Tips and tidbits (page 3)
The daily blog: short notes, oddities and everything else.
Last Election Poll
According to the Orange/Express poll, 25 percent of those polled will wait until voting day to make their final decision.
Click Your Heels Three Times and Say "I wish I was in Paris!"
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007 If only it were so simple – but what is simple? The next few days I’ll be in transit, so I thought how timely it was to find H arper’s Bazaar Summer fashion issue in…
City of Romance, City of Divorce
In "Famille Je Vous Haime," Serge Hafez quotes the statistics: The average time span for a marriage in Paris and its surrounding suburbs is three-and-a-half years.
A Tale of Two Cities
I am reading A Tale of Two Cities this week - and am curious to know French historians' opinion about Dickens accuracy in portraying the city of Paris during the French revolution.
Living longer
You may remember that one of the most long-lived woman was a French woman who lived very well for 122 years. Today I had the good fortune to meet Dot - who is 102 years old.
French Culture - Private vs. Public Funded Culture?
Alan Riding's story (No Stumping for Culture in the French Presidnetial Election)in NY Times March 14th Arts Section stated that the French government spends 3.8 billion on the arts per year - which…
Meet the Man Behind the Camera: Spirit of Paris
If you’ve had a chance to catch a peek at some of Michel Colson’s photos on the site Spirit of Paris , maybe you were as curious as I was about the ‘man behind the camera’.
Scorsese's next project - in Paris?
You remember my earlier post - Christina's pick for this year's Academy Awards' Best Picture Oscar award was Scorsese's The Departed (or Les Infiltres as it was titled in France)?
Happy 'President's Day'
Yesterday, President's Day slipped by. Or more appropriately Happy Washington's Birthday and Lincoln's Birthday which are February 22 and February 12th respectively.
Gems from the 'Bac'
If there’s one word that will have French students trembling in their boots – it’s ‘BAC’ the ‘make-or-break’ college entrance exams that resemble SAT exams in some ways but are much more a rite of…
Today's French Lesson
Understanding humor is the true test of learning a language. How's your sense of French humor? Here's the 'Gems of the Bac' which were kindly sent to my by Huguette.
Who Has the Last Word? Victor Hugo or his Heirs?
It would have been just another novel - Cosette ou le temps des illusions (Cosette or the Time of Illusions) a sequel to Victor Hugo's novel Les Miserables (in the spirit of the Gone with the Wind)…
Paris Global Warming Conference
© 2005 Chris Card Fuller All Rights Reserved. While France and parts of upstate New York have experienced an unseasonably mild December '06, in September of '05, Iceland recorded its coldest…
Sports in Paris
You may have noticed that Paris Blog doesn't (at the moment) have a lot of posts re: sports news.
Joke for the Day
Here's a joke contributed by Ken: Two French poodles are walking along the Champs Elysees. Along comes an American mutt.
American Television in France
When good television shows come to their final season, do they die and go to Paris?
Post Golden Globe Awards
I looked for some of France's finest (the 32 French policemen on a training program in LA) in the opening shots of the stars' arrival for the Golden Globe Awards, but didn't see them - in the…
Moving Stuff?
There is nothing like backpacking. Being able to throw all of your worldly possessions in a backpack and hit the road is a great gift.
Le Pen complains about the infernal Sego/Sarko couple
According to today's Figaro, National Front leader Le Pen thinks he has a pretty good chance at the French this year - of not only creating a wedge between the 'infernal Sego/Sarko couple, but…
Getting to Paris
It's always in the back of my mind when we're not in Paris - how are we getting back there THIS time?
Bring on the Bubbly!
Just because New Year's Eve has come and gone is no reason to be maudlin. Last night we broke out a bottle of champagne (Perrier Jouet Grand Brut) just to celebrate being together.
Theres nothing so Grand as a Grandparent in France
The job of grandparenting is taken very seriously in France and there's no doubt in my mind that the cohesiveness of families has to be thanks to the dedication of grandparents who are there to take…
TEFL Courses at WICE in Paris
(c) 2007 Chris Card Fuller It should come as no surprise that Paris is a magnet for TEFL programs. Language schools are a thriving business.
Kicking the Smoking Habit for 2007
European remedies for kicking the smoking habit can vary. In France, some choose to go the homeopathic route.
Mayor of Paris and Mayor of London Take to the Tram
Is it a tale of two cities or the tale of two mayors and a tram? This past weekend brought the mayors of several major European cities to Paris for a tram ride on Paris's newly inaugurated tram which…
Answers to questions
In a past entry, I mentioned that the official Paris website www.parisinfo.com provides information for visitors in English.
Le Talk de Paris
So here's the story. France24.com on Le Talk de Paris sets a time like last night December 8th when you can ask questions of the 'leaders of the World'.
Talking Turkish (that is 'Turkish toilets')
This post is an answer to question recently asked during the Portland party about 'Turkish toilets'.
Nothing but the FACTS, m'am! Don't believe half of what you read.
Several dozens of entries ago, I mentioned the Blvd. St. Germain cafe, Les Deux Magots. It's one of the Left Bank landmarks for a number of reasons. Oscar Wilde drank absinthe here.
Discrimination vs. the 'fight against terrorism'. Are there any easy answers?
