Tips and tidbits (page 2)
The daily blog: short notes, oddities and everything else.
French linen: A Noble Cloth
“It is she with the flaxen hair who conquered my heart, she with the gentle laughter that trips like a merry stream through glen and prairie.
Sexy French Lingerie
No self-respecting Parisian woman skimps when it comes to lingerie. Instead of saying a Parisian ‘se sent bien dans sa peau’ or feels ‘good in her skin’ one could just as easily say that she feels…
Traveling with your cat or dog to Paris
Bringing your cat or dog to France is much less of a hassle than many other countries.
Electric Cars in Paris: Can Blue and Green Merge?
These are heady days in France. Never have I heard the word ‘bling-bling’ repeated in so many French conversation, followed by, and ‘What does ‘bling-bling’ mean anyhow?
Oddest Car at Paris 2008 Car Show
What will be the oddest cars at this October’s Paris Car show? I’m ready to place bets on the QUICCI, Netherland’s contribution in the quest for fun and practical electric cars.
France's Sexy Grandmas
Move over Jane Fonda. While,Jane Fonda has been humbled into doing anti-wrinkle cream advertisements on French TV, you can watch Line Renaud work her magic charm on Guy Bedos in the film ‘Une Famille…
September: Think Apple Expo!
What better time to be in Paris in September than for the annual Apple Expo Remix ? This year's Apple Expo begins on September 17th through to September 20th '08.
12 Vauban fortifications win Unesco World Heritage Acclaim
World Heritage Sites normally conjure of images of jaw-dropping natural beauty – or architectural feats like the Taj Mahal and the Egyptian pyramids wrought by thousands of anonymous hands, yet, now…
That Quirky 2CV: The Little Engine that Could!
At first glance, the 2CV may look flimsy, or downright weird , but far from it. These cars were designed exactly sixty years ago to be practical.
Paris Tourism Week: Paris Smiles For You - or Tries!
We are in the midst of Paris Tourism Week (which began July 5, 2008 and will continue through July 14, Bastille Day, '08). The 'event' has expanded from Paris Tourism Day last year.
Smallest Cars in Paris
Thirty years ago, Paris used to have tons of small cars. For the past twenty years we've been renting or leasing cars, and each year the Peugeot models have added more length and breadth.
Gay Pride Parade 2008
Paris Girl wishes U were here! French former minister of culture Jack Lang chats with Henri Chapier at Place Denfert Rochereau before the parade gets underway.
Caught in Quicksand - Day 4: Mont Saint Michel
Adventure travel is closer to Paris than you think. It takes only 3 1/2 to 4 hours to reach Mont Saint Michel in Normandy. It's located approximately 225 miles to the west of Paris.
Six Days in France: Day Three-Afternoon
Right Bank:Hotel de Ville and St. Gervais-St. Proteus Church Even though the Rodin Museum is located on the Left Bank, its central location makes it easy to reach a number of different neighborhoods…
Six Days in Paris- Day Two
Day Two - Museum Day After a refreshing (?) sleep - everyone is totally recovered from jet-lag. Of course this isn't true, but we will attack two museums today: The Musee d'Orsay and the Louvre.
Jetlag in Paris
Jetlag can make your first day, or first two days in Paris difficult, especially if you're flying from west to east. There are different schools of thought about how one should handle the first day.
Fete de la Musique - June 21st
With over a hundred different music events and concerts, hundreds of bars and cafes offering live music, this is a night (like Museum Night) when you'll want to do a little advance planning.
French National Treasure: Friendship
Paris has the reputation as being one of the most beautiful cities in the world with the most inhospitable residents. Whether it deserves this label or not is still up for discussion.
Yves Saint Laurent Funeral
Yves Saint Laurent died this past Sunday, June 2, 2008. His funeral brought out hundreds on Rue St. Honore this Thursday afternoon. Even though the St.
Guided Walking Tours
Marc Soleranski offers culturally indepth tours to carefully chosen Parisian landmarks that are often unavailable for public viewing without an accredited guide.
How Green is Paris?
Paris may count 500,000 trees in its parks , gardens, and along its avenues, but the city still has a ways to go before becoming an ecologically correct city.
How to Impress a French Woman
Hey, Super Bowl fans! If you're arriving here as a result of Google's "love story" ad during the Super Bowl, welcome. Or, bienvenue .
Sending Postcards from Paris
If you're just learning French, one of the most intimidating experiences can be going to the Post office or 'le bureau de poste'.
Swearing in French: Pschitt never sounded so sweet
You know how sometimes there's just no stifling a laugh, even when you know you're the only one who thinks something's funny?
