Feels Like Home in Paris

Wine? Wine Not?

2009-12-09T10:09:00.011+01:00

The other night I was invited out by some friends to a wine bar in Montmartre. I had often passed by it on my way to my favorite West African restaurant in Paris (Le Mono), which I can authenticate as being the real deal, but I had never gone in. I believe the wine bar may actually be owned by the owners of Le Mono.

The name of the bar is Le Chai and you have a plethera of choice when it comes to wine. AND the bonus - they speak English!

So, we were 5 people, 4 of whom are major wine consumers, one (me), who just goes with the flow, but no one feeling confident enough in their knowledge of wine to make a selection. So we asked our charming host, to make a suggestion for us in the reds. We accompanied our wine with "assiette mixte" (mixed plate if you will), of cheese and chacuterie (hams and patés), and foie gras. You also have the option of a hot dish which changes daily and is presented on a blackboard at your table.

Reservations were for 8 PM and I would suggest reserving particularly if you wish to arrive after 9 PM, when the place filled up in seconds. Those in the know were walking up to the shelves around us, stacked with wine, to pick their bottles themselves to take back to their table.

It is a convivial atmosphere and a place I highly recommend visiting.

Le Chai
42 rue Véron Paris 75018
01 42 64 18 91
www.le-chai.com - site is under construction

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2009-11-28T08:29:00.010+01:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Paris. Only 4 weeks left before the big day. Only natural that the city of lights would turn up the volume on its visual displays with neighborhood holiday lights coming on, store fronts and hotel lobbies decked out in style, glitz and glamor and even our apartments starting to be decorated for the occasion.

Every year the vitrines of the big department stores try to entice us and surprise us with displays of the fantastical and darn right creative. There's something for kids of all ages. Rather than brave the crowds outside the boutiques during opening hours, why not stroll past after 10 PM (when the photos were taken), when you will have a bird's eye view without the traffic.

There's always something going on in Montmartre

2009-10-12T01:09:00.005+02:00

So this afternoon, I joined my friend Gail and her daughter Yasmin for brunch in rue des Abbesses at "Le Vrai Paris". It was one of the more "brunchier" attempts I have come across in Paris though still not the classic brunch that some of us are used to. Anyway, at the end of brunch we were just strolling through the streets of Montmartre (which become primarily pedestrian except to residents, on Sundays from 11-6 PM and on holidays), and came across a jazz band playing on the corner of Abbesses and rue Ravignan. I just caught the end of their show but this is just one of those many occasions in Montmartre that something is going on.

If it is not the fêtes des Vendanges - a 5 day festival that ended today October 11th celebrating the last existing vineyard in Paris (in Montmartre), with artisnal stands, fireworks, performances and of course WINE, or a flea market, or some form of performance art, you will also often find spontaneous acts of music outside the Abbesses metro station or walking along entertaining those dining at the sidewalk cafes. I've even seen someone bring out their piano (that's right a piano not a keyboard).

We love Montmartre, and feel that you need to live this area, drink it, eat it, and ultimately love it yourself.

The majority of our properties are found in Montmartre and we encourage our guests to just take in the local culture a bit and partake in all the goings on in the area. Who knows, maybe next time you are in town, there will be a violinist serenading you below your window in rue Lepic or maybe you will show off your talents and join in to the chorus of singers.

See you soon!

The Parisians are Spoiled!!!!

2009-09-27T17:28:00.010+02:00

Anyone who has had the opportunity to visit Paris and stay close to a fresh food market is blessed and may be thinking, "Wow, are the Parisians spoiled or what?"

I think back to countless guests coming into Paris to visit me and taking them to my nearby market which I have to admit I took for granted until recently, and having them look wide-eyed at me and say, "Is this stuff for real?" "How are the tomatoes so red?" "Look at how fresh and pretty everything looks!"

Tourists can't help but stop and take photos as they pass by the markets. It is just too surreal for some. I always thought this was funny - well I guess not always because when I was a student in Paris some years back, I too was snapping away taking photos of peaches, plums, melons, grapes, tomatoes, fish, cheese and much more. They were like those shiny magazine covers - photos you could almost eat.

But the Parisian, well he or she just thinks, "Oh, yeah, I just pop down the street to get those peaches that I forgot to buy earlier today." or "What is life without that fresh baguette."

