. The River Seine flows at the 

far end. There are two sets of small gardens: the six Serial 

Gardens and a wild Garden in Movement. The park is on the site 

of a former Citroen car factory. 

Open Hours : 24 hours daily 

Personal Paris 

As a newcomer to Paris, you will realize that this city is made 

for walking, and that’s just what you’ll do! The French 

language overflows with words to describe the phenomenon 

of wandering around the city: flâner, se balader, faire un 

tour, etc. Paris is the city where the flâneur, the anonymous 

but observative urban stroller, first appeared to haunt the 

91


boulevards, those tree-lined avenues carved out by Haussmann 

in the nineteenth century. Like most Parisians, AUP students 

have their favorite haunts. You will soon shape your own 

favorite flâneries. As one AUP student said, “the best spots 

are where Paris hides.” Follow current and former AUP 

students Kara King, Florian Rubartsch, James Azéma, Brittany 

Carroll, Sean Casey, and Chakera McIntosh through their 

favorite neighborhoods, and perhaps you will discover yours 

along the way. 

Place des Vosges 

Rive droite, just off rue de Turenne and rue des Francs 

Bourgeois, 75004. 

M˚ St. Paul or M˚ Bastille 

Around Paris, there are places both petite and grande, 

squares, gardens, and parks sheltered by buildings and rues, 

odd corners where you can find a quiet spot and take a break 

from the dizzying pace of the city. Nestled in the heart of the 

Marais is Place des Vosges, my favorite spot to sit and think. 

Back in the seventeenth century, Henry IV had this square, one 

of the oldest and most beautiful in Paris, laid out. On 

Sundays, Parisians flock here to unleash their kids in the 

gardens, listen to a string quartet (classical music echoes 

down the arcades), enjoy a coffee in the sun, or sit quietly 

with a book. On sunny days, the red brick of the façades 

positively glows. Many have loved Place des Vosges, including 

Victor Hugo, who resided in one of the 36 houses above the 

arcades. Today, Place des Vosges’ real estate is so expensive 

that only a fortunate few can enjoy it from their window. 

The rest of us just have to settle for a bench in the sun. It’s 

a great place to escape the urban ramble that might overtake 

the Marais and the Village St. Paul when you take in things 

like an exhibition at the Hôtel de Sully or a concentrated 

dose of Paris history at another restored aristocratic 

mansion, the Hôtel Carnavalet. 

Kara King (’04) 

Rue de Seine 

Rive gauche, located off boulevard St. Germain, 75006. 

M˚ Mabillon or M˚ Odéon 

Rue de Seine has to be one of the most charming of the 

pedestrian zones in Paris. Situated at the heart of the muchmythologized 

St-Germain-des-Prés district (once upon a time 

92 

very student oriented, now increasingly invaded by boutiques 

and fashionistas, galleries and antiquaires), rue de Seine has 

plenty to offer the stroller. The shops, bars and restaurants 

are open late, and the atmosphere is very international and 

welcoming. Whether you choose to sit in the Bar du Marché 

to have a beer, do a little light antique hunting (some tribal 

art for your chambre de bonne?) or just wander around in 

discovery mode, rue de Seine is a definite must in Paris. If you 

want to see monuments, at the north end of the street you 

will find the Ecole des Beaux-arts, Paris’s leading fine art 

school, and the symbol of French intellectual life, the 

Institut de France. Its stone, like that of so many Paris 

monuments, now tawny-yellow again after a recent clean. The 

southern end of the street runs into rue Tournon and takes 

you to the Jardin du Luxembourg. A couple of basic musts on 

rue de Seine? The Bar du Marché and breakfast at Paul’s 

Bakery. 

Florian Rubartsch (’03) 

La Goutte d’Or 

Rive droite, not far from the Gare du Nord, 75009. 

M˚ Barbès-Rochechouart 

Literally the “drop of gold”, the Goutte d’Or district takes its 

name from the white wine which was made here, many moons 

ago. The vineyards have long since disappeared under tarmac 

and walls, but the name survives in an area of narrow 

streets, which house many families of North African origin. 

On boulevard de Barbès, the shops have everything for the 

Oriental home: gilt tea cups, brass trays chiseled with 

arabesques, videos of Algerian singers both obscure and 

popular. Mediterranean cooking ingredients abound, too: 

olives by the bucketful, harissa red-pepper paste, green tea, 

dates and dried figs, pistachios and almonds at unbeatable 

prices. Street stands do a roaring trade in Islamic 

consumables: perfume oils, worry beads, and hand of Fatima 

stickers. For fresh fruit and vegetables, try the open-air 

market under the rumbling line 2 viaduct (Mon, Wed and Sat 

am). In addition, note that outside Footlocker, there always 

seems to be a seedy older gentleman with a coat full of 

mobile phones for sale. Nearby, the style-conscious can take 

a stroll along rue des Gardes, now reinvented as a “fashion 

oasis” by the local government. Oblivious to such civic ploys, 

real life goes on. A bit further north, after the Square Léon 

93


public garden, try the Bar du Lavoir-Moderne for a beer or 

get yourself some waxed African cotton at Kinshasa-sur-Seine 

between M˚ Château Rouge and rue Doudeauville. You might 

take a look at the neo-Gothic pile of the Eglise St-Bernard, 

displayed in the media in recent years as a site of immigrant 

protests and police brutality. Note well, there is still a tiny 

vineyard, planted in the 1930s, on the slope behind the Sacré- 

Coeur. Shopping must? Always a bargain Chez Tati, boulevard 

de Barbès. 

James Azéma (’91) 

Place St. Michel 

Rive gauche, 75006. 

M˚ St. Michel, 

For those bookworms who like to wander aimlessly for hours, 

St. Michel, on the fringes of the Quartier Latin, has what you 

are looking for. As the “headquarters” for Gibert Jeune, the 

largest group of bookstores in Paris, you can find books on 

any subject imaginable, from theology to geology, romance 

novels to the latest spy thriller. While digging through the 

stacks and weaving in and out of each store, you can always 

find room to fit in a pause at a café in one of the area’s quaint 

coffee shops or a little last minute shopping in one of the 

many hip boutiques that line the boulevard St. Michel. If you 

get hungry after all of the literary excitement, there are 

literally dozens of international restaurants for you to try. 