Paris's Top Fifty Museums
GEO Magazine released a special edition this year of Paris's fifty most beautiful museums . If you read French, beg, borrow, or steal a copy of this special edition .
Two Days in Paris
I'm not sure which is more frustrating - just one day in Paris - or two days. First thing you'll want to do is make sure those two days don't happen to be a Monday and Tuesday.
French Dinner Talk
You may recall in a previous post that I discussed the wonderful meanderings of French dinner conversation.
Olympic Flame in Paris
The Olympic Flame arrived in Paris via Gare du Nord - the same way many British visitors would arrive via Eurostar (It would have been really something if rather than arrive by train - the runners…
La Blue Car - France's Hope for an Electric Car: Nipped in the Bud
You'll remember in a past post I raved about La Blue Car prototype : Designed by a Frenchmen, built in partnership with the company Bolloré?
Je ne suis pas 'Une Petite Anglaise': Blogging dangerous to your marital bliss?
The eve before catching my train into Paris from Normandy, one of our neighbors carefully pulled me aside and handed me a copy of this past Sunday Times (February 17the) 'My Online Liaison Dangereuse…
Malaise in Paris
The word for discomfort, or uneasiness in French is 'malaise'. There are many reasons I love France and one of its most endearing attributes can be the seemingly lack of logic - at least on the…
Kids remembering kids
President Sarkozy wants school kids to remember the 11,000 French-Jewish school kids who were deported during World War II.
St. Valentine and France's Kissing Capital
Paris may be considered one of the most romantic capital cities in the world, but if you're looking for kissing connoisseurs, you'd better head south to Roquemaure in the Gard region.
Is there rioting in Paris?
No. Currently (February 8, 2008), taxi drivers and cashiers have recently staged strikes, but Paris remains a primarily peaceful city.
Paris in Pink
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2008 Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2008 Springtime in February?
Groundog Day in Flight
Groundhog Day, I discovered, is a great day to fly to Paris - or anywhere for that matter -because chances are you can definitely get the feeling that your in the movie Groundhog day.
BootsnAll's new interactive Paris map
We are still working on a really cool interactive Paris map for Paris Blog, but until that’s complete we’d like to turn your attention to a new and really useful one in the updated Travel Guides…
Star Gazing: Best Actress Academy Award for Marion Cotillard?
La Vie en Rose or 'La Mome', Oliver Dahan's film about the life of French singer Edith Piaf was released on Februray 14, 2007 in France.
La Blue Car: The Electric car that runs for 250 km!
It will keep going for 250 km before you have to recharge. It would cost you about 1 Euro to drive 100 km and you could buy this sweet car for about 15,000 Euros by 2009 IF Bollore group finds a…
Election Fever in March: Let the Race Begin
This year March (2008) is bound to roar in like a lion, at least on the political front because Paris is up for grabs.
Paris's Mayor Proposes 'Autolib'
The City of Paris's bike rental program called 'Velib' has met with such resounding success that Paris's mayor Bertrand Delanoe has proposed a comparable short term car rental service called…
When Diamonds are Not a Girl's Best Friend
Although Parisians have an affinity for gold bangles, one thing you won't see quite as often are ostentatious diamond rings. That may have something to do with Marie Antoinette.
Where is Raimundo Querido?
Postscript to the Dakar Rally. Not only the Dakar Rally has been thwarted in starting its race.
Looking for Mr. WiFi in paris
You can tell I've been hanging out in Paris too long, because when it comes to Wi-Fi, I overlooked the most obvious: McDonalds. What could make more sense?
Rude Parisians: Are you sure they're Parisian?
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 Old cliches die hard, but I came across a comment today from Nigel Grate on the site Photo.net (A Photographer's Guide to Paris) which really floored me: You can look…
Goodbye Halloween!
Halloween has come and gone to Paris in more ways than one. The gatekeeper at Castel's assured me that, "No one EVER wears comes here dressed in costumes" (Halloween or no Halloween).
Ten Good Reasons to Visit Paris in the Fall
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 1. Cheaper air faires. 2. Theaters and opera season begins 3. That rare species the 'Parisian' can be seen in the outdoor markets. 4. Fall flowers in the parks. 5.
To Bio or Not to Bio
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 The organic food business (and I do mean mean business) is referred to as 'bio' or biologique in French, and one of the best known 'bio' markets is the Sunday morning…
Health and Well Being in Paris
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 Apart from La Boheme, there is nothing romantic about ill health.
Free Wifi in Paris
Keep in mind that rather than paying for WiFi access in train stations such as Montparnasse, you can walk next door to the Bibliotheque Van Damme at 80, Avenue du Maine for free WiFi access.
