General information pages on www.les-kaias.com

Paris Logue

One stop travel guide to Paris

Headings Only

2008-10-23 5:14am

“The life of an artist is marked by what he extracted from his time because he made us see and then look at what we failed to identify.” Jean Nouvel “This is what you mined from the depths of the 20th century, a century that wasted away in steel, questioned the dimensions of man and [...]

Dreamed of owning a Monet? Maybe you already do. Last Chance! Closing October 26 ‘08

2008-10-22 6:53am

‘To Whom do These Paintings Belong?’ is the poignant exhibition of 53 paintings ranging from works by Matisse, Monet, to Ingres and Chardin. What do all these paintings have in common? They were all confiscated from their owners by the Nazis during World War II. First exhibited in Jerusalem, the [...]

Dog-Friendly Paris Parks

2008-10-22 5:05am

At last count, about 150,000 canines call themselves Parisians - what lucky dogs to live in this city that seems to hold a special place in its heart for its canine tourists as well as those privileged residents. If you plan on treating your dog to a trip to Paris, you couldn’t have [...]

Galeries Lafayette: Paris’ Most Famous Department Store

2008-10-21 4:00am

I think it’s safe to say that we’d all love the idea of a shopping trip to Paris - but unfortunately, the kind of shopping most of us will be able to do isn’t the high-end or flagship designer boutique kind. In fact, most budget travelers probably think they have to satisfy themselves with window-shopping, [...]

What to Eat in Paris in the Fall: Champignons

2008-10-20 9:20am

When mornings turn brisk in Paris, there’s nothing more pleasing than the scent of a ‘pot au au feu’ or pot roast simmering on the range, but the Fall season also sends us out to the countryside in search of mushrooms. If you’ve read some of Parisgirl’s travel stories, you’ll know that [...]

Paris Night Life for the Whole Family

2008-10-18 5:34am

Paris night life and family entertainment may sound like an oxymoron, but you may be surprised to know that French families rarely leave their kids at home with a babysitter when it comes to ’sorties’ or socializing. In fact, the family is probably the anchor of French culture in many ways. [...]

Women’s Forum 2008 - Deauville: Taking the train?

2008-10-17 7:28am

Get to Deauville by taking the train from the Gare Saint Lazare Station. If you’ve booked a hotel in the Montparnasse district - this is a piece of cake! Take the St. Denis/Chatillon line #13 directly from Metro Gaite to Gare Saint Lazare (direction Saint Denis). Trains leave frequently from the Gare Saint Lazare [...]

Visiting Saint-Sulpice Church in Paris

2008-10-17 4:00am

There are so many churches in Paris, many of which are well worth a visit even if you’re not a parishioner, that it’s easy to overlook any churches that aren’t called Notre Dame. But thanks to the popular Dan Brown novel, “The Da Vinci Code,” at least one other Paris church is on many visitors’ [...]

November in Paris: Photography

2008-10-15 11:07pm

While the wind and rain leaves the streets of Paris glistening, Parisians take advantage of the numerous conventions and trade shows. If you’re a photo buff, two branches of the Paris Expo are devoted to photography during the month of November. Paris Photo From November 13th to November 16, 2008, over 500 international [...]

French Budget Chain Hotels

2008-10-15 5:47am

Even though you’re traveling on a tight budget, it’s nice to know you can expect a reasonable level of cleanliness and professionalism. Two French budget hotel chains that French people often use when they travel throughout France, and particularly in Paris are the Kyriad and Ibis chains. You will tend to find these hotels in [...]

Impressionists or Prudes?

2008-9-26 5:20am

Simply shocking. That was the reaction when Edouard Manet’s painting ‘Dejeuner sur l’Herbe’ (Luncheon on the Grass) was first unveiled at the Salon des Refuses in 1863. This painting reflected to some extent the new-found leisure time of Paris’s Second Empire society in the last half of the 19th century. What horrified most [...]

Paris Erotic Museum: 7 Floors of Erotic Art

2008-9-25 4:00am

Visitors to Paris have way more choices when it comes to museums than just the standard fare - sure, there are classics like the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay that pretty much everyone has to see or people won’t believe you’ve actually been to Paris, but this city also rewards those with a taste for the [...]

Paris with Kids: The Madeline Tour

2008-9-24 5:19am

If you were one of the lucky kids who grew up reading the Madeline series by Ludwig Bemelmans, you’ve probably already made sure that your kids have become well acquainted with the spunky little Madeline in her signature yellow-brimmed hat and Miss Clavel who takes her twelve schoolgirls on a daily tour of Paris [...]

Hey, kids, how about a visit to the Paris sewers?

2008-9-23 4:00am

How many times have you thought, “Wow, I really wish I could visit the city sewers while I’m there” when you’re planning a vacation? I’ll bet you’ve never thought that. After all, who would want to visit sewers, like, ever, let alone when you’re on vacation? Well, the sewer system in Paris has been a [...]

