Tennis, walking tours and boat rides ...

If you are a good tennis player, the Luxembourg Gardens is a great place to pick up a game. Many Americans say that they have even been invited home for a drink by their French tennis partners. But one probably needs to be a better than average player to garner that honor! (And female invitees might want to proceed with caution).

More structured ways of meeting people are to go on walking tours (they are listed in each week's Pariscope guide) and many are conducted in English. In addition, there are numerous private groups who make a business out of conducting tours for Anglophone visitors.

A pre-dinner ride on a Bateaux Mouches is a sure way to meet people with whom to tour or at the very least, spend some pleasant time. Ditto for the numerous guided bus tours offered by Cityrama and other companies. English-language guided museum tours are an excellent way to encounter like-minded people and simultaneously get a bit of culture. All of these companies are listed in the Pariscope guide available at news kiosks.

Bookstores, libraries and cultural classrooms...

Some other good meeting places: The frequent Tuesday night and Sunday afternoon readings at the woman-owned Village Voice Bookstore (6, rue Princesse on Paris's Left Bank) which attracts a lot of Paris-based Americans. Call to see if there is a reading when you are in Paris. Tel. 01 46 33 36 47.

Don't forget Shakespeare and Co. (37 rue de la Bucherie 75005) where it's hard not to fall over another person who is trying to find a specific book (which can be a challenge in this charming but cluttered Left Bank librairie). For bookworms The American Library (10, rue du General Camou) is another institution worth checking out.

WICE is a popular non-profit organization which offers excellent and diverse activities. Some are six-week classes but there are many others available where you can register for the day. WICE attracks a group of interesting people who share English as a common language although many of their participants are French. To enroll at WICE or to register for courses, contact the WICE office Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The complete catalog with application form may be acquired at the office.
Address: 20 boulevard du Montparnasse 75015 Paris, France.
Tel: 33 (0)1 45 66 75 50 Fax: 33(0)1 40 65 96 53

Cyberspace, poetry and dance...

Finally, what better place to meet other solo travellers (and locals) than at a cybercafe. The latest “in” spot is The Web Bar (32 rue de Picardie 75003 ) Not only will you find computers here but also a full schedule of poetry nights, dance displays, concerts, short films and art exhibits. M-m-m-m. Who is that lovely man at the next computer? A perfect opportunity for Journeywoman to exchange e-mail addresses!

More solo travel motivation...

If you need further motivation to try solo travel, here are a few more links you might like to follow...

She Goes Solo -- She Finds Courage Her Diary Entries Help Other Travellers Solo Travel - Solo Evenings Travel Solo But Not Alone Dining Solo in The Big Apple Ms. Biz Solo Dining -- Make it Fun! She's Independent in India Travelling Solo in Paris

Keeping yourself safe and happy...

She Deals With Loneliness on the Road She’s So Very Subway Savvy Safety Tips for Women Joggers She's Hotel Savvy -- She Stays Safe Cruising as a Solo Travel Option