With fewer locals out and about and most tourists sticking to the well-beaten path, those who avoid the most popular spots will be surprised with the relaxed pace of life in Paris at this time. While many shops and restaurants do shut down in August, there are still plentiful options; Parisians still have to eat and you will still find hundreds of charming cafes and quiet bistros for dining, as well as markets and grocers where you can pick up supplies for a peaceful picnic along the Seine. Stroll through the many parks of Paris, or watch children sail boats on the lake in the Tuileries gardens. Pick a less-visited museum, like the Musée Rodin or the Musée National du Moyen Age and you may find you have the place nearly to yourself. Even at the most touristy places, like Père Lachaise cemetery, it’s fairly easy to escape the masses – just skip Jim Morrison’s grave in favor of the resting places of people like Honoré de Balzac, Frédéric Chopin, or Sarah Bernhardt.

Fashionistas will be glad to know that Paris’ twice a year sales, or soldes, are still going on in early August, though if you come later in the month you can also find great deals at one of the city’s many flea markets, like the Porte de Clignancourt. Other highlights of August include free open air movie screenings in Parc de la Vilette and outdoor theatre at the Jardin Shakespeare. From checking out the beautiful metro stations in Paris to laying on a man-made beach, there are quite a few free activities to explore during August in Paris.

If you’re the type of traveler who looks for the best party hostels in Paris when booking accommodation, or who prefers to stick to the well-traveled tourist trail, you may find the shuttered businesses more a turn off than an enticement. But if you’ve been there, done that when it comes to a whirlwind tour of Paris’s major attractions and would rather visit the city at a less hectic and stressful time, consider making your next trip in August. Depending on your travel style, you might even find that this month, with it’s slower pace and fewer crowds, is your ideal time of summer to enjoy a visit to Paris.

By Katie Hammel of BootsnAll

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Image by: drdcuddy

The underworld of Paris

Over time the use of these tunnels and caverns has changed hands: In the 19th century they were mined for building stone, then farmers used them for production of mushrooms. During World War II, French Resistance fighters used some of the quarries to hide, while the Germans built bunkers in others. Today brings a different group to the underground; an illicit group of leaderless individuals who spend days or weeks without coming above the surface. Also known as cataphiles, these people love the Paris underground. Cataphiles of course make some of the best tour guides to the underworld of Paris, with their own intricate maps as well as secret rooms that can’t be found on any map. They are often young people fleeing the surface world and all of its rules. The scene grew in the 70′s and 80′s when it was easier to enter through forgotten doorways and open entrances. They would crawl through the tunnels filled with bones aka the catacombs. Cataphiles really became known to us as what they are due to the freedom they were given underground. Many of them say ‘To be happy, stay hidden.’ In secret places, they partied, staged performances, created art and took drugs. And since the end of the 80′s it has become increasingly difficult to enter the underground. Private property owners began closing off entrances and police now patrol the tunnels.

And while the cataphiles roam the underground, archeologists and forensic pathologists are investigating the catacombs, where some six million Parisians reside. And each skeleton has a story. Meanwhile, inspectors from the Inspection Générale des Carrières, the IGC investigate the quarries. It is their job to ensure that Paris doesn’t collapse into the quarries that damage its infrastructure. Today Paris sits atop formations of gypsum and limestone. While the Romans were first to produce the stone, their sculptures, bathhouses and arena can still be found on the Île de la Cité as well as the Latin Quarter.

For those that have experienced Paris’ underworld, they can’t help but look at the numerous manholes and envision what lies beneath, their paths and many branches. Cataphiles will tell you this is perfectly normal after returning to the surface world. One can’t help but imagine the freedom and many possibilities that lie beneath.

Images by: watchsmart, jessica mullen

 

 

iTunes Festival London 2011 - July 1-31, London

Featuring 31 consecutive nights of brilliant live music, iTunes Festival will showcase both established and emerging artists. Each performance will be recorded and made available for download on iTunes. Tickets for the iTunes Festival are free but you have to apply for tickets! There will be about 60 artists performing, including Paul Simon, ADELE, Foo Fighters and Duran Duran.

 

 

Berlin Festival 2011 – September 9-10, Berlin

Berlin is a city like no other; especially known for its underground music scene, its definitely a city worth visiting just for its musical influence alone. Berlin Festival takes place just days after Berlin Music Week (September 7-11), making this week one of the best times to visit this vibrant city. Berlin Festival 2011 will feature a Boy George DJ Set, The Drums, Suede, Beirut, Mogwai, Battles, Hercules and Love Affair, Deus, Santigold, A-Trak, Yelle, Diplo and many other unique acts.