After my first stay in Paris, I returned to New York and desperately wanted to continue the tradition of fresh produce, fresh bread and great cheese. Not impossible but a challenge indeed with a rather hefty price tag to boot. Sure there are farmers markets and there is always Whole Foods but never did I realize just how blessed I am with selection and what I call the option of "food snobbery", than when I went down to Florida for an extended visit and wanted to get some fruits and veggies (picture a sad face). I thought sunshine state right, they HAVE to have great produce, no? Well some places did but most did not. All I kept thinking was, "I miss Paris!"

So when you are thinking of places to stay in Paris, and if you love good food, you should definitely stay close to a market if you can. Not just for the food, but for the experience and buy, buy, buy and taste and enjoy because there is truly nothing like this experience.

Now here are a few of our favorite markets or market streets(keep in mind that in the pricier neighborhoods of Paris your produce will cost you more and isn't necessarily better).
Some markets are open daily and others are bi-weekly.

Enfant Rouge Market - 39 rue de Bretagne
Rue Mouffetard (metro: Censier Daubenton; everyday but Monday)
Rue Montorgueil (Everyday but Monday)
Rue Lepic (Everyday but Monday, near our Lepic Retreat, French Flair, & Lovely Lepic apartments as well as apartments around Abbesses)
Ave de St Ouen (Everyday but Monday; near Merveille de Montmartre, Prestigious Montmartre and Cozy Carpeaux)
Marche Bio des Batignolles - Blvd des Batignolles (on Saturdays)
Rue Cler
Marché d'Aligre
Saint-Honoré Market (Wednesdays and Saturdays)
Popincourt Market (in Blvd Richard-Lenoir near our Modern Living apartment)
Marché Père-Lachaise (Tuesdays & Fridays, metro: Ménilmontant, nearby Sensational Servan)

Check out this list by district (there seem to be some missing however as they are not considered markets per say but have great produce vendors), from the Mairie de Paris: Paris Markets

Traveling Know How

2009-09-27T16:56:00.005+02:00

Traveling to a destination that you have never been to can be quite daunting at times. Will you get lost? Will you be able to communicate? What's the cheapest option for getting around?

Our guests often ask us about the best way to get to the apartments from the airport or train station and most of the time, my response is to take a taxi or use a car service. Yes, the taxi or the car service is more expensive than using the metro or RER but personally when I am arriving in a city after a long day's travel (or overnight), the last thing I want to do is to contend with crowded metros and heaving my bag up and down stairs and believe me in some of the Paris metro stations there are quite a bit of stairs.

My advise is that if you have luggage that is cumbersome or too heavy to carry comfortably, get into a cab. You will arrive fresher and in good time and may even avoid some of those very unpleasant experiences that tourists around the world have to be concerned about - pickpockets. Nothing says tourist more than piles of luggage and the confused look on ones face when you are unsure of where you are going.

Once you have a feel for the layout of the city, then by all means take public transportation for your return back to the airport or train station.

But then the question comes up of how much is a taxi ride going to cost? Well a metered taxi starts off with a fixed rate and increases over time as we all know, so depending on how long the ride is, what time of day it is and how many people you have in the taxi and how many pieces of luggage beyond one, you have, the price varies.

But do not worry if this answer seems somewhat vague, I have a solution that is sure to please. The internet has a plethora of information for travelers and the other day I came across a site that is really interesting. World Taxi Meter. The link takes you the page for Paris but they also provide this service for a few other major world cities. I don't know who came up with this but it is ingenious. The site gives you a rough estimate on the minimum cost of the taxi ride from any one destination to another. I say a rough estimate, as I thought some of the rates seemed a bit low. I would say that you need to allow for a margin of error of about 5-10 euros depending on the above mentioned factors.

You provide the time of day, the departure and destination and presto, you have a semi-accurate price for your cab fare. So you can now check whether it is worth your while to take the taxi or still muscle your way through the metro system.

Happy travels!

Paris' Annual Photo Fair Oct 15 through the 19

2009-09-18T18:53:00.008+02:00

Once again Paris will be hosting a photo fair not to be missed.
If you are a photo buff, professional or semi-pro or just a photo enthuisast, you may be interested in attending this expo held at the Porte de Versailles in the 15th district of Paris.

Over 5 days, exhibitors such as Agfa, Apple, Adobe, Leica & Sony (to name a few), will bedazzle you with their latest additions to the photo industry, be it digital imagery, moving pictures.