Paris Close to Home

2008-9-22 5:29pm

You may have always dreamed of spending a week in Paris - but for whatever reason- there may be dozens of reasons, you can’t get there - at least not now. This post is dedicated to Parislogue readers who keep a special place in their hearts reserved for long, imaginary walks along the [...]

Techno Parade Fashion: Heart-shaped glasses and pink boas

2008-9-21 8:33pm

Yes. Heart-shaped sunglasses have become part of the Parisian landscape. They were here this summer, and, according to ‘Le Parisien’ newspaper, well-represented at this weekend’s 10th annual Techno Parade. Right along with pink and flourescent green boas. A little brightness to cheer up Paris’s black and gray landscape.

Early Birds Catch a Glimpse of President Sarkozy

2008-9-21 8:02pm

If you were an early bird for Heritage Days this past Saturday, and arrived in time at the Elysee Palace doorstep, you may have been one of the visitors to have met President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni - in person - just before they jetted off to the Big Apple for [...]

Paris Diet Progress Report - Day 25

2008-9-21 7:06pm

Day 25 (Seven Pounds lighter) For those Parislogue Reader’s who’ve been following Parisgirl’s ‘Paris Diet’ reports, I’m happy to say that I’ve arrived at Day 25 - seven pounds lighter. I’ve made it to Phase III of Dr. Dukan’s protein diet described in his book “Je Ne Sais Pas Maigrir” or [...]

La Defense: Casino on the horizon?

2008-9-19 5:53pm

After the sudden intrusion of one skyscraper on the Parisian landscape, La Tour Montparnasse, city planners responded by passing a law that banished all future skyscrapers to the burbs. Henceforth, La Defense located in Paris’s westerly satellite regions - Puteaux, Courbevoie and Nanterres ( Hauts-de-Seine -92) - emerged like a science fiction [...]

Landmarks Parisians Love to Hate

2008-9-18 3:30pm

Who could not love the Eiffel Tower and Sacre Coeur - two of the monuments that epitomize Paris throughout the world? The Eiffel Tower is so loved that a number of cities have duplicated the Gustave Eiffel’s inverted bridge design - including such far-flung cities as Almaty, Kazhakstan, Luolang, China and the epicenter [...]

Paris Consignment Shops vs Paris Vintage

2008-9-11 5:03am

When I first arrived in Paris, back in the early nineties, the consignment shop concept hadn’t quite taken off. In fact, it took some persistent questioning to discover the French translation for ‘consignment’ which is ‘depot-vente’. After some forehead wrinkling and shoulder-shrugging, a friend said, ‘AHHH! Perhaps you’re talking about [...]

Spend Halloween at Disneyland Paris

2008-9-10 4:00am

You might not automatically associate the Halloween holiday with Paris, but if you think about spending Halloween at Disneyland Paris, that might make a little more sense. And this year, Disneyland Paris is pulling out all the stops with their annual Halloween celebration - it’s the Halloweenmosphere! Visitors to the Paris Disney Resort (also called EuroDisney, [...]

Disabled Visitors Get a Jump on Journee du Patrimoine

2008-9-09 5:00am

This year, Heritage Days or Journees du Patrimoine is scheduled for the Sept 21-22 ‘08 weekend, but disabled visitors to Versailles will get a sneak preview on September 19th. This is the FIRST TIME for this event - thanks Christine Albanel, Minister of Culture and Communication! The Chateau de Versailles will be one of [...]

Versailles

2008-9-08 5:00am

No matter how many times we visit the Chateau de Versailles, I’m continually dumbstruck by the sheer mass of this palace, home to France’s most illustrious king - the ‘Sun King’ Louis XIV. He chucked his palace in Paris - The Louvre, and the neighboring Palais Royal - to live full time at [...]

TGV for 19 Euros

2008-9-07 9:40pm

SNCF is offering a TGV ‘Back to School’ sale of 19 Euros for certain city destination cities (such as Paris-Lyon or Paris-Biarritz). You’ll want to act fast on this one. Ticket reservations need to be made before September 14th for train travel between September 18 and October 20, 2008.

Paris Diet Update: Goodbye ice cream, goodbye gut!

2008-9-06 6:24pm

In reviewing Dr. Dukan’s Je Ne Sais Pas Maigrir (I don’t Know How to Get Thin) diet book, I promised to give you an update on Parisgirl’s success, or lack thereof, with this regime which I’ve nicknamed the ‘Paris Diet’. Regime (pronounced rejeem) is the French word for ‘diet’. The before photo [...]

Free Paris Opera

2008-9-05 4:40pm

It’s September - Parisians are back in town - and so is opera! Well, opera never left, but it’s just moved back indoors - partly. From today (September 5 to September 7, ‘08), you can enjoy FREE Paris street opera. Something’s changing in Paris opera is not only going to the street - it’s [...]

An Invitation to the President of the French Republic’s Office

2008-9-04 3:57pm

Journees des Patrimoine - 2008 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Once a year, you get a chance to look at where the president of the French Republic gets to start his work day. Thanks to the Journees du Patrimoine, those of us who don’t have the privilege of being within the inner [...]