From Moroccan delicacies to Swiss fondue, St. Michel will 

leave your taste buds and your thirst for knowledge fully 

satisfied. 

Brittany Carroll (’03) 

Abbesses 

Rive droite, 75009 and 75018. 

M˚ Abbesses. 

Nestled between the happy tourist land of the cathedral of 

Sacré Coeur and the lively but seedy red light district, close 

to the famous Moulin Rouge and the not-so-famous Musée de 

l’Eroticisme (with seven floors of sexual art and memorabilia), 

the rue des Abbesses is home to Bohemian cafés, trendy 

clothing shops, and plenty of artsy-creative looking people. 

This neighborhood of starving artists, students, and some 

immigrants is an eclectic and original place to spend a long 

Sunday afternoon strolling, taking in a play at the Thêatre de 

94 

la Ville, or having a grande crème at Amelie Poulain’s nowfamous 

café on the rue Lepic. The area is full of tiny no-name 

coffee shops where you can waste away the day thinking and 

looking at all of the unique individuals who live in the area. 

Sean Casey (‘04) 

Porte Dorée 

Rive droite, 75012. 

M˚ Porte Dorée. 

The life of a university student can get hectic, so I am always 

seeking out ways to sit back, relax, and enjoy some time away 

from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Porte Dorée is 

the perfect place to take such a breather. Here, you can 

picnic on the wide open grassy areas next to the lake, take a 

rowboat and relax on the calm waters, or check out the 

artfully designed covered bridges. The park is wonderful, 

because you have the freedom to sit anywhere, as the area 

around the lake is huge and far from the crunchy gravel 

spaces of the downtown area. Also, not too far from the 

lake, there is a fair that is usually open from April to 

September. The place is no Disneyland, but with a group of 

friends, the rides can be quite fun, and nothing beats cotton 

candy on a warm spring day. Other sites to check out in the 

area are the Parc Zoologique, the only place in Paris where 

you can see animals besides dogs, and the former Musée des 

Arts d’Afrique et d’Océanie, constructed for the International 

Colonial Exposition of 1931. The building is an excellent 

example of the flowering of Art Deco in France after the 

1920s, and has one of the largest bas-reliefs in Western 

Europe. 

Chakera McIntosh (‘04) 

General Travel Information 

Youth Discount Cards 

Carte ISIC (International Student Identity Card) 

This is the only student discount card that is recognized 

worldwide. ISIC cardholders can benefit from reduced 

transportation and lodging costs and obtain discounts at some 

museums, cinemas and bookstores. The ISIC card costs 10 and 

is good from the 1st of September until the 31st of December 

of the following year. There are no age restrictions. 

95


Your membership card not only allows you to stay in IYHF 

hostels, you also get to participate in a wide range of 

activities offered at the hostels. For more information go to 

www.fuaj.org and check out the listings under 

'activities'. 

OTU Voyages - ISIC France 

119 rue Saint-Martin, 75004 

Tel: 01 49 96 96 49 

Fax: 01.49.96.96.50 

Website: www.isic.tm.fr 

Email: infos@carteisic.com 

Youth Hostels 

Membership in the Federation of your country or International 

Youth Hostelling Federation (IYHF), allows you to stay in 

about 170 Youth Hostel in France and over 4200 Youth 

Hostels worldwide . Prices range from 7,35 to 12,70 per 

person per night, depending on the category of the YH. In 

Paris, the price is from 18,50 to 19 per person per night, 

breakfast and linen included. 

FUAJ (Fédération Unie des Auberges de Jeunesse) 

Website: www.fuaj.org/eng/index.asp 

FUAJ is the French link of the International Youth Hostelling 

network (www.iyhf.org). 

Listed on the next page are other online youth hostel 

organizations and reservation services. 

International Booking Network (IBN): www.hihostels.com 

Hostels.com: www.hostels.com 

Hostelworld.com: www.hostelworld.com 

Hostels of Europe: www.hostelseurope.com 

Nomads World: www.nomadsworld.com 

Hostel Links Database: www.ping.be/~ping04201/ 

Travel Agencies 

Usit World 

12 rue Vivienne, 75002 

RER B: Luxembourg 

Tel: 01.42.44.14.01 

Website: www.usitconnections.fr 

96 

Nouvelles Frontières 

60 rue St Dominique, 75007 

Tel: 01.45.50.28.01 

Fax: 01.45.50.39.35 

Website: www.nouvelles-frontieres.fr 

Online travel Specialists 

There are many on-line discount airfares and airlines (most 

also provide hotel and car rental services): 

www.ebookers.com - for worldwide flights, hotels & package 

deals 

www.anyway.com - for worldwide flights, hotels & package 

deals 

www.govoyages.com - for worldwide flights, hotels & package 

deals 

www.degriftour.fr - for worldwide flights, hotels & package 

deals 

www.opodo.com - for worldwide flights, hotels & package 

deals 

www.kelkoo.com - for worldwide flights, hotels & package 

deals 

www.volare.com - for flights to Italy 

www.ryanair.com - for flights within Europe and the UK 

www.easyjet.com - for flights within Europe and the UK 

Air Travel 

General Information 

Detailed information about particular airlines can be obtained 

by locating the telephone number in the Yellow pages under 

TRANSPORTS AERIENS. Also, online at www.pagesjaunes.fr. 

Air-France 

Be sure to ask about their reduced fares for students and 

people under 25. 

Tel: 08.20.82.08.20 

Website: www.airfrance.fr 

Air France Europe provides reductions of 40 to 60 percent for 

anyone under 25 and students under 27. Depending on your 

destination and length of stay. A reduced-rate flight on Air 

France Europe may prove to be cheaper than the train. 

97


Baggage Allowance 

In economy class the normal allowance is 23 kg while business 

class and first class passengers are entitled to 30 kg and 40 

kg respectively. 

Airports & Airport Shuttle Companies 

Paris has two airports, both well served by public transport 

and taxis. Orly, the southern airport, has two terminals, Orly 

Ouest and Orly Sud. Taxis serve both terminals and Air France 

buses are another convenient option (17€ round trip). 

