Entries tagged “paris”

The way the Métro started its life strongly influenced signage in the stations. In the early days, a number of commercial companies ran the different Métro lines. This is one of the reasons why the inscriptions varied enormously, from enamel signage to big ceramic station nameplates. Sans serifs were mostly used for big signage, and on the carriages, letters were painted in a style appropriate to the carriage design. Early on, it was Art Nouveau forms. At the time, most of the transportation procedure was done manually by rail workers, from the sale of individual tickets, to the semi-automatic door closing. Later, the national rail network, the RATP, took over.

From Métro Type, a history of type and signage in the Paris Metro system.

If you have the particularly first-world American problem of trying to find your way Europe, and then, say needing a place to stay while in Paris, don't worry: My friends in the blogosphere have got you covered. Here's some good advice from people who know what they're talking about.

Cameron Marlow on planning a trip to Europe:

Going to Europe in the summer is about as much as you can ask for out of travel. Most people will tell you to stay away during the tourist season, but if you want to be there when the weather is great, you’ll have to put up with some other Americans making you want to wear a Canadian flag pin.

And Nelson Minar on renting an apartment in Paris:

If you're going to stay in Paris for a week or more, conside renting an apartment. Particularly if you're travelling in a group that would benefit from 2-3 bedrooms. Apartments are generally cheaper than hotels and integrate you more into the day to day life of the city.

I've never been to Paris, but I do hope to get there someday. Fortunately, I've got these links saved for future reference.