News Flash: Keziah Jones in the Metro

2008-9-04 1:20pm

Thursday, September 4, ‘08 When? 3:30 pm Where? Metro: Montparnasse (inside the Metro station) If you haven’t been inside the Montparnasse Metro station, know that the station has a number of entrances - you’ll find a vast connecting hall with a people mover that leads to the Montparnasse train station. From this main hall, [...]

Paris Parks & Gardens: Outdoor Art

2008-9-03 2:53pm

On a perfectly sunny day in Paris, you may be loathe to spend hours rambling through stuffy museum corridors, but you don’t have to stay indoors to enjoy Paris’s art treasures. The idea of using gardens as a backdrop for unusual sculpture is nothing new. Louis XIV made sure that his [...]

Late Night Paris Restaurants: Le Quinze

2008-8-27 5:05am

Described as a ‘neo-traditional’ restaurant, Le Quinze transcends categorization. ‘Branché’ i.e. ‘hip’ minus the attitude, very democratic, the clientele ranges from the super- chic, the super belle, to the adorable couple from the Savoy region who wander in for some wine degustation by the glass. You may also recall from a past post that [...]

France’s New Blonde Bombshell: Louise Bougoin

2008-8-26 5:23am

For any of you who’ve spent a little time in France, you may have developed a sentimental attachment to France’s weather reporters, but no real-life weather reporter can stand up to the typhoon that Louise Bougoin stirs up as an ambitious ‘Miss Meteo’ in Anne Fontaine’s recently released film ‘The Girl From Monaco’. This long-legged [...]

Day Trips from Paris

2008-8-26 4:00am

Even though Paris is one of the world’s great cities, sometimes you just need a day away from The City of Lights. If you’re staying in Paris long enough, taking a day trip from Paris is a great idea. Here are a few ideas for day trips from Paris - and look for more to [...]

Paris Daily Budget: How Much Money do I Bring?

2008-8-25 8:24am

Parisgirl suggests $100-$125 per day per person (not including your hotel/hostel charges). This estimate covers the cost for a continental breakfast (croissant and coffee), four Metro tickets, one museum entrance admission, one sandwich and beverage for lunch and one main meal. If you’re extremely frugal, you can cut this down to $60 or [...]

Paris’s Super Sexy, Super ‘Sympa’ Waitresses

2008-8-24 5:01pm

Too much has been written about Parisian restaurants’ wait staff as being abrupt, rude, etc. It’s time to set the record straight. 90% of the time when you have a problem at a Parisian restaurant, you are part of the problem. First of all, be sure to ask the maitre d’ or [...]

Essential French Swear Words

2008-8-23 4:23pm

When Swearing’s Okay and When it isn’t francoise laborde pete un plomb jt de france 2 21 aout 2008envoyé par domi34 One of the great conundrums of the French language is trying to determine when swearing is okay - and when it isn’t. As France 2 television newscaster, Francoise Laborde discovered this past Thursday night, swearing [...]

Internet Cafes in Paris

2008-8-22 4:00am

Stopping into an internet cafe at various points during a trip is becoming more and more common for most travelers, regardless of age or whether or not they’d consider themselves really tech-y. But sometimes getting online isn’t as easy as you’d think - and in some cities, finding the internet cafes is the first hurdle. [...]

Cool French clothes for Kids

2008-8-21 10:26am

If you’re bringing home clothes for kids in the family, there’s no place like Paris for finding cool kids clothes - especially in September for ‘Back to School’ or ‘La Rentree’ as we call it here. Just like their Parisian parents, kids are going to school a lot more casual these [...]

Daytrips from Paris: Revisiting Norman artists

2008-8-20 5:02am

Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2008 Once you get a taste of Impressionism at the Musee d’Orsay, the Orangerie, or the Musee Marmottan in Paris, there’s no substitute for getting out to the Norman countryside to see for yourself the landscape of ever-changing light that so inspired the Impressionist painters. In fact, you may even [...]

What do Parisians Really Think About Paris Plage?

2008-8-19 9:47pm

The sand is dirty and there’s too many dog turds. You have to get there early in the day or you’ll never get a lounge chair, and those that do get there early enough will jealously hang on to their lounge chair for the whole day. With 450 lounge chairs, it’s no surprise that there’s [...]

How to Use the Paris Metro

2008-8-19 4:00am

Paris is a fantastic city for walkers, but if you’re in a hurry or the weather’s turned foul or you just want to give your tired feet a break, the city is also blessed with one of the best subway systems in the world. Here are the main things you need to know about how [...]

Weird Drug Laws in France

2008-8-18 8:26am

Visiting a pharmacy may not be a high priority during your trip to Paris, but if you do happen to pick up a cough or a sore throat on the airplane, you might be surprised to find that OTC cough medications can contain codeine. On the other hand, melatonin, typically used for jet lag [...]

IHT’s Worst Run-On Sentence of the Year?