Another option for getting to central Paris is to take the 

Orlyval light railway to Antony, where you change to the RER 

regional rail service, line B. At St-Michel/Notre Dame, change 

to line C, direction Versailles Rive Gauche, to get to either 

Invalides or Pont de l’Alma, the stations nearest AUP. You 

could also organize an airport shuttle to take you to or from 

the airpot. For 22€ each way if you are alone, or 14,50€ if 

there are two or more people, the shuttle will pick you up at 

your terminal and take you to your doorstep. For more 

information, see the following airport shuttle websites. 

Airport Shuttle Companies 

Blue Vans 

You must reserve at least a day in advance, They may give an 

AUP discount, so mention that you are a student here. 

Usually 22€ for a single booking and 14,50€ per person for 

several passengers 

Tel: 01.30.11.11.90 

Website: www.bluvan.fr 

PariShuttle 

Tel: 08.00.69.96.99 

Website: www.parishuttle.com 

Other airport shuttle companies are listed in the FUSAC. 

The other main airport, to the north of the city, is Charles de 

Gaulle, referred to by its French initials, CDG or Roissy, which 

handles most transatlantic flights. There are two main 

termainals, A and B, plus a smaller terminal serving charter 

flights for Africa and certain Mediterranean destinations. 

Transfer from Roissy to central Paris is by airport bus or the 

RER line B. 

98 

Taxis to the Airport 

Taxis are the easiest but most expensive way to go to or from 

the airport. Unless traffic is very heavy, a taxi from Orly to 

central Paris should not cost more than 35€, while a taxi 

from CDG will cost slightly more. Costs from Paris range 

from € 30 - €55 depending on the distance and number of bags. 

Alpha Taxi 

Tel: 01.45.85.85.85 

Taxi Bleus 

Tel: 08.25.16.10.10 (airport reservations: 08.25.16.66.66) 

Taxi 7000 

Tel: 01.42.70.00.42 

Charles de Gaulle Airport 

Also called Roissy, is located to the Northeast of Paris. It is 

also serviced by Air France buses, the RATP Roissybus, and 

SNCF Roissyrail. 

Charles de Gaulle Airport Information 

Tel: 01.48.62.22.80 

Website: www.adp.fr 

Air France bus 

Tel: 08.20.82.08.20 or 01.48.64.32.81 

departs every 15 minutes from avenue Carnot at Place de 

l'Etoile, Gare Montparnasse, and Porte Maillot (boulevard 

Gouvion St-Cyr, by the Hotel Meridian). 10 one way or 17 

round trip. 

RATP Roissybus 

Tel: 01.48.64.32.81 

Website: www.ratp.fr 

departs every 12 minutes from Place de l'Opéra as of 5:45am. 

SNCF Roissyrail 

runs every 15 minutes from Gare du Nord, from 6am-Midnight. 

RER Line B3 

RER Tel: 08.92.68.77.14 

99


Orly Airport 

Located southwest of Paris, and is serviced by Air France 

buses, RATP Orlybus, the Orlyval metro and the SNCF Orlyrail. 

Orly Airport Information 

Tel: 01.49.75.15.15 

Website: www.adp.fr 

Air France Bus 

Tel: 08.20.82.08.20 

departs every 12 minutes from Gare Montparnasse, Invalides, 

and Etoile from 5:00am-11:00pm. 

RATP Orlybus 

Website: www.ratp.fr 

departs every 13 minutes from Denfert Rochereau. Paris to 

Orly: 6:00am-11:00pm, Orly to Paris: 6:30am-11:30pm. 

Jet Bus 

departs every 15 minutes from the metro station Villejuif- 

Louis-Aragon on métro line 7 from 6:00am-10:15pm. 

Orlyval Metro 

Tel: 08.10.03.04.05 

runs every 5 minutes, connects with RER-B at Antony from 

5:50am-11:48pm, M˚ Chatelet to Orly in 30 minutes. 

SNCF Orlyrail 

Tel: 08.92.35.35.35 

departs every 15 minutes from RER station-C Gare d'Austerlitz. 

Takes 35 minutes to arrive at Orly: Paris to Orly; 5:50am- 

10:50pm, Orly to Paris: 5:35am-11:15pm. 

Beauvais Airport 

Many of the discount airlines fly from Beauvais airport, which 

is located in Normandy about one hour from Paris. A shuttle 

bus departs Paris/Porte Maillot 2 hours before each flight; 

tickets for the shuttle may be purchased in the parking lot 

from 30 minutes before the departure of each shuttle. You 

may also purchase tickets for this shuttle in advance from the 

nearby boutique. The price per person, per journey is 10, so 

plan on an extra 20 for any flight departing from Beauvais 

Airport. The departure schedule, access map and other useful 

info may be found on their website listed below. 

100 

Aéroport de Beauvais Boutique 

1 boulevard Pershing, 75017 

Tel: 08.92.68.20.64 

Website: www.aeroportbeauvais.com/airport/shop.html 

Car Travel 

French Highway Information Center, Tel: 08.03.07.10.77 

Provides information about road conditions, itineraries, and 

other details. 

Car Rentals 

Autorent 

Tel: 01.45.55.12.54 

(AUP discounts of 10%) 

Website: www.autorent.fr 

Email: autorent@wanadoo.fr 

EasyCar 

Website: www.easycar.fr 

Driving Licenses 

If you hold a French driver's license you can get information 

about obtaining an international driver's license at: 

Automobile-Club de L'ile de France 

14 avenue de la Grande Armeé, 75017 

Tel: 01.40.55.43.00 

Fax: 01.43.80.90.51 

In general, with a student visa and a valid U.S. driver's 

license, you are allowed to drive in France. For more 

information on driver's license validity, contact: 

La Préfecture de Police de Paris 

Tel: 01.53.71.53.71 

Train Travel 

Paris has a total of seven major train stations, each of which 

serves a specific area of France or Europe. To find out which 

station serves your proposed destination, as well as 

information about prices and departure times, call the SNCF at 

the number below or go to the SNCF boutique or train station 

nearest you. 

Gare du Nord (M˚ lines 4 and 5, also RER B): the North-East, 

Lille, London (Eurostar), Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne 

(Thalys services). 