The expo also includes exhibitors from all across the world of photography from, producers, photography schools, importers and an expanded selling village where you can acquire all the must have and have to haves of the world of modern photography.

Visit the exhibit's site at: http://www.lesalondelaphoto.com/ (click on the British flag for English).

Paris in under a week? Impossible?

2009-09-05T10:24:00.006+02:00

So you are thinking of a trip to Paris but don't have that much time or don't really want to spend that much time in a big city? Well don't despair, you can still enjoy a trip to Paris even if you just get a small taste of all that the city has to offer - besides you'll just have to come back.

Paris is broken up into 20 districts (Arrondissements), and while most tourists who may or may not know the city well, will tell you that you need to be in the lower numbers to have a good time or to really BE in Paris, we do not agree.

Every neighborhood has its charm and something worth visiting but the average tourist will not see it all - not even the average Parisian.

So what do you have to do to say you have been to Paris?

It's just not worth it to try to do everything - it's just impossible. You'll be tired, stressed and the only thing that will remind you that you were in such a beautiful city are the 100s of semi-identical photos you took and blisters to boot.

1- Visit the Eiffel Tower - well this is always number one in the tourist guides, and anyone who is coming to Paris to visit, always wants to go and see the Eiffel Tower. Well worth the trip if not to go up at least take a couple of snap shots of you (the dot), in front of the tower.

2- Luxembourg Gardens - Great place to just sunbathe and people watch. These manicured gardens are a beautiful place to spend a leisurely afternoon and if you can't make it out to Versailles, it's (in my opinion), a good compromise.

3- Cafes - no visit to Paris is worth mentioning without a few hours (or however long you like),spent in a cafe over a cup of coffee. Again another great time to people watch and just take a breathe. In the evening you can also enjoy a nice glass of wine (or beer if you prefer), and order a plate of charcuterie (cold cuts), and cheese. I can remember times when I've been out with my friends for coffee (though I don't drink coffee), at about 3 PM and have continued into the evening over rosé or a glass of champagne.

4- Visit a market - nothing tells you more about a people than their food. You may be slightly overwhelmed by the options but most markets are self-served so you don't have to feel as if you don't have enough French to make your way through and you may be surprised that the vendor speaks a little English (or Spanish or German).

5 - Take a guided tour (on foot, on bike etc). The hop on hop off bus is great and I have done them in several cities but nothing beats a tour given to you by a local (who knows their stuff of course). You can ask questions and you will return home with amusing little anecdotes to retell to your friends. And guess what not all tours are paying (though a tip is appreciated at the end).

6 - Plan at least one really good meal. You don't have to spend a fortune to eat that well but it pays to ask locals for suggestions so you know that your money is well spent. (We leave about 4 or 5 pages of restaurant suggestions for our apartment guests).

What not to do:

Don't try to go to Versailles and plan on seeing the Chateau, the gardens and the Tri-anon. You can do it, but you'll miss something and you will be daunted by the size of the place. You can always pick one of the three to visit or save this one for a longer stay in Paris.

Don't go to a restaurant just because you hear a bunch of people speaking in English - go where the locals go. You'll probably have a better meal and a more interesting experience. Rule of thumb (doesn't always apply) - if you see tourists there, walk away.

This has been just a taste of more to come. I will come back to you with more suggestions, cafe names and restaurants in some future posts throughout the Fall. These are of course my opinions and may not count for much to all, but I hope you will take a peak from time to time to see what itineraries we put forth.

Festival des Idéo - 19 August - 6 September

2009-08-10T08:51:00.005+02:00

Who says there's nothing to do in Paris in August? This is probably the best times of the year to visit Paris as there still remains quite a bit of activity without all the crowds that you can expect at any other time of the year.

The annual festival des Idéo, offers screening "en plein aire" (outdoors) at the Bellevilloise 19-21 rue Boyer in Paris' 20th district.

While the Moonlight Cinema festival is larger and more widespread all over Paris, the advantage of the Fesitval des Idéo for non-French speaking travelers is that it screens old silent movies.

The loft space also offers a digital installation for kids and the screenings. Tickets are from 4-6.50€ while some shows are free. Purchase 5 tickets for 25€. Visit the Bellevilloise site for more details.

