There is no better way to acclimate yourself to Paris and defeat jet lag than to get on one of Bike About Tours' cycles soonafter you hit the tarmac. The English-speaking expats who run the concession out of a parking garage are top notch tour guides, full of esoteric information about Paris. I credit the sunshine exposure and exercise after my transatlantic flight for negating all jetlag symptoms soon after my arrival in Paris. You meet at the Charlemagne Statue next to Notre Dame, hike across a couple streets to get your bike, and join cyclists of all levels from around the world to learn about the City of Lights. Our guide informed us about an artist who mysteriously engineered Pac Man-looking mosaics on Parisian buildings without ever having been discovered, sort of like the Toynbee tile phenomenon that originated in Philadelphia. So our city-wide exploits included a sort of scavenger hunt to find scores of these mosaics as we biked. Apparently what had once been viewed as graffiti is somewhat of a status symbol amongst city dwellers. It was interesting tidbits like these at every quick stop that enriched my Paris experience, as well as giving me a glimpse of all the sites I'd be visiting, the topography of the land, and esoteric eateries and shops I jotted down as worthy of a return visit. Our guide had a great sense of humor, a wonderful command of Parisian history, and engrossing tales to share. I bike in every world city I visit, and Bike About Tours is one of the best. Bravo!
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