101


Gare de l’Est (M˚ lines 4, 5 and 7): the East, Strasbourg, Reims, 

and southern Germany. 

Gare de Lyon (M˚ lines 1 and 14, also RER A and D): the South, 

Lyon and Marseille, the Southeast, the eastern French 

Mediterranean coast, the Alps and Italy. 

Gare d’Austerlitz (M˚ lines 5 and 10, also RER C): the West, 

Loire Valley, and towns south of Paris. 

Gare de Montparnasse (M˚ lines 4, 6, 12 and 13): the 

Northwest, Brittany, the Southwest, Bordeaux and Spain. 

Gare de St-Lazare (M˚ lines 3, 12 and 13, also RER A): 

Normandy 

In order to remain competitive with the discount airlines, the 

SNCF has also recently begun to offer very cheap tickets to 

destinations throughout France and to London. These 

discounted rates are usually available only through online 

bookings, and you can be notified of any upcoming deals by 

signing up for the SNCF email newsletter by checking their 

website: www.voyages-sncf.com. 

SNCF Boutique 

78 rue St-Dominique 

Tel: 08.92.35.35.35 

Monday to Friday from 9am-7pm, Saturday from 9am-12:30pm 

and 2pm-6pm 

Website: www.sncf.fr 

Train Discount Cards 

Carte Découverte/Booking Discount Plans 

J30: Tickets must be reserved from 60 to 30 days in advance 

J8: Tickets must be reserved from 60 to 8 days in advance 

Both require travel in 2nd class. Exchanges and refunds are 

limited. These can give you up to a 25% discount. 

Eurodominio Jeunes 

Permits unlimited travel within a chosen European country 

for periods of 3, 5 or 10 days. Prices vary. 

Carte 12-25 

Must be between 12 and 25 years of age. TGV and Regular 

train-trip departing in blue zones (slow travel periods) 

102 

receive 50 percent reduction. TGV and Regular train-trip 

departing in white zones (normal travel periods) receive a 20 

percent reduction. This does not apply for Eurostar travel. 

Cost is €43. 

La Carte Inter Rail 

For European citizens or people who have resided in Europe 

for at least six months. 

Allows unlimited travel, in 2nd class, within the zone or 

zones selected. You must pay supplements and sleepers. 

Contact the SNCF for restrictions. 

Zones: 

A: UK, Ireland. 

B: Sweden, Finland, Norway. 

C: Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, 

Lichtenstein 

D: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, 

Croatia. 

E: France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Andorra. 

F: Spain, Portugal, Morocco. 

G: Italy, Slovenia, Greece, Turkey. 

H: Bulgaria, Romania,Yugoslavia, Macedonia, Bosnia- 

Herzegovina. 

Interrail Card Validity Under 25 Yrs Old Over 25 Yrs Old 

1 Zone 22 days € 222 € 312 

2 Zones 1 month € 284 € 396 

3 Zones 1 month € 322 € 446 

Global pass 1 month € 371 € 500 

Contact the SNCF for rate updates. 

Eurail Passes 

To purchase Eurail passes from France, go on the internet to 

www.eurail.on.ca. You can check out the different prices and 

packages online and order at 1-881-667-9734 or 1-519-645- 

1989. They can ship in two days. Alternately, Eurail Passes 

may be purchased at train stations in France, but the cost is 

slightly higher for passes purchased before having left the 

US. 

103


Before You Leave 

Visas & Passports 

Prior to traveling, visa and vaccination requirements should 

be verified. Embassies are listed in the Yellow Pages, under 

the heading Ambassades. You can also find the embassy 

websites for most countires online: 

www.tyzo.com/planning/embassies.html 

American Consulate 

2 rue St. Florentin, 75002 

M˚ Concorde 

VISA Info Tel: 01.43.12.22.22 

Office of American Services/Lost Passports Tel: 01.43.12.23.47 

(after 3pm) 

Vaccinations 

Centre de Vaccination Air France. 

Aérogare des Invalides (M˚ Invalides) 

Weekdays 9am-6pm, Saturday: 9am-5pm 

Conveniently close to the university. Accepts Visa/carte bleue 

Tel: 01.43.17.22.00 or 08.36.68.63.64 

Lost/Stolen Credit Cards 

Visa 

Tel: 01.53.20.18.98 

Amex 

Tel: 01.47.77.70.00 

Mastercharge/Mastercard/Eurocard 

Tel: 01.45.67.53.53 

Shipment Delivery 

S.T.I.O. 

International transportation: Customs - Storage - Distribution 

Orly for the USA 

Orly Fret N. 750 (Airport office) 

94398 Orly Aérogare 

Tel: 01.48.52.15.15 

Fax: 01.49.75.30.34 

104 

Roissy for Europe 

96704 Aéroport CDG 

Roissy en France (France) 

Tel: 01.48.62.45.10 

Fax: 01.48.62.56.32 

Travel Outside of France 

Austria – Vienna 

Time Zone: GMT +1 (Central European Time) 

Local Currency: Euro 

Telephone Area Code: 43 

Major Sites to see: Hofburg, Kunsthistorisches Museum, 

Schloss Schönbrunn, Spanish Riding School, Stephansdom, 

Baden, Krems, Lake Neusiedl. 

UK – London 

Time Zone: GMT 0 (Greenwich Mean Time) 

Local Currency: Pound 


Major Sites to see: British Museum, Buckingham Palace, 

Camden Market, Covent Garden, Houses of Parliament, Hyde 

Park, Kew Gardens, Natural History Museum, St Paul's 

Cathedral, Tate Britain, Westminster Abbey, Brick Lane Market, 

Hampstead Heath, Highgate Cemetery, Holland Park, 

Kensington Market. 

UK – Edinburgh 


Local Currency: Pound 


Major Sites to see: Calton Hill, Edinburgh Castle, 

Grassmarket, Greyfriars Kirk, Holyrood Park, Museum of 

Childhood, Royal Museum of Scotland, Royal Observatory, St 

Giles's Cathedral, University of Edinburgh, Dunbar, Gifford, 

Haddington. 

