The citizens of Paris are going back to the cafes. Rick Steves says Americans should join them.
Parisians are going back to the cafes and museums. Americans should join them.
Here are two articles from The Washington Post on Paris in the wake of the attacks on November 13. The first shows the citizens of Paris are not giving in to terror — they’re going back to the cafes and museums and going on with the business of living — even laughing at a defiant comedian who compared the Islamic State’s war on French culture to bringing a “philosophy of rigorous self-abnegation to a pastry fight.” The second article offers advice from my favorite travel guide, Rick Steves, on why Americans should travel to Paris after the attacks. One point worth mentioning: He says that if Americans stay home because 130 people were killed in Paris (with a population of 2 million), they’ll be staying in a country where over 30,000 people per year (or nearly 100 per day, out of 320 million) are killed each year due to gun violence.
Paris (and France as a whole) has increased security to keep their citizens and tourists safe. Let’s not give in to terror or to terrorists and stop traveling. If we do, the terrorists will have won.
Blogging about Paris has expanded my world in ways I couldn’t have counted on, like introducing me to French pop music. To me, Garou — who’s featured in the YouTube video — sounds like American singer Gordon Lightfoot — with a dash of French soul.
As of yesterday, November 29, I’ve been blogging about Paris for six months. I thought I’d share how my involvement with Paris has helped me, and some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way.
My trip to Paris last year saved my life. I don’t mean to overstate a point, but it is the truth. I’ve been through a great deal — including losing everything I owned prior to 2009 — and I wondered how I would ever “get my groove back.” Devastating pain made me remember what was first important to me, and France was the first thing I ever really cared about as a kid. I always wanted to hear about it, read about it, visit the country — which I first did in 1976 — and eat French food. In fact, the first thing I ever cooked was a crepe. (And I didn’t burn the house down.) With a surprise windfall, I went to Paris last year for a month and decided to write about it. As a result, I have a zest for life that I haven’t had in a long time.
Blogging (and my Paris trip) has opened the door to new opportunities. I discovered TripAdvisor and am now a Top Contributor with over 20,000 readers: My TripAdvisor reviews help to build my brand and give me writing experience. Who would have thought 20,000 people would be interested in what I have to say? Not me! Also, my website/blog has helped me improve my technological skills: I’ve learned about the technical points of digital imaging, become proficient in uploading digital images using a variety of platforms, learned WordPress, and how to use Google Maps and Google Earth (God-sends for anyone trying to immerse themselves in a foreign culture). While it has been challenging, I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. In addition, the devastation I’ve faced plus the challenging, rewarding experience of blogging has opened the door to me being featured in an upcoming issue of “Women of Distinction Magazine.” I am excited and honored to be featured in it.
Blogging well is harder and more time-consuming than I thought. Any writer knows that to write well, one has to read a lot. I’ve generally been an avid reader, but I haven’t been able to read as much as I’d like. Consequently, my writing has suffered: More often than I’d like to admit, the prose has been stuck in my head. I’m going to try writing draft posts on paper like I did before I published: There seems to be something to words flowing from my head to pen to paper that gets my creative juices working. Admittedly, it isn’t just writing that takes an enormous amount of time. Sometimes I have to learn to do something new before using an image. Also, looking for just the right image for a post can set me back, since I’m not satisfied with just any image — it has to be the right one.
I am immersing myself in French culture and I love it. I don’t want to just help people get to Paris, I also want to educate people on French culture and clarify myths and misconceptions. This means, of course, that I have to first learn (as an example) the origin of the phrase “pardon my French” before uttering a curse word came about before I can write about it. (The phrase evolved in England during the Hundred Years War between England and France in the 13th century: the English blamed all things vulgar as being from France.)