Festival Rock en Seine - 28-30 August

2009-08-10T09:41:00.005+02:00

For rock lovers this is a festival not to be missed! Come discover bands you have yet to encounter or enjoy this year's star line-up: Oasis, Faith No More, The Offspring and The Prodigy among others.
The one-day ticket is 45€ or you can opt for the 3-day pass for 99€. Visit the Rock en Seine site for further details and dates of specific concerts.

A little bit of Jazz

2009-08-10T09:27:00.004+02:00

Jazz lovers float to Paris to enjoy year-round concerts at various venues including the Pianissimo Jazz festival held from August 1-30th. This is the younger sibling of the American Jazz festival held annually in Paris which also continues till the end of August.

Headlining is New York Jazz percussionist Leon Parker. The festival takes place at the Sunset/Sunside in rue des Lombards. For details visit the site.

What's that smell?

2009-02-26T12:16:00.005+01:00

" Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese" so said Luis Bunuel

As of this moment, there are over 500 different types of cheese made in France alone. One is sure to feel intimidated when entering a "Fromagerie"( a boutique selling only cheese). But you needn't be an expert, and like wines, you should allow yourself to sample the many varieties. And don't be shy about asking questions, the sales people are proud of their shops and pride themselves on their vast knowledge of the products they sell.

Cheese is made from three different types of milk; Cow's, Goat's and Sheep's or a mixture of them. And the taste is determined from which animal it comes from with ewe's being the stronger more full flavored of the three.

They are also grouped according to type;

-Fresh with no Rinds: Boursin
-Soft Cheeses with White Molds: Camembert and Brie
-Blue Cheeses: Roquefort ( soon to be heavily taxed in the USA thanks to George Bush)
-Pressed: Water that is literally pressed out
-Semi-hard( with natural mould or waxed rind): Saint- Nectaire, Cantal, Tomme and Beaumont.
-Hard Cheeses: Comte and Beaufort

You also have the spreadable cheese and ones made with wine and herbs.

So if you grew up on "Le vache qui rit" ( The laughing Cow), that soft, processed, melt in your mouth type, or Velveeta for that matter it's time to be adventurous during your vacation in Paris and journey to the following shops;

Barthelemy:
51, rue de Grenelle
Paris 7
Metro: Rue du Bac ( line 12)
Closed Sunday and Monday

If you want to mingle with celebrities and the elite, this is the place for you. Also known to have wonderful Brie and Camembert and the seasonal Vacherin ( Oct to Mar).

Androuet:
37, rue de Verneuil
Paris 7
Metro: Rue du Bac

This family run business will be celebrating it's 100th anniversary this year. Most Parisians know and trust this establishment and with 5 shops in the city, it's gotta be good!

Closer to home in Montmartre, you have at least 12 to choose from and we suggest the following;

Fromagerie de Montmartre
9, rue du Poteau
Paris 18
Metro: Jules Joffrin ( line 12)
Closed Sunday and Monday

Fromagerie Damremont
54, rue de Damremont
Paris 18
Metro Lamarck Caulaincourt (line 12)
Our apartments nearby: Merveille de Montmartre, Prestigious Montmartre, Picture Perfect, Caulaincourt Classique, Cozy Carpeaux

Fromagerie Bocquet
32, rue des Abbesses
Paris 18
Metro: Abbesses ( line 12)
Our apartments nearby: La Perle des Abbesses, Paris with a View, Contemporary Living, French Flair, Lovely Lepic, Lepic Retreat, Coeur de Montmartre

Fromagerie Baudu
125 rue Caulaincourt
Paris 18
Metro: Lamark Caulaincourt
Our apartments nearby: Caulaincourt Classique, French Kiss, Clair de Lune, Serene Custine

Photo 1 by chez loulou

Cold Front brings nippy temperatures and Snow!

2009-01-05T18:19:00.005+01:00

Finally, it really feels like winter!
It comes after the holidays, but Parisians and tourists are enjoying the snow which has fallen for most of the day. It really is a nice change of pace and brightens up the city.
Walking up rue Lepic in the Montmartre district today proved rather tricky and yet fun. I watched as locals and small tour groups representing many areas of the world tried to navigate slippery sidewalks and slush puddles and all the while carrying that Parisian staple....the umbrella.
Under heated lamps, sidewalk cafe's were at capacity, the crowds burying their noses in a chocolate viennoise or un creme and even some couldn't resist un kir royale, even though it was just 12:oo.
Fashionistas, never mindful of the weather, sported knee high come hither boots and mile long scrarfs( another french staple) while the young flirted with throwing freshly packed and dense snowballs at strangers and at the old, who wheel their carts with today's fresh ingredients from the local markets.
Although it's rare, here's hoping for more of the wintry white wonderland. Now go cuddle up with a loved one and enjoy un chocolate chaud.