Accordeon Music in Paris
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 Mark September 28th, 2007 on your calendar for accordeon music on Rue Daguerre. Here's the scoop: Bonjour à toutes et à tous ! Patrick revient ! Avec son accordéon !
Bicycling in Paris: How Safe is it?
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 Today's Le Parisien devotes several stories to the venerable bicycle and its new status - thanks to the City of Paris's experimental 'Velib' short-term bike rental…
Rugby- and the game continues for France
France beats Ireland tonight: 25-3 at Stade de France. Even if you aren't following the Rugby World Cup, a win for France has to be a good thing for even the tourist who has no interest in sports.
The Blind Taggeur in Paris
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 Graffiti in Montmartre You've probably seen his braille tags on the net if you haven't seen them on location at the Palais du Chaillot. 'The Blind, Did you see (him)?
Paris Travel TV Programs to Watch When You Want
People who really love to travel are always looking for an escape between vacations.
Paris Shopping: Just My Size - or Almost
If you plan on shopping in Paris, you might find the system of sizing for shoes and clothes to be confusing. I've ranted in the past about the myth of a global culture when it comes to the consumer.
Modi, Mon Amour!
Part of being in Paris is rediscovering the artist who has always whispered to you. In my case, that would be Modigliani. Our paths continue to cross -even though he died in Montparnasse in 1920.
Rugby World Cup Countdown in Paris
Getting in the mood for partying? The normally sluggish return to Paris for 'la rentree' or back to school should take on a whole new attitude.
Ou est le 'post office'? Postal Services in Paris
In Paris, the post office, the 'bureau de poste' or 'La Poste' is also referred to as the PTT. The mailboxes are bright yellow.
High Five! C'est So Paris
It's not every day that Le Parisien takes its hat off to an Anglophone website wooing English-speaking tourists, so 'Chapeau' or 'Hats Off' to C'est So Paris.com for its How to Speak Parisian videos…
Top Ten Things I hate about Paris
comstock.com Not that I love you any the less for it, but nobody's perfect, not even Paris: 1. Professional beggars using kids,dogs or cats as props. 2.
Bicycle Friendly Cities: London Follows Paris's Lead?
Inspired by Paris's Velib bike leasing program, London will try out a similar program according to Londonlogue.com. News.
B&B in Paris
B&B from all-paris-apartments.com Is it too good to be true? I came across this offer of a 'Chambre d'Hote' or B&B today for 27.95 Euros per person for a two-person flat in a 19h-century building in…
Le Gros Lot: 600 Kilos of Cocaine
Yes, the French police have done it again. Add this bit of vocabulary to your French vocabulary basket : ' Le Gros Lot' which translates as 'The Big Win' from whence we get the word Lottery.
More French slang
As promised in yesterday's post on French slang, here is the bawdier level of French slang: the contrepet , or contrepeteries I never heard of 'Contrepet' or 'Contrepeteries' until we spend time as…
French Slang: A truc by any other name is just ...
A truc by any other name is just a 'yoke' - according to Sean over at Irelandlogue.com Aren't I devious? You'll have to check out ' yoke' to find out what a 'truc' is - unless you know already.
Need to Know:How to Dress for a Presidential Campaign
From the site: www.jakouiller.com The Big 'C' was never an issue in France What can Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama, John Edwards, and whoever the Republicans decide to put forth- learn from Segolene…
Don't Be Shy!
Paris Blog Readers, no need to be shy! Maybe English isn't your first language, so what? You can still leave a comment.
Free Wi-Fi in Paris
Living with my great-aunt Hugette in Paris gave me a fabulously spacious Paris apartment to stay in, delicious meals and lively conversation—all while allowing me to spend my student budget on food…
Do Parisians shop at outlets?
Yesterday's Sunday NY Times (July 15) Amy Cortese in "Outlet Shopping the European Way" covered the forays of outlet shopping companies such as Value Retail Managment into the European market place -…
Pampering in Paris
There's skincare and there's skincare. If you know that 'lait' is more than milk you drink, then you've been around the skincare block. Parisgirl admits she's not the authority on this topic.
Gaining French Respect
What do Barbara Streisand and retired Republican congressman Amo Houghton from Corning NY have in common?
Paris with Expats
Sometimes when you end up in a city like Paris, you wish you had the time and energy to go beyond the usual 'Top Ten'.
Embassies and Consulates in Paris
Because Paris is the capital of France, you'll find an embassy for every country in the world somewhere in Paris.
When All France Celebrated the 4th of July!
4th of July, 1918. Although World War II is ever-present in the minds and media of America, it's really World War I that had the greatest impact on France - for generations.
