"We Can Fact-Check Your Ass!"
I love the above Ken Layne-ism about bloggers going after the lazies in the mainstream media. I only wish I knew how to say "fact-check" in French.

Susan Spano, the LA Times travel reporter with all the curiosity of a comatose hedgehog, must have the safest job in the world.

I didn't want to do it, but last week, when I read her LA Times piece on how to do Paris on a budget, devoid of much practical information (and with hot tips like buy a Paris Museum Pass to save money!), I just had to respond.

I wrote an exceedingly restrained (i.e. devoid of biting humor in order to give it a shot at being published) letter to the editor, and they ran just a bit of it.

Not surprisingly, they left out the advice that, when in need of really good tips on Paris, one should turn to PollyVousFrançais or TheParisBlog.com.

Here's my entire letter:

27 April 2007

Susan Spano mentioned only a single bus (the Roissybus) from Charles De Gaulle airport to a single location in Paris. Going from the Roissybus drop-off point at rue Scribe to the other side of Paris can be one pricey taxi ride.

The Air France bus goes to more locations - Gare Montparnasse, Porte Maillot, Étoile (beside the Arc de Triomphe), Gare de Lyon, and between Charles De Gaulle and Orly airports. It's plush, air-conditioned, extremely comfortable, and open to all travelers, not just those who fly Air France. It costs between 14 or 15 euros one way, and 22 or 24 euros round trip. See cars-airfrance.com, and use the pull-down menu to get information in English.

Travelers taking the RER B train from the airport to Paris should have luggage no wider than about 20 inches across, or they won't be able to fit it onto the escalators. It can be pretty much any height, but ideally, should be on wheels. Also, it's important to take precautions against pickpockets on the train, and consider keeping one's passport and money inside clothing. I've never had a problem, but it's easy to underestimate what jet lag can do to a person's street smarts.

There are numerous free exhibits in Paris every week. Some are really terrific, like the "Paris en Couleurs" photo exhibit at the Paris town hall (Hotel de Ville) that I saw in February -- 300 photos of Paris, from the Lumiere brothers' days to contemporary times. To find free exhibits, buy a copy of the weekly guide Pariscope at a newsstand for 40 cents. Travelers who don't speak French can navigate Pariscope if they know these few essential words: "Gratuit" is free. "Sauf" (probably abbreviated as "sf") basically means "except," as in, the museum is open all days except the day listed. So, "Sauf lundi" or "sf lundi" means a venue is open every day except "lundi," which is Monday. "Mardi" is Tuesday. "Mercredi" is Wednesday. "Jeudi" is Thursday. "Vendredi" is Friday. "Samedi" is Saturday. And "Dimanche" is Sunday.

TheParisBlog.com, a blog featuring the top Paris bloggers (mostly expats, like one of my favorites, pollyvousfrancais.blogspot.com), is another great source, both of cheap or free events and reviews of which events and venues are worth paying for. It also features some fun and often fascinating commentary on life in Paris and in France.

--Amy Alkon, Santa Monica

P.S. I'm guessing she only recommended the Roissybus because it was the bus she took, and felt no need to find out whether there were any other similar services. "Comme toujours!" as they say.