The Ramblas of Paris

This is a picture of Boulevard de Ménilmontant in the 11th and 20th arrondissement of Paris. Some people call this street (with just a hint of hyperbole) the Ramblas of Paris. It's one of the few streets in Paris which has 3 wide pavements, (one on each side of the road and one in the middle) is lined with trees and has cafes spilling out onto the street for the whole length of the road (in the summer at least). Take the Metro to Pere Lachaise and walk to metro Menilmontant and you'll see what I mean.

It's true it lacks some of the qualities of the original Ramblas in Barcelona, it's not as elegant or fashionable, it doesn't have all round good weather and it's nowhere near the ocean. Nevertheless, it's definitely an area of Paris worth exploring it has a lot of good cafes and restaurants and while you're in the neighbourhood you can also take a stroll around Pere Lachaise cemetry.

An Invitation to Pere Lachaise

Harpist and Sky
Originally uploaded by malias.

One of my English students is a German tour guide of Paris who has lived here for 25 years. Ingelen gives tours in French and German and now wants to start offering English tours too.

In order to bring her English up to scratch she neds to practise and with this in mind she has offered to give some Paris tours in English for friends and fellow students.

Her first English tour will be of Pere Lachaise on Saturday afternoon 3rd May 2008. If you are in Paris on that date and you would like to participate in the tour then contact me.

The tour will last about 2 hours is absolutely free and I'm sure it will be fascinating.