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We reclaim our tickets after we go through the turnstile and we're on our way . We have to keep our eyes open for the points where we transfer. Then we follow the orange correspondence signs to the last stop of our next line, in this case, Cutaya. To exit follow Sortie signs. Before leaving the station, we check the Plan Du Quartier to decide which exit would put us on just to the right street corner outside. This may seem complicated, but most people catch on pretty fast. And don't worry, getting lost is cheap. In fact, you could stay underground all day long on one ticket about the cost of a cup of coffee. But let's not.
These streets are home base in Paris. Big cities don't need to feel like big cities, actually they are made up of neighborhoods. I'd like to choose a particularly cozy one and settle in, become a temporary resident. Let's see how that works here on Luclair.
How such our livable neighborhood lodged itself in the middle of the government district and the expensive Eiffel Tower area? I'll never know. Luclair is a village-like Pedestrian street, feels safe and tidy. A welcome break from the hectic traffic and bustle , just a few blocks away. Everything we need to feel at home is right here. That's our hotel, one star. According to the official French rating system, more stars mean more amenities, and a higher price. I don't need the room service and uniformed bellboys, so two stars is the top of the line for me. And by the way, conventions can clog this city, so especially in June and September, Paris is one place that deserves reservations.
The post office is just down the street. Here's a self-service laundry. We can walk to the tourist office at the Eiffel Tower or check out an afternoon of lawn bowling if we head in the other direction towards NB . Restaurants abound, parisians spend lots of time in them, long meals and leisurely stops in sidewalk cafes. And we've also got beaucoup temptations in the famous French patisseries.
Our Luclair hotel doesn't include breakfast in the cost of the room, so we're starting a day at this cafe. Breakfast here is cheaper than at the hotel. We pick up something fresh at the bakery and we are brown-bagging it. It's the way the locals do, and that's the way we can do it. After breakfast we'll check out a couple of often-missed sites, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.
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