Paris Métro

Awww Paris Metro. Besides my very tired feet, my main source of transportation in Paris. If you have never taken a subway, you are either (1) fresh out of jail after serving a 30 year bid; or (2) a stranger traveling via time machine. For those of us who understand the workings of a underground train, its very easy to navigate.
PRO
— Cheap. There is no cheaper way to travel in Paris. Unless you are a direct descendant of Aladdin, and inherited his magic carpet. I bought a 10 ticket sorta deal, which worked out to my benefit. Here is the catch, make sure you keep the ticket you used SEPARATE from the rest of your tickets. Certain stations require you to use your ticket more than once, you wouldn’t want to waste your fare.
— Efficient. Similar to NYC subway, only less confusing (and everything is in French and it is still easier to navigate).
— We took the train from the airport to our hotel (Republique). If you are trying to save money, do it. Otherwise fork over the cash for a cab. There were a lot of stairs and walking involved. It wasn’t hard, but with luggage it wasn’t easy either.
CONS
— OMG some of the stations are vast. The Les Halles station was ridiculous. Because a few trains «meet» there, trying to get to a connecting train is exhausting. I felt like we walked 7 country miles.
— I got squished in the gates, lol damn metro.
— The trains don’t run all night. So at 6 am, you will be on the train with the drunks who couldn’t get home the night before.
— Uh, there are no sensors on the doors. They will close on you.

I have a love hate relationship with the Paris Metro, but it’s mostly love. Observations and conclusions about the Metro in Paris:
+ It’s incredible and efficient (which I like), enter in one cool place and 15 minutes later you are in a different cool place.
+ Occasionally, there are odors — ok, not occasionally — always. And most of them… nay, all of them are bad.
+ It’s not unusual to see a guy urinating in the narrow gutter that runs along many of the walls in the metro
+ The M1 (yellow) is the most important line. It runs from somewhere beyond Bastille all the way to La Défense (major business district) — and it connects the Louvre, Tuileries and all of the Champs-​Élysées. If you visit Paris, try to stay somewhere that makes getting to the M1 relatively painless.
+ It’s not too inexpensive — a single journey is 1.7 Euro (about $ 2.50 US). But, it’s not cheap either. Still, it’s the most reasonable transportation anywhere in the city and combined with the RER and SCNF train lines you can go anywhere.
+ You will see people jump the gates — its ok to give them a dirty look — you’re paying for them anyway. But try not to start a fight with strangers.
+ Multi-​passes are great, but they go month by month. If you buy a monthly pass on the 4^th week of the month, you will pay full price for a month and then have to buy another one in a week — true.
+ Most of the automatic dispensers do not take a credit card and if they do, it must be one with an ID chip in it (and they don’t do that in the US, unlike the rest of the civilized world). Be prepared with coins — like 12 Euro worth will get you about 10 passes (cheaper in bulk).
+ If you use individual tickets, put it through the reader, fold it in half (can’t be used again anyway) and put it in your pocket). When you are interviewed by the gendarme, you will have your ticket with you and can verify paying for your trip. If you don’t have it with you, it will cost you about 35 Euro on the spot.
+ Did I say it was somewhat dirty down there — it is. If someone in your car and stinks, just move one car up or down at the next stop
+ Let old people sit when you can — it’s just good manners
+ The vending machines (water, soda, etc.) rarely work and usually take your money instead
+ People watching is incredible in the Metro
+ Security is tight and you’re always under surveillance
+ If you’re traveling with luggage and you have several line changes, take your time — you’re in for a lot of climbing
+ Les Halles is a little dicey — and very big and quite confusing. But go there anyway if it’s the best way to get to CDG
+ Buskers will approach you on the cars. Sometimes singing, sometimes playing an instrument and sometimes just straight beggars. Avoid them — no eye contact. The accordion players drive me nuts
+ Sometimes the instrumentalists in the tunnels are quite good — tip them
+ There’s supposed to be no smoking in the metro
+ Be careful about sitting in the seats in the terminal (the cars themselves are usually pretty clean). Look first in any event
+ Now for the most horrible news… Paris is installing safety barriers in all of the terminals — they are Plexiglas and they keep one safe from falling into the pit. However they look like shit and I don’t like them. They completely destroy the aesthetic of the metro. It is just another place for graffiti. It’s really quite tragic and another sign that we’re all losing our personal liberty to fall in front of a train. Fail. Quick — get to Paris to see the real metro before its all clogged up with Plexi. The horror…

romance and adventure. i love the banana song you hear often by the street musicians.