You Can Take The Girl Out Of Paris…

April 24, 2002

*** …BUT YOU CAN’T TAKE PARIS OUT OF THE GIRL

The aqua blue marine of the Caribbean was breathtakingly
beautiful…and the warm sun and tropical breezes absolute
heaven after a long, cold, gray, rainy winter in Paris. Nassau,
San Juan and Saint Thomas are all colorful colonial towns with
gorgeous beaches, tall coconut palms and cool Creole spirit.

But when I got some photos developed aboard the Carnival cruise
ship this past week, I saw a photo I had taken only one week
earlier of Notre Dame, a stunning view from the Pont de
l’Archevêché on a bright and blue-skied spring day.

I couldn’t help it–I got terribly homesick.

I’m well able to take a vacation, but the "Good Ship Paradise"
didn’t make it easy for me to forget about Paris.

On a cruise ship, you might expect titles and names to be more
nautical or tropical. Instead, the dining room on the LIDO deck
is called the PARIS RESTAURANT . . . the theater where all the
major entertainment is held is called the NORMANDIE LOUNGE . . .
there is a CAFE ILE DE FRANCE, decks named PROMENADE and
VERANDAH, a PARIS BAR and servings at dinner such as CHICKEN
CHASSEUR.

Every now and then, there were announcements made on the PA
system in French (I never understood why since 95% of the
passengers were American), and a young couple at our dining room
table were Quebecois with "charmant" French accents. My
Caribbean cruise was shaping up to look like an extended trip on
a "Bateau-Mouche."

I wondered why a boat that motors from Miami around the islands
and back, filled to the brim with 2,000 vacationers seeking
suntans, world-class snorkeling and cheap rum, would dress
itself up as a jewel from France. Then it dawned on me: France
is really the ultimate experience . . . for just about
everyone.

If only we could have the utopian weather of the tropics in
Paris . . . I’d never leave home.

A la prochaine fois . . .

Adrian

Email: mailto:[email protected], but please remember
we are getting hundreds of letters every week, so if you don’t
hear back from us, it’s not because we don’t read your letters .
. . we love and appreciate every single one!

P.S. This was my first cruise, and just so you don’t get the
wrong impression, I thoughly enjoyed the carefree relaxation,
and met several fun and wonderful folks. But there were a couple
of points that made me even happier to be home. The quality of
the ship’s gourmet dining room, for example, didn’t come close
to any one of dozens of inexpensive bistros I know in
Paris…and the onboard activities (Karaoke, Bingo, Game Show
Mania, Hairy-Chested men contest) left me wistfully recalling
the last time I spent an hour at the Musée d’Orsay.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Parler Paris /parlerparis/
Written and Edited by Adrian Leeds

Published by International Living
http://www.internationalliving.com
mailto:[email protected]

Issue Number 35, April 24, 2002

In this issue:

*** Learn How to Haggle in the Paris Flea Markets
*** Free Membership in Paris Expat
*** Your Own Home in Paris
*** Stay by the Sea…or in a Centuries-Old Farmhouse
*** Save 10% on Last-Minute Rentals
*** More Low-Price Phoning

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

*** FOUR-DAY FLEA MARKET TOUR

All of you who wrote for more information about the four-day
tour of Paris flea markets will be hearing from us very soon But
if you haven’t already written to let us know you’re interested
. . . you can do so now:
mailto:[email protected]?subject=fleamarkettour.
The tour will be complete with guides who can help you negotiate
the best price and assist in shipping your purchases to the
States. To find out more about this mid-summer tour, write to:
mailto:[email protected]?subject=fleamarkettour

*** MORE INSIDER INFO FOR BAY AREA FRANCOPHILES

For all of you Francophiles in the Bay area of Northern
California and beyond–if you don’t already know about Terrance
Gelenter’s events and special offerings that focus on the
literature, cinema and art that established and sustain Paris’
preeminent position in the world of culture you will certainly
want to visit his site at http://www.paris-expat.com and sign up
for a FREE membership that includes his newsletter The Paris
Insider.

Coming this October, Terrance will take you on a classic
cultural tour of Paris with an enriching excursion to Normandy
where you will visit a Calvados distill

ery, sample Camembert at
a crèmerie and shop at a country market. Evenings will be spent
at a charming "gite" with a bountiful No
rman feast as a send
off. Space is extremely limited so if you are interested or
would like more information, please contact Terrance at:
mailto:[email protected]?subject=ParlerParisNormandyTour

* * * * * ADVERTISEMENT * * * * *

LA VIE FRANCAISE

Fine wine…good food…beautiful countryside…fields of
lavender and sunflowers in every direction…ancient stone
farmhouses…plus the world’s most fashionable and exciting
city…

Yes, France always makes sense. But, right now, it makes more
sense than ever.

The dollar has been high against the euro. As I write this, US$1
buys 1.12 euro. A farmhouse…a chateau…even a Paris
pied-a-terre is more affordable right now than it has been in
more than a decade. This is a window of opportunity worth paying
attention to.

