For more than the decade I have been fortunate enough to live here, I know that every end of March brings one week of surprisingly warm (feels hot!) weather, and fools a lot of people into packing away all their cold weather clothes high on their closet shelves… but not so fast! It will remain quite cool here, with a few cold days in store, until at least the end of May. We are a very northern European country, if anyone doubts this, just trace over on the map that North American area is on the same level as Paris…. Would it be New York? No! Would it be Maine? Wrong again… Paris is up there sharing the same longitude as Canada’s territories of Newfoundland and Labrador! So a word to the wise, do pack at least one set of gear for some unexpected chilly nights, (and if you are planning to cruise the river Seine on the wonderful sightseeing boats here, I have frozen out there in July at nighttime!).

But let’s get back to Spring and what it brings out in Paris … this year I think I have seen more women’s shoes in boutique stores, than there are flowers in all the gardens! One store had them arranged in the shape of an artist’s paint palette, with hardly a discernible difference in color shades between each pair (you can guess just how many were on display!). Paul Smith, the renown cobbler, (including handmade shoes), had a stunning display of high heeled women’s shoes, set atop a (get this) large box of fresh bright red strawberries… quite the head turner as one walked by, for sure!

If shoes aren’t you desire, there is of course everything else under the sun… many people come to buy sports gear with European Logos on them (hard to find back in USA or elsewhere). Even the small outdoor stands sell a lot of this, including scarves and yes not to worry, those caps you can turn every which way on your head… and if upscale is your thing, don’t forget Prada, where I recently witnessed a chauffeur dashing back in to Prada, having just retrieved from the parked Bentley, a ‘wad’ of green colored euro notes (the 100 euro ones), large enough to choke, well any size animal you can imagine…

But let’s not stray too far from the fav Parisian topic… food! I highly recommend a visit to the top floor at Galleries Lafayette’s “ International Food Court”. (Behind Opera Garnier and once inside go to the Men’s section and all the way to top floor. Don’t miss the famous Tiffany glass cupola while there of course!).

Trust me it is well worth your time. They have by no means overdone the ‘international’ description… it boasts items from all corners of the world! This is the largest, most glamorous, interesting delicatessen in the world! Lots of gift items to choose from, and of course most of the staff there speak English very well. There are lots of samples handed out, or you can eat meals at counters as well… and do take your camera, because the display and array of so many delicious things is picture perfect! (Hint, if they don’t allow pics of the food array, but you can take of the gorgeous building itself…)

No need to worry about any adverse climate inside your Paris apartment rental! Your Paris home away from home is very well equipped with proper heating and quite a few of our vacation flats in Paris even have air conditioners as well! And if you choose to bring back delicatessen items from Lafayette (or any of the many ones near your place), your holiday rental in Paris will be equipped with cooking facilities, most are fully ready with specialty amenities to cook a full meal or just re-heat items.

Paris is once again ready to accept the many visitors to this most gorgeous of cities… be prepared to “ooh and ahh”, be dazzled by the beautiful gardens, sample some of the best food around, and enjoy your Parisian Holiday let in comfort and style! Your choice will be a ‘shoe-in’!

A bientôt!

Some people, while maybe hesitant to admit it, can find the world’s fashion capital a bit daunting to prepare for… and more so if you are the slightest bit conscious of wanting to ‘blend in’ and not be immediately identified by your home country…

Myself being of the male plumage, I had to find a few tips for women, and I think this sum up nicely for everybody …

1.       Neutrals are Key, and darker colors as well… - what we are trying to avoid here, are flowery pastels or bright colors that shout out “ hey look at me I hail from xxx”…(hint; Paris does not have a tropical climate). Winter especially, has locals here sporting much darker colors, with maybe a ‘splash’ of contrasting color, chosen from a Fall type color scheme… (But see other warnings below!)… And the materials are mostly natural as well, not polyester ensembles…

2.       Leave Leisure Wear at Home!  You don’t plan on being a couch potato after spending good hard-earned money to come and stay in Paris right? Track suits, jogging outfits, tennis clothes, golf wear, should be left back home, unless you have specifically planned on one of these activities…!

3.      Make a Statement with Accessories and Scarves – again, a splash of color, even strong contrasting at that can make a big difference and positive impact. A Red scarf against an all-black outfit can certainly make a statement! And here is where you can go a little ‘wild’ if you like… if you want to attract attention… go flamboyant with these items… but again, white tennis shoes are NOT an accessory!

