American intellectuals (and lesbians, of course!) like Gertrude Stein, Djuna Barnes, and Janet Flanner sure knew what they were doing when they flocked to Paris in the first half of the 20th century, making Paris a name in lesbian travel.

What's not to love, meandering through these gorgeous streets, rich in history and architecture? One of my favorite Parisian pastimes is sitting at an outdoor table of a small café drinking a Monaco or café crème while checking out the stylish Parisian demoiselles as they carelessly saunter along the cobblestone sidewalk looking better than I ever could, ever with hours of preparation and a personal stylist!

The heart of Gay Paree is in the Marais, a gaybourhood located in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements (districts). While you’ll always see more queer boys than girls, there is still a fair number of lesbians around, drinking, eating and smoking (yes, they still smoke in Paris, and even though it’s not politically correct to say, these girls look sexy partaking in that naughty, naughty habit.) Parisians are all about living the good life… long, late dinners filled with much conversation, debate and laughter. It’s not unusual to still be in a restaurant enjoying a last glass of Bordeaux after midnight and not hit any bars afterwards.

All the same, there are a number of lesbian bars and clubs across the city, with some of them located in small 17th century stone buildings (wait 'til you try the stairs to the basement in those spots!) and others are bigger and in more contemporary spaces.  While a few of these clubs are in the Mariais, a lot of the lesbian hotspots are located all over the city, which makes it a bit tough to bar hop.  No matter where you go, take the metro.  Not only is it cheaper than taxis, but it's often easier as well.  Hailing a taxi in Paris in the evening is like trying to hail a taxi in New York during a rain storm-- virtually impossible. 

If it's the daytime, you may want to try out Paris' new bike loan system, called "Velib."  Launched in July 2007, Velib is a mix of the words "velo" (bike) and "liberté" (liberty) and that's exactly what it offers.  More than 10,000 bikes are parked at stations all over town.  You can pick the bike up at one spot for a small fee and then drop it off at any other station you want across Paris.  It's cheap, easy-to-use and available to Parisians and tourists alike with all of the information to use this service offered in eight languages.  One note though, they're meant for short rides to take you from point A to point B and become more expensive if you want to leisurely ride around Paris for the day.  All the same, it's a great initiative from Paris' Socialist (and openly gay!) Mayor Bertrand Delanoe.

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