Speaking of the French language: I am so excited to say I’m (finally) learning French! I took French a long time ago (in a galaxy far, far away) and my circumstances at the time conspired to force me to drop it. It is one of the things I regret most about my early life. Immersing myself in French culture helped open this door for me. I found a great workbook (“French” by Danielle de Gregory) and French flash cards (by Quickstudy), and “Learn French With Alexa” videos on Youtube is the final piece of the learn-French trifecta that brings it all together. I previously learned English by phonics; Alexa is just what I was looking for in a French teacher. She is French and has many years’ experience teaching French. She knows what she’s doing and she’s so funny, too. I also listen to RJM French Radio on the TuneIn radio app to help me learn French. Some of my favorite artists include Garou (oh, my, I love his voice), Celine Dion, Louane (“Jour un”), Johnny Hallyday, (“J’ai oublie de vivre”), and Christine and the Queens’ “Ca ne tient pas debout.” With the release of “La Vie en Rose” in 2008, I already had been introduced to Edith Piaf, one of the greatest French singers ever. French pop music is just as delightful to my ears.
I continue to seek ways to work and live in Paris. My heart and mind are with the victims and their families of the November 13th attacks. People have asked me if I was glad I wasn’t in Paris then; to the contrary, I wish I was there to give comfort and hope where they are needed.
There’s a lot to do in Paris during the holiday season. Start your planning with Paris Insiders Guide’s recommendations for best things to do in December 2015. Activities include museum exhibits, castles, a recommended restaurant, and of course, Christmas lights.
You might think there is less to do in Paris in the winter time, but the only thing you’ll see less of are the long lines to get into museums and monuments. As a general rule, Paris doesn’t get very cold during winter — when I was there in December 2014, the temperature didn’t get much below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7.2 degrees Celsius). It did rain a lot, however — but that didn’t deter me from enjoying the city. There’s nothing like waking up in Paris to the sound of rain hitting the rooftop and windows.
Here are four activities that caught my eye in The 45 Best Things to do in Paris in December:
Picasso’s “Guernica” will be exhibited at the Grand Palais until February 29, 2016.
1. Pablo Picasso and the Modern Masters at the Grand Palais. Exhibit ends February 29, 2016. Metro: Champs-Elysees Clemenceau. The Modern Masters portion of the exhibit includes works by Roy Lichtenstein, Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol. Click here for the Grand Palais website and to book tickets. Price ranges depending on day of the week.
Chateau d’Amboise was a fortress, so it was built 81 meters (about 88.5 feet) high.
2. Private Tour: Loire Valley Castles Day Trip From Paris. Choose between two sets of castles (chateaux, or singular, chateau) — Amboise, Checoneau and Chambord, or Villandry, Langeais and Azay le Rideau — and enjoy lunch at an 18th century inn or at the park of Chateau de Langeais. Price varies depending on season and number of people in your party. Click here to book or see availability.
Chef Jerome Banctel heads Le Gabriel restaurant.
3. Featured Restaurant: Le Gabriel at La Reserve Hotel. The restaurant is headed by Chef Jerome Banctel and features a Japanese-French Fusion menu. The restaurant is located within La Reserve Hotel. Click here for a review by Paris Insiders Guide. Click here to see the rave reviews given by TripAdvisor users. Metro: Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Christmas lights on the Champs-Elysees near the Arc de Triomphe in 2014.
4. The Christmas Lights along the Champs-Elysees are positively beautiful no matter how you view them. Walk arm-and-arm with someone you love and take in the lights. You’ll never be the same.
Please note: It is my information that the Christmas Markets are closed due to the terror attacks in Paris on November 13.
Au revoir.
Image of Snowy Christmas at Eiffel Tower by CanStockPhoto. Image of Pablo Picasso’s “Guernica” by Martine, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Image of Chateau d’Amboise by Christina Hsu, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Image of Chef Jerome Banctel by Rota das Estrelas, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Image of Christmas lights on the Champs-Elysees by Elsa L. Fridl.
There is dread, but in the face of this dread, there is a nation that knows how to defend itself, that knows how to mobilize its forces. And, once again, will defeat the terrorists.
— French President Francois Hollande, on the terror attacks committed on November 13, 2015.
Today I am a writer without words. I am shocked and dismayed over the events that took place in Paris yesterday. I pray for the victims and their families and all French citizens. I commend French President Francois Hollande and his ministers for taking decisive action. He has shown himself to be a true leader of his people. May he continue to be the leader his country so desperately needs in this horrific hour.
General Gourard leads the French Army at Marne during WWI.
Today is Armistice Day in France and Veterans Day in the U.S. It is the day World War I, also called The Great War, ended, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year in 1918. It was thought to be the war that would end all wars.