2008-8-18 8:11am

For some of us Americans in Paris, The International Herald Tribune is a crucial link with news back home. My husband purchases his copy daily. You can find the IHT at many newsstands in Paris for a whopping 2.50 Euros (still a lot cheaper than a pack of cigarettes). Some French readers choose the IHT [...]

Paris Trivia Quizz

2008-8-17 3:07pm

Are you a Paris expert? If you can answer all of these questions, you’re well on your way to becoming one. Most of the answers can be found in the links to past Parislogue posts. 1. What is the oldest monument in Paris? 2. How long is the Seine River? 3. Why are the banks [...]

Medical Tourism: Paris Dentists

2008-8-16 8:43am

Let’s see, how many years has it been since the dental hygienist came to our first grade class to show us how to brush our teeth? You may be surprised to know that even brushing teeth is done a little bit differently in France. If you remember one of the very first Parislogue posts, I [...]

Lost and Found

2008-8-15 12:05am

There’s nothing that puts a damper on your trip like losing a camera, your wallet or your handbag. Although pickpockets do exist in Paris, there’s also the outside possibility that a responsible citizen may have carefully retrieved your misplaced camera, wallet, or diamonds (yes, even diamonds) and turned them into the Office of Found [...]

Cheapest Boat Ride in Paris

2008-8-14 5:43am

If you happen to be in Paris on a summer weekend, you can go for a boat ride for only 1 Euro. First-time visitors to Paris will certainly want to spend some time strolling along the Seine River which twists and turns through the heart of Paris. Along its shores, you’ll find some [...]

The Islands of Paris

2008-8-13 4:00am

While anyone visiting Paris would notice immediately what an important role the Seine river plays in the city’s geography, it’s actually quite possible to wander through the historic section of Paris and not realize that some of the sights you’re enjoying are actually on islands. I know the first time I visited Paris it wasn’t [...]

Free Movies in August

2008-8-12 4:00am

Claire de Lune - or moonlight is the name of Paris’s outdoor free movie series which is a great way to take advantage of Paris summer nights. From now until Sunday, August 24th, 2008, you can see a film every night for free in one of several locales set up for outdoor cinema. The lineup [...]

Weird French Laws

2008-8-11 9:00am

Every so often, you’ll hear a story about a hapless traveler getting caught by the police in some far-flung place, committing some crime they didn’t even know was a crime because it’s certainly not a crime back home, etc. etc. And while some of these people are probably guilty of something, it also stands to [...]

Free Paris for Kids

2008-8-11 8:29am

It’s great to be a kid in Paris all year round, but especially in July and August. Museums Although kids pay reduced admissions for monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, most city museums are free for kids under 12 years old. Remember this when you buy museum passes so you don’t end up paying [...]

Happy Saint Amour

2008-8-09 11:23am

Looking for the perfect wedding date in France? How about today, August 9th? La Fete de Saint Amour is celebrated every year on August 9th. It’s kind of like Saint Valentine’s Day in the middle of the summer. What could be more appropriate and a more ideal date to get married? When [...]

French linen: A Noble Cloth

2008-8-08 8:18am

“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. It is she with the flaxen hair and tranquil regard with whom I hope to marry.” When it comes to linen, there’s no linen in the world quite like French linen. [...]

Sexy French Lingerie

2008-8-07 7:58am

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 good in her sexy lingerie. It’s just another way of feeling good from the inside [...]

Ile Saint-Louis: Perfect for a Paris Stroll

2008-8-06 4:00am

While countless tourists flock to the Île de la Cité every day of every year, the smaller Île Saint-Louis right next door often gets overlooked or forgotten. True, it’s primarily residential and lacks the big-name sights of its big island neighbor, but that’s part of what makes a stroll through this little island so incredibly [...]

Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris: Where the In Crowd is Buried

2008-7-31 7:00am

I’ll be the first to admit that on my first visit to Paris, after the big-ticket items like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre one of the things I most wanted to see was Père Lachaise cemetery - in fact, my French cousins were so amused by my fascination with the cemetery (they really didn’t [...]

Add your Paris hostel or budget hotel to the Hostel Directory

2008-7-31 5:00am

If you own or operate Paris hostels, budget hotels or any other budget accommodation – or if you know someone who does – you (or they) should enter the information into the new worldwide Hostel Directory . This will be an extensive worldwide directory of budget accommodations, including hostels. You shouldn’t worry about spam from [...]

Oddest Car at Paris 2008 Car Show

2008-7-30 7:02am

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. I’m not sure it will outdo, Automobile Magazine’s choices for the two oddest cars of 2006 - the Tang Hua Xiao [...]

Exploring the Ile de la Cite

2008-7-29 4:00am

The Île de la Cité is not only where one of Paris’ most famous tourist attractions lies, it’s also the historical center of the city. It is, in fact, where the city began. So if you like Paris, you have the Île de la Cité to thank for it. The larger of the two natural islands [...]

