The Paris Traveler

Of course when you think of Paris, you think of fashion and twice a year Paris becomes a giant runway! From the 2nd to the 5th of July the Fall/Winter 2007-2008 (Haute Couture) designers will be strutting their stuff! As I write, the Men’s Spring/Summer 2008 collections are in full force from June 28th until July 1st.
Yet, what is fashion? Most of what we see is just recycled styles from another era. Very seldom does anyone come up with an entirely new idea; a new look. How much more can one do with a pair of men’s pants; add a …read more

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Looking for something to do near the water now that summer is here and best of all it’s free? Then join the festivites this week-end in either Paris or Val-de-Marne with the Water Festival. This year’s guest of honor is the Saint-Laurent River in Quebec, Canada. Festivites take place on June 30 and July 1st between Port de Bercy and the passerelle Simon de Beauvoir in Paris 12e and 13e as well as in the nearby town of Val-de-Marne.
Music, dance, theater (six barges have been transformed into stages) and more are all on the agenda during these two days of entertainment …read more

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One of the great things about living in Paris are all the different markets; from food to flowers, or books to stamps, there’s sure to be a market in Paris selling just what you’re looking for. Picking the best ones however is almost an impossible task; I may love one because of the carnival atmosphere and the friendly vendors, or another because of the superb quality and the reasonable prices. So let me just give you a few interesting places to shop. 
1.  Marché Rue de Buci. This is one of my favorites, not just because it’s in the 6e, but the ambiance is …read more

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Theme day here at b5 media is all about men, so I thought, why not Frenchmen! Here is a hodgepodge of things for and about these, oh so charming men! 
1.  Over at ThinkExist there are a number of interesting quotes by famous Frenchmen. You can read more, but here is just a small sample. 
“Love is like an hourglass, with the heart filling up as the brain empties.” Jules Renard
“Love is being stupid together.” Paul Valéry
“Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.”  Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 
Frenchmen are always …read more

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Jon over at The DC Traveler sent me a link about the French being the worst tourist according to 15,000 European hotel agents who took an Expedia survey. At Gadling, where the article was posted, they also state that American tourists (in the same survey) were voted the worst dressed! Why am I not surprised by these findings? And then paradoxically I am!
It’s true that the French are perhaps more demanding in restaurants, but is anyone surprised by that fact?! I, for one, have always found the French to be very polite and accommodating. I really don’t understand why they’ve gotten such a bad rap on …read more

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One of my favorite parks outside of Paris is the Parc de Sceaux, located just south of the city. With its château, large park, fountains, and walking paths, it’s easy to spend the day here. The town itself is quaint with plenty of little shops, boutiques, bookstores, and bakeries. One of my exes and I use to love coming here regularly on week-ends and each season brings with it, its own special beauty.
So, what can be more magical than an opera under the stars with the Château de Sceaux as the backdrop? For the past seven years, these open air …read more

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Awhile back, I wrote that Barbra Streisand would be appearing at Bercy in June. Well, the date is fast approaching (June 26) and rather than ticket prices going up, or being sold out; they have actually come down! It seems that Europeans will not dish out the dough for BS!
Babs was asking, (if my memory serves right), over 1500 € for the best seats in the house and 500 € for the worst, but don’t quote me, I am known to forget from one minute to the next what I just said! Back to Streisand, afterall this is her first …read more

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The first time that I dined at this famous restaurant, I was invited by a French writer which made it all the more interesting to say the least. At the time, I was a young girl trying steak tartare for the first time in my life, sipping champagne on the terrace, and not really aware of the history behind this place.
The restaurant first opened its doors in 1847 and has seen the likes of Verlaine, Baudelaire, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Sartre, and Picasso to name a few of its more famous clientele . Since then, I’ve returned a number of times through the years (Yes, …read more

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What I love about France is that the French are so versatile when it comes to showing films. I know in the U.S., unless you live in a large city, most foreign films are just not accessible. Not so in France, and even more so in Paris.
If you’re a film buff, then you need to go over to the Cinémathèque Française! There is truly something for everyone; from exhibits, lectures, and debates about film and the film industry, to watching old classics, or a homage to a particular director, or actor. (From now until the 31st of July, there’s a …read more

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Now that summer is just about here and the weather is hot! Okay, it may not be hot where you are, but it’s hot where I happen to be traveling at the moment, so people tend to look for ways of cooling off. (“I’ll take a margarita, señor!” Opps!  But then again, that’s me!)
Most people, however, love ice-cream, but I’m not like most people, ….so I’m told! There are two things that I’m not crazy about and people always give a look like, “what planet did she come from?” When I tell you, you’ll understand. One is chocolate and the other is ice-cream.  (I …read more

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