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Paris Bus Lady

Monthly Archives: October 2013

UFRs vs UFOs

31 Thursday Oct 2013

Posted by the Paris Bus Lady in Franglish

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Paris bus lines, Wheelchair accessible

I’ve been using the acronym UFR in several posts now and thought I should add a Franglish definition.  The complete phrase that becomes UFR in French is <<Utilisateur de Fauteuil Roulant>>.  It’s a tongue twister even for my moderately competent French. My first exposure to the term was when I was paying attention to wheelchair accessibility of the Paris bus system.  The word by word translation is “utilizers of chairs rolling”.  I adore the subtleties of Franglish <<mot par mot>>.  The American equivalent term is “wheelchair users” or some variation.  In French you don’t “use” but rather “utilize”, and therefore your are a utilizer not a user.  I much prefer the French term over the English.

La Chaise

La Chaise

Le Fauteuil

Le Fauteuil

However it was the very next word and its meaning that really got to me and ultimately to this blog post.  My French equivalent for “chair” is <<la chaise>> and not <<le fauteuil>> (which is much more difficult to pronounce).  <<Fauteuil>> in my personal translaguation isn’t “a chair” but rather “a comfy chair with cushions and perhaps a foot rest”.

What is a UFO?  It is a <<utilisateur de fauteuil ordinaire>>, therefore not rolling.  UFOs are folks who are ensconced in their comfy chair with cushions and perhaps a foot stool, unmoving.  In other words “couch potatoes” while the UFRs are rolling along!  Whether you are a UFR or UFO, I can assist you when you want to roll around Paris on the bus.  Allons-y!

Busing to Buci

29 Tuesday Oct 2013

Posted by the Paris Bus Lady in Paris!

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6th arrondissement, Boulevard Saint-Germain, Les Deux Magots, Paris bus lines, Paris visitors, Rue de Buci, Wheelchair accessible

When you are comfortable busing around Paris you can easily get to and hang out in locations you can’t afford to stay in “:-}”, such as the totally delightful Rue de Buci neighborhood in the 6th arrondissement.  Paris bus line 63 once again will get you right there when you’re  traveling eastward.  The Rue de Buci stop is aptly named Seine-Buci.  You could also st/roll over from Brasserie Lipp (or Café de Flore or Deux Magots,–the three establishments being conveniently located in virtually the same place!).

Delightful Ped/UFR 6th neighborhood

Delightful Ped/UFR 6th neighborhood

If you are st/rolling up from Brasserie Lipp rather than busing, I recommend turning left at Eglise St. Germain and taking the Rue de l’Abbaye to Rue de Buci.  The neighborhood is roller friendly and full of a multitude of colorful market products all around you.  This neighborhood makes you want to set up housekeeping.  Allons-y!

Hemingway’s Ways

28 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by the Paris Bus Lady in Paris!

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Boulevard Saint-Germain, Brasserie Lipp, Ernest Hemingway, Paris attractions, Paris bus lines, Paris visitors

Ernest Hemingway has a multitude of connections to the 6th arrondissement. He spent time at the home of Gertrude Stein and Alice B Toklas at 27 Rue de Fleurus (along with so many artists and writers your head will spin). He ate and drank (certainly) at Brasserie Lipp and Closerie des Lilas. He was famously connected to Sylvia Beach and her bookstore Shakespeare & Co.

I had visited Deux Magots and Café de Flore on earlier visits to Paris. All three establishments are right next to each other or across the street which is the Boulevard Saint-Germain. I finally made it to Brasserie Lipp in 2012 for a serious “lunch”.

Look to your right when you're on Bus line 63.

Look to your right when you’re on Bus line 63.

I was on bus line 63 and it was drizzling and close to lunch time!  The outer/on the street seating is totally UFR accessible.  I saw two inside dining areas, the front room and the *not* front room.  I installed myself (was installed by the <<maître d’>>) in the back room and took a French lesson while also taking lunch.