The 30 minute free ride
GPS display for bikes at FNAC and more cycling gear. Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 Velib is the new bike rental system that will hopefully be a handy alternative to sore feet.
Stuck in the Sound, Stuck in Montparnasse
If you had any doubts about Montparnasse being stuck in the past, you would have changed your mind last night during the Fete de la Musique with a mere 10,000 gathered at Place Denfert Rochereau for…
Fete de la Musique
Jean-Pierre playing Breton bagpipes Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 It's about half past midnight and maybe time to think about which club one wants to be in tonight to celebrate Fete de la Musique…
Owning Land in France - Not so Cool
There's a big difference between owning land and owning real estate in France. Land just isn't very profitable.
Growing Old in France - Not so Cool
Maybe you remember the story of the French woman who lived well over 100 years old (her 120s, I believe).
Do you need to speak English to become a Formula 1 star?
Alexandre Premat, interviewed in yesterday's Aujourdhui newspaper will be competing in today's Le Mans 24 Hours.
Get Ready for the Fete de la Musique
The longest day of the year - June 21st- and the Fete de la Musique is just around the corner (next Thursday) so you'll want to make sure and get on your dancing shoes and hit the streets.
Buying a Car in France
First of a word, a word to the wise on buying cars advertised over French-focused internet sites: If you see a car that looks like an amazingly good deal - it may be too good to be true, according to…
Chat with a Romany
It's not the first time we've spoken, but it's been a few years. Nevertheless the slight woman with the light brown hair always tied in a ponytail is always there at her post - the entrance to the…
More on Defense Minister Herve Morin in Thiberville, June 6, 2007
Defense minister Herve Morin will be running in the legislative elections today (June 10th) (He must win these elections for his elected post as deputy for the region before he can then hand the post…
Happy Women? The secret to a booming economy?
During defense minister Herve Morin's meeting with the region's voters, he compared France's economic growth statistics with those of Holland. Holland has about the highest in Europe.
The Rolling Stones are Back in Town
Is there anyplace the Rolling Stones HAVEN'T BEEN? They'll be back in this town on June 16th (actually St. Denis, not Paris) at the Stade de France. Tickets start at 80 Euros.
"Nothing but the Facts, M'am"
In a recent post, “Nature vs. Naturisme”, I had made mention of female French newscasters dress code which is quite a bit more relaxed than in the US (and a number of other countries outside of…
For the Want of a Plumber
Graphics from: www.plumberfinder.us Open Letter to the Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë: For the want of a plumber, a city was lost.
St. Amende et St. Flic
If you decide to take a road trip from Paris to visit 'les provinces' or the provinces as anyplace outside of Ile-de-France is called by the Parisians, you'll want to keep an alert eye open for speed…
How 'Waterproof' is your Beret?
The chances of seeing a Frenchman wearing a beret in Paris - are probably about the same as bumping into Matt Damon or Brad Pitt on their way home from the Cannes film festival.
Culture Shock
Yes, it is real. And you may not realize that it's happening to you. The feeling is something like driving the wrong way on a one-way highway and wondering why all those cars are driving the wrong…
Day 6-Day 7 of the First 100 Days
Alain Juppe will be spearheading the discussions about global warming, sustainable fuels, maybe eventually? cars using sustainable fuels, pollution . . . and last but not least nuclear power.
Defiscalisation - Now there's a mouthful
Try to say that three times fast as you eat your Sunday croissant (Day 5) of the first 100 days. Is Nicolas Sarkozy jogging today - or practicing sprints.
Day 4 and Day 5 of the first 100 Days
You have to give France's new president, Nicolas Sarkozy credit for picking a Minister of Foreign Affairs - Bernard Kouchner - who not only comes from an opposition Socialist party - but also admits…
Paris: All Washed Up?
“Paris is finished!” Francois says as he tears into a plate of choucroute. “Yes, I am a Parisian. I have my business in Montmartre, but Paris that I know is gone.
Nuts and Bolts, and WD-40
"For the want of a nail, a kingdom was lost." This is one of my favoite quotes. So, where do you find things like WD-40 or duct tape in Paris? "La bouffe" Food!
Bon Anniversaire!
Colette's Birthday Cakes.com This cake takes the cake! In France, Happy Birthday translates as "Bon Anniversaire!" It is the tradition here that the birthday 'boy or girl' provides the champagne and…
May 1st
May 1st is a public holiday in France,comparable to Labor Day in the U.S. You'll also see Lilies-of-the-valley being sold throughout France.
Paris Talk
Feel like talking about Paris? Nonstop. I dropped into the forum at Slow Travel.com and found plenty of lively conversation about tea salons, neat boutiques, and much more.