One of Life's Simple and Affordable Pleasures

2009-01-14T13:36:00.011+01:00

As a serial wine drinker, I must admit that overall, the Frenchies are impressing me more and more with their "vin" (wine), and their incredible knowledge of it. As I arrived here from the States a few years ago, Red Zinfandel (not the pink stuff, although this grape has been in vogue now in the Hamptons for the past couple summers), and grand Tuscan reds were my staples. That is to say until I visited Giverny a few years back. On this day trip, home to of course Monet and his gardens, our driver/tour guide wanted to bring us to one of the best restaurants in the region. When he drove up to the said "resto", my friends and I gasped and then laughed out loud - we were brought to an American hotel chain with a restaurant. As we walked onto the property and were shown to our table, we all gasped again, but this time at the incredible view of the valley. It was as if an artist had painted an amazing landscape in front of us. We of course relaxed and were treated to a wonderful French meal. I asked for a wine recommendation from our waiter to go with our "entrecote" and was offered a wonderful bottle of red wine. If you ever are able to taste a bottle of Pomerol from the Aquitaine region (near Bordeaux), you will fall in love with it....we all did, and when the Pomerol was paired with my beef "à point" (meaning the meat was cooked medium), I melted, as did the meat and grape in my mouth.

As the economy takes a temporary nosedive, wine producers are actually forecasting an increase in production and exporting. And it appears that the United States will consume more wine in the upcoming years than that of Italy, Spain and France according to the International Wine and Spirit Record. In fact, France consumes less than its Chunnel Neighbor, the U.K.( quelle surprise!) Also, there is tough competition from Down Under and South American vineyards, specifically Argentina and Chile, as all of these countries produce good quality wine at affordable prices overseas. And guess what....you won't find many bottles of them around here nor will you easily find quality Italian and Spanish wines at either supermarket or wine shops.

But you're in France, home to some of the best vintages, yet, you can find excellent quality at a very affordable prices. To get the best bang for your buck$ ( or £, € etc) I recommend going to a wine shop and telling them what food you want to pair your wine with and how much you want to spend. I can honestly say, the "caviste" ( the one who sells you the grape libation) will steer you in the right direction almost every time.

The economy may not be in the best shape, but that doesn't mean you should deprive yourself of life's simple pleasures. When you visit the city of lights, you won't have to break the bank to enjoy quality - at least not for the wine.

Become a fan of Feels Like Home in Paris

2009-01-03T22:54:00.000+01:00

We invite our former and future guests to become fans of the Feels Like Home in Paris page. Share your experiences and leave comments on the apartments. Just click on the Title to take you to the page.

Greetings from Paris

2009-01-04T15:57:00.000+01:00

Happy New Year!
From Feels Like Home in Paris &
Best Wishes for 2009!

Yetunde Oshodi-Fraudeau
Joseph Duprey
http://www.feelslikehomeinparis.com

Feels Like Home in Paris starts a facebook group

2009-01-03T22:49:00.000+01:00

Come and join the Feels Like Home in Paris group if you are a facebook user. Add your thoughts questions and photos from your stay with us or in Paris. Click on the title to take you to the group page.

Feels Like Home in Paris joins Facebook

2008-12-21T17:10:00.001+01:00

Visit our Face book page and view photos of the cheese & wine tasting class. Just look for Feels Like Home in Paris in the Facebook search and become a fan.

Holiday season in Paris

2008-11-28T18:29:00.001+01:00

It has been too long since our last entry so please forgive us.

Winter is upon us in Paris and the holiday season is in the air. We just had the Beaujolais Nouveau come out and now the aisles of all the department stores are filling up with holiday candy and other delights.

Coming to Paris to do your holiday shopping? You are in for a treat. In almost every district you have several holiday stands that have popped up to offer you all sorts of goodies from dried sausages, hot chocolate, handmade jewerly and more.

A Christmas has opened up on the Champs Elysee close to the Rond Point. A treat for children and adults alike.

We hope to bring you some photos shortly of the happenings around town.

