Something Special in Paris So you've seen Notre Dame, and the Eiffel tower, shopped in Printemps, and eaten in some superb restaurants. You have one more day in the city of lights and you want it to be memorable. Why not begin at the Catacombs of Paris? You will not soon forget the experience of walking underground, working your way along corridors stacked with bones which were relocated from overflowing cemeteries in 1785. The same tunnels were also utilized headquarters by the Resistance WWII. This bizarre, yet spellbinding attraction lies in a renovated section, 20m (65ft) underground, part of the city's vast network of subterranean tunnels, and has been open to the public since 1867.
Then off to lunch; time to eat somewhere alive with locals. Le Coude Fou on rue du Bourg-Tibourg is just the place. This lovely muraled bistro specializes in boutique wines and classic French fare. Wine is the king here - just ask the owner if you feel spoilt for choice. This is understandable given that there are more than 100 on offer. This fabulous little spot has enjoyed more than 20 years of success, try the duck tartar with a wine recommended by the super-friendly staff and you will know why. Now it's time to shop somewhere interesting; underneath Promenade Plantée, in the arches of its 19th-century viaduct, 50 traditional craftsmen and women carry out all sorts of renovations and repairs at ‘Viaduc des Arts'. Works include antiques and new items created using traditional methods. Furniture and tapestry restorers, interior designers, cabinet makers, potters, glassblowers, and jewellers sell their wares side by side. This is the perfect chance to buy something unique directly from the artisan. Enough time to pop into just one more shop? Mariage Freres on rue du Bourg-Tibourg is Paris' most amazing tea shop, with 500 varieties from 32 countries to choose from. In summer they serve five kinds of tea-flavored ice cream in the 19th-century Salon de thé (tearoom). What makes this place so special? The Mariage family has been trading in tea for 130 years and takes it very, very seriously. Don't leave without trying "Latin Lover, heir to a wealth of imperial spices." Now, that is a day to remember! One of the most convenient ways to get from the airport to a Paris hotel is by a Paris shuttle. http://www.paris-shuttle.com//
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