Paris in August

There is not a Parisian in sight, so it must be August. You may run into a neighbor though from back home instead. August is the arrival of the heaviest foreign tourist month in Paris. It is also the vacation month for Parisians and everyone heads out of town to the Province, Italy, Spain or Greece. A third of the shops are closed but even so it there is an abundance of opportunities waiting for you.

With the masses of tourists ready to assault the streets; plan and obtain your museum passes, boat tickets for the Seine, metro cards and event tickets before leaving home, which will alleviate waiting on long lines. A web based site, http://en.parisinfo.com, can guide you to the correct areas to purchase them. Be well inform as to the upcoming exhibits, events and concerts available during your stay and plan accordingly to your interests. Once in Paris, create a schedule and head out early so you won't be disappointed.

Similar to the month of July, the weather is generally warm to cool but sometimes rainy. Bring along a sweater and other garments you can layer if the temperature does drop suddenly.

Paris really is as gorgeous Paris really is as gorgeous and magical as the scenes of the cinema, so let go of any jaded images and create a delectable meal with some cheese, fresh baguettes, and of course one of their many wines and head to one the parks all adorned with flowers and large lawns, such as Luxembourg or the relatively new unknown Parc Andre Citroen, along the Seine, on the Left Bank. There over 400 gardens in Paris and one will surely feel right for you. But if you insist on sitting down for a meal, make sure to choose a restaurant off the beaten path.

Over 150 museums and galleries to decide from are in Paris. During the month of August, you must avoid those of which the queues are hours long, like the Louvre, Orsay or Rodin. View the landmarks by foot and opt to visit these popular museums on another visit off season.

If it is raining outdoors, there are a number of options not to dampen you visit. Go underground instead to visit the Paris sewers. There are a lot of movie theaters which present the films in their original language. Purchase the Officiel des Spectacles to choose your film. Another option without fighting the swarms is the Catacombes.

Did you know that there is another Statue of Liberty in Paris? You can discover her or visit other neighborhoods that make the city unique and diversified such as the Jewish Quarter and Chinatown.

The Quays are open along the Seine are open to all and the city supplies free deck chairs and umbrellas. You can lay back and watch a game of "Petanque" (similar to bocce), roller bladders whiz by, free street concerts along the waterfront and the soundless boats drifting by.

Even though the Parisians are gone, there's no reason you can not enjoy their city as one.