Velib Part II

2007-08-18T13:06:00.000+02:00

It would seem that some bike rental shop owners are a bit upset by the success of the Velib rentals. Though the city said it was still recommending that any longer renters go to the shops, it would seem that people are choosing the Velib route over the rental shops. : (

The machines offer three language options, English, French and Spanish. So you can have a full explanation in a language you understand. You can use your credit card to purchase a pass and the caution will be held against your credit card in the even that you do not return the bike.

So it just might be a fun way to discover the city and burn of the calories from all those pastries.

Now you just have to find a station that still has bikes.

Velib - Paris goes cycling

2007-07-24T14:56:00.000+02:00

Recently I was asked by a guest to explain those Velib stations that have magically (well not really), popped up all over Paris. Well, to tell you the truth I don't fully understand them.

I do know that they are trying to have posts every 300 meters and that the idea is to have an alternative to using your car or even the metro or bus. It is primarily for short trips and for the moment, though some sites say that it is supposed to be for Parisians and tourists alike, it would seem to be more geared towards residents of the city of lights. Why would I say that? Well for one thing the site the city created for explaining their bikes is only in French, http://www.velib.paris.fr/. Secondly the greatest advantage is to take a 1-year membership, which costs 29 euros. Thirdly, I asked at a Paris info point about the use of the bikes and they explained to me that though the terminals are also in English, the bikes are really for Parisians rather than tourists and they suggested that it might be to a tourists advantage to simply rent a bike from a bike shop or from the RATP (the metro folks), at Chatelet.

Here is what is cool about it: The first 30 minutes are free. After that the cost is

1st Half hour	2nd half hour	from the 3rd half hour
1 €	2 €	4€ per additional half hour

I think this is going to be a great thing but I agree with the tourist office that if you wish to rent a bike for a full day - this is not the option for you.

I will go and test one of their machines. I know a friend of mine tried it the other day and had a really hard time. He is under the impression that the terminals privilege those who have a yearly subscription. Once there are more active terminals perhaps this will be less of an issue.

Happy riding

I want to stay in "Central" Paris

2007-04-13T17:32:00.000+02:00

I am often asked by people for accommodations in central Paris. Though I know what they mean when they ask that, I almost feel like saying, "what is central Paris?" The thing is that most tourists don't understand the geography of Paris and overestimate the distances. If you go onto some of the Paris travel forums (I won't site them but I am sure you all know which ones I am talking about), you will find "experts" on Paris telling people to stay in the 5th, the 6th or 7th districts. I have nothing against these areas and have lived in the 5th and gone to school in both the 5th and the 6th (Junior year abroad), but Paris is so much more than just these areas and because of the escargot shape (snail shape), the 17th is just next to the 8th, and the 18th. The 18th is next to the 10th and above the 9th (where you have Opera), The 9th is just above the 2nd. So are you far? Not at all. I have taken a casual walk to the Marais from the 18th via the Champs-Elysee (in the 8th), through the Tuileries gardens (the 1st), past the Louvre (also the 1st) and I think it took me an hour or so. Paris also has a great metro system not to mention a great bus system. I think that all the districts of Paris merit being visited. If for nothing else but to experience Paris the way a Parisian does, going to local bakeries, pastry shops, bars and restaurants. Go to places where you might actually run into a Parisian. Ha, now wouldn't that be funny? I welcome your opinions on your Paris experience and would love for people to comment here about the interesting places they've visited.

August in Paris

2007-05-21T20:48:00.000+02:00

A lot of people often think that Paris is not worth visiting in August because everything is closed.
This is a misconception which might once have been the case but is no longer accurate. The museums never close, the parks are still open, many many restaurants remain open and get this . . . the most interesting part to you as a tourist the crowds are less. This makes visiting the Eiffel Tower delightful rather than stressful, going to the Louvre time well spent instead of time lost in long lines.

Oh, mind you there are still a lot of people in Paris but at the same time things just seem to run a lot faster.

I rarely leave Paris in August as I enjoy the calm the reigns throughout. The city takes a deep breathe and renews itself.

So consider Paris in August before everyone else finds out.

Spring is in the air

2007-05-21T20:42:00.000+02:00

We have had a bit a crazy weather recently in Paris. In the month of April when (despite the song's optimistic tone), it tends to rain more than shine, we had Summer like weather. Then it was a return to much cooler weather and gray skies. A bit of rain and then some sun. A bit of sun and then some rain.

Finally it would seem that perhaps the weather is heading in the right direction. Summer is almost here.