4.       Wear Comfortable Shoes, but Not White Tennis Shoes – ok, as you see this is the third time we mention the “ WTS”…  they really have no place in Paris, unless you want to scream out “ hey look at me I am from the USA/UK and didn’t check on what is appropriate to wear here in your country”! Everybody knows that black or dark color “tennis shoes” exist, and many styles are ‘hybrids’, looking more like street shoes that sports-wear… but a word of caution- this is NOT the place to break in a new pair of shoes!  You will regret that for sure!

5. Jeans are OK (Tip; jeans are not always Levis!)… The word Levis is not used to describe jeans here, in fact most French may not understand the English pronunciation of it anyway (it sounds more like – ‘ le-vees’ here). But anyway, the good news is many young or old people wear these, although maybe not so much the kind that have a big label in back announcing your waist size! As we know, jeans have evolved considerably, and the old ‘western style’ is not seen much here, with more modern styles predominating…

6. Don’t Worry About Your Hair and Make-Up – this seems to be quite a plus and big advantage! I do recall my Mom pointing out that she could easily spot European women by how they let their hair go grey/white without all the intensive labor of coloring… and for men, even businessmen in $1000 dollar suits don’t ‘coiffe’ their hair… with messy or unkempt being perfectly acceptable…

 In the end, you can of course do as you like and focus on being comfortable…  but trying to fit in and not make political fashion statements can be part of the fun… either way, you can rest assured your Paris vacation rental will have as standard stock items; a hairdryer, bathroom mirrors, closets (albeit not walk-in or even large size) and even an iron and ironing board for you! These items are a ‘must’ in all of our holiday rentals in Paris…!

And while in Paris, why not pick up a couple of fashion magazines to thumb through…?  You can practice your “Oh la las!!”…

If you want to be close to the fashion districts, we have many lovely holiday lets that can place you square in these areas…  French vacation rentals even on the same blocks as the boutique stores in some cases! These short stay holiday rentals will identify themselves and boast their proximity to fashion districts, but you focus mostly on the 1^st and 2^nd ARRTs (districts). 

From all of us, we wish you the very best of 2012, may all your travel dreams come true (and include Paris of course!)…

Many people either don’t know or possible forget each year, and wind up arriving at the Eiffel Tower expansive gardens, expecting a grand firework display. However, the only fireworks to light up the night sky at the tower are of course on July 14, Bastille Day. But never worry about these expecting partygoers, they surely had a grand time surrounded by thousands of well-wishers and the bubbly was flowing and many kisses exchanged as the night’s magic brought on the celebrations! I have often been curious at the next morning’s sight of so many people collecting champagne corks on the Champs de Mars the next morning, I can only guess it carries good luck for them …

Our neighbors to the north in London actually did a grand fireworks celebration, of course seeking to draw lots of attention to remind people of the summer Olympics which will be held there. TIP; in case you have found all London accommodations to be full or just grossly overpriced, why not try one our Paris rentals with a Eurostar train connection? Remember it is only a 2 hour and 15 minute ride to London, and it is easy to go and return in the same day!

Winter in Paris. Who would brave the cold you ask? It has actually been a very mild winter, with most days in mid-forties and temperatures not dipping below freezing. But there are many savvy travelers who prefer the perks and advantages of this ‘off-season’; lower airfares and even lower prices for vacation rentals, shorter lines at all major attractions, and easy access to all restaurants. While the days are of course shorter, the opening hours of everything stays the same. How would you like to breeze into the d’Orsay or Louvre museums, without any waiting line at all? And not need to peer over competing onlookers while admiring the Mona-Lisa, in near solitude? It is a very special time in Paris indeed, with even the waiters and shopkeepers almost offering a wink at you, as they understand you are a ‘special breed’ of hearty traveler! Until mid March, Paris is “reserved’ for those in the know!!

In fact, I would go so far as to offer, that the trip here is worth it, just for the extra-special delightful and hedonistic treat of sneaking into Angelina’s on a brisk chilly day, to ohhh and ahhh over the best cup of hot chocolate on this earth! (Remember to test if your spoon can actually stand up on its own in the cup, since the chocolate is so thick and rich!)…>>> 226 Rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris.

And yes many of our VIP property owners offer great discounts for their Paris vacation rentals (our SPECIALS page). It is easy to find large apartments to rent for more than 6 people, or even multiple apartments either in the same building or just a few steps away. If you are only 2 or 3 people, maybe a studio is all you need, or smallish one bedroom, with many to choose from in the city center….