October in Paris: Holiday for Car Buffs

2008-7-28 9:28am

Paris is the place to be this October if you’re crazy for cars. The biannual car show Le Mondial Automobile starts October 4 through October 19, 2008 featuring the latest trends in European cars, particularly French cars such as Peugeot, Citroen, and Renault. Hopefully, this year’s show will feature plenty of electric cars as the [...]

Air France’s Super September/October Airfares

2008-7-26 5:36pm

From September 1st to October 29, 2008, Air France will be offering flights from New York to Paris starting at $357.00 one way. This translates to approximately $830 and change when you include all the taxes (including a September 11 security charge).

France’s Sexy Grandmas

2008-7-26 10:11am

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 Pas Comme Les Autres’ or ‘A Family Not like Others’. I don’t get much time to watch French television, but [...]

September: Think Apple Expo!

2008-7-25 11:54am

What better time to be in Paris than for the annual Apple Expo Remix? This year’s Apple Expo begins on September 17th through to September 20th ‘08. The convention will be held at Paris’s Porte de Versailles Convention center, located in Paris’s 15th arrondissement. Some of the highlights of this year’s expo [...]

September in Paris

2008-7-25 4:00am

There might be songs written about other months of the year, but September in Paris is an excellent time of year to be in the city. Although the high season in Paris now extends beyond the summer season and includes the months of May and September (and sometimes April and October as well, depending on [...]

What Barack Obama Needs to See in Paris: Parislogue’s Suggested Itinerary for a US Presidential Candidate

2008-7-23 1:57pm

Senator Barack Obama will be visiting with French president Nicolas Sarkozy this Friday, July 25,2008 in Paris. Republican candidate, Senator John McCain was received at the Elysees Palace for an ‘unofficial visit’ earlier this year as part of a military delegation. As Parislogue readers know, one day in Paris is hardly enough time to appreciate [...]

12 Vauban fortifications win Unesco World Heritage Acclaim

2008-7-22 4:56am

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 and then, personal excellence gets recognition. Certainly Sebastien Le Prestre, Seigneur de Vauban, King Louis XIV’s Marshal of France, brilliant tactician [...]

You all ready Know how to Enjoy Paris on less than $100 a day - if you’ve been reading Parislogue

2008-7-21 1:32pm

You already know that the Versailles Gardens are free except on Sunday afternoons when the musical fountain show begins. Versailles You know that you can pay half ticket price for entrance into the museum if you arrive an hour before closing time. You know that kids under eighteen years old get free admission, as do Friends of Versailles [...]

Super Chic Paris Souvenirs for 20 Euros or Less!

2008-7-21 12:03am

Can I really afford to be shopping for souvenirs? Of course you can’t. But, on the other hand, how can you go back home, stare your friends in the face, and say, “Yeah, I was in Paris, I had a really great time - and, by the way did you get [...]

Photo Tips for Gray Days in France

2008-7-19 6:18pm

July has not turned out to be a spectacular month for blazing summer days, however a gray day does not have to wreck your visits to France’s landmarks. If you plan on taking day trips to Omaha Beach and the Americn Cemetery in Normandy (which is often cold and rainy), remember to take advantage of all [...]

Paris Hotel Selected: Top 20 European Hotels for under 100Euros

2008-7-18 11:11pm

The Paris two-star Hotel des Mines in Paris’s Latin Quarter made the Sunday London Times Online Top 20 List for Best European Hotels to be had for under 100 Euros . Hotel des Mines is located on Boulevard Saint Michel near the Luxembourg Gardens which is a great location if your a Left [...]

Sitting Pretty: Best Cafe for Watching the Tour de France arrive

2008-7-18 9:17pm

It’s not too early to start staking out your spot for the triumphant arrival of the Tour de France in Paris. This year (2008), the Tour de France cyclists will zoom along the Champs Elysees, do their final circle round the Arc de Triomphe on Sunday, July 27th. If you plan on [...]

Chic Shopping Paris

2008-7-16 11:18am

Chic Shopping Paris by Rebecca Perry Magniant Little Bookroom, New York 208 Pages $16.95, L9.99 UK Having simply nothing to wear, I was really happy to receive my review copy of Chic Shopping Paris just in time for the July summer sales – and also, unfortunately, just in time for the increasingly poor exchange rate [...]

Paris Greeters: Hang Out With Real Parisians

2008-7-15 4:00am

How many times have you arrived in a new city, guidebook in hand and all pre-trip research done, and yet you’ve still felt kind of lost and out of place? It’s almost inevitable, and while that exact thing happens to the most savvy travelers among us, it can also seriously put a dent into your [...]

Bastille Day-July 14th

2008-7-14 2:22pm

What do the colors of the French flag represent? Answer: Red and Blue are the colors of the City of Paris. And you wondered why Paris has always been considered the heartbeat of France? White, flanked on both sides by Red and Blue represents the monarchy (no longer with its standard fleur-de-lys). Originally the new republic’s flag [...]

