as i'm just back in italy, and as i have nothing else to do, i'll post some insights from my explorations in paris, france (2nd take, this time with my lovely domitilla).

eat & drink because this is - first of all - important to have enogh energy to walk

for a delightful lunch on the rive gauche, le comptoir (9, carrefour de l'odéon, 6th arr.), run by claudine and yves  camdeborde, is unbeatable. this thirties-style bistro (complete with mirrored walls) seats just 20 inside and - in warmer months- another 16 on the sidewalk, and doesn't accept lunch reservations. but take this from a veteran: it's worth the hassle of waiting and not taking "non" for an answer. order the grilled tuna, which comes with the crispest vegetables, or opt for succulent souris de gigot (lamb knuckle) served with semolina. round out your meal with an indulgent cheese plate or double-sized pots de crème au chocolat.

ferdi (32, rue du mont-thabor, 1st arr.) serves "the best cheeseburger in paris." the tartare-worthy ground sirloin, cooked medium-rare and topped with a thick layer of cheddar and cheshire cheese, is available only at lunch, but don't worry if you don't make it till after sunset. in the evenings, the fashion-heavy crowd returns, its attention focused on ferdi's tapas-style small plates and potent mojitos and margaritas.

la coupe d'or (330, rue st.-honoré, 1st arr.), bang opposite colette, is the place to hang out, eat croque monsieurs made with poilâne bread, drink café, and watch droves of gazelle-like fashionistas. make them envious: order a scoop (or two) of the cult-status berthillon ice cream.

the packaging at fouquet (22, rue françois 1er, 8th arr.) - glass jars with dark brown-and-white labels - makes for an amazing presentation of this store's very expensive (and addictive) bonbons, caramels, and truffles.

patisserie sadaharu aoki (35, rue de vaugirard, 15th arr.) sells wonderful macarons and "buche de noel" christmas cakes.

to eat at pierre gagnaire (6, rue de balzac, 8th arr.) be ready to begin your fight for one of their hard to get reservations. gagnaire earned his three stars from the guide michelin (the highest possible rating) by creating inventive, often astonishing food, served in a parade of small plates. you may find yourself dining on foie gras paired with mussels and bean sprouts; or tiny rolls of veal stuffed with veal liver; or crayfish tempura in a sweet and sour sauce. it may all sound odd, but it tastes exquisite. a pricey meal, but well worth it.

and also: taverne henri iv (13, place pont neuf) , flo brasserie la coupole (102, bd du montparnasse).

antiques & weird and all the kind of stuff i love

tombées du camion (17, Rue Joseph de Maistre Paris, 18th arr.; also in a stand in marche au puces) is an impressive shop: lots of "anciens et oubliés, nombreux bijoux, perles, et accessoires de mode, stocks exclusifs d’usines abandonnées, séries industrielles, fonds de merceries en abondance, jouets manufacturés du siècle dernier, matériel de laboratoire, petits objets de culte à profusion, stocks de fabricants et grossistes, souvenirs des enseignes d’autrefois, trésors artisanaux en quantité, accumulations en tout genre, gadgets historiques et traditionnels, archéologie de l’enfance..."!

antiquarian pierre passebon, the curator of galerie du passage (20-22, galerie véro-dodat, 1st arr.), has impeccable taste and stocks the best 20th-century french furniture, made by the likes of jean ­royère and emilio terry, as well as works by contemporary artists such as wendy artin.

galerie j. kugel (25, quai anatole-france, 7th arr.), in the palladian hôtel collot, is run by brothers nicolas and alexis kugel, whose clients include countless rothschilds, hubert de givenchy, and henry kravis. the mansion's four floors are full of superb antiques, among them mirrors from the throne room of the 18th-century saxon king augustus ii (the strong) and an eye-popping collection of renaissance jewelry.

for a truly one-of-a-kind gift, visit claude nature (32, blvd. st.-germain, 5th arr.), a taxidermist's treasure trove of pink flamingos, foxes, and deer's heads. the spare boutique's glass cabinets display exotic shells, framed butterflies, scarabs, and the deadliest of scorpions.