105


Ireland – Dublin 




Major Sites to see: Dublin Castle, Guinness Storehouse, 

Phoenix Park, Temple Bar, Trinity College, Casino at Marino, 

Glendalough, Kildare Town, 

Italy – Rome 




Major Sites to see: Capitoline Hill, Castel Sant' Angelo, 

Forum, Galleria Borghese, Holy See, Pantheon, Via Appia 

Antica, Gianicolo, Ostia Antica, Tarquinia, Tivoli, Trastevere. 

Italy – Naples – Capri – Pompeii 




Major Sites to see: Chiesa San Domenico Maggiore, Duomo, 

Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Palazzo Reale, Catacombe di 

San Gennaro, Palazzo Reale di Capodimonte, Solfatara Crater. 

Italy – Venice 




Major Sites to see: Accademia, Ca d'Oro, Palazzo Ducale, 

Rialto, St Mark's Basilica, St Mark's Square, Burano, Murano, 

Pellestrina, Torcello 

Italy – Florence 




Major Sites to see: Bargello Museum, Piazza del Duomo, Piazza 

della Signoria, Piazza San Lorenzo, Pitti Palace, Santa Croce, 

Fiesole, Medici Villas, Mugello Region, Prato. 

106 

Belgium – Brussels 

Time Zone: GMT +1 (+2 in summer) 



Major Sites to see: Cathédrale des Sts Michel & Gudule, Grand 

Place, Manneken Pis, Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts de 

Belgique, Rue des Bouchers, Centre Belge de la Bande 

Dessinée, European Parliament, Musée Bruxellois de la 

Gueuze. 

Belgium – Antwerp 

Time Zone: GMT +1 (+2 in summer) 



Major Sites to see: Grote Markt, Koninklijk Museum voor 

Schone Kunsten, Museum Plantin-Moretus, Nationaal 

Scheepvaartmuseum, Onze Lieve Vrouwkathedraal, 

Openluchtmuseum voor Beeldhouwkunst Middelheim, 

Rubenshuis, St Jacobskerk, The Meir, Ghent, Lillo, Port of 

Antwerp, Zurenborg, 

Holland – Amsterdam 




Major Sites to see: Begijnhof, Canals, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh 

Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Anne Frankhuis, Southern Canal 

Belt, Amsterdam Noord, Jordaan, Red Light District. 

Spain – Madrid 




Major Sites to see: Moorish quarter, Museo del Prado, Museo 

Municipal, Parque del Buen Retiro, Palacio Real de El Pardo, 

San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Sierra de Guadarrama. 

107


Spain – Barcelona 




Major Sites to see: Barri Gòtic, Gràcia, La Pedrera, La Rambla, 

La Sagrada Família, Montjuïc, Museu Picasso, Monestir de 

Montserrat, Parc Güell, Tibidabo. 

Germany – Berlin 




Major Sites to see: Brandenburger Tor, Checkpoint Charlie 

Museum, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche, Kulturforum, 

Kreuzberg, Potsdam, Stasi HQ. 

Switzerland – Geneva 


Local Currency: Swiss Franc 


Major Sites to see: Cathédrale de St Pierre, International Red 

Cross & Red Crescent Museum, Jet d'Eau, CERN, Lausanne, 

Montreux. 

Czech Republic – Prague 


Local Currency: czech crown 


Major Sites to see: Hrad_any, Josefov (Old Jewish Quarter), 

Malá Strana, Old Town Square, Petrin Hill, Prague Castle, 

Karlstejn Castle, Konopiste, Kutna Hora, Pruhonice. 

Hungary – Budapest 


Local Currency: Forint 


Major Sites to see: Castle Hill, City Park, Gellért Hill, Király 

Baths, Opera House, Royal Palace, Eger, Veszprém, Óbuda, 

108 

Greece – Athens 




Major Sites to see: Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Benaki Museum, 

National Archaeological Museum, National Gardens, Roman 

Agora & Tower of the Winds, The Keramikos, Theatre of 

Dionysos, Anafiotika, First Cemetery, Flea Market, Lykavittos 

Hill, Panagia Hrysospiliotissa. 

Handy French 

There is no room here to give you more than a brief reminder 

of the French you probably learned or will learn in class. 

Remember, pronunciation is everything. Get those excruciating 

vowel sounds right, and they will probably understand you, 

even if the grammar is not spot on. Remember as well that the 

expression of formality and politeness is very different from 

French to English. Instead of the “would you” and “could you” 

phrases essential to a polite exchange in English, the 

language of Molière uses a special second person form of the 

verb, the “vous” form. Use this when speaking to anyone older 

or someone you do not know. Only use the familiar “tu” form 

of “you” to children or someone you know as a friend. 

Otherwise, it is “vous” all the way, at least until you are 

invited to use “tu” by the person concerned. In addition, 

“monsieur” and “madame” are used a great deal for politeness. 

Use the longer “bonjour Madame” or “bonsoir Monsieur” 

rather than just a blunt “bonjour” when you walk into a shop. 

The expression “messieurs’ dames” is also much used as a way of 

acknowledging the presence of others when you enter a 

public place of some kind. 

Simple Basics 

Travel / Transportation 

At the café / restaurant… 

Shopping 

Food 

Clothes 

Going out 

109


Phrases for a problem situation 

Phrases for a medical problem 

Gym 

Haircut 

Numbers 

Days and Months 

Street Slang and Profanities 

Idiomatic pieces and bits 

Make the effort to communicate in French and people will 

automatically try to help you in faltering English when your 

language skills run out. There is always a way to reach an 

understanding of some kind. 

Simple Basics 

Hello Bonjour 

Hi Salut 

Good evening Bonsoir 

Good afternoon Bon après-midi 

Goodbye Au revoir 

How are you? Comment allez-vous? /Comment vas-tu? 

How are things? Comment va? 

Fine Trés bien 

Fine thank you Bien merci 

Please S’il vous plaît 

Thank you Merci 

Sorry Pardon 

Excuse me Excusez-moi 

You’re welcome De rien 

Don’t mention it Y’a pas de quoi 

My name is… Je m’appelle… 

What? Comment? 

I don’t understand Je ne comprends pas 

I don’t speak French Je ne parle pas français 

Could you speak more slowly? Pourriez-vous parler plus lentement ? 