Summer Salads in Paris

2008-7-13 10:24pm

Salads have come a long ways in Paris. Not so many years ago, you could walk into a restaurant, order ‘just a salad’ and the waiter would give you a look of contempt. Maybe we can thank the leafy diets of top models, but for whatever the reason, it’s easy [...]

Bastille Day traffic:

2008-7-12 8:29am

Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13th are already classified as Red and Black high traffic days for France’s major autoroutes. Allow for extra travel time over the holiday weekend. Note: As of July 1st, all cars must have a two items for roadside stops - a light-reflecting jacket and a triangular sign [...]

Change in Opening Hours for the Eiffel Tower on Bastille Day Weekend

2008-7-11 10:50pm

If you’re planning on visiting the Eiffel Tower during evening hours, remember that its normal opening hours will be changed for Bastille Day celebrations on Sunday, July 13 and Monday, July 14th, 2008. On July 13th, the Eiffel Tower will close earlyl at 10 pm. The last entrance to the tower will be [...]

Paris to Bordeaux by Train - First Class for 29 Euros!

2008-7-11 10:30pm

Every once in a while, France’s train service comes up with some enticing offers such as traveling to Bordeaux in the height of the summer season for as little as 29 Euros in a First Class compartment. I checked out the SNCF site for available tickets and this is not a ‘bait & switch offer’ - [...]

Tour de North Korea arrives in Paris

2008-7-11 12:20pm

A bicicyle tour being followed by Korean News called the Tour de North Korea is expected to arrive in Paris on Friday, July 11th. The purpose of the tour is to bring attention to the plight of North Korean refugees who have tried to escape the ravages of widespread famine. The Tour [...]

That Quirky 2CV: The Little Engine that Could!

2008-7-11 11:20am

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. Originally, the goal was to be able to carry a dozen eggs over bumpy fields without breaking a single egg. When 2CV drivers crossed the first [...]

Bastille Day in Paris: More Free Fun!

2008-7-09 1:42pm

Eiffel Tower WebcamI promised you that there’d be more free fun on Bastille Day which is celebrated in Paris on July 14th. The French call their independence day ‘Le Quatorze Juillet’ or ‘The 14th of July’ rather than Bastille Day. Outdoor dance parties begin on July 13th - Place de la Bastille will [...]

Paris Tourism Week: Paris Smiles For You - or Tries!

2008-7-08 12:00pm

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. I did not participate in the huge ’smile formation’ yesterday - and honestly the idea of a ‘Smiling Paris’ just [...]

12 Weird Citroen 2CV Cars

2008-7-07 4:00am

This article was written and submitted for publication on the Paris Logue by Jessica Spiegel. When it comes to automobiles, the Italians are world-famous for making cars sexy and sleek, and the Germans are well-known for their precision engineering. French car-makers, on the other hand, are primarily known for their inability make cars that anyone outside [...]

Herbie Hancock at La Defense Jazz Festival

2008-7-06 10:12am

Just one week ago today, on June 29,08Herbie Hancock performed at La Defense Jazz Festival along with Lionel Loueke, Chris Potter, Dave Holland, and Vinnie Colaiuta. Pura Fe set the mood early in the evening and Herbie Hancock arrived on stage at 8 pm. This has to be one of the most [...]

A Great American: Founding Father and Wine Enthusiast-Thomas Jefferson

2008-7-04 11:40am

Happy 4th of July! In celebration of the 4th of July, I’m spending the day reading The Billionaire’s Vinegar by Benjamin Wallace. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence of the United States. He also wrote about great wine. He left us with this proverb for contemplation: “No nation is drunken where wine is cheap.” [...]

6 Days in France: Seeing the Eiffel Tower at its Best

2008-7-02 8:31pm

There’s no better time to visit the Eiffel Tower than when you’re still numb with jet-lag. Even though I’ve saved mentioning the Eiffel Tower for the last segment of ‘6-Days in France’, we actually chose to show our visitors the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe on their very first day in Paris. [...]

Solidays! July 4-7, 2008

2008-7-02 7:00am

The annual benefit concert Solidays begins this year on July 4th. 58 performers will be on hand to support the Fight against AIDS. Included in the line-up are Hocus Pocus and The Gossip. The concert will be held at the Longchamp Hippodrome, Bois de Boulogne. Metro: Porte d’Auteuil

Free Paris: Retour de Flamme!

2008-7-02 6:41am

Serge Bromberg is back. This July 4h, 2008, Serge Bromberg once again works his magic - bringing you silent cinema accompanied by live music. The last few years you’ve seen him at Montmartre but this year, he’ll be performing right in front of the Cinematheque Francaise in the Parc Bercy, [...]

Day 6: Versailles Palace, Monet’s Garden and Montmartre

2008-7-01 10:27am

The Six Day Adventure in France Continues: Photos by Chris Card Fuller ©2008 Normally, I wouldn’t suggest trying to visit both Versailles and Monet’s Garden in the same day, but few of us have the luxury to enjoy two weeks in France. That’s when ‘time management’ comes in handy - or dumb luck. Those of you [...]