 

 

Fête de la Musique – June 21, Paris

Allowing for the expression of all types of music, Fête de la Musique is completely different from most music festivals. It is open to both emerging and professional musicians, and all musicians are asked to perform for free as the event itself is free to the public.

 

 

Make Music New York (MMNY) – June 21, New York

Now in its fifth year, Make Music New York is a unique festival filled to the brim with free concerts, taking place in public spaces throughout the five boroughs of New York City. All taking place on the first day of summer, June 21, MMNY takes place simultaneously with similar festivities in over 460 cities across the world. The lineup hasn’t been announced yet but it should be any day now. In past years, the lineup has ranged from hip hop to opera, Latin jazz to punk rock, all performed on the streets, sidewalks, stoops, plazas, parks and gardens of New York.

 

 

Pitchfork Music Festival – July 15,16,17, Chicago

This three-day event showcases over 40 of independent music’s best bands and artists. It is one of the few music festivals that keeps ticket prices reasonably low. Among the many artists you will see Animal Collective, DJ Shadow, Toro Y Moi, TV on the Radio. Activities include a Record Fair, presented by the Chicago Independent Radio Project, Coterie handmade goods, FLATSTOCK poster show series and Rock for kids.

 

 

Lollapalooza – August 5-7, Chicago

Whereas the Pitchfork festival focuses on independent music, Lollapalooza is a destination for music lovers all over the world. It just so happens that this year is the 20th Anniversary of the Festival and festival-goers can look forward to a full and exciting lineup. Artists include: Eminem, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Muse, Deadmau5, Cee Lo Green, Girl Talk, Kid Cudi and so many more. As always, the festival will take place in historic Grant Park, between the iconic Chicago skyline and the shores of Lake Michigan. FYI – if you have kids 10 and under, they get in free to Lolla when accompanied by a ticket holding adult.

 

 

Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival – August 12-14, San Francisco

Taking place in San Francisco’s historic Golden Gate Park, Outside Lands invites guests to celebrate not only the best in music, but also food, wine and art. From singer-songwriters to DJs, jazz acts and cutting edge rock bands, all major music movements are celebrated alongside a host of local musicians, food vendors and visual artists representing SF’s vibrant cultural community. This green-conscious event will feature artists like Arcade Fire, Black Keys, The Shins, MGMT, Girl Talk, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Major Lazer, OK GO. Other attractions will include tastes of the Bay Area, many wine offerings, festival market place, and the eco lands area, powered entirely by solar energy.

 

 

Osheaga – July 29th to 31st, Montreal

There’s no better city to enjoy an outdoor music festival than Montreal. The summer is when Montreal shines the most and the energy of the city is always outstanding, especially during the outdoor festivals. There are no shortage of them in Montreal and Osheaga is one stellar festival not to be missed. Last years addition with Arcade Fire performing during the fireworks was spectacular. Osheaga acts this year include The Tragically Hip, Cypress hill, Eminem, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, The Flaming Lips, Death Cab for Cutie, Kid Cudie, City & Colour, Broken Social Scene, Lupe Fiasco, Bright Eyes, Ratatat, Bran Van 3000, Crystal Castles, MSYRKRFT, The Joy Formidable, Sam Roberts Band, Jamie xx, Manchester Ochestra, Malajube and a host of other amazing bands. And don’t miss out on Osheaga in the City, which features acts outside the days of the festival. The lineup will be announced in the coming month.

 

 

Glastonbury Festival – June 22 to 26th, Glastonbury

The lineup is endless and Glastonbury’s following is so large that they are already sold out of tickets. If you were planning to attend, we hope you already grabbed your tickets. The festival began the day after Jimi Hendrix died in 1970 and so marked one of the best festivals. In 2011, this festival is still going strong and with so many stages, we couldn’t possibly list all the bands. Some stellar acts include U2, Coldplay, Paul Simon, Queens of the Stone Age, The Naked & Famous, The Streets, Lykke Li, Wu Tang Clan, Beyonce and so many more that my eyes are watering looking at the lineup.

 

 

Sonar – June 16-18, Barcelona

Taking place in Barcelona, Sonar will be showcasing famous artists and DJ’s like M.I.A., Underworld, Janelle Monae, Steve Aoki and many more. To add to the already full lineup, there will be some interesting showcases by Ninja Tune, BBC Radio and others.

 

And one extra…Piknic Electronik – WEEKLY, Montreal and soon Barcelona!

