DiscoverWalks in Paris

My husband, Loren, and I had two days in Paris before setting off on a 7-night Seine River Christmas cruise with Grand Circle Cruise Line (800/221-2610), Nov. 22-30, 2013. We enjoyed the cruise, which, including air from Detroit, cost $1,800 per person. 

I had been to Paris twice before, but it was Loren’s first time, so I wanted to plan some special things that he would like. On two previous trips to London, I had enjoyed a couple of London Walks tours, so I checked into Paris Walks for a similar experience, but none of the tours worked with our schedule. Luckily, a fellow cruiser told us about DiscoverWalks (phone +33 [0] 695 388 849).

DiscoverWalks offers five Paris tours that take place at least once a day all year. We chose “Montmartre Tour: Moulin Rouge to Sacré Cœur.” Reservations weren’t necessary, and the cost was simply a tip for the guide. We were very pleased.

We met at 11 a.m. in front of the Moulin Rouge (82 Bd de Clichy, Paris), where our guide gave us some of that institution’s history and entertained us with stories of acts that have played there.

The walk was uphill, but it was very gradual, with many stops, including a few where we could sit while the guide spoke. We heard lively tales of the many colorful characters who have lived in this quaint village within Paris. In most cases, the information was not what one would find in traditional guidebooks.

At the conclusion of the tour, we were given packets with useful Paris tips and some coupons, including one for a boat cruise for the discounted price of €5.50 (instead of €13). Our guide also gave us good directions to get to the bus we needed to reach the Galeries Lafayette (40, Boulevard Haussmann, Paris) to see their special holiday windows.

DiscoverWalks’ tours generally last 60 to 90 minutes, but ours went almost two hours. They also offer tours like these in London, Barcelona, Prague, Rome, St. Petersburg and San Francisco.

JUDY PFAFFENBERGER

Toledo, OH