Do you speak English? Parlez-vous anglais? 

What time is it? Quelle heure est-il? 

Do you have change? Avez-vous de la monnaie? 

I would like… J’aimerais… 

I am lost Je suis perdu(e) 

Where is…? Où se trouve…? 

How do I get to… ? Comment vais-je à…? 

On the right A droite 

Straight on Tout droit 

On the corner of the street Au coin de la rue 

Behind Derrière 

Transportation and Travel 

Where is the bus/metro? Où se trouve le bus/métro? 

One ticket for …, please Un ticket pour …, s’il vous plaît 

Weekly travel ticket. Coupon hebdomadaire 

Monthly travel ticket. Coupon mensuel 

One-way Aller simple 

Round trip Aller-retour 

How much is the fare? Quel est le prix du billet? 

Train Le train 

Bus Un autobus 

Subway, Underground Le métro 

Airport Un aéroport 

Train station Une gare 

Bus station Un arrêt de bus 

Subway station Une station de métro 

Departure Un départ 

Arrival Une arrivée 

Car rental agency Agence de location de voitures 

Parking Le parking 

I’m going to … Je vais à… 

When does the train/plane leave? Quand est-ce que le train/l’avion s’en va? 

When is the next train? Quand est-ce que le prochain train arrive? 

At the café/restaurant 

A bottle Une bouteille 

A glass Un verre 

A cup Une tasse 

A plate Une assiette 

A knife Un couteau 

A fork Une fourchette 

A spoon Une cuillère 

A napkin Une serviette 

Non-smoking table Une table non-fumeur 

An ashtray Un cendrier 

The bill L’addition 

On the left A gauche 110 

111


Coffees, teas and other drinks 

A black coffee Un café noir 

A coffee with milk Un café crème 

Small coffee with milk Un noisette 

An American coffee Un café allongé 

A tea Un thé 

… with milk … avec du lait 

… with lemon … avec du citron 

Tap water Une carafe d’eau 

A bottle of mineral water Une bouteille d’eau minérale 

… sparkling … gazeuse 

… still … plate 

A coke Un coca cola 

A fruit juice Un jus de fruit 

A limonade Une limonade 

Orange juice Une orange pressée 

Alcoholic drinks 

A beer Une bière 

A shandy Un panaché 

A half Une demie 

Draught beer Une bière pression 

Lager Bière blonde 

Bitter Bière brune 

Cider Cidre 

A bottle of House Wine Un pichet de vin 

Red wine Vin rouge 

White wine Vin blanc 

The wine list La carte des vins 

At the end of a meal 

Chartreuse: aromatic herb liquor made by Carthusian 

monks 

Cognac: high-quality white-grape brandy 

Cointreau: orange-flavored liquor 

Crème de menthe: peppermint-flavoured liquor 

Eau-de-vie: brandy (often made from plum, pear, etc.) 

Grand Marnier: tawny-coloured, orange-flavoured liquor 

Pernod: brand name for popilar apéritif 

112 

Snacks 

Baguette: Long bread 

Croque monsieur: Toasted cheese and ham sandwich 

Croque madame: Toasted cheese and ham sandwich with an egg on top 

Un jambon-beurre: Basic ham and butter baguette 

Un jambon-fromage: Ham and cheese baguette 

Sandwich suédois: Sandwich in unleavened bread 

A salad: Une salade 

Main dishes 

A la bordelaise: With red wine sauce 

A la bourguignonne: In red wine, with onions, bacon and mushrooms 

A la dauphinoise: Cooked in milk 

A la jardinière: With peas and carrots 

A la niçoise: With garlic and tomatoes 

Aux lardons: With finely chopped bacon 

Blanquette de veau: Veal in white sauce 

Cassoulet: Bean stew 

Céleri rémoulade: Shredded celery with mustard mayonnaise 

Civet de lièvre: Hare stewed in wine, mushrooms and onions 

Confit de canard: Preserved duck (in fat) 

Magret de canard: Preserved duck (dried or smoked) 

Filet mignon: Small filet steak 

Ratatouille: Mediterranean stewed vegetables 

Ingredients 

Offal Abats 

Woodcock Bêcasse 

Wild Mushrooms Cèpes 

Venison Chevreuil 

Cod Morue 

Chicken Poulet 

Beef Boeuf 

Veal Veau 

Pork Porc, cochon 

Lamb Agneau 

French fries Frites 

Steamed potatoe Pomme-de-terre à l’eau 

Steamed green beans Haricots Verts 

113


Sweets 

Clafoutis Sort of cherry pudding 

Crème caramel Custard with caramelized top 

Tarte tatin Sort of fruit pie, apple or pear 

Apple pie Tarte aux pommes 

... with cinammon … à la canelle 

Chocolate mousse Mousse au chocolat 

Ice cream Glace 

Shopping 

Food 

Where can I buy…? Où est-ce que je peux acheter…? 

Where are the…? Où sont les…? 

Trollies Caddies 

Baskets Paniers 

The exit La sortie 

Check-out La caisse 

The cashier La caissière, le caissier 

It’s my turn next C’est mon tour 

A receipt Un ticket de caisse 

A plastic bag Un sac plastique, un sachet 

A litre of Un litre de 

A bottle of Une bouteille de 

A can of Une boîte de 

A jar of Un pot de 

Diet Diététique 

Organic Bio, biologique 

Light Léger(e) 

Fat Matière grasse 

Fruits Fruits 

Vegetables Légumes 

Dairy products Produits laitiers 

Meat Viande 

Mince Viande hâchée 

Fish Poisson 

Bread Pain 

Clothes 

Shop Magasin 

Department Store Grand Magasin 

Brand Marque 

Shirt Tee-shirt, chemise 

114 

Coat Manteau 

Raincoat Imperméable 

Pants Pantalon 

Skirt Jupe 

Dress Robe 

Shoes Chaussures 

Socks Chaussettes 

Underwear Sous-vêtements 

Going out 

Let’s do lunch/dinner Voulez-vous/Veux-tu déjeuner/dîner? 

Let’s have a drink Prenons un verre 

Do you know a good nightclub? Vous connaissez une bonne boîte de 

nuit? 

