Archive for September, 2009
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
Paris on Less Than $100 Per Day – Fantasy?
However, the issue isn’t whether it’s possible as a parlor stunt, but how could you have a fulfilling Paris experience while skipping most of the things around you. It’s hard to imagine a once in a lifetime Paris vacation spent entirely outside while trying to avoid museum fees, but there is a free Sunday of the Louvre. … Best advice if you really want to stick to this budget: get a hotel outside the city on the RER line and zip in in the morning and go back out to sleep.
No Comments » - Posted in Budget and cheap, For tourists only, Tips and Tricks by Paul
Monday, September 7th, 2009
Say goodbye to the “bise?”
That said, there are things you can do to help avoid the flu, like obsessively washing your hands, trying not to touch your face, and avoid close contact with strangers and friends, such as the ever-present “bise.” … Some French schools, companies and a Health Ministry hotline are telling students and employees to avoid the social ritual out of fear the pandemic could make it the kiss of death, or at least illness, as winter approaches.
…The New York Times ran a story the other day ( Swine Flu Upsets Rituals of Greeting ) as well on relative risk levels of different contact, and the bise, or even Hollywood-style air kiss was right at the top, so look for less kissing and touching in the months to come as we all suffer through the season.
1 Comment » - Posted in Culture by Paul
Sunday, September 6th, 2009
The decline of French cuisine in Seattle Times Newspaper
We are just back after 14 days in France, and after having read this article in the Seattle Times, I quizzed everyone I know about the supposed “decline” in French food. … Elsewhere, it’s caveat emptor though the odds are still higher in Paris than in San Francisco for good that tastes like the primary ingredients, rather than slop reconstituted from a can off the Sysco Food Services truck. … It’s nice to kick the French off their high horse, and real data trends seem to indicate that the French are eating more fast food including McDonald’s.
No Comments » - Posted in Food by Paul
Friday, September 4th, 2009
France Miniature
Our friend Patrick Mikla always surprises us with ‘inside’ discoveries of Paris and France. From the time we met him some 15 year ago, I can remember each and every one of our adventures. The latest is France Miniature.
He took the day off and took us Élancourt, a town about an hour drive outside of [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Culture, For tourists only, Museums and Monuments, Travel, Travel with Kids, Understand France and the French by Jasmine
Friday, September 4th, 2009
Hotel Villa Madame and the provenance of Rue Madame
I just learned of the provenance of the fabled street, rue Madame, that crosses rue de Vaugirard, where our apartment is located. It was named after Marie-Joseph-Louise, “Madame” de Savoie, the wife of Xavier-Stanilas “Monsieur” de Bourbon, Count of Provence and the future Louis XVIII. In 1790, “Monsieur,” the current owner of the Luxembourg Palace, [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Apartment - 39 rue de Vaugirard - short term rental, Apartment neighborhood, Where to stay by Jasmine
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
What is it Quiz #2 – common objects in Paris
Here’s a tricky one, since you usually see it in a different color. When I snapped this picture with my iPhone, I wished I was getting the couleur normale, 
but now I’m glad it’s a bit off.
No Comments » - Posted in Un peu différent by Paul
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
First foray into cooking was through Silver Palate Cookbook
I read today that Sheila Lufkin, the author of “Silver Palate Cookbook 25th Anniversary Edition” (Julee Rosso, Sheila Lukins) had passed away. I was struck that her cookbook got me started cooking when i was just out of college, some 25 years ago. During my weekends to NYC from Boston where I attended [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Books, Food, Restaurants by Jasmine
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
Une femme/une fille d’un certain age
This dressing your age thing is tricky, for myself and for my daughter.
My daughter, who is nine, has grown too old for the ‘kids’ clothes at Du Pareil au Meme, Jacadi, or BonPoint, but still too young to wear truly teen age fashion. One thing is for sure, her feet has grown so much that [...]