The recent measures to take away the security badges of a number of baggage workers at CDG who purportedly associated with radical Muslim organizations has created political fodder for the upcoming…
Musee 'Les Compagnons Charpentiers du Devoir de Liberte'
You could walk right by this free museum 10 Rue Mabillon, not far from St. Germain de Pres and St. Sulpice.
Montparnasse Walking Tour - November 1st
All our intentions to go for a Hallowed Eve walk along the Seine faded by about 7 pm last night.
More on Parisian Dining In
Jean-Loup Chiflet wrote a very amusing essay about dining with friends in Paris which appeared in Saturday/Sunday's Madame Figaro for Oct. 28/29. Entitled "Help.
It's almost Halloween in Paris
Several years ago, Halloween was virtually unknown in France. Nowadays, it seems like parties and pumpkin are popping up everywhere.
Also in Friday's Figaro: Segolene Royal
Segolene Royal gets flak from a specialist. Yesterday's Figaro reports that Segolene Royal has made statements about pesticides being the origin of breast cancer and OGMs having an impact on the…
November tensions in Paris
This past Wednesday, Bus 258 departing from la Defense, stopping at Clemenceau in Nanterre, in the Paris suburbs was torched. Passengers exited the bus - just in time.
Grand Palais - the show we didn't see
Thursday night, we decided to amble over to the Grand Palais to have a look at the recently finished restoration project.
Queens and Mistresses
Last week, many Parisians remained glued to their television sets for two nights in a row to watch Madame de Pompadour.
Hunting Season opens early on Parisians
It's normal when you get back to town to ask how other Parisians spent their summer holidays.
Apple Centers in Paris
How embarrassing - trekking all the way across town (to the 9th arrondissement) to find an adapter for a Mac laptop when right here in the 14th arrondissement, at 35, avenue du General LeClerc,…
Pickpockets in Paris
I love reading old newspapers and magazines. Yesterday, I was reading an early 2000 (long before the November 2005 riots) rating of Chirac's success in making Paris crime rates drop.
How to get to know your neighbors
If you were spending your birthday in Paris, what would you do? Go to a romantic restaurant? Treat yourself to a spa? Have a picnic by the Seine?
On the way to the Computer Shop
Exit Metro stop: Notre Dame de la Lorrette and take Rue Bourdelou following the left facade of Trinite church (this is the church where the composer Olivier Messiaen used to play the organ on…
Apple Repair Stores in Paris
Apple apparently used to have a huge store on Champs Elysees. When I called through the Yellow Pages (Pages Jaunes) I fell upon an Apple dealership in Clamart which is a suburb of Paris.
Is Paris the most beautiful city in the world?
It has been called that. But I notice that those that call it the most beautiful city (at least recently) are trying to sell something. We just returned from Venice.
Back to School, Back to Paris, Back to Work
Today (or last Friday) school started for most kids in France. And it looks like a large part of the Paris population has returned - the restaurants are once again brimming.
It's a Sad Day: Maria is gone.
Thomas called to let us know that Maria has finally gone. Maria was our guardian (or concierge) for about twenty five years.
Paris - The Place to 'Do Yourself In'?
Don't even think about it! But, yes, Paris seems to be a popular place not only to visit, but to do yourself in.
On my list of 'things to do'
The sun is out - perfect weather for walking in Paris - I've taken one of the Paris Walks tours (Montparnasse), but when it comes to walking tours, there's always more to discover.
Sleepless in Paris
This post is dedicated to all the visitors and Parisians stuck in Paris during the heat wave two weeks ago.
Word Cup Final: Everyone is coming to town!
It's a hot, muggy Saturday in Paris and the whole town seems to be holding its breath.
Soccer Euphoria
Saturday Night! Even in the small towns of France fans came out in a big way to celebrate France's victory over Brasil in the quarter finals.
Born Again Soccer Fan (France vs. Spain)
The sun has returned to Normandy. Zidane - will he be back to lead France to victory against Spain this evening? If so, it is certain to be the beginning of a good summer. The smiles will return.
Born Again Soccer Fan
Several months ago Court e-mailed me to mention something on the blog about France's preparation for the Coupe du Monde . Several months ago, I knew next to nothing about 'les Bleus'.
It's official-France is going Green!
That is, not politically, but on the plate. Le Figaro Magazine (Sunday May 14) announced that the 'salade verte' is in vogue.
Craig Smith writes about Paris's homeless
In Friday, May 5th's International Herald Tribune , Craig Smith writes about the Medecins du Monde (Doctors' of the World) effort to alleviate the homeless in Paris by providing nylon tents.
Update on Paris Protests
If you are planning a trip to Paris, you're probably wondering (after seeing news footage of crowds of students on Champs de Mars and riot police chasing students) whether you should rethink your…
Darkness Looming over the City of Light
A body is dumped in the outskirts of Paris after being tortured for days. I'm looking at the Sunday NY Times (March 5) photograph of a smiling young man who no longer exists.
Pig-headed Soup Kitchens vs. No More Chicken in Every Pot
Craig Smith reports (27 Feb) in the NY Times about a soup kitchen that features 'Identity Soup' or Pig Soup.
January in Paris
Paris in January is a different place from the Paris you know in the spring, summer or fall. She is in deep hibernation. There are several reasons for this.