How about, for example, a two-bedroom 17th-century cottage in a
picturesque little medieval town…for less than $20,000? For
more details, click here now:
http://www.agora-inc.com/reports/from/w120c4a2

(If you live outside the States, click here:
http://www.agora-inc.com/reports/from/w120c4a3)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

*** OOPS! TO ALL INSIDER PARIS GUIDE READERS

A mistake was made in last week’s newsletter while I was on
vacation. Free updates of Insider Paris Guides are NOT YET
available as was noted–we do not yet have the technical
capability to do this.

But when you purchase any Insider Paris Guide, you will always
receive the most up-to-date version–much more recent than any
printed bookstore guide can possibly be.

To read more: http://www.insiderparisguides.com

*** THE BEST PARISIAN REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Apartments to buy in Paris: We’re looking all the time and we’re
finding them one-by-one, through owners, agents and friends . .
. if you’re interested in having your own home in Paris, write
us to be put on a mailing list to be notified when we get
something great: mailto:[email protected]

* * * * * ADVERTISEMENT * * * * *

ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR LIVING-IN-FRANCE QUESTIONS

The latest Paris resource answers just about every
living-in-France question you may have (over 200, in fact). Now,
you can have access to all these answers in a constantly-updated
informative–and interesting–guide.

To read more about this amazing reference, click here:
http://www.insiderparisguides.com/answers/index.html

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

— DOWN BY THE SEASHORE

* Relax this summer in a four-bedroom stone farmhouse with a
pool, 12 minutes from the beach in Provence . . . 2,500 euro per
week from May 11 to September 16. See "La Lausiero":
/parlerparis/property/lalausiero.html

* The perfect August retreat–"La Vernatelle" has been described
as a dream get-away, a pardise of the south . . .live
luxuriously among the olive trees in a centuries-old farmhouse
near St. Tropez with a pool . . . $5,790 for a two-week period
April 8 through May 2, May 8 through June 21 and after July 27.
New photos of "La Vernatelle" can be found at
/parlerparis/property/lavernatelle.html

If you are interested in renting these properties, contact us at
mailto:[email protected] to be connected
directly with the owners.

— HOME SWEET HOME IN PARIS

Shop the markets, make your breakfast, wash your clothing and
invite your friends . . . all the things you can do when you
stay in an apartment in Paris instead of a hotel.

Apartments start at $450 for simple studios to $3,900 for luxury
three-bedroom apartments in prime locations.

Click on
/parlerparis/property/rentalrequestform.html and
let the agents and managers do the rest.

— TAKE A SABBATICAL

Stay for a month or more and rent a furnished apartment . . .
easy to say, but tough to find. We’ve made it easier. Just click
on http://www.internationalliving.com/paris/apartments and post
your message on the International Living bulletin board.

— SAVE 10% ON LAST MINUTE APARTMENT RENTALS

* Rue de l’Arbre Sec (75001)–Louvre. Nicely furnished, very
quiet, studio apartment a few feet from the Louvre and Palais
Royal. US$800/week less 10% for last-minute rentals.
#gcarbresec

* Rue St. Gilles (75003)–Marais-Place des Vosges. Very charming
one-bedroom apartment loca

ted in quiet building. Very sunny and
bright, in the heart of the Marais, next to the Place des
Vosges. US$900/week less 10% for last minu
te rental.
#gcstgilles

* Rue Poncelet (75017)–Poncelet Market, Champs Elysées. Very
quiet one-bedroom apartment, located in the heart of the famous
Poncelet Market street. Near the Arc de triomphe and the Champs
Elysées. US$950/week less 10% for last minute rental.
#gcponcelet

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

*** LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

* Hi Adrian!

You mentioned those cheap phone cards last week. I’m not sure
which one "Soleil" is, but Mimi [my wife] and I have been using
one that comes with an eagle depicted under the front. It’s the
same price with the same amount of minutes, but appears to be
more widely available (not MUCH more, though).

For this one, you also have to ask for a "USA" version. And you
have to be sure to get the one for 15 euro and change. But it
seems like you can pick them up at several money changing places
and at a few of the city’s Internet cafes.

Just thought you’d find that helpful (For calls FROM the U.S.,
we’ve found no service cheaper than
"http://www.bigzoo.com"–about 3 to 4 cents a minute, U.S. to
Paris. You can find instructions on how to sign up at the
site).

John F.

Thanks a million, John, for this helpful information!

Adrian

*** TO READ MORE: Go to /parlerparis/

*** HAVE A SPECIAL MESSAGE? WANT TO EXCHANGE LINKS?

If you would like to have your message read by the subscribers
of the Parler Paris Nouvellettre^®, please email me at
mailto:[email protected]

If you have links about Paris or France and would like
reciprocal links, please email me at
mailto:[email protected]

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