Lunch and a French lesson at Brasserie Lipp

Lunch and a French lesson at Brasserie Lipp

I believe Hemingway enjoyed Brasserie Lipp’s sausages, sauerkraut and beer.  I had something a little less masculine…

Shakespeare & Co. visit(s)

28 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by the Paris Bus Lady in Paris!

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Paris attractions, Paris bus lines, Paris visitors, rue de la Bûcherie, Shakespeare & Co.

I put this title in the plural because there are two/(or three) locations associated with this English language and profoundly important bookstore.  The delightfully evocative store is now located at 37 rue de la Bûcherie.

37 due de la Bûcherie

37 due de la Bûcherie

In 2012 I lived just to the right and up a block.  An earlier Shakespeare & Co. location was at 12 rue de l’Odéon.  The very first location was at 8 rue Dupuytren just around the corner from rue de l’Odéon.  I’ve enjoyed walking around this earlier Shakespeare and Co. neighborhood in the 6th arrondissement.  It is less hectic and more charming than the MM&M (Museums, Monuments & Mobs) areas.   Bus line 63 travels down the Boulevard Saint Germain and is great way to orient yourself for subsequent visits to Deux Magots, Café de Flore, and Brasserie Lipp.  All of these places have deep connections to 20th century literary America and France and they still provide food and drinks for world weary souls (or simply tired tourists “:-)”.

I believe all English language speakers/readers will enjoy a visit to the current Shakespeare & Co. location.  The location is wheelchair accessible, although the bookstore itself wasn’t.  The area around the bookstore is very tourist friendly and you’ll have an unobstructed view of my local church.

Bus Maps and Bus Stops

26 Saturday Oct 2013

Posted by the Paris Bus Lady in Busing Around

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Paris bus lines, Wheelchair accessible

I’ve been downloading and reading the Paris bus maps.  I “slice” some of them to include my blogs.  While reviewing one of my favorite routes I noticed a yellow triangle next to the street name and saw that the symbol meant that particular stop is not accessible  <<aux UFR>>; UFR is the French acronym for <<Utilisateurs de Fauteuil Roulant>> “wheelchair users”.  This non-UFR stop is not typical, but you can see the indication on Bus Line 21 traveling toward Porte de Gentilly at the Palais Royal – Comédie Française stop.  It’s a limitation of the street and curb.

Rare non-accessible bus stop

Rare non-accessible bus stop

All buses on all lines are accessible/accessible.

I’ve encountered lots of jack hammering street work over the years.  Sometimes this work even improves things.  The EU passed legislation around 2005 requiring improvements in accessibility.  I understand that hotels and other public buildings must include accessibility considerations when making major renovations.  Allons-y!

Exploring Le Sixième (6th) Neighborhood

24 Thursday Oct 2013

Posted by the Paris Bus Lady in Paris!

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27 Rue de Fleurus, 6th arrondissement of Paris, Alice B Toklas, Gertrude Stein, Paris bus lines, Wheelchair accessible

I visited Paris several times before spending any time exploring or staying in the 6th, on the “Left Bank” <<Rive Gauche>>.  During a long stay in ’99 I found myself delightfully installed in the 6th on Rue d’Assas.  I’ve discovered that many Paris visitors from the US adore the 6th and 7th neighborhoods.  I too was especially content staying in those neighborhoods.  Here are some of my recollections/reasons why I enjoyed this particular neighborhood so much.

  • Tourist friendly without being overrun by tourists (yet)
  • Less expensive lodging and dining
  • More open and accessible spaces
  • American literary connection (Stein, Hemingway, Fitzgerald)

My lodging was truly just around the corner from Gertrude Stein’s home at 27 Rue de Fleurus where she lived with her brother Leo and then with Alice B Toklas.

Gertrude Stein's home on Rue de Fleurus

Gertrude Stein’s home on Rue de Fleurus

Rue de Fleurus is a smallish one-way street.  The bus website (ratp.fr) suggested using bus line 58 to get to this destination.  That will work pretty well if you’re starting from below Montparnasse toward La Seine.  I sliced the 58 map and include it here.  Which bus you take and in what direction depends on where you start.  I can work out these pesky details for you. << Je suis à votre service.>>  Contact me!