What type of music do they play?Quel genre de musique ils 

jouent? 

How much is it to get in? C’est combien l’entrée? 

Any special price for women? Ils font des prix pour les femmes? 

At what time does it open? A quelle heure ils ouvrent? 

At what time does it close? A quelle heure ils ferment? 

When is the best time to go there?Quelle est le meilleur moment pour y 

aller? 

Is it a popular club? Y’a du monde qui y va? 

Is there a lot of chicks? Y’a de la meuf? 

Can I get your number? Je peux avoir votre numéro de 

téléphone? 

Do you want to come up? Tu veux monter? 

Maybe another time Une autre fois, peut-être 

Let’s be friends Restons bons amis 

Phrases for a problem situation 

Help A l’aide, au secours 

Can you help me? Pouvez-vous m’aider? 

Call the police Appelez la police 

Leave me alone Laissez-moi tranquille 

Go away Allez-vous en 

I am lost Je suis perdu(e) 

I am late Je suis en retard 

I have left my bag in… J’ai laissé mon sac dans… 

We have been waiting for ages Nous attendons depuis très longtemps 

There is a mistake Il y a une erreur 

I’d like a refund J’aimerais être remboursé(e) 

115


Fire! Au feu ! 

Call the firemen Appelez les pompiers 

Phrases for a medical problem 

I am ill Je suis malade 

I do not fell well Je ne me sens pas bien 

I need a doctor J’ai besoin d’un docteur 

It hurts J’ai mal 

I have twisted… Je me suis tordu… 

I have broken… Je me suis cassé… 

I fell Je suis tombé(e) 

I vomited J’ai vomi 

I am allergic to PenicillinJe suis allergique à la pénicilline 

Medicine Medicaments 

Aspirin Aspirine 

Headache Un mal de tête 

Pharmacy/Chemists La pharmacie 

Hospital L’hôpital 

Emergency room Les urgences 

Laboratory Laboratoire 

Doctor Docteur 

Surgeon Chirurgien 

Dentist Dentiste 

Gynecologist Gynécologue 

Ophthalmologist Ophtalmologue 

Optician Opticien 

Physiotherapist Kinésithérapeute 

Dermatologist Dermatologue 

Psychologist Psychologue 

Psychiatrist Psychiatre 

Gym 

Abdominal-buttocks Abdo-fessiers 

Aerobics L’aérobic 

A machine Un appareil 

Training Entraînement 

Calisthenics Gymnastique 

A professor Un professeur 

A rowing machine Un rameur 

A cycle machine Un vélo fixe 

A weight Un poids 

116 

Haircut 

I would like… J’aimerais 

Haircut Une coupe de cheveux 

Hairstyle Une coiffure 

A fashionable hairstyle Une coiffure à la mode 

A natural hairstyle Une coiffure naturelle 

A bob Une coupe au carrée 

A layered cut Une coupe dégradée, un dégradé 

A trim Une coupe d’entretien, couper les pointes 

A center part Une raie au milieu 

A right part Une raie à droite 

A left part Une raie à gauche 

A crew cut Une coupe en brosse 

A razor cut Une coupe au rasoir 

Shampoo Shampooing 

Conditioner Après-shampooing, crème 

Treatment Soin 

Gel, hair spray Du gel, de la laque 

Blow dryer Sèche-cheveux 

A towel Une serviette 

Numbers 

One Un 

Two Deux 

Three Trois 

Four Quatre 

Five Cinq 

Six Six 

Seven Sept 

Eight Huit 

Nine Neuf 

Ten Dix 

Eleven Onze 

Twelve Douze 

Thirteen Treize 

Fourteen Quatorze 

Fifteen Quinze 

Sixteen Seize 

Seventeen Dix-sept 

Eighteen Dix-huit 

Nineteen Dix-neuf 

Twenty Vingt 

Twenty-one Vingt-un 

117


Twenty-two Vingt-deux 

Thirty Trente 

Forty Quarante 

Fifty Cinquante 

Sixty Soixante 

Seventy Soixante-dix 

Eighty Quatre-vingt 

Ninety Quatre-vingt-dix 

One hundred Cent 

Two hundreds Deux cents 

One thousand Mille 

Two thousands Deux milles 

One million Un million 

One billion Un milliard 

Days and Months 

Monday Lundi 

Tuesday Mardi 

Wednesday Mercredi 

Thursday Jeudi 

Friday Vendredi 

Saturday Samedi 

Sunday Dimanche 

January Janvier 

February Février 

March Mars 

April Avril 

May Mai 

June Juin 

July Juillet 

August Août 

September Septembre 

October Octobre 

November Novembre 

December Décembre 

Street Slang and Profanities 

A coffee Un kawa 

Money De la tune, du pognon, du blé 

Euros Des reus 

A Black man Un Keubla 

An Arab Un Beur or un Rebeu 

118 

A woman Une meuf 

A cigarette Une clope 

Pot De l’herbe, de la beu, du shit 

A car Une caisse 

I’m exhausted Je suis naze 

Crap Merde 

Leave me alone Laisse moi tranquille 

Get lost Caisse toi 

Bloody hell Putain 

A Kiss Un baiser (noun) 

Ass Cul 

Annoying Emmerdant 

To puke Gerber 

Forget it Laisse tomber 

A few idiomatic bits and pieces 

I had an amazing time Je me suis amuse comme jamais 

We went out clubbing On est allé en boîte 

Life’s really quiet C’est le calme plat, y’a pas un chat 

Let’s go and see a film Et si on se faisait un cinoche? 

She smokes like a chimneyElle fume comme un pompier 

I’m having an easy time Je suis peinard 

Let’s take some time out On se prend du bon temps 

I’m fed up J’en ai marre 

It sucks C’est nul 

It is bullshit C’est de la merde 

That’s a deal settled C’est une affaire conclue 

A complete lunatic C’est un agité du bocal 

You’re getting on my nerves Tu me fais chier 

He speaks the worst French Il parle français comme une 

vache espagnole 

He is bullshitting me Il se fout de ma gueule 

Who do you think you are? Pour qui tu te prends ? 