This unique weekly event helps you get the most out Montreal’s summer weather, while enjoying an incomparable view of the city and quality electronic music. They highlight the many talents of both the local and international electronic scenes, featuring classic acts as well as audacious newcomers. The Barcelona version appears to be next on their list of cities!

What music festivals will you be attending this summer? Add yours to the comments.

Download a city guide to get you around during festival season!

Image sources: Anirudh Koul, stevenboegborn, tom-jenkins, tkaravou, toombsday, jaywei80, Jason Bryant for Glastonbury Festival, SPACEBAR.ca [Simon], scannerfm_flickr, zenra, bumpershine, tammylo

Visiting just about anywhere in Europe for spring is sure to be a pleasant experience – the streets, bars and restaurants are filled with enthusiastic locals, the French are packed into their neighborhood bistros while the British are packed into their traditional pubs for lunch, the Dutch linger over strong coffee while the Italians gesture over tiny espressos and the Spanish fill the evening streets for their paseo and tapas.

Concert series are fully underway. Unique art collections are on display at museums, local castles and palaces and everywhere you go, you will find locals enjoying regional specialties and vino from nearby vineyards.

Residents truly cherish this time of year because it’s when they can enjoy their cities without being crammed into small spaces by the rush of travelers. This is also the time that seasoned travelers will want to take in the enjoyment of these same places.

Here are a few spring destinations to choose from for 2011.

Holland

An easy daytrip from Amsterdam, the gardens here are truly worth a visit. A riot of tulips and crocuses, spring in Holland is the most colorful time of year.

Springtime means the Dutch fields will be rainbow colored and the farmer’s markets will sell 50 tulips for less than 10 euros. In spring, the Keukenhoff gardens are truly at their very best.

Paris

Avoid hyped prices and wicked long lines by taking your travels to Paris in the spring instead of summer. Overbearing crowds really put a damper on a romantic visit to the Eiffel Tower and can really thwart all your efforts at a romantic experience. Take a visit to the Palais de Versailles to see the legendary gardens in bloom or take a stroll through the Jardin des Tuileries to admire the well-maintained gardens surrounded by palaces and ponds. Often a spot for picnics, don’t miss out on a visit to Le Pont des Arts for some photogenic moments and people watching. Tip: if you are planning a visit to a popular museum, reserving online before arrival is worth it during springtime too. No matter what season, lines are bound to form and while a half-hour wait in spring is much better than a two-hour wait in summer, no line at all is even better.

London

While the winter months in London bring drab weather and heavy clouds, the spring is filled with warmth and sun. Pub terraces reopen, magnolia trees spring all over the city, contrasting against the drab grey buildings, and the weather shifts from blustery to balmy. One to check out is Edinboro Castle, which is located near Camden Town.

Download an mTrip Travel Guide for your spring travels

Les deux Magots

The Paris of artists, writers and philosophers like Picasso, Matisse, Oscar Wilde and Hemingway spent their days in cafe life at their favorite haunt, Les demux Magots. Enjoy a romantic drink here with your loved one.

The Eiffel Tower

While the Eiffel Tower might be the world’s most famous tourist attraction and Paris’ most familiar symbol of romance, long lines and thousands of tourists could thwart all your attempts at a romantic experience, especially on Valentine’s Day. During the day, make your way to the fountain adjacent the Eiffel Tower, which sits next to the viewing platform of the Trocardero. While there are still crowds here, there will be less so. Also the various parks surrounding the fountain are often empty and still provide wonderful views of the Tower. Take a bottle of champagne and a picnic for a romantic Paris-style lunch.

If you decide to go to the Eiffel Tower, try visiting at night when the tower and skyline are gorgeously lit up and you are less likely to fight the crowds.

Arc de Triomphe

With its awe-inspiring details and beautiful architecture, the Arc de Triomphe is quite the sight to see. Sit at Place de L’etoile square and admire the beautiful monument while the hustle and bustle of Paris passes you by. If you are feeling more adventurous, climb to the top to get a full view of Paris. It’s great to see the famous avenue at sunset or all lit up at night.

Jardin des Tuileries

Surrounded by palaces and ponds, these well maintained gardens designed in the 1600′s are perfect eye candy for a Valentine’s Day stroll with your loved one.

Square du Vert Galant

This tiny but pretty park derives its name from Henri IV. Vert Galant was one of his nicknames to signify that he had a reputation for many love affairs.

The square is a great place to picnic. You can almost dangle your feet in the Seine. Here you will also find the departure point for the Vedette tour boats on the Seine.

Seine River

Stroll the banks of the Seine river, or sit and watch the water with a bottle of wine. A highlight for many is taking a cruise of the Seine river. This can be a good option if its too cold to sit outside or you are looking for more of a tour of the banks. See the river at night for a romantic evening.

