The Ticketless Traveler

The Ticketless Traveler: Paris in the Springtime by NYPL StaffMarch 29, 2012

Parisian girl., Digital ID 1191974, New York Public LibraryParisian girl., Digital ID 1191974, New York Public LibraryParis in the Spring just sounds fantastic doesn’t it? It could be argued that adding "Springtime" to anything can make it sound lovely, just ask The Producers... though Paris alone is a good selling point. We can begin planning our trip of a lifetime by researching affordable travel deals in the most recent issues of Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel, full electronic access is available onsite at any NYPL location. I was able to find a helpful article published in the May 2011 issue that is still quite relevant to my travel needs: “Eat Your Way Through Paris” by Claudine Ko. Is there really any other way through Paris?

Then there is the matter of the French. We may encounter a few of them in between all of those meals. We should be able to chat them up. Perhaps we could even come off as actual Parisians that have gotten a bit turned around while heading to the Musée du Louvre or Bibliothèque nationale, as opposed to silly Americans seeking directions. With an active New York Public Library Card you can create a FREE account in Mango Languages and then learn français on your computer or with the Mango Languages App on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad. They offer interactive courses in almost forty languages, including Pirate. We can begin with French and possibly move on to Pirate depending on the mode of transportation we choose to get to Paris.

When packing for a trip I like to know the climate of the destination, both weather and political. Press Display provides access to top French newspapers, for example Aujourd'hui en France, Le Figaro and Le Monde. If you’re not yet quite confident enough in your French you can also access The Wall Street Journal Europe through Press Display. You can access the Press Display database from home with an active New York Public Library card number.

The Opera; the Eiffel Tower., Digital ID 1160045, New York Public LibraryThe Opera; the Eiffel Tower., Digital ID 1160045, New York Public LibraryI possibly may not make it to Paris this Spring. Instead, once again, I will most likely find myself on the couch relying on Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris to satisfy my desire to roam the streets.

No matter your travel or staycation plans this Spring the aforementioned resources can definitely get you off on the right start. If you do happen to find yourself in the City of Light remember to send me a post card... and a baguette... and a lot of cheese. Au revoir!

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Funny & informative

Submitted by Helen (not verified) on March 29, 2012 - 7:31pm

Great post! The Mango Languages App & Press Display database are two awesome resources I had no idea existed. I'm going to eat a baguette & explore them!

Tres utile!

Submitted by John Bacon (not verified) on March 30, 2012 - 2:36pm

and fun! Since when is Pirate a language? Will have to check that out.... My own NYPL-Paris story is a bit sad. After years of buying guidebooks, I have been borrowing them instead from the large and very current collection at the Mid-Manhattan Library. Found one I liked for a brief Thanksgiving 2010 trip to Paris and it was stolen along with my bag and the rest of its contents on a visit to St. Denis, which has the amazing basilica considered to be the first Gothic building but is one of the rougher of the notorious Parisian banlieues. I was stupidly carrying my passport, so had to get that replaced at the American consulate, where the staff was incredulous that I had even gone to St. Denis! The tin lining: when I got back home, NYPL charged me only $25 for the lost book, no questions asked.