Smallest Cars in Paris

2008-6-29 5:00am

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. Still the Peugeot 206 that we drive is easy to park in tight spaces. Yet, the 206 [...]

Gay Pride Parade 2008

2008-6-28 1:55pm

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. Parisgirl arrives just before they cordone off the two VIPS ‘just for the media’. Doesn’t Jack have a million dollar smile? And who [...]

Summer Sales in Paris

2008-6-28 7:45am

Put on your combat boots if you decide to join the foray of frenzied shoppers at Passage du Havre, Metro: St. Lazare. Sale season begins the last week of June (this year (2008) June 25th and will continue through the first week of July. Actually, summer clothes continue to remain discounted until the summer inventory [...]

Six Days in France: Day 5 - Norman countryside

2008-6-27 11:13pm

Photos by Chris Card Fuller ©2008 For truly urban creatures, spending one day wandering around in the mud at Mont Saint Michel might be enough. Then, there are those of you who are eager to squeeze as much French culture as possible into six days. By lingering in the Norman countryside after visiting [...]

Gay Pride Parade in Paris

2008-6-27 9:19pm

June 2008’s Gay Pride Parade starts at Place Denfert Rochereau at 2 pm. Get there by 1 pm if you plan on participating in the parade. The parade will wind its way along Boulevard Saint Michelle, turn onto Saint Germain -des-Pres and end up at La Bastille. There’ll be three minutes of [...]

Caught in Quicksand - Day 4: Mont Saint Michel

2008-6-26 9:22pm

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. Listed as a World Heritage Site, this 8th century monastery built on a rock off the coast [...]

Soldes: Summer ‘08 - Let the Sales Begin!

2008-6-26 10:16am

Summer sales have begun, as of Wednesday, June 25th, 2008. If you’re in Paris, you still have time to find a great deal - until July 8th. These are the ‘official’ sales dates. Parisgirl is getting a late start on shopping - but my neighbor who’s already hit the sales found [...]

Free Jazz Festival: Herbie Hancock at La Defense

2008-6-25 9:36pm

How often do you get to see a jazz great like Herbie Hancock in concert - for free? This weekend, as part of the La Defense Jazz Festival, he’ll be performing along with Pura Fe, Sunday evening, June29th at La Defense esplanade. Be sure to check out La Defense Jazz Festival website for the [...]

Six Days in France: Day Three-Afternoon

2008-6-25 3:50pm

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 for afternoon visits. Easiest of all is Les Invalides and Napoleon’s Tomb, but we’re eager to visit the remains of medieval Paris, [...]

Hay Fever Alert in Paris: Code Red

2008-6-25 1:58pm

If you have allergies, be sure to come prepared with whatever prescriptions you need to combat hay fever. Currently (June, 2008) Paris is experiencing a Code Red Alert for an exceptionally high pollen count. Wherever we go, people are sneezing - in the parks and in the Metro. Likewise, mildew has had [...]

Rodin Museum (Day Three)

2008-6-24 12:22pm

Morning: Rodin Museum Even though three of us out of our group of five have visited the Rodin museum in the past, we’ve agreed unanimously to return for a second (or third, or fifth) look. If you’re staying in Montparnasse, getting to the Rodin Museum is a piece of cake. Hop on the [...]

Most Expensive French Wines

2008-6-23 4:00am

French cuisine and French wines are world-famous, there’s no denying it. And while most of us are quite content to order the house red in a Parisian cafe, knowing it’ll still be better than most bottles you could buy back home, some people have richer tastes. If you’re one of those people, and you’ve got [...]

Six Days in Paris- Day Two

2008-6-21 8:28pm

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. Because today is Friday, the Louvre will remain open during evening hours. First of all, I need to emphasize how [...]

6 Days in France

2008-6-20 1:52pm

One of the pleasures of living in Paris is the opportunity to share the city with friends. Planning a six-day visit to Paris with at least one excursion outside of the city offers the challenge of trying to sort through the myriad of possible visits, museums, landmarks within the Paris city limits and those [...]

Jetlag in Paris

2008-6-19 12:47pm

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. Some people insist you should stay awake as long as possible. I tend to encourage guests to [...]

Fete de la Musique - June 21st

2008-6-18 10:50am

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. Planning - I hate this word, especially when it comes to music. You could just wander around Paris [...]

Luxury Hotel Gets Face-Lift: Hotel Royal Monceau

2008-6-17 8:14am

Everything Must go at Hotel Royal Monceau! For you who won’t settle for a hotel room ashtray or free soap, Beatrice de Rochebouet reports in this weekend’s Le Figaro (June 14-15’08) that the entire interior furnishings of the Hotel Royal Monceau will be up for grabs during the Royal Monceau auction starting June 19th, 08. [...]

Trucker’s Strike

2008-6-16 9:53am

Today (Monday, June 16,08), traffic will be slowed down to a snail’s pace throughout France, particularly in the south around Toulouse. The trucker’s strike will be in effect for much of the day. No news at this point about how long the strike ‘Operation Escargot’ will last. For real time traffic updates, the government [...]