Pont Alexandre III

Never miss a chance to stand on this bridge. Considered to be the most beautiful bridge in Paris, Pont Alexandre III is really romantic. With its opulent decoration of lamps, cherubs, nymphs and alarm horses at each end, many have said it is good luck to kiss on this bridge.

Le Pont des Arts

One of Paris’ most photogenic monuments, Le Pont des Arts has long been visited by lovers for every corner of the world. A declaration of love here isn’t so unusual. In fact, it wasn’t until last year that the city decided to remove almost 2,000 love padlocks (candenas d’amour), with eternal messages of love written on them. It also happens to be the same bridge where Big of Sex & The City proposed to Carrie!

Often a spot for picnics and a studio en plain air for painters, artists and photographers, the bridge is a place to observe people, listen to music, watch a painter or just take in the atmosphere of Paris.

Download mTrip’s Paris Travel Guide

Image sources: dewet, stopherjones, Chadica, RachelH, maxintosh, Marc Lagneau, Metaphox, Guillaume Cattiaux and _sarchi at Flickr

Enter Toma Haines, who runs the antiques shopping business, The Antiques Diva. As expected, Haines knows her way around a brocante. Last fall, I attended the Foire Nationale a la Brocante et au Jambon (The National Fair of the Flea Market and Ham), the largest antiques and gourmet food fair in France. But instead of wandering around clueless and scared to bargain en français, I was on an Antiques Diva Shopping Tour learning shopping secrets such as:

-You have more bargaining power in Paris than in other European cities.
-Buying two or three items from a single vendor usually gets you a deal.
-Dressing for success means leaving designer sunglasses at home.
-Larger items are usually better priced than smaller ones.
-It’s possible to negotiate free shipping for what you can’t carry home.

Best of all, when I wanted something, I didn’t have to bargain. Haines’ had a translator on the tour to bargain for us, ensuring we got the best deal possible.

Besides learning where and how to shop for antiques, joining an Antiques Diva tour of Paris is like shopping with long-lost friends. While touring Paris’ best antique and flea markets, I not only acquired a 1920s tripod and 1930s Parisian wallpaper book, but I acquired three new friends. Now that’s what I call a souvenir.

The “Perspectives” exhibition begins September 5th at Espace Culturel Louis Vuitton in Paris.

Address: 101 Avenue des Champs-Élysées
Phone: +33-1-53-57-52-03

Download mTrip’s Paris Travel Guide

Image by max_trudo at http://www.flickr.com/photos/max_trudolubov/

To see participating museums and cities visit La Nuit des Musées

Cost: Free

Where: Various venues throughout France

When: May 16, 2010, Sunset – Approximately 1am

Download mTrip’s Paris Travel Guide

Image source: Mateusz War at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:0905_Muzeum_Narod_ENM_SZN.jpg

All proceeds of Twestival went toward Concern Worldwide, a charity that seeks to provide children with access to school education.

Any city worldwide had the opportunity to host a Twestival and to choose a specific educational area to raise funds for, with all proceeds going toward Concern Worldwide’s educational programs. The areas of focus were:

• Building schools
• Training teachers
• Furnishing classrooms
• School meals
• Water for schools
• Reaching the vulnerable
• Health education
• Education for girls

Check out how successful some of the hosting Twestival cities were:

• New York
• Chicago
• San Francisco
• Paris
• London
• Barcelona

…and if you would still like to make a donation it’s not too late!

For more information visit Twestival

@twestival for more fundraising updates!

Download an mTrip Guide: Paris Travel Guide, London Travel Guide, Amsterdam Travel Guide, Berlin Travel Guide, Rome Travel Guide, Barcelona Travel Guide, New York Travel Guide, Chicago Travel Guide and San Francisco Travel Guide

Image source: cambodia4kidsorg at http://www.flickr.com/photos/cambodia4kidsorg/

Fête de la Musique is committed to one important goal – accessibility. Each performance is accessible to the general public and all concerts are free. In addition, all performers donate their time for free. Whether its on the streets, parks, museums, train stations or castles, Fête de la Musique encourages the exchange and sharing of musical talent with a wide, excitable audience.

Fête de la Musique has won the hearts of its audience and supporters, receiving international recognition for its unique combination and exchange between emerging, young musicians and well-known talents.

The event is set to take place June 21st so if you are heading to Paris this Summer be sure to check out live musical performance at its best!

Click here for festival dates and calendar of events.

Download mTrip’s Paris Travel Guide