papier+ (9, rue du pont-louis-philippe, 4th arr.) and never leaves paris without stocking up on lavender diaries, simple blue note­cards, a stash of colored pencils, and photo albums.

look further about passage couverts below.

art (seriously)

palais de tokyo (13, ave. du président-wilson, 16th arr.), across the seine from the tour eiffel, is a huge space with mile-high ceilings that exhibits the works of artists such as vanessa beecroft, jeff koons, and kara walker. other highlights include a bookshop and blackblock, the groovy boutique.

in the marais you can find galerie 213 (58, rue de charlot, 3rd arr.), which is devoted not to painting but to the art of some of france's leading photographers.

a real treasure is galerie yvon lambert (108, rue vieille-du-temple, 3rd arr.). its owners are hailed as the discoverers of minimalism and conceptual art.

a more traditional gallery is in st-germain-des-prés, with galerie adrien maeght (42, rue du bac, 7th arr.).

prêt-à-porter and outlets to spend your whole-life's savings!

the stylish mona blonde picks only the crème de la crème of the latest collections for her eponymous store mona (17, rue bonaparte, 6th arr.). you'll find trousers by chloé's phoebe philo, skirts by lanvin's alber elbaz, suits by alexander mcqueen, and shoes by marc jacobs.

madame andré (34, rue du mont thabor, 1st arr.) sells the gilles dufour collection plus a mix of inexpensive items, such as perky underwear by i. c. pearl and colorful bangles from india, displayed in a candy-pink interior.

follow the lead of savvy parisians to l'habilleur (44, rue de poitou, 3rd arr.) for last season's designer clothes - both men's and women's - at exceptional prices.

calesta kidstore (23, rue debelleyme, 3rd arr.) is the colette for kids. this sparse concept store sells the trendiest european accessories and clothes, including t-shirts by london's no added sugar and hippie pieces by belgian designer pilar.

20 sur 20 (3, rue des lavandières st. opportune, 1st arr.) is every chic local's secret weapon. bakelite charm necklaces jingling with cherries, along with other costume jewelry dating from the forties to the sixties, can be had at serious bargain prices.

talmaris (61, ave. mozart, 16th arr.) is the destination of choice for dior's de castellane and ysl's stefano pilati for their engraved personal stationery. heavy stock is available in virtually every color of the rainbow. owner alain-paul ruzé also has an unbeatable selection of china, glassware, photograph frames, and children's toys.

sr store (64 rue de alésia, 14th arr.). that's sr as in sonia rykiel - deep discounts bring these pricey items out of the stratosphere and closer to earth.

cacharel boutique outlet (114, rue d'alésia, 14th arr.) with a voluminous selection of last season's offerings at  significant reductions.

stock jeans ober (111, bis rue alesia, 14th arr.): this closet-size store is stuffed with a wide range of body-hugging jeans and pants by the one and only french jeans label, ober. you'll pay half what you would pay at printemps.

another great street for bargain hunters is just around the corner from the bon marché department store: rue st-placide (6th arr.): here you'll find great discounts on women's apparel, children's clothes, and linens, as well as some of the less expensive chain stores.

mouton à cinq pattes (8 and 18, rue st-placide, 6th arr.): sift through the packed racks of designer markdowns and you just might find moschino slacks or a gaultier dress at a fabulous price. if you do, grab it fast - it might not be there tomorrow. these are some of the best designer discounts in town, but you really have to look. the store at no. 8 is women's apparel only; no. 18 serves both sexes, as does their other equally overstuffed store at 138 blvd. st-germain also in the 6th arr.

caroll stock (30 and 51, rue st-placide, 6th arr.), which is the outlet shop for the elegant caroll brand.

and don't forget rue de la chausée d'antin (9th arr.), which bisects the galeries lafayette department store. laden with small shops and good prices, this street excels at moderately priced shoe stores, such as la chausseria (39, rue de la chausée d'antin, 9th arr.).

