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Paris, When It Sizzles

Posted by (Amsterdam) on

I just returned from a 4 day trip to Paris. I haven't been back in a year due to my acquiring 2 puppies last September.
Gare du Nord is under construction, as usual. They had moved the Navigo machines. I found them, but they all had long lines. So I decided that I would top off my card at one of the smaller stations. No luck. It refused my American CC because I did not have a PIN number. Long lines at the counter. Now I know why.

I booked a very nice hotel, Hotel de Flore, on the North side of Montmartre. It was a lovely hotel with AC, but, as I discovered, being on the North side has it's drawbacks. Uphill sidewalks or lots of stairs. And I mean even in the Metro after you get off the elevator.
Google Map showed me a short cut. Which it was, except it was 120 steps straight up. I did it once.

It was HOT. Upper 80s. And crowded. Everyone was wearing shorts and tennis shoes or sundresses and sandals. I had to plan my days carefully. I would go out early to see whatever I had planned, grab lunch and head back to the hotel for a shower and a nap.
My plan had been just to wander some of the places familier to me, but I had to curtain my activities.
The heat absolutely sapped my strength. I won't be returning before November.

Posted by
1004 posts

They had moved the Navigo machines. I found them, but they all had long lines. So I decided that I would top off my card at one of the smaller stations. No luck. It refused my American CC because I did not have a PIN number. Long lines at the counter. Now I know why.

If I am following your issue with Pass Navigo correctly, I encountered the same glitch at a Pass Navigo machine after the clerk at the manned window told me to go to get it done - got to the purchase screen, it said key in a PIN - I have no PIN - then "transaction cancelled, CC not charged"...picked up my navigo card from the scoop where you place it for the trips to load, went to a window at another Metro station where the attendant heard my tale of woe and loaded my card and got it done...only later I realized that even though the first machine told me "no pin, no transaction" the purchase actually occurred (I noticed the charge on my CC) and the navigo was loaded with the 10 rides from the so-called "failed transaction", plus the 10 rides I got at the manned window (so there were 2 consecutive charges on my CC). For the rest of my 3 week trip, I used the machines and ignored the "nothing charged, transaction cancelled" screens.

As for the heat, I agree. We were in Paris in May - crowded but pleasant temps - and that is the latest in the spring I will ever go again...we also love going in the winter, say from November to February...but the point being, no more summer travel to continental Europe for us, not worth the risk of heat not to mention the crowds...

Posted by
596 posts

I just noticed it’s 90 in Paris now and also it’s the expected high for the next several days! Yikes.

Posted by
10598 posts

Sorry to hear the trip wasn’t the best, but fortunately it’s a short trip for you to go back at a more pleasant time of year. Good to know about the Montmartre location. I can’t believe the pups are a year old already!

Posted by
14723 posts

HB to the puppies!! I'll bet they were glad to see you back home!

And yuck to heat in Paris. I love Paris...which you know....but I can't tolerate the heat there. I think your plan of going out early, getting things seen, having lunch and then back in the AC for a few hours is good. Did you take gelato with you back to the hotel?

Coming from flat Netherlands to 120 stairs ... wow....I'm sure your glutes were talking to you!

And, laughing....November sounds quite good!

Thanks for doing a TR!

Posted by
10188 posts

I just noticed it’s 90 in Paris now and also it’s the expected high for the next several days!

Not to quibble, but projected high for Wednesday through Friday is actually 95.

I am currently in Bergen, where it is 58 and sunny with a delightful breeze. I certainly don't want to go back (nor am I looking forward to fighting my way home from CDG on the RER in 95-degree heat tomorrow afternoon). 🥵🥵

Posted by
204 posts

I’m booked on the Berlin, Prague, Vienna tour in early September next year. I will be spending a few days in Paris ahead of time. I’ve been monitoring the weather in all those locations, and am thinking of changing my tour and Paris dates to the end of September. I hate the heat,

Posted by
401 posts

It’s a bit toasty in Amsterdam right now too. Headed to Paris tomorrow. Oh well, I think I’d take heat over rain. Had hoped to escape those 90’s since I have that often in the summer at home in the humid South.

Posted by
14976 posts

Yes, quite right. On 5 Sept I was in Paris too, staying in the Gare du Nord area. I left on 9 Sept taking the TGV to stay one night in Metz near the station but doing a day trip in nearby Thionville, ca. 20 mins away.

True, Paris was hot, tedious in a way, everyday it was in the upper 80s or lower 90s. I had never been in Paris during Sept, I'm glad It was crowded, with lots of tourists pouring in at Nord and Est. but still a very delightful experience, basically being glad to be there period and not have missed these revealing three weeks , most of which was spent in Paris and several day trips (Orleans, Bar-le-Duc, Maubeuge, St Quentin, Troyes, , etc). Got around by using a combination of buses and Metro lines, ie , did not exclusively depend on the Metro.

I didn't use the Navigo machines at all. When I bought point to point train tickets, I used the SNCF machines, my credit cards (now equipped with PIN unlike the last time) always went through, regardless if I used the "tap" option or inserted the card.

Posted by
401 posts

We had temps in the 90’s. It was definitely 2 showers a day for us. No problems adding to the Navigo card using the app.

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