SLAS TIMES 26
Exploring the City of Lights : Dive into Paris ’ s Metro
By : Maha Atourah
Paris is the most visited tourist city .
Tourists who go to Paris will use the Metro throughout the trip . Using the metro has the huge benefit of providing transport around the city with easy access . I traveled to Paris and used the Metro , and there is a huge comparison between Paris and Shanghai ’ s metro . They both have different systems and styles , which set them apart .
Environmental Impact / Benefits
The metro in Paris has many environmental impacts and is used to get to the destination . Going around the city can cost a lot , especially if using a cab . The only time which is best to use the cab is when coming from the airport into the city . Other than that , it is highly recommended to use the metro at all times , as cabs in the city are overpriced .
Using the metro is also faster , and quicker . Especially for a tourist visiting Paris , it can be sometimes hard to order a cab , as some drivers may not be able to speak English . So , save yourself the trouble and just get a ticket for the metro .
It was my first time using the metro in Paris . The metro station was right in front of the hotel , which had easy access . Personally , I think the hardest step in the metro was getting the tickets , many different tickets take you to different places . There were only 4 machines and each had a long line . Which waiting took 5 minutes . The machines had an English section ; however , they functioned slowly , so we had to use the French system and memorize the buttons .
Now here was the hard part , finding which ticket we were supposed to take . There were police officers there to help , but they only spoke French . But then we got some help from a nice lady , and she explained the process , which simplified the process . At some point , during the trip , we did get on the wrong train , but it was very easy to change , so don ’ t worry if you do too . However , for every tourist coming to Paris . Double check your ticket , and check if it can take you to your destination .
My experience was very interesting , because I almost got a penalty for getting the wrong ticket which almost cost me ( 35 euros ). There were police officers in some stations double checking for the tickets . However , when I arrived , I realized I got the wrong ticket as I had to have two for the gate to open . We managed to get out , but if a police officer was there , then I would ’ ve been fined 35 euros . If you get caught , then they immediately tell you to pay , as there is no exception if you accidentally get the wrong ticket . The gates in the metro are open and some don ’ t close , so if you don ’ t get a ticket , you might get caught in the next station . You may talk it out and tell them you would go back to the previous station and get a ticket , which is what a friend did , but highly not advisable .