culture, special places, little hidden surprises

le musée du parfum
9, rue scribe, 1st arr.
rer: a station auber / metro station opéra (lines 3,7 and 8)

parc de belleville
20th arrondissement
metro: pyrenées

musée bourdelle
16/18, rue antoine bourdelle
metro: montparnasse / bienvenüe

musée carnavalet
c/o hôtel carnavalet
23, rue de sévigné
metro: saint-paul (line 1) / chemin vert (line 8)

buttes-chaumont park
main entrance at rue botzaris, 19th arr.
metro: buttes-chaumont / botzaris (line 7 bis)
nearby sights and attractions: pere lachaise cemetery, belleville neighborhood, canal saint-martin

jardin des plantes
place valhubert, 5th arr.
metro: gare d'austerlitz (line 5, 10)
rer: gare d'austerlitz (line c)
bus: line 24, 57, 61, 63, 67, 91
nearby sights and attractions: the latin quarter, mouffetard neighborhood

rock hair
7, boulevard beaumarchais
metro: bastille
if you need an indie aircut... :D

the promenade plantée
main entrance at avenue daumesnil, above the "viaduc des arts".
metro: bastille (line 1, 5, )

marché aux fleurs
place louis-lépine
on sundays, the area is transformed into the marché aux oiseaux, where you can admire rare birds from around the  world.

marché aux pouches
metro: porte de clignancourt
there are several markets and galleries so, be prepared to long walks.

bus no. 29
begins at gare st-lazare (métro: st-lazare), aboard no. 29, you pass the famous opera garnier (home of the phantom), proceeding into the marais district, passing by paris's most beautiful square, place des vosges. you end up at the bastille district, home of the new opera. what we like about this bus is that it takes you along the side streets of paris and not the major boulevards. it's a close encounter with back-street paris and a cheap way to see the city without commentary.

passages couverts

here is just a sampling of the 20 glass-covered, shopping arcades that exist today. wander through them, browse, shop, stop for a coffee, or a snack in the bistros. thrill to the fact that you are shopping the way parisians have done for centuries and following in the footsteps of illustrious writers such as honoré de balzac, alfred de musset, gérard de nerval, and emile zola.

galerie vivienne (4, rue des petits champs or 6, rue vivienne or 5, rue de la banque; 2nd arr.; metro: bourse or pyramides): built in 1823, this is considered to be the most elegant passage with a beautiful mosaic floor, hanging lamps, symmetrical arches, and pretty potted trees. it's filled with high-fashion boutiques, antiques shops and old bookstores. (it converges with the galerie colbert.)

galerie colbert (6, rue des petits-champs or 6, rue vivienne; 2nd arr.; metro: bourse or pyramides): built in 1826 to rival the galerie vivienne, the passage was restored in the 1980s by the bibliothèque nationale (national library). it leads to a magnificent, glass-covered rotunda with a bronze statue by charles-françois leboeuf.

passage du grand-cerf (145, rue saint-denis or 10, rue dussoubs; 2nd arr,; metro: etienne marcel): built in 1835, this passage is stunningly stylish with wrought-iron work, wood-paneled shop fronts and shimmering-glass, skylight roof. it is lined with boutiques for fashion designers, artisans and decorators.

passage des panoramas (11, boulevard montmartre or 10, rue saint-marc; 9th arr.; metro: grands boulevards): built in 1799, this is the oldest covered passage in paris and the first public place lit by gaslight in 1817. it's still bustling with activity with stamp collectors, antique postcard boutiques, restaurants, new trendy shops and venerable establishments such as the théâtre des variétés opened in 1807. (it links to several other passages: galerie des variétés, galerie feydeau, galerie montmartre, and galerie saint marc. and, it's across from the passage jouffroy, which leads to the passage verdeau.)

passage jouffroy (10-12, boulevard montmartre or 9, rue de la grange-batelière; 9th arr.; metro: grands boulevards): built in 1847, passage jouffroy is full of shops selling collectible film posters, old books, postcards, vintage toys and interesting bric-a-brac. there's also a quirky wax museum, musée grévin.

