Metro iPhone app alternatif

If you don't own an iPhone (or better said if you're not owned by an iPhone) and hence don't have the handy iPhone application from our last post, you can use the online interactive metro-map. (you can use it on any mobile device that lets you brows websites)
Mark the starting station and your end point and the site gives you the best way to go with the time it will take, the cost etc.
It's very complete and easy to use. Only drawback is that it's in French only at least i was not able to find a menu where you can change the language.
The main information site of RATP comes in several languages.

Paris Metro iPhone app

For a limited period the iPhone/iPod Touch application Metro Paris (licensed by RATP) is available at the iTunes store for only 0,79 € instead of 4,99€. That's almost free, and even the addicts of free apps should feel comfortable with this investment for this handy tool! It can do so much more than the paper version: giving the geo-position of the nearest metro station, and showing that on a Google-Map and giving you the best itineraries.

Comes in English, French, German and Spanish version metroparisiphone.com

Secret Paris revealed

Discover the secret Paris by bike. Paris Charmes Secrets takes you for a ride, not just on any bike, but an electrical bike, that can be useful specially when you have to do the uphill parts to discover Montmartre or the less steep but still up hill rue St Jaques past Sorbonne to discover the charms of rue Mouffetard area. You could take a Vélib but then you would miss out on the guided tour that shows you around town the places you never would see otherwise. And you would probably be too caught up in avoiding encounters with cars and cursing the fellow road users.
A French, English and Spanish speaking guided tour takes 4 hours, costs 45 euro, rain and warm biking gear provided if needed. 3 tours daily : 9:30 am 2:30 pm and 8 pm (this one is 3 hours).

GoVelib is a nice little app for your iPhone* that lets you know at any time the 5 closest Velib stations with the number of Velibs and free spots to park yours. Comes in English and French. To download this free app go to the iTunes Store. (*Works on iPod Touch as well if you have a WiFi Hotspot nearby)

Beijing Airport: gateway to China

Biggest airport of the world, the Beijing Airport, is finished just in time to welcome the guests for the Olympic games.
The dragon-like design by Foster+Partners who also are behind the Millau Viaduct in France or the Blibao Metro, forms a gateway to China for an estimated 50 million passengers by 2020.

source and photo: www.archdaily.com

Paris smells good and seems clean

Eleven railway stations are currently testing a device to broadcast perfume in their undergrounds and their corridors.

These perfumes are aimed at strengthening the feeling of cleanliness, and especially to create a different and unique atmosphere.

The eleven stations are: Musée d'Orsay, Invalides, Chaville, Rive Gauche, La Verrière, Plaisir Grignon, Rambouillet, Saint-Cyr, Saint Quentin en Yvelines, Trappes, Versailles-Chantiers and Defense.

Some people will pass by to ask you your opinion on this device.

Via Anous.fr