Paris - The last time you even dared to think about going to Paris I'd bet the reason you picked not to go, right off the top of your head, is because you couldn't afford it, right? Likely as not you've been listening to rumours about how expensive it is in this, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. To those rumours I can only say you'Il have to decide just how expensive you want it to be and go from there. If you decided to eat out in Whitby you could make a choice anywhere from"a $30 meal at an excellent restaurant to a quicky snake for under a dollar at one of the local drive-ins. Well the same holds true here in Paris. In fact, they even have a McDonalds and the prices are about the sarne except a large soft drink costs 50 cents and they offer deliciously cold French beer (draft) for the same price. The secret to getting by reasonably in Paris or any city is simply to shop around and keep a cool head. You can pay over seven French Francs for a hot dog (about $ 1.75) or you can buy a cold beer, some fresh fruits and cheese at one of the many curbside stands and come out with ihe same price but twice the nutrition. Still not convinced? Okay let's talk about accommoda- tions. A hotel room in a reasonably good hotel five blocks from the Arc de Triomphe right in the heart of Paris cost S11 for the night for two people with a continental break- fast included. The breakfast consisted of fresh croissants, jam, butter and tea or coffee. When was the last tirne you heard of getting a hotel room in Toronto for that little? Renting a car in Paris can be expensive but if getting around to see ail the attractions is the only important factor then by all means go by the underground railway r the Metro. A book of ten tickets will cost you about $2.50 and one ticket will take you the limit on most lines. The underground has stations within close walking distance of most of the sights worth seeing and you need only to con- sult a map of the system to plan your day to see the most of Paris on the least amount of tickets. The cost for two of us taking the Metro all over Paris for three days amounted to only $5.30 which is a bargain for the amount of travelling we've done. If you decide to rent a car you'll Open.7 doys a weelc Maple Lef RESTAURANT 20 BROC% ST. N. WHITBY - TEL.: 668-9461 belicious Caaodion and Italian Dishes BROOKLIN-WHITBY M.H.A. REGISTRATION SPECIAL NOTE!! A social security number is required for ail boys playing in O.M.H.A. Hockey. Application forms may be obtained from any post office. find the driving is easy and there is always a place to park your car, everi near such places as the Eiffel Towcr, th Louvre•-or the Arc de Triomphe. Paris is a very flexible city in that It can be just as beautiful and romantic at night as It can in the daytime It is a real pleasure to walk the streets late at night and not have to worry about being mugged or bothered by pan- handlers. Criminals are treated rather differently in France in that they are considered guilty until proven innocent and maybe this is the detterent but whatever it is the policemen seem relaxed and except for the odd speeding car any law- lessness taking place must be well hidden from what I have seen so far. Opening and closing hours of shops, especially grocery stores, seems confusing and the times you expect then open they're not and when you've given up and decided to take a walk you may discover many of the shops closed earlier in the day now open and doing a good business. August is a funny month to shop in Paris anyway because many Frenchmen simply close up shop, for two weeks toa month and go on vacation. Pubs or bistros are open much longer than in Englarid and once open they don't close up until the end of the evening. I found it very difficult to adjust to England's way of closing their pubs in the middle of the afternoon for a few hours and then reopening them around 6 p.m. Before you think I have an insatiable appetite for booze HoD WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1975, PAGE 5 I will tell you that often the pubs and bistros are thebest places to get home cooked and reasonably priced meals. My American habits are doing me in here in Paris be cause the French don't snack and consequently there are . few snack foods in the grocery stores. Like the natives, you are expected to eat meals at the proper times and that should do you until the next mealtime. Although 1 have seen little drunkness I'm told that France has one of the highest rates of alcoholism in the world and it is very easy to drink wine anywhere and anytime. Paris is often considered the fashion centre of the world but Parisians haven't proven it to me by the clothes I have seen them wearing since my visit. They seem to wear just about what you might find in any city except I have noticed ihere are a lot of men who carry purses. It's difficult to tell you of the many things there are to see here but do yourself a favour and resolve to some day visit this city where the barges ply the Seine constantly, where the public washroom facilities are shared by men and women and where ancient churches such as Notre Dame abound in profusion. In one day you can be thrilled, shocked, awed and moved to romance ail within the con- fines of a city which has seen revolutions, wars and more history than Canada will see in the next 500 years. And as I sit here enjoying this marvellous weather in a fascinating city I know the French wouldn't want Paris any other way. Who canarguewith that? ) A PLACE: BROOKLIN ARENA IROQUOIS AR ENA Sat. 13th & 20th, Sept. 1975 10:00 A.M. tili 1:00 P.M. $39,; 00 per player $70.00 for two $85.00 per family All-Stars $25.00 extra PENALTY FOR LATE REGISTRATION - $5.00 DATE: TIME: FEES: m