passage verdeau (31bis, rue du faubourg-montmartre or 6, rue de la grange-batelière; 9th arr.; metro: le peletier): built in 1847 with neo-classical decor, the passage verdeau is only one block long and lined with old-fashioned shops selling vintage photos and prints, stamps, old books and postcards. this is my favourite one, and here is set 21, passage verdeaux, a short story that i have written a long time ago. (note: 21 is curiously a non-existent address in that passage, between cafè verdeaux - now closed, at number 23 - and a chocolate shop at 19.)

galerie véro-dodat (19, rue jean-jacques rousseau or 2, rue du bouloi; 1st arr.; metro: louvre rivoli): built in 1826 by two butchers, véro and dodat, this neo-classical style passage, with painted ceilings and copper pillars, has art  galleries and antique shops selling everything from fine stringed instruments to collectible toys and dolls.

strolling and wasting time and losing the path to the nearest metro

there are many great paris walks, but you really need to pay attention along the way. strolling through the city's streets  lets you soak up the parisian ambiance like a native.

promenade plantée
12th arr.
metro: bastille
hopefully, when the highline in new york is done, it will look like this! this former train viaduct, built in 1859 to carry a commuter train line, has been transformed into a delightful pedestrian walkway. the path, about 3 miles long, is planted with all types of flora - rosebushes, climbing plants, lime and hazel trees - and, as you stroll along, you can see right into apartment windows, courtyards, and over the rooftops of paris. the elevated walkway connects with trails and bike paths that lead straight into the bois de vincennes. but, you don't have to go all the way to the end: at various points along the path, there are stairways leading down to avenue daumesnil, paralleling the promenade plantée.

viaduc des arts
12th arr.
metro: bastille
once you reach the sidewalk, you can head right into a shopping stroll because the beautiful vaulted spaces underneath the viaduct archways have been transformed into galleries, ateliers and shops. everything from designer furniture, to handmade jewelry, to tapestry and puppetry is showcased in this unique setting. some 50 different artisans, working in a variety of materials and styles, have made the viaduc des arts a lively shopping or browsing experience with craft demonstrations and special exhibitions. you can also have coffee or a bite to eat. if the consumerism gets too much for you, head back up to the promenade plantée.

la rue mouffetard
5th arr.
metro: censier-daubenton / maubert-mutualité
yes, i know, it's gotten very touristy, but it's still a great street with a lot of history and character and attention must be paid. rue mouffetard runs down the hill sainte-geneviève from rue thouin (near the panthéon) to the église saint-médard at the intersection of rue monge. it is said to be one of the oldest parisian thoroughfares, dating back to roman times. it is as picturesque as ever with many little restaurants, old-established merchants, famous taverns, butcher shops, and cheese vendors along with some new, trendy boutiques. the open-air market in the church square sells an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as charcuterie and cheeses. it's very lively on a sunday morning when you're out for your stroll.

canal saint-martin
10th arr.
metro: republique
strolling along the canal saint-martin, which runs from the place de la republique to the place de la bastille de stalingrad, is a very pleasant experience. the canal was constructed in the early 1800s to ease barge traffic on the seine and bring drinking water into paris. today, it's just a lovely place to hang out. on sundays, the quai de valmy and quai de jemmapes, streets paralleling the canal, lined with chestnut and plane trees, are open only to pedestrian and bike traffic. there's still some commercial barge traffic on the canal, but your best bet is a canal cruise with canauxrama or paris-canal.

port de plaisance de paris-arsenal
12th arr.
metro: bastille
once an old navy harbor, located on the former moat of the bastille, the port de l'arsenal is now a nice mooring for pleasure boats, yachts, and houseboats. the port connects the seine with the canal saint-martin that leads to the la villette canal basin (this is the route the canal cruises take). it's nice to stroll along the banks, admiring the boats and the sunday sailors.