Line 58 route through the 6th arrondissement

Line 58 route through the 6th arrondissement

p.s. Perhaps someday they’ll put a plaque at 81 Rue de l’Université to mark the Paris apartment of Julia and Paul Child.

(St)rolling around St. Sulpice

23 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by the Paris Bus Lady in Paris!

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6th arrondissement of Paris, Paris bus lines, Saint Sulpice, Wheelchair accessible

Some neighborhoods in Paris are more accommodating to “rollers” than others.  (By rollers I mean to include children in <<poussettes>> as well as folks using manual/motorized chairs, strollers, walkers and canes or sticks.  The neighborhood around St. Sulpice in the 6th arrondissement was a surprise to me in this regard.  Here’s a nearby bus stop for five lines (once again **all** are accessible).

St. Sulpice bus stop - five lines, all accessible.

St. Sulpice bus stop – five lines, all accessible.

A nearby hotel added to the possibilities by having an truly elegant and beautifully accessible room – ground floor, sufficient space, unobstructed WC, etc.  Things are looking up.  Allons-y!

Deciphering a Bus Map (2)

23 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by the Paris Bus Lady in Busing Around

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Paris bus lines, Wheelchair accessible

In Deciphering (1) I posted a recent version of Line 21 which runs from Port de Gentilly to Gare Saint-Lazare.  I also sliced the map to highlight a couple of individual stops along the route.  The stops shown in that slice are available in **both** directions.

Here’s a slice of that same bus line for stops that **do not** necessarily run in both directions. The <<Berthollet-Vauquelin>> stop on Rue de Berthollet only takes passengers going in the Stade Charléty direction.  If you want to go in the opposite direction, your bus stop is on Rue Cl Bernard.

Line 21, stops in different directions.

Line 21, stops in different directions.

The other two stops indicate they take passengers in both directions, but you need to be at the bus stop going in the correct direction (right or left side of the street).   There are several additional useful visual “clues” to assist you along with me personally!

Deciphering a Bus Map (1)

23 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by the Paris Bus Lady in Busing Around

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Paris bus lines, Wheelchair accessible

I’m looking at my favorite bus line maps thanks to the http://www.ratp.fr website. Most bus stops accommodate several bus lines.  Just take a look at the <<Les Écoles>> stop listing 5 lines.  When you duck under the stop enclosure, you’ll see maps for each of the lines.   Les Écoles stop includes line 21 which I’m using here for show-n-tell.

Bus line 21, Gare Saint-Lazare to Stade Charléty, Porte de Gentilly

Bus line 21, Gare Saint-Lazare to Stade Charléty, Porte de Gentilly

All bus lines indicate their two terminal points (similar to the Metro lines).  Each stop along the route is indicated by a straight line and the street/stop name listed above it as shown below.

A few stops along bus line 21.

A few stops along bus line 21.

So far so good?  Bon.  Allons-y!

“Sticking” to the Louvre

22 Tuesday Oct 2013

Posted by the Paris Bus Lady in Franglish

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Louvre, Paris attractions, Paris visitors

In the US, we are able to “join” or “subscribe” to an organization/museum/etc.  In 2012 I was researching aspects associated with accessibility for Paris visitors.  Visiting the Louvre is on the top lists of Paris attractions, so I intended to make several visits during my stay.  I calculated that purchasing an annual membership would be cost effective, so off I went in search of “how to join” the museum.  One bureau/office looked promising and I rehearsed my French sentences before pulling up my socks and entering.  I tried to qualify for either a student or professional membership and failed at both.  Crestfallen, I exited the room but then thankfully noticed something across the way about <<Adhésion Particulier – Société des Amis du Louvre>>.  I was welcomed with (almost) open arms and proudly became an Adhérent(e?).  The membership card makes a lovely souvenir too “:-)”.

The Card has its Privileges.

The Card has its Privileges!

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