Europe is full of Summer festivals and Paris always plays a big roll, from the Cinema en Plein Air outdoor film festival throughout Paris and Roland Garros tennis to special exhibits in and out of doors, this is a great time to come to Paris and pretend to be a "Parisien"

Tip: It is always wise to plan a Spring and Summer Paris holiday in advance as rooms and apartments fill up quickly and larger groups become much harder to accommodate

Can't Read those darn metro signs

2007-04-13T17:45:00.000+02:00

When you ride the MTR (metro), in Hong Kong, the signs are clear and precisely written both in Chinese and English. Ok maybe that is because Hong Kong was once a British territory but I have to say that the metro system in Asia is amazing.

Paris is not that bad either, it is pretty easy to use once you get it. What does stink about it however, is that signs about construction work in the metro system are ONLY IN FRENCH. So countless lost tourists find themselves dismayed about why the train is not stopping at the stop they were expecting to get off at.

So, guess what! I am here to help. Here is what you can expect if you are goig to be in Paris over the next few months:

Good news! Since December 23rd, the metro service has been extended to 2:15 am on Saturdays and the eve of holidays. This is an improvement by 1 whole hour. Not to mention that they also have boosted the service so you only have to wait 5 minutes between trains after 9 pm (in theory).

NOW FOR THE WORK

Metro line 5 - BREGUET SABIN station closed from Monday march 5th till Tues May 15th

Metro line 7 - PLACE MONGE - closed from Feb 26- 22 May

Metros 1 & 8 - REUILLY DIDEROT - closed from April 2nd till July 1st from 9:30 PM everyday except Saturday and the eve of holidays. Line 8 remains accessible from FALDHERBE-CHALIGNY or MONTGALLET stations. Line 1 will remain accessible from GARE de LYON or NATION

Metro line 9 - VOLTAIRE from January 8th till April 8th

Metro lin 14 - the line is being extended to the future station Olympiades - expect the following interruptions:

between CHATELET and BIBLIOTHEQUE F. MITTERAND - Saturdays from 5:30 am- 9 am the 7, 14 & 28th of April; Sundays from 5:30 am till 10:00 am le 1st, 15, 22nd and 29th of April

between SAINT-LAZARE and BIBLIOTHEQUE F. MITTERAND - Sundays 25th of March and 8th of April from 5:30 am till 10:00 am

During this time a shuttle bus will be in place between GARE DE LYON and BIBLIOTHEQUE

Metro line 8 - OPERA the station is closed to the public all day between the 5th of March and the 18th of May 2007. The lines 3 and 7 remain open during this period

Metro line 7 - LA COURNEUVE to PORTE DE LA VILLETTE - traffic is stopped from Saturday the 7th till Monday the 9th of April. There will be a bus in place running every 5-10 mins

Metro lin 4 - CHATEAU D'EAU - Costs from Jan 22nd till April 3rd.

metro lines 4, 5, & 7 GARE de l'EST:
Renovating of the SNCF and RATP spaces, direct access to the metro within Gare de l'Est is closed to the public from September 19th 2006 till April 16th 2007

They advise the following alternatives if you are ARRIVING AT GARE DE L'EST

Metro line 4 (in both directions) and metro line 5 (direction PLACE d'ITALIE): follow the signs in the station that will lead you to the metro entrance outside the station.

Metro line 5 (direction BOBIGNY): Use the access at the CHAUTEAU-LANDON staion (at the end of the platform of the SNCF station), take line 7 in the direction of LA COURNEUVE and transfer to line 5 at the STALINGRAD station.

metro line 7 (both directions): Use the access at the CHAUTEAU-LANDON station for line 7 (at the end of the SNCF station platform).

Happy riding

Visit: www.ratp.fr for more metro details

A little metro know-how. Buyer beware.

2007-04-13T17:44:00.000+02:00

Do not be fooled by random people who come up to you to help you get metro tickets. These people do not, most likely, work for the RATP (the Paris metro service company). If you are in doubt go to an info desk or the the guichet (counter).

I have had guests tell me that they spent 50 euros for a ticket that was supposed to be unlimited and reusable and all they had to show me was a one ride ticket worth less then 2 euros.

Visit the RATP site to plan your trip or to find out about the prices. You can view the page in English.

Our site's links' page is full of helpful links to help you plan you Paris holiday: www.feelslikehomeinparis.com/Links.html