the garden at the maison de balzac (47, rue raynouard): honoré de balzac labored away on his literary masterpieces and hid from creditors in this little house. although the rooms are small, the spot is divine with a beautiful expanse of lawn. there's no café here but, on a nice day, grab a book (perhaps balzac's le père goriot) and while away the hours in the garden. walking around this district is also a treat. in the movies, you can see the eiffel tower from every apartment; in this neighborhood, you really can.

the garden & tea house at the musée de la vie romantique (16, rue chaptal; métro: pigalle or st-georges) during the romantic period, numerous artistic types lived in the neighborhood. this cozy house belonged to painter ary scheffer, and the elites of the movement gathered here - artists ingres and delacroix; musicians chopin and liszt; writers turgenev and george sand, among others. today, the house is a shrine to author george sand (née aurore dudevant). the garden café is a shrine to relaxation and bliss.

the grounds at the manufacture nationale des gobelins (42, ave des gobelins): from outside, it doesn't look like much, but the property of the gobelins tapestry factory is probably my favorite spot in all of paris. it's a walled wonderland that's hard to believe still exists. since 1662, some of the most beautiful tapestries in the world have been woven on these magnificent grounds. back in the day, some 250 tapestry-makers lived with their families within the gobelins walls. in addition to wages, they each received a tiny plot of land for a "kitchen garden." the dyers and weavers no longer live-in but the property remains the same. by all means, take the tour; admire the old tapestries and watch today's weavers at work, but be sure to linger on the grounds.

the café at the maison de l'architecture (148, rue du faubourg saint-martin; métro: gare de l'est): walking along the canal saint-martin, which runs from the place de la republique to the place de la bastille de stalingrad in the 10th arrondissement, is really enjoyable. this being paris, cafés abound. but midway along the route, near the gare de l'est, it's worth veering off for a stop at le café a at the maison de l'architecture. the maison is a meeting place for cultural exchange between architects, visiting researchers and lecturers. it's open to the public for workshops, lectures, exhibitions and special events. but, the best part is the lovely garden café hidden away behind high stone walls; a little piece of parisian paradise.

place des vosges (at the end of rue des francs-bourgeois; métro: chemin vert or saint paul): said to be the oldest square in paris, it's a knockout. it's not exactly hidden, but people often hurry by on the way to the maison de victor hugo or just stop long enough to snap a photo. there are chic cafes under the beautiful arcades that surround the square, so people tend to sit there. i suggest you plop yourself down on a bench right in the middle and soak up the atmosphere -- children playing, pigeons cooing, older folks soaking up the sun, neighbors gossiping - which is a cross section of all paris. (at the southwest corner, near no. 5, an exit door will lead you into the lovely garden of the hotel de sully - an added pleasure.)

parc de belleville (rue des couronnes, enter at rue piat; métro: belleville or pyrénées): the belleville neighborhood is a melting pot of cultures - algerian, moroccan, chinese, orthodox jewish, senegalese - with shops and restaurants that showcase the wonderful diversity of the city. the park is at the top of a hill, accessible from a staircase, then up winding pathways past vine-covered pergolas. it's worth the climb for some spectacular views of paris - yes, you can see the eiffel tower and the tour monparnasse from here. have a seat, gaze out and dream with paris at your feet.

clubs of various kinds for noctambules

les bains
7, rue du bourg-l'abbé, 3rd arr.
metro: etienne marcel;

batofar
11 quai francois-mauriac, 13th arr.

la fleche d’or
102 bis, rue de bagnolet

le galway
13, quai grands augustins

barrio latino
46, rue du faubourg st antoine

le caveau de la huchette
5, rue de la huchette

les  bains douches
7, rue du bourg l'abbè

if you are with your girlfriend...

avoid areas around metro les halles, chatelet, gare du nord and stalingrad late at night.
in addition, avoid travelling to the northern paris suburbs of saint-denis, aubervilliers, saint-ouen, etc. after dark. 
visitors to the above-mentioned areas may also take precautions by keeping a low profile and by refraining from wearing highly visible jewelry or clothing that identify them as members of a religion or political movement.

bonus: paris by arrondissement! useful!
obviously my list contains some hidden treasures and some simply non-tourist places in paris. but if it is your first time in this city, you can't forget to visit some of the main spots!