Happy New Year indeed to all! 

A Bientôt!!

Nb; NEXT ISSUE; What Parisians are wearing in Winter!

There is the summer crowd, who usually are doing a first or second visit to Paris… then there is the well seasoned winter vacationers, who know that Paris can be a fantastic place with its explosion of lights during this time of year…

The best way to explain this ( or you might say justify this)- is with pictures…. So we hope you enjoy these!

You can easily choose a VIP apartment for holiday rental, near the brightly lit Champs d’Elysees, or any of the dozens of neighborhoods that also participate with spectacular lighting displays. Your Holiday Let in Paris will surely be warm and cozy and maybe even with a city view of the lights ! A Paris vacation apartment is easy to book and we still have some openings available, even for the Xmas days !

Hint; ice-skaters can go to the large rink at Hotel de Ville or even up to the first floor of the Eiffel Tower !

Enjoy !

A couple of dear French Friends took a 1 month Holiday to the USA recently, and returned amazed at all the different habits and even cultural differences they encountered.  So let’s reverse the table a bit and see through their eyes how different the world can seem at times:

- OK, let’s start with the obvious: FOOD. They were very puzzled to find something called “French Toast”, which no Frenchman has ever seen the likes of in this country! It goes for “French Dip” with Au Jus sauce…. But undoubtedly, their favorites were the steaks, and salads. To their liking, the desserts were much too sweet, (and where did get the lime-green thick sugary icing that is piled high on cakes?)…

- And speaking of restaurants, – they were so surprised to find that servers and staff change so often… doesn’t one person work from start to finish, six days a week like in France? The only change in faces one sees here is for the 7th day. You can expect to find the same person working at a restaurant even years later here…. it is a profession, not a part-time job.

- A barrage of publicity! The highways and roads are smothered in billboards and signs advertising something, unlike here in most of France. And how does one watch TV if there is advertising every 10 mins? (Or more!). In France, most programs start and have no interruptions, until they are over, (then you have a good spell of Ads, but get this – they even warn you when they will start, with the announcement of “ Publicite”)

- As for formal vs. not so, – they did raise eyebrows just at first when strangers greeted them with “ Hey Guys!”, … and by the way, why was everybody smiling so much? But it didn’t take long for them to get used to this carefree attitude, and reciprocate!

- Customer service to them seemed outstanding…. Everybody ready and willing to, well; SELL you something! A salesperson in France is not a time-honored tradition, and a pushy salesman is almost unheard of…. If you need help, you go and seek them out (and many times stand waiting until they are ready to assist you!).

Well, these are just some of the tidbits and differences that make the world go round as they say! So Vive la France and Viva Mexico (somehow they got confused when visiting the lower west states)….

Tip of the Day:

Some of our Guests have been asking how to ensure they will not be pick-pocketed.

While we can guarantee you that France is a safe place (no arms/guns allowed here like in the USA), the theft of personal items can certainly ruin a Holiday! Of course all the logical warnings apply, like stay alert, etc. But also best to know that the most likely place and even time is the RER ride from/to the airport. (The RER is the underground train connecting both airports to central Paris). Most people are tired when arriving and off their guard, plus the close proximity of people packed in the train can make for an easy target. And remember they work in pairs or small groups, so some of them may try to distract you, while the others do the deed!

Especially watch out for the so-called “ Gypsies”…. Once you see them around the major monuments, you can identify their particular style of dress; long floor length dresses, bandanas covering heads, long sleeves even in summer and always in “packs”. They might even try to get you to sign something, just to distract. The main key and best advice is to avoid any eye contact at all and just march ahead/keep going without any interaction at all. And btw, NO you do not need to carry your Passport with you! Just take a simple photocopy of it….

A bientot and happy travels!

Monsieur ET.

White Night = “ All Nighter!!”…

 For 10 years now, this event keeps growing in both size and popularity. Another great event sponsored by the Paris City Hall, which not only brings out the locals, but even attracts thousand from outside the city. And this year we were blessed with the hottest days/nights on record, a very unseasonal heat spell!

First obvious difference is the size of the markets themselves, given that Paris is a major world capital city. Markets are much smaller here, as are the trolleys/carts used to shop with. In fact very few have these, as most favor the hand carried basket, wire or plastic. Signage is rare, so one ends up wandering the very narrow aisles, and needing to reach high up, as vertical space is precious due to size limitations.

