There is nothing better than a sunny summer day, sitting out in a British Pub Garden and enjoying the scenery, conversation and vittles. I still love a Ploughman’s lunch and have been known to swipe sips of my husband’s Guinness when he’s not looking.  So, it was with great sadness that I read “Hoist One Last Glass- Can Britain still be Britain without its pubs? “ The article in this week’s Newsweek Magazine tells the sorry tale of how the cost of doing business, the economy, modern culture and globalization, among other culprits, have been a death sentence for the Public Houses in Britain.

Apparently five close a day, and gone are the family-owned town pubs one used to find in every hamlet. Sure, “gastro-pubs” with fancy menus are popping up, but the traditional center of the community, the meeting place and scene of many peak life experiences for the locals and visitors alike, is losing its luster and centralness  so vital to the British culture.  Pints are pushing the equivalent of six-dollars and folks would just rather play a video game and order in a pizza.  Even the move to go smokeless is seen as contributing to the decline of the Public House. For travelers to the British Isles this is also a tragedy, on a par with doing away with the double-decker buses or high tea.

Prince Charles even has a campaign called Pub is the Hub, an attempt to save the local pub scene by helping rural pubs diversify their businesses. Some establishments offer post office services or grocery stores and other amenities to supplement their income. Let’s hope the tide changes and the venerable family-owned establishments enjoy a renaissance. In these tough economic times we all need a local bar, tavern or pub to commiserate, drown our sorrows and gain strength from our common cultural roots.

Once you’ve traveled by metro it’s also great to get above ground. One of my favorite things to do is take the bus… any bus. Spring for a weekly pass even if you plan to only stay 4-5 days, this allows you to hop on and off and explore. Buses have their routes written on the side, with major landmarks noted, so you get a sense where the bus is headed. Each bus stop has the entire route written on little panels inside so you can know exactly where the bus goes. If you are headed towards the Beaubourg, for example, you can pick a bus that goes nearby and then navigate to the touristy area. There is a great satisfaction in finding your way in a foreign city! Buses can be full and toasty inside too, air conditioning or “clim,” short for climatisation, is not a guarantee despite the sometimes scorching temperatures, but seats are comfy and you have a great view of the city. I’ve spent so much time in Paris I don’t need to hit all the hot spots, but I do like to see them each time, sort of a touchstone, so I often do a tour by bus on my own.

Finally, the new-ish bike program Velib is just phenomenal. I had so much fun riding along the Seine, to the Parc Monceau and around the hospital where my friend who I was visiting was treated. There are many bike paths around the city. The rules are a bit peculiar and change depending on who you talk to. Vive la France! I learned that on sidewalks and in parks you need to walk the bike or risk a fine. Watch out for cobblestones; I nearly took a tumble! You have to get a card and can find more information about the Velib program online. There are big baskets for your shopping or bags, lights, bells and three speeds that make little difference. Make sure the tires are ok and the seat isn’t wonky; like any public system there are vandals and problems with the equipment. Please do take care, Parisians do not wear helmets and it can be harrowing with the crazy tuna can cars and mopeds careening around roundabouts with no lanes. Being the mother of two young boys I stuck to paths and was extremely careful at intersections, but my friend says she just doesn’t think about it!