1st arrondissement: louvre
    * musée du louvre (louvre museum)
    * tuileries gardens
    * jeu de paume-national galleries
    * musée de l'orangerie
    * palais royal (former seat of royal power)
    * la comédie française (classic paris theater where french playwright molière once performed)
    * place vendôme
    * forum des halles (monstrous shopping center and district)
    * eglise saint-eustache
    * chatelet and the saint-jacques tower
    * sainte-chapelle
    * pont neuf bridge (oldest bridge in paris)

2nd arrondissement: bourse
    * the rue montorgueil neighborhood
    * grands boulevards neighborhood
    * le tour jean-sans-peur
    * paris stock exchange (bourse de paris)-- historic headquarters
    * opéra comique
    * bibliothèque nationale de france (french national library-- historic site)
    * passage des panoramas
    * le grand rex (historic movie theatre, club and concert hall)

3rd arrondissement: temple
    * the marais neighborhood (also part of the 4th arrondissement)
    * musée carnavalet (paris history museum and renaissance-era residence)
    * picasso museum
    * musée des arts et métiers
    * hotel de soubise (renaissance-era mansion) and the french national archives
    * musée de la poupée (paris doll museum)
    * centre culturel suedois (swedish cultural center)

4th arrondissement: "beaubourg", the marais and the ile st-louis
    * centre georges pompidou and the national museum of modern art
    * the "beaubourg" neighborhood
    * the marais neighborhood
    * st-gervais st-protais church
    * st-paul st-louis church
    * hotel de sens (medieval mansion)
    * place des vosges
    * hotel de ville (paris city hall)
    * old jewish district (rue des rosiers and le "pletzl")
    * place de la bastille (shared by 4th, 11th and 12th arrondissements
    * ile saint-louis neighborhood
    * notre dame cathedral
    * seine river booksellers
    * shoah memorial and museum

5th arrondissement: the latin quarter
    * the sorbonne
    * the panthéon
    * place saint-michel
    * musée and hotel de cluny (medieval museum and gardens)
    * jardin des plantes
    * la grande mosquée de paris (paris mosque, tearoom and hammam)
    * institut du monde arabe
    * rue mouffetard district
    * arènes de lutece (roman-era coliseum)
    * historic paris movie theaters

6th arrondissement: luxembourg and saint-germain-des-prés
    * luxembourg gardens
    * odéon theater
    * saint-sulpice church
    * saint-germain des prés neighborhood (and the historic abbey)
    * café les deux magots and café de flore (former haunts of artists and writers)
    * le procope (oldest café in paris)
    * hotel lutetia (famous historic hotel)

7th arrondissement: orsay, eiffel tower and invalides
    * eiffel tower and the champ de mars
    * musée d'orsay
    * french national assembly
    * hôtel matignon (seat of the prime minister)
    * école militaire
    * hôtel des invalides (not a hotel at all, but a former military complex, and resting place of napoleon i)
    * rodin museum
    * musée de quai branly (recently opened indigenous arts museum)
    * maillol museum
    * eugène delacroix museum
    * bon marché department store and gourmet market

8th arrondissement: champs-elysées and madeleine
    * arc de triomphe
    * avenue des champs-elysées (and surrounding district)
    * grand palais
    * petit palais
    * elysée palace (home to french president)
    * théâtre des champs-élysées
    * eglise de la madeleine
    * hôtel de crillon (one of world's oldest luxury hotels)
    * maxim's art nouveau "collection 1900" museum
    * musée jacquemart-andré
    * musée cernuschi (asian art museum)
    * parc monceau
    * pont alexandre iii (one of the city's most opulent bridges)

