Paris if you want to see it like a local

A new season of the podcast, a new guest, and tips for how to experience Paris like a local.

Hello folks - today we launched a new season of The Earful Tower! Season 16! To mark the occasion, here’s an email all about the new episode and what you can expect for the next six months.

So, today on the podcast is an episode with American author Scott Carpenter. We chatted about his new memoir Paris Lost and Found, but also more generally about the idea of visiting Paris like a local.

It was quite a beautiful discussion. I like the idea of rolling with the flow when you visit Paris, not filling your schedule, and allowing some time to get lost. Scott has been a Paris resident, on and off, for a very long time and it was fun to hear his take on the city.

I also enjoyed his new book, which officially comes out next week, but which you can pre-order wherever you get books. Find more info on his website here and find Scott on Instagram here.

If you like books then here is some good news: We’ve got plans to re-launch The Earful Tower Book Club - Scott agreed to be the guest next month - and his publishers agreed to do a book giveaway. In other words, watch this space, and please join the free book club on Facebook while you wait.

As for Scott himself, I learned that he and I had a lot in common. I wonder what you guys will think of the episode.

Listen to it absolutely anywhere you get podcasts. I’ve embedded it below via Spotify and YouTube. Please hit those follow buttons whenever you see them.

New season of the Earful Tower podcast

Meanwhile, the idea behind this new season is that the episodes will be based around the concept of Paris if…

Paris if you’re a solo traveller. Paris if you love books. Paris if you love gardens.

When I announced this idea to Patreon members and asked for their suggestions, there were 113 comments (!!), many of which were brilliant ideas, loads of which will feature throughout the course of this season.

Some of the most popular ones were: “Paris if you love churches”, “Paris if you love music” and “Paris if you want to step back in time” (whatever that might mean). I shall endeavour to find out.

The episodes will be a little niche, here and there, but done in a manner that anyone keen for more Paris will be satisfied. I can’t wait to share it with you.

Join us for a walking tour

Lastly, it’s Monday in Paris, which means I did my personal walking tour of the Marais this morning, as I have for almost every single Monday morning for the past year or two. The guests today were quite surprised that it was me leading the tour, so I realize I might not have done a great job of advertising this.

So, as a reminder: Almost every single Monday morning, I lead a two-hour semi-private walk around the Marais. I very rarely miss a tour, but when I can’t make it personally, one of my trusty tour guides takes over. On Tuesday afternoons, one of our guides leads our walk around the Latin Quarter, and on Friday afternoons it’s Montmartre.

The tours are excellent. Not memorized Wikipedia facts, not boring monologues, but dynamic, entertaining and fun walks around the city with locals. And even seasoned visitors usually say something like “Oh I had no idea this was here”, especially in that room above, a picture I took from the TripAdvisor gallery.

But don’t take my word for it all, look at the reviews on TripAdvisor (where our walks are ranked in the top 30 things to do out of 2,000 activities in Paris!) The latest review said that I’ve “redefined the Paris tour” which is such a lovely thing to read. Below is the full review.

“The Marais walking tour with Oliver was one of my best experiences in Paris. Why? Because he knows the history, the special spots, and secrets that you won’t find anywhere else. He’s authentic and curious—on our tour, he got us into amazing courtyards that aren’t open to the public. We discovered a new artisan on a medieval street whose shop isn’t even open yet—but he opened it for us. It’s rare and a true pleasure to find someone like Oliver . He’s redefined the Paris tour, and I will book with him every time I return to this beautiful city.”

Surely you’re tempted. You can book a tour here - semi-private if you don’t mind being with a few others, or private if you want the guide all to yourself (in which case, you can pick the tour time).

Maybe see you in Paris one of these Mondays… or, if not, allow me to at least take you to Paris virtually via podcast. Enjoy the show, enjoy the week, and thanks for being here.

Oliver