The Tackiest Eiffel Tower Souvenirs

2008-6-16 4:00am

I should say at the top of this post that I do, in fact, own an Eiffel Tower souvenir. I bought it during my first trip to Paris, and it’s one of those little replicas of the tower. It’s essentially useless, other than as a dust-collector, although it does remind me of that trip whenever [...]

French National Treasure: Friendship

2008-6-14 11:06am

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. Needless to say, every visitor is not going to experience the same kind of reception. If you walk into [...]

Great Hostels in Medieval Paris

2008-6-13 5:50pm

If your gut instinct tells you that hostels are bound to be in Paris’s seediest neighborhoods, far from tourist attractions, I’m happy to report that some of Paris’s most pleasant youth hostels are smack in the middle of Paris’s medieval core. MIJE youth hostels MIJE or La Maison Internationale de Jeunesse et Etudiants was created in 1958 [...]

Paris Information, Please!

2008-6-11 10:44am

During the past few years, finding the Paris Office of Tourism wasn’t as easy as one might expect. I’m happy to report that the Paris Visitor’s Bureau is alive and well with branches in seven arrondissements. If you stop in at the Office of Tourism, you can pick up a free map available [...]

Weirdest French Food

2008-6-10 8:15pm

French chefs are world famous for their mastery of sauces, desserts and their ingenious presentation, but French cooking can also offer up some surprising dishes that may you prefer to eat first and learn the names of the animals and their organs later. Here are just a few: Tete de Veau (Calf’s Head) This one takes [...]

The Woman Who Stole Louis XIV’s Virginity

2008-6-08 4:06pm

Photos by Chris Card Fuller ©2008 How did an untitled woman, married to a merchant, end up in the 16 year old king’s bed? Catherine Bellier, handmaiden to Queen Anne of Austria, Louis XIV’s mother, was assigned the responsibility of relieving the young king of his virginity at the bequest of his mother. Amazingly, Catherine [...]

Free bike parts in Paris

2008-6-07 10:06pm

Saturday, June 7th and Sunday, June 8th 2008 - Velorution will be setting up a ‘Free Zone’ or ‘zone de gratuite’ for bike parts as part of the Fete de Velo (Paris Bike Fest). The Fete de Velo village can be found near the south entrance of the Luxembourg Gardens. To find [...]

Yves Saint Laurent Funeral

2008-6-07 9:49pm

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. Roch service was ‘by invitation only’, many more gathered in front of the church services to watch the mass on a huge TV screen. Here are [...]

Nude bicyclists in Paris

2008-6-06 9:36pm

Every first weekend of June, bicycles rule the road in France. This year in Paris, (Saturday, June 7, 2008 and Sunday June 8th) many of the activities and demonstrations will be found at the Bike Festival Village created especially for the Fete du Velo. You’ll find the village near the south entrance [...]

Two Great Restaurants, Two Great Neighborhoods

2008-6-05 10:45pm

No two Paris neighborhoods could be more different - the 1st arrondissement on the Right Bank and the 13th arrondissement on the Left Bank, but after having spent several hours yesterday and today in both neighborhoods- and having two excellent meals to finish off each day, there’s no doubt in my mind. Each [...]

Where is St. Roch?

2008-6-05 9:37am

Funeral Services for Yves Saint Laurent, Thursday, June 5th 3:30 pm If you are going to pay tribute to YSL or merely to gaze from a distance at the notables who will be arriving. St. Roch is located at 296 Rue St. Honore. The Baroque church also houses the tomb of the philosopher Diderot. The [...]

Fashion for Eternity

2008-6-04 5:22pm

Today, friends of Yves St. Laurent will say a final goodbye to one of the great couturiers of the 20th century. It’s hard to figure out what place fashion holds in a world that is changing so quickly. With oil prices soaring and a large part of the world just barely able to eke [...]

France in Euro 2008 Soccer Tournament

2008-6-04 4:00am

Even if you’re not a sports fan, there’s something fun about events when the national team is playing - it’s something anyone can get behind, whether they really love the sport or not. The good news is that we don’t have to wait for the Olympics for such flag-waving opportunities, either. In fact, starting this [...]

Saying Goodbye to Yves Saint Laurent

2008-6-03 7:11pm

Yves Saint Laurent, considered by many, to be one of the great couturiers of the 20th century, died this past Sunday (June 1st 2008). President Nicolas Sarkozy, along with his wife Carla Bruni (who once modeled Yves Saint Laurent designs) will attend the funeral services at Eglise St. Roche. Services begin at 3:30 pm for [...]

Truck Strikes throughout France

2008-6-03 6:55pm

Trucks and taxis have joined in the strike that began with the began as a fishermen’s strike. Hundreds of trucks and taxis converged today in front of the Total oil company’s offices at La Defense on the outskirts of Paris. Strikes occurred throughout France. Truckers, taxi drivers, and agricultural workers are protesting the increase [...]