Self-serve or ‘don’t touch!’ ??
Pre-1948, all markets required one to get assistance from the store clerks, as they gathered the items you asked for. Self-service only came to France post WWII, and in some cases hasn’t disappeared! Most notably the fresh fruit and vegetable stands, where you might hear a sharp warning from the grocer, if you touch the avocados or other fruit/items. You simply need to point to what you want and get personalized service as they pick out what you request. They will probably ask if the vegetable or fruit is for ‘today or later use’ so they can gauge the ripeness for you…

Sex or Sacks?
One lady misunderstood my comment that at the markets you need to “pay for sacks”, (plastic bags) and took me to mean something very different….

There is a big push like other countries to force shoppers to bring their own re-useable bags. Thus a charge of approx. 2 or 3 centimes is charged for each plastic bag you ask for. And you need to do this before they ring up your bill, otherwise they have to re-open your account and add it back in (expect some glares from those inline behind you!)…

Another Tip: when the person in front of you is paying by ‘credit card’, do not stand too close, and look away. This is because they are entering their own personal ‘PIN’ and it is rude or suspicious to stand TOO NEAR THEM…!

Remember, most markets closed on Sundays and usually close around 8pm during the week…

It is so easy to go and shop and fill up your vacation apartment’s fridge! This is of course one of the best advantages of renting a Paris flat during your holiday….  Make a meal ‘at home’ and enjoy all the different things you can buy and prepare in your Paris holiday rental!

More soon about outdoor revolving Markets and those Farmer’s Markets around town!

  

No dog days of summer here !  The Paris Plage – BEACH ! is in full swing here…

Stretching for more than 2 kilometers along the right bank side of the river Seine, it attracts thousands of people who can’t make it out on Holiday to the ‘real beaches’ of France….

So what does the Mayor decide to do but import sand !  and tons and tons of it ! And it is not just ol’ drab white sand, but different flavors like black sand, yellow sand as well….  Every few meters changes in style/attractions/events, etc… 

This is the 10^th year anniversary of Paris Plage and it always runs about 1 month, ending this year on August 21. While some rainy or at least cloudy days usually hang over the month-long event, there should be plenty of sunny days to relax and enjoy a Family outing. Just look at some of the activities available, (besides the ultimate lazy flat on your back and only move your eyeballs to people watch) ;

-          Rock climbing, dirt-bike test of skills, volleyball with a huge set-up for more professional style in front of Hotel de Ville, ping-pong, badminton, Tai-Chi, Zumba fitness, small theaters, and lots of special things for the kiddies including this year a Disneyland Castle ! (see below for link) – All of this is on the Right Bank, in between Metros Louvre-Rivoli and Sully Morand and mostly concentrated around the Hotel de Ville area.

-          Of course there are plenty of kiosks for eating, some with tables and chairs out for a real beach lunch, even hot dogs and hamburgers are easy to find ! And no need to struggle to search out ice cream as there are several of those stands around to cool down yourself down…

THE ultimate sand castle !

40 tons of sand for a Sandcastle ?? Only Paris can get so serious over building such an attraction for kids ! Of course Disneyland chipped in also… watch this great video of the making of this dream-like feature …. http://dai.ly/pWidgQ  

 Vacation in Paris might not have a sandcastle for you to stay in, but there certainly are some ‘almost castle like’ abodes you are certain to enjoy while here for the beach ! Renting an apartment or flat has never been so easy and worry-free… !  From upscale vacation rentals in Paris to more modest studios, a wide variety is available for you.

Enjoy Paris and enjoy the beach if you are lucky enough to be here already !

 A bientot !

 
Yes it is a fantastic military parade, with a pavement thundering fly-by, jets streaming out the red-white-blue colors in tow, and yes it is a wonderful fireworks display around 23hrs (11pm) at the Eiffel Tower which seem to ignore any rumors of budget constraints… as so much money goes up in (beautiful) smoke and ashes…!  But don’t go searching for the old Bastille remnants, they were long ago torn and burned down! 