The war began over the assassinations of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austria-Hungarian Empire, and his wife by a Serbian nationalist on June 28, 1914, while they were in Sarajevo, Bosnia. This act set off a diplomatic crisis when Austria-Hungary made an ultimatum to the Kingdom of Serbia. International alliances that had formed over previous decades were invoked, and within weeks, the world’s major powers were at war: the Allies (based on the Triple Entente signed on August 31, 1907 between the Russian Empire, France, and the United Kingdom) against the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. Conflict soon spread around the world, and Italy, Japan, Romania and the United States later joined the Allies, and the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers. More than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilized in one of the largest wars in history.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe holds the remains of a soldier from World War I.
It was also one of the deadliest: although official numbers vary, it is believed that over 18 million people died in the war. France’s casualty rate was approximately 1,737,800, or 4.39% of their population at the time; the U.S. had approximately 117,465 casualties, or 0.13% of the population.
To commemorate the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their respective country’s freedom, November 11 is a holiday under different names in different countries: In France (as well as the U.K., New Zealand, Belgium, and Serbia) it is Armistice Day; although the U.S. initially marked this day as Armistice Day beginning in 1919, in 1954 it was changed to Veterans Day to include those who served in other wars. Being a special holiday in the nation of France, the French government, many businesses and even some restaurants are closed today. In the U.S., it is a government holiday, with government and banks closed. Both countries hold ceremonies to celebrate this important day.
WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Au revoir.
Image of General Gourard leading the French Army at Marne, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. Image of Tomb of Unknown Soldier by Elsa L. Fridl. Image of World War I Memorial by Victoria Belanger, Flickr, CCBY 2.0.
References:
“Armistice Day,” Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0. “Anglo-Russian Entente,” Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0. “Triple Entente,” Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0. “World War I” Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0. “World War I Casualties,” Wikipedia, CCBY 3.0.
Paris is exciting at any time of year, and there’s a lot to do in Autumn. Here are the best things to do in Paris in November, including a champagne concert at Saint Chapelle!
Photographers from all over the world show off their works during November, the Month of Photography.
Today I’m sharing Paris Insider’s Guide for things to do in Paris in November.
November is the Month of Photography in Paris, with forty exhibits around the city. You will see signs everywhere. I know because in November 2014, I went to the photography exhibit at the Grand Palais, and it was one of the highlights of my trip. To me, the Grand Palais was even larger inside than it looked from the outside. It is a beautiful space for exhibits. While I recommend the photography exhibit wholeheartedly, please note that some photographs may not be suitable for children.
A beautiful Christmas decoration at the Galeries Lafayette in November 2014.
While France does not celebrate Thanksgiving, American ex-pats in Paris generally do, and it is my information that many go to a shop named Thanksgiving for cranberries and other accoutrements for the holiday. (For Thanksgiving 2014, I went to my favorite restaurant in Paris, Le Basilic, and had the best veal I’ve ever had.) Americans might be shocked to see “Black Friday” sales advertised in Paris. The advent of the internet has made day-after Thanksgiving sales a global phenomenon. Sometime around Thanksgiving, a Christmas village on both ends of the Champs-Elysees comes to life where you can purchase Christmas gifts, have something to eat (try a crepe!), or enjoy a kiddie ride. Paris also puts up their Christmas decorations at this time, and the City of Light becomes the City That Sparkles.
But, I digress. Here are three Top Picks to do in Paris in November 2015 from the Paris Insider’s Guide that caught my eye. Click on the link above to see all 50 Top Picks.
58 Tour Eiffel Restaurant offers sumptuous food and beautiful views.
1. (Dinner at) Eiffel Tower, Moulin Rouge, and Seine River Cruise.
Have a leisurely dinner at Eiffel 58 while enjoying the views from the Eiffel Tower. Then see the city lit up at night on a cruise on the Seine River. Finish the evening at Moulin Rouge by taking in a performance of Feeire. From $376.17. MUST BOOK IN ADVANCE! Book by clicking here.
A Walking Tour with a guide is a great way to experience French gastronomy.
2. Gourmet Walking Tour
Book a 3-hour walking tour with an expert food connoisseur. Your guide will lead you through several Paris neighