PARIS
O'CD - 26, Rue des Écoles - Phone 0143252327 - Tue-Sat: 11-21, Sun-Mon: 14-19 - Metro Maubert Mutualité.
Let's start directly with the best place in town to buy. No, it's not Virgin Megastore. O'CD is located on the surroundings of the Sorbonne (5th arrondissement) and is opened 7 days a week. It's basic a "pre-owned" cd shop, where you can buy, sell or trade cds. The prices are excellent, you can listen to the cds and the stock is wonderful, with singles and imports. They also mantain an excellent system for frequent buyers: every time you buy a cd (minimum 10 US$) they stamp your card. 11 stamps equals one cd free. If you are touring through France, there are adresses in Lyon (39, Rue Paul Chenavard), Annecy (2, Rue St. Fr. De Sales) and Tours (45, Rue Marceau) as well.
GIBERT JOSEPH - 26, Boulevard St. Michel- Metro Odeon / Cluny-Sorbonne
Gibert Joseph is also a huge book shop, but if you go downstairs, you'll find a big cd department, with a large variety of new cds and some interesting promotional offers. It's worth the visit, and it's also located on the "Quartier Latin", which is one of the coolest places to hang out in Paris (together with the Marais). Gibert Joseph has adresses in other cities of France, such as Toulouse (21, Rue du Taur) and Poitiers (4, Rua St. Porchaire).
BOULNIER - 20, Boulevard Saint Michel - Phone: 43269057
Also in the heart of the Quartier Latin, Boulnier is probably the biggest deposit of old Cds and Lps in town. And even though, it was one of the most deceiving experiences I had in Paris. After more than an hour browsing incessantly, I bought exactly zero cds. Yes, it has an amazing variety, excellent prices, but I couldn't find one single single I could want. This happened the three times I've been there. So here's a challenge: if anyone manages to find anything worth in Boulnier, please let me know for I still can't believe such a thing happened to me!
COPA MUSIC - 14, Rue des Precheurs - Phone: 40130328
Copa Music is specialized in black and more swinged rhythms. I couldn't find anything I could want here, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try.
DISC KING - 37, Rue Saint-Placide; - Phone 45499570 - Also on 42, Rue Rambuteau; 107, Rue Saint-Antoine; 15, Rue de L'ancient Comedie; 60, Rue Montorgueil; 93, Rue Saint-Lazare; 142, Rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine and 15, Rue Daguerre.
Disc King claims to sell the cheapest cds around. Well, it certainly does, but the selection is absolutely lame, with only those cds that are always on sale everywhere in the world. When you see one of their shops, cross the street ! Just for curiosity, Saint-Placide street (where the shop I've been to is located) is dedicated only to second-hand cloth shops.
NAVA MUSIQUE - 86, Rue Mouffetard - Phone 45870084 - Also on 20, Rue de Menilmontant and 48, Rue de Belleville (aren't the names of the streets in Paris a chapter apart ?)
Rue de Moufettard is located a little far behind the Sorbonne and has its own charm. A lot of small restaurants, a tiny fontana in the middle of a small square and this little shop of cds. If you've got time to spare, I recommend taking a stroll on this less-visited-although-near spot of Paris.
VIRGIN - 52-60, Av. des Champs Elysées.
OK, I knew we would have to come to this. Yes, Paris has got it's own Virgin but with some advantages: it's located at the heart of the Champs Elysées, one of the most charming avenues in the world. It's certainly the most beautiful Virgin in the world, with its classical architecture, a large staircase and its balconies. Listening posts will let you hear the Top 50 in France and a very well organized section of singles will permit you to browse through those "2-titres" cds that has made France famous. The book section is also very good.. The other cities that offer Virgin Megastores in France are Marseille (75, Rue Saint Ferreol) and Bordeaux (Place Gambetta).
FNAC - La Defense; Shopping Les Halles and Place de La Bastille.
FNAC is France's own Megastore. Very complete, this megashop of cds, books and related stuff has already invaded foreign lands, such as Spain and Belgium. I'm a personal fan of FNAC, and can't remember a occasion when I entered there and left without buying anything. Dedicate some time to visit at least one of the huge stores and be prepared for a wonderful singles section.
I don't need to tell you what to do in Paris. There must be at least a thousand guides that will do it hundreds of times better than me, but here are a few tips from someone who has been around a little. First, for comics fans as myself, you'll find the best "Bande Dessiné" shop in 84, Boulevard Saint Germain, near the Sorbonne (by now, you must have realized that near the Sorbonne is where things actually happen in Paris). The shop is called Libraire D'images and is opened from Monday to Saturday, from 10-20 and on Sundays from 12-19. A good and cheap place for dinner in the Quartier Latin is Pizza Pino. As I said before, the other hot spot in town is the Marais, an old neighborhood (but then, which neighborhood isn't old in Paris ? I answer: La Defense. Don't miss it as well!). In the Marais, a nice tip is to sit on a street table at a restaurant in Rue Vieille du Temple (such as Au Petit Fer a Cheval, at number 30) or anywhere at Place des Vosges and just watch the crowd pass by. For people with a little bit more of money to spend, an unforgettable treat is located on Ile de St, Louis, the smallest island by Ile de La Cité. It's a restaurant called "Nos Ancetres, Les Galois", where you'll have a meal just like the old people from Galia (remember Asterix and Obelix ?) used to have in the ancient times. Bon Voyage !
