You’ve done Paris once. Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Luxembourg Gardens—check. Now what? In this episode, we sit down in a café in the 11th arrondissement with Oliver Gee, host of The Earful Tower, to plan a “second visit” to Paris that steps off the tourist track: covered passages, neighborhood cafés, budget-friendly bouillons, cabarets that are actually fun, where to stay, and how to arrive without wrecking your first impression.GuestOliver Gee, host of The Earful Tower and founder of Earful walking tours in Paris.What you’ll learnWhy your second trip is when Paris really clicksWhich neighborhoods reward wandering (11th, 19th, 20th)The covered passages worth seeking out and why they’re specialLunch spots and coffee bars locals actually useBouillons: beautiful rooms, classic fare, tiny bills—what to expectSolo-friendly nights out (including cabaret)Smart lodging and airport choices that save time and sanityPlaces, eats, and experiences mentionedCovered passages: Galerie Vivienne; Passage Jouffroy (home to Hôtel Chopin)Cafés & lunch favorites: Café Méricourt; HolybellyVintage shopping: Kilo Shop (pay-by-weight, multiple locations)Budget dinner, big atmosphere: Bouillon Chartier; Bouillon PigalleNight out: Moulin Rouge and other cabarets around Pigalle/MontmartreWhere to stay: Aim central (arrondissements 1–11) to cut transit timeGetting into town: Consider a taxi from CDG/ORY for a smooth first impression; if you have a choice, many prefer Orly for speed and simplicityOliver’s walking toursEarful Tower tours focus on discovery over dates and statues—courtyards, stories, and hidden details. Oliver personally leads a Monday-morning Marais tour most weeks.Book: Earful Tower Walking Tours — https://theearfultower.com/the-earful-tower-walking-tours/The Earful Tower (podcast): https://theearfultower.com/the-podcast/Host’s field notes (post-interview)The covered passages are as atmospheric as promised. Highlights: Galerie Vivienne; Passage Jouffroy with Hôtel Chopin tucked inside.Kilo Shop is a fun, budget-friendly vintage stop—great with teens.Bouillon Pigalle (more modern) and Bouillon Chartier (old-school classic) both deliver on vibe and value. Go off-peak to avoid lines.LinksEarful Tower Walking Tours: https://theearfultower.com/the-earful-tower-walking-tours/The Earful Tower (podcast): https://theearfultower.com/the-podcast/Galerie Vivienne: https://tripadvisor.stay22.com/voyascape/EWLWk69bPKPassage Jouffroy: https://tripadvisor.stay22.com/voyascape/vPe_qlc-k_Hôtel Chopin:

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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