| If you like to mix travel with confusion and sight | | | | good one. First, you actually see the city while |
| seeing with bafflement then Paris is the place to | | | | you ride. This is obviously a big plus if you are |
| be. It is like a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces, | | | | visiting for the first time. There are more buses in |
| frustrating. The city has more tourist attractions | | | | Paris than in most major cities of the world. One |
| than almost any city in the world but if you plan | | | | problem I mentioned above is the bus stops. You |
| to drive good luck getting to them. | | | | have to be on your toes to figure out where the |
| Thank goodness for the METRO. The Paris metro | | | | buses let passengers on and off. If you want to |
| system is the most efficient mode of | | | | transfer to another bus, you have to have a |
| transportation on the planet, bar none. The metro | | | | different ticket. Bus transfer tickets have a T+ |
| system has 380 stations. The stations that stop | | | | on them and cost a little bit mote that a regular |
| without continuing are called Terminus stations. | | | | ticket. |
| Sixteen rail lines serve them. The rail lines are | | | | It is possible to travel to most of the tourist |
| colour coded and easy to follow. In fact, the | | | | attractions by boat. You can purchase a pass that |
| entire system is very well thought-out. | | | | is good all day and enjoy eight stops along the |
| RER lines and Commuter Rails are like the metro | | | | Seine River. The cost is 12 euros. ($16.50 |
| only with fewer lines (5) dedicated to them. | | | | American dollars) Wouldn't you rather travel by |
| These trains travel to the outskirts of the city | | | | boat, anyway? The public transport Paris has |
| and into the suburbs. On the rails map, they are | | | | offers each individual a variety of options when |
| lettered A through E. RER also services the | | | | travelling. |
| airports. If you want to cross the city quickly or | | | | Finally, the French have come up with a way to |
| get in and out of the city, consider the RER as | | | | get around the city and stay healthy doing it. |
| the express metro system. The commuter rails | | | | There are bicycle stations called Velib Stations. |
| travel above ground and actually go into the | | | | They are everywhere and the process is a simple |
| suburbs. Many travellers making the daily work | | | | one. You go to a velib station and take a bike out |
| commute use these during the week. | | | | of its rack. Then, simply ride the bike to your |
| Ticket pricing would be too complicated to go | | | | hearts content. When you are done, no matter |
| onto here but I can say that the best way to | | | | where you are, drop the bike at the closest Velib |
| purchase travel tickets would be carnet. | | | | station and you are on your way. |
| (Pronounced CAR-NAY) Carnet is buying a pack | | | | Overall, it is very easy to get around in Paris. With |
| of ten tickets. In France, you ride by length of | | | | Public Transport Paris is wide open. Besides public |
| time rather by than distance so it is good to have | | | | transportation, you can rent a car but I do not |
| extra tickets should you decide to make an | | | | recommend it, unless you are very familiar with |
| extended stop. | | | | Paris and do not mind tourist constantly getting in |
| The same tickets you use for the metro are | | | | your way. Besides, I think I would enjoy Paris on |
| used for the bus. The bus system in Paris is a | | | | a bike. It would be so very, French. |
