Originally Posted by MetroPornTour

Bring a long heavy winter coat. Even by Canadienne standards Paris is cold.

The only thing I would recomend is you bring an old winter coat... one you might want to throw away.

Because in the 18th arrondissment you can find second hand stores with really great and awsome deals. I picked up a full mink fur coat for 80 euro. In great shape too!!!

By your meat at "true Halah" butchers. The meat tends to be similar to North American health standards. (True Halah butcher shops are cheaper and don't sell pork products.)

I have observed that French butchers don't think twice about cutting up a chicken and then dropping down a side of pork on the same table and using the same knife to cut it up too. (And they don't wash or sterilize the surface in between each job)

Cross food contamination is a bit of a problem out here. And don't be surprised if you notice a chief smoking in the back while he cooks your food.

If you stay to the expensive tourist resturants, it's not so bad and you will be safe.

Sorry... I'm not taking a slam. Just expressing what I have noticed.