He is trashed (drunk) Il est saoul comme un polonais 

He is stupid Il est bête comme ses pieds, il est con comme un 

balais 

He is killing himself at work Il s’y donne corps et âme 

He is annoying Il nous casse les pieds 

A little bit Un petit chouia 

Better late than never Mieux vaut tard que jamais 

119


Outro 

Confessions of an AUP Graduate 

By Chris Mandel (’03) 

This piece, for what it’s worth, is dedicated with love 

to all those who have put me up for a month, a week, or a 

single night while I have been SDF (sans domicile fixe.) You are 

all welcome on my couch, when I have one, anytime. 

As an AUP alumnus, one receives correspondence from 

the school from time to time, kindly requesting “donations” 

etc. I suppose after giving us so much, it is only natural that 

AUP might expect something in return. However, as much as I 

would love to “give back” to the AUP community, I am not in 

any kind of financial condition to do so monetarily. 

Therefore, I have decided, much like the thoughtful 

citizen who, having no change to spare a beggar, offers him 

the remainder of his sandwich, to give back to AUP the only 

thing I have to spare: my words, by describing life after 

graduation. I hope the picture I paint is of some help to you in 

planning your future, and I shall try to conveniently forget 

that offended beggars usually spit in the faces of thoughtful 

citizens for offering them something as useless as food. 

Four years in the fine American liberal arts tradition 

is supposed to help you decide what you want to be in life; I 

found it more helpful in deciding what I don’t want to be. 

Sometime during my second year at AUP, I realized that I did 

not want to be thirty years old, sitting by the bar in the Amex, 

complaining about how the prices went up when France 

returned to the Franc, after deciding that “Euro” was a silly 

name. 

It took me another semester or so to figure out that I 

did not want to be forty years old, sitting by the bar in the 

Amex, complaining about how the prices went up yet again 

when France reverted to the Euro, after realizing that 

nobody noticed they had gone back to the Franc. 

At times such a future can seem inevitable to the 

recent AUP grad, so serious consideration of possible 

alternatives becomes a regular pastime. I suppose I would not 

mind being a writer; in fact I am currently working on a novel, 

along with every garbage collector (excuse me, waste 

management specialist), and most offended beggars who spit in 

the faces of concerned citizens, but writing is not something 120 

to depend on to put bread on the table. 

Thus, in the interest of financial liquidity, I am in the 

process of applying to law school. I see it as a choice between 

two scenarios, and those of you contemplating a future in the 

literary arts after graduation should too. 

SCENARIO ONE: A man walks into a bar and approaches 

an attractive woman: “What do you do?” she enquires. “I’m 

working on a novel,” he responds, and there the conversation 

ends. 

SCENARIO TWO: A man walks into a bar and approaches 

an attractive woman. “What do you do?” she enquires. “I’m 

working on a novel,” he responds, “but I pay my bills working 

at Epstein, Finkel, and Barre.” And there the conversation 

ends. 

Higher studies appear to have become almost a 

necessity these days. Against all my expectations, headhunters 

did not begin beating down my door immediately upon 

graduation, though I assume that was only due to some kind of 

postal mix-up, or a case of mistaken identity. I would wager 

that there is a Christopher Mendel somewhere, who left his 

supermarket checkout job after twenty years to head the 

OECD’s new advanced think-tank. 

Due to this tragic error, I would have been forced to 

land a job on my own if not for a convenient hookup with a 

foreign paper; a word of advice to those of you looking for 

employment after graduation: do not let pride keep you from 

accepting favors such as this, and simply prove your worth by 

doing a good job. Editing articles written in poor English by 

non-native speakers, with titles such as “Famer finds Kow 

Butchered,” may not be my dream job, but it helps pay the 

bills, and the nice people at Franprix never ask where I get 

the money they take from me at the checkout counters. 

For those of you without the possibility of a hookup, 

know that until the headhunting agencies sort their problems 

out, finding decent work may be a long and difficult process 

for you, but keep at it. And please don’t ask me where I get my 

money when you take it from me at the Franprix checkout. Oh, 

and wish me luck with the law school applications, as I do not 

want to be eighty years old, sitting by the bar in the Amex, 

wanting to complain about something but unable to remember 

what. 

Then again, I always have my music, much like a number 

of you who I am sure have dreams of fame after “wasting” four 

121


years in college just to please your parents. I have not made 

any money from playing the guitar yet, but I am certain it is 

only because I have yet to find the right metro station, and I 

have little time to look between writing, and looking for a 

house. Did I mention I have been homeless for four months? 

Many of you, much like me, m want to stay in France 

after finishing your studies. If you do, and you have a place to 

live already, do not think of leaving it to move onto greener 

pastures unless you already have a contract for the greener 

pastures, signed and notarized. Paris is a very difficult place 

to find decent lodgings without AUP’s help or some other 

hookup, even if you can pay for them, unless you can pay a 

year’s rent in advance or meet a list of criteria so stringent 

that only about five people in the world can measure up: Bill 

Gates, his wife, and their three children. Various landlords' 

associations are currently considering whether or not to 

recommend adding the Messiah, when and if he should be born 

unto us, to the list. 

I did actually come close to finding a place recently. 

After the landlord had examined my grades, my parents’ 

salaries, and my dental hygiene and vaccination records, all 

seemed to be going fine; the deal fell through, however, after 

my blood test showed I was O-negative, and therefore would 

be of no use to the landlord or his family in the event of a 

car crash and resulting blood transfusion. The search 

continues. 

Thank God, the SGA, and the tireless maintenance staff at AUP, 

for the new student lounge, where a tired alumnus can rest 

his homeless head. I recommend the red sofa if it is free, but 

the white one is not too bad either. Anyone interested in 

starting a petition to keep the lounge open all night, please 

do not hesitate to contact me. 

Your experiences after graduation may not match mine 

entirely, but I hope I have painted a fairly accurate, and 

somewhat helpful or enlightening picture of what an AUP 

grad looks like: a homeless aspiring guitarist, who intends to 

be a lawyer, who really wants to be a writer, and most 

definitely does not want to be one hundred years old, sitting 

by the bar in the Amex, dead. 

122

Paris Pratique - The American University of Paris

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?