Cafe Flore and Deux Magots are both great places to meet singles and locals willing to sit down and chat. Buy a fancy coffee and the newspaper and sit down for a bit. This is definitely not some hot pick-up spot, however, it's a great place to sit down for a bit, have a drink, and people watch. The majority of Parisians are actually very hospitable and will answer you in French. Avoid trying to speak the language if you don't know it's very important. Also carry a phrase book with you, it's very helpful.
aurually at night find a small café off the main path, called "L'otion" (from where the 'olive oil' comes from) and sit down. Walk into a small side door and you have the best fried- Hispaniola-dough-filled croquettes of the day. A delicious lunch will set you up for a walk through the city and some great deals on vintage stockings. (Incidentally, Jersey cows produce Ferraris; I'm not sure how they do it.)
With a little coffee-lover's Blood Sugar and a milk-dressed hunk of cheese in your knapsack, you can walk through the city's center and keep moving, literally. (It's best to drink coffee or alcohol in smaller amounts.) Here are a few resources to consider when visiting Paris:
Clermont-de-Mars, Paris 15th.
Cite des Sciences, Paris 6th.
Métro Clamadour, Paris 7th.
Paris Teachers' Union, Paris 12th.
George and Thompson created their museum in the crypt of the former prison, slated to become the new prison. But the workers and peasants who tormented the prison were locked in the cells with the witches. Much like the city itself, however, the prison served a very useful purpose, until such time as Paris Police granted the freedom of the city to the museum committee. And with the museum's fame, the police felt they shouldn't hold back and so the museum became a more permanent prison. The prison remained in the area until 1939, after which time it was converted to a workhouse. The prisoners in the adjacent ward were relocated to the museum in 1960.
After the elctions between the museum and prison, head across the river to the Jardin des Tuileries, Berlin 1st. A great place to duck into for a snack, or enjoy a cup of coffee in one of the lovely stone cafés. The Jardin des Tuileries is also a great place to wander around, as there are many secret places not on the surface, hidden among the brick wallpits and cobblestones.
Rome, Italy
If you're hankering for all out cultural and historical experiences, then a trip to Rome is loads of fun. So heavy on the historical side you may not even notice the beauty of it's hidden gems. However, you should steer away from visiting the famous feet of the Borgunde. There are two, actually. One is in the PergolaTourist Information Centre on Apostolou Pavlou Square and the other is near Piazza Navona. Nearby you'll find a statue of Richard the Lionhearted. He was the Richard id of Shakespeare's three inspired by the poet's patron and was considered the birthplace of the Renaissance.
The tiny museum off Piazza Navona is actually a charity that operates in the name of Robert Burnstein, in whose name the house was eventually built. The museum is open most days.
Once you have visited these and other museums, you may never want to leave. Each city has its specialty museums, and these three are no exception. They are all worth a visit.