In 1789 ol’ Louis the 16^th (that’s right, who later had a neat hair trim too close for comfort with his wife Marie-Antoinette on the Concorde), ordered the Fortress-Prison stormed which gave rise and birth to what we now consider the Modern nation of France. Equally important, feudalism was finished and France created/adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man. The parade is fantastic to watch, do get there a bit early as the crowds line up early to see among others, the French President stand up in a jeep, (no shields or protection in this day in age!) and lead the way… and if you can get any higher level vantage point to watch the fly-by, it is spectacular!  But of course just being near the Champs Elysees and craning your neck will do nicely as well!

And what about a ‘BAL’??  Each and every year religiously, the Firemen’s brigade throw great fund raising Dances in several spots around Paris, starting on the eve of Bastille Day, and go well into the next morn….  While  they have been mostly frequented by older couples a.k.a. ‘Ballroom dancing’, they have been trying to sport a newer-younger image, as can be witnessed in this photo of the remains left on these Fireman of what is their uniforms!

July, August and well into the Fall is a great time to come visit Paris! Of course one of the strongest arguments to be made for the summer season are the longest days imaginable, sunlight from 6am well past 10pm, that gives you so  many more hours to explore and enjoy!

And don’t forget THE BEACH is coming soon! –Highlights in our next Blog.
 

We have many openings for August still in our Paris vacation rental units.  Paris apartments that are in the center of all these activities and yours for the booking!

Bon Fête!!

A Bientôt!

While you may prefer to stay aboveground and enjoy our fantastic weather in Paris, some of these places are quite intriguing and might be worth a quick look…. And in fact the timing factor might be the top consideration when going to visit the 2 best known underground ‘museums’ (term used loosely) the; city sewer system and the Catacombs. Not sure why I chose the hottest day in the month of August several years back to visit the Napoleon built waste water sewer system, located on the left bank side of the Pont d’Alma bridge, but the temperature of the day only enhanced that inescapable byproduct of the dungeon like setting, – the smells! Hence, it might have been the fastest museum visit I have done!

 The other quickie tour I did several years back, was the eerie, ghoulish run through the skull and bones-lined caverns of the Catacombs (entry near metro Denfert Rochereau), with my steps becoming faster the further along I went…  again, another quickie tour! But you might not be so squeamish and these 2 below-ground-level haunts are certainly something for the kids to boast about when they return back home!

Many of the more than 180 miles of quarry tunnels that snake through the foundations of Paris are restricted and off-limits to most people. But people being people, there are several places where artists set-up shop to paint and create underground museums, crowds gather to party and others continue to explore. The quarries were mined for their limestone and gypsum rock, used to build the city above the surface. This of course left the large tunnels, holes and caverns of today. When excavating, the workers had to deal with centuries of cemeteries, and one way to do so created the Catacombs.

But the labyrinths of sub-surface creations are much more extensive that that, and include: Crypts under churches, aqueducts back even to Roman times, of course the Metro and train systems, WWII bunkers, and all the water mains, communications lines, etc. And don’t forget the ‘easier’ visit to the slightly below ground Roman Baths, often overlooked by many passersby’s right at the St. Michel crossroads…Likewise, a simple elevator descent to lower levels in the Louvre will take you to the underground Fort that was home to King Philippe Auguste back in 1100’s…

OK and if you are looking to Party-hearty at sub-surface levels, the cellar of Chez Georges in St. Germain will accommodate most of you, especially if you are less than 6 feet tall!  (11 rue des Cannettes 75006 Paris).  And fans the Phantom of the Opera might recall an underground pond or smallish lake alluded to… well it actually does exist and even has some fish which some of the Opera Hall employees reportedly feed mussels to !

You can set yourself up near any of these attractions, in a lovely Parisian vacation rental apartment. Many of our holiday rentals are near the older historical center of Paris, where most of the excavations were done. Vacation flats in Paris can be studios, one or two bedrooms and can accommodate from 2 up to 7 even 8 adults. Renting a Paris vacation property will save you money and even time, as you can make your meals at home if you wish. Come and stay in a great holiday rental and enjoy the sights above or below ground!

From low to HIGH!  In preparation of an upcoming Blog featuring the higher side of Paris (rooftop views, elevated restos, etc) you may wish to visit one of our penthouse type apartments such as >>> http://www.vacationinparis.com/apts/id_10.htm.  Blue sky abounds! 

So even if you are not a Cataphile, you may enjoy to visit some of the off-the-beaten-track haunts that lay below the surface…. But if not, maybe just remember next time you are walking the more sunny and beautiful parts of the City of Light, that there is a whole ‘nother world under your sneakers…. And watch-out for those man-hole covers !

A bientot!