9th arrondissement: opera garnier and grands boulevards
    * opera garnier (historic paris opera)
    * galeries lafayette department store (also see paris holiday lights and window displays)
    * printemps department store
    * musée grevin (wax museum)
    * olympia theater and concert hall (historic performances by edith piaf and others)
    * les folies bergères cabaret
    * musée du parfum fragonard (perfume museum)
    * musée de la vie romantique
    * grands boulevards neighborhood

10th arrondissement: canal st-martin and goncourt
    * canal saint-martin neighborhood
    * place sainte-marthe
    * new morning (famous paris jazz club)
    * gare de l'est and gare du nord area

11th arrondissement: bastille and oberkampf
    * place de la bastille (shared with the 4th and 12th arrondissements)
    * cirque d'hiver
    * oberkampf neighborhood (vibrant nightlife scene)
    * edith piaf museum
    * maison des métallos (former metalworkers' house; currently an arts and culture center)
    * place de la république

12th arrondissement: bercy and gare de lyon
    * place de la bastille (shared with the 4th and 11th arrondissements)
    * opera bastille (opera national de paris)
    * faubourg saint-antoine district
    * promenade plantée (gardens and walkway built on the site of a defunct above-ground railway)
    * viaduc des arts
    * bois de vincennes (enormous park, often referred to as "paris's lungs"
    * picpus cemetery
    * palais omnisports de paris-bercy (stadium and concert hall)
    * parc de bercy
    * bercy village (a decidedly modern outdoor shopping "village", which was built using former wine warehouses)
    * gare de lyon (one of paris' busiest train stations, and the site of acclaimed restaurant le train bleu)

13th arrondissement: gobelins, la butte aux cailles and the national library
    * bibliothèque nationale (paris national library)
    * butte aux cailles neighborhood
    * chinatown (one of paris's largest, and major site for chinese new year celebrations in paris)
    * manufacture des gobelins (tapestries manufacturing museum)
    * gare d'austerlitz

14th arrondissement: montparnasse and denfert rochereau
    * montparnasse tower and neighborhood
    * montparnasse cemetery
    * paris catacombs museum"
    * fondation cartier pour l'art contemporain (cartier contemporary art foundation)
    * lenin museum
    * musée jean moulin (tribute to the french resistance hero)
    * rue daguerre (pedestrian market street)
    * parc montsouris
    * cité universitaire (university housing campus with buildings in various styles of architecture)

15th arrondissement: porte de versailles and aquaboulevard
    * porte de versailles exhibition center and the palais des sports
    * musée bourdelle
    * musée pasteur
    * aquaboulevard (europe's largest waterpark)

16th arrondissement: passy and trocadero
    * passy neighborhood
    * passy cemetery
    * palais de tokyo
    * musée marmottan monet
    * maison de balzac
    * fondation le corbusier
    * jardin d'acclimatation (amusement park for small children)
    * parc des princes (stadium and concert venue)
    * maison de radio france
    * musée baccarat
    * musée clemenceau
    * musée galliera

17th arrondissement: batignolles and place de clichy
    * batignolles neighborhood (former stomping grounds of artists including emile zola and edouard manet)
    * parc monceau
    * place de clichy

18th arrondissement: montmartre and pigalle
    * montmartre neighborhood
    * sacre-coeur basilica
    * montmartre cemetery
    * place des tertres
    * le moulin de la galette (real windmill, and the subject of a painting of the same name by renoir)
    * dali museum
    * le moulin rouge and the pigalle red light district
    * la chapelle: "little jaffna" (sri lankan district)
    * barbes and la goutte d'or neighborhoods (african and north african districts)

19th arrondissement: buttes-chaumont and la villette
    * buttes-chaumont park (a former limestone quarry that was transformed into a sprawling, romantic-style park)
    * canal de l'ourq
    * parc de la villette and la cité des sciences (science and industry museum)

20th arrondissement: belleville, père lachaise and bagnolet
    * père-lachaise cemetery
    * parc de belleville
    * belleville neighborhood
    * gambetta and bagnolet neighborhood (birthplace of edith piaf)
    * la flèche d'or (famous nightclub)