Paris is one of the world's wonders. Home of some of the most well known monuments (Arc du Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, etc) and many amazing restaurants, bars and clubs, Paris needs to be sampled to be believed.
Paris has an impressive number of gay venues, with a large number of them being in the historic heart of the town: Le Marais (the swamp) in the 4th arrondisement. There you will see gays hand-in-hand strolling the streets and no-one will give a second glance. This is the old Jewish quarter and is still home to a thriving Jewish community that is fascinating and often amusing. Nearly all Le Marais' restaurants, hotels, shops and cafes count gay men and lesbians amoung their clientele and many are predominantly gay. While gay life is particularly visible and concentrated in Le Marais, you'll find it all over the city, which is as welcoming and friendly as any other world capital.
Also remember that from 1 Jan 2008 you cannot smoke in bars and restaurants in Paris (in fact in the whole of France). If you do, you will be fined Euro 450. So, just don't!
Culture
Parisians are almost as passionate about their culture as they are about their restaurants. The French government takes art and culture very seriously, pumping money into the arts, supporting French cinema against Hollywood imports, and embarking on grandiose grands travaux, such as the new Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Quai François-Mauriac (tel: (01) 5379 5959 or (01) 5379 5379). The Opéra Bastille opened in 1989, on the bicentennial of Bastille Day, although the merit of its architecture and the quality of its productions have since been questioned.
Major venues include the Palais des Congrès, 2 place de la Porte-Maillot, 17th (tel: (01) 4068 0005), for opera, ballet and pop-star performances, and the enormous Palais des Sports, Porte de Versailles, 15th (tel: (01) 4828 4010).
Tickets for concerts of all kinds can be purchased at FNAC Forum des Halles, 1 rue Pierre Lescot, 1st (tel: (01) 4041 4000), or FNAC Musique, 2 rue Charenton, 12th (tel: (01) 4342 0404). There is also the Carrousel du Louvre, 99 rue de Rivoli, 1st (tel: (01) 4316 4747), located directly beneath the Louvre, or Virgin Megastore, 52 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 8th (tel: (01) 4953 5000). However long the queue, ticket touts at the Opéra and concert venues are to be avoided due to high prices and the prevalence of worthless fake tickets.
Listings are to be found in Pariscope and L’Officiel des Spectacles. Classical concerts are listed in the monthly Le Monde de la Musique.
Equality
Life for Parisian gays is charmed - they live in a beautiful city and the french population are tolerant of private life matters. Gays can walk freely in the city and be affectionate in public, subject to common sense and decency limits. This tolerance is further stretched in cruising bars and saunas where pretty much anything goes.
In the last five years, Paris has seen something of a revolution. The city has become much more gay-friendly and in fact was the world's first capital city to elect an openly gay mayor in March 2001. Gay Pride in 2006 saw more than 800,000 people in attendance
Travel Information
Not only do there seem to be more ways of getting to Paris than ever before, but the transport options keep getting cheaper.
There are flights to Paris from all over the world: you can fly into Orly Airport or Charles de Gaulle Airport. Competition between airlines means that for those flexible as to when they travel, getting to Paris need not break the bank. Many of the low cost airlines use Paris as a base in France and this is good news for those on a budget.
Travellers from the UK can use Eurostar too which can represent good value if booked more than 14 days in advance, and including a Saturday or Sunday night. Central London to central Paris is around 2.5 hours.
Getting around Paris during the day is also no problem. The bus and metro system is efficient and simple to use, and many sights are within easy walking distance of one another. At night, it can be trickier. Finding a taxi in the early hours of a Friday or Saturday morning is not easy, so visitors should always carry a torch with them in case they need to walk home.
Boat trips along the Seine are justifiably the most popular tours, but there are also guided alternatives by bike, on foot, by bus or in a hot-air balloon.
Check infos about the 200th years anniversary of the PARIS YATCH CLUB & GAY PRIDE as well as infos about Friendlyfrenchy's B & B & B (boys bed & breakfast)
Latest is the miles DAVIS festival in cité de la musique in the la VILLETTE PAK also home of one of the most amazing cultural center, museum, archives & data bank.
You can also visit an old nuclear submarine, (am not sure if they have removed the nuclear fuel) go to 3D shows & spectacular 360 degree movie in the shape of a flying saucer.
friendlyfrenchy@yahoo.fr your host in paris, friendlyfrenchy (yes there are some left I assure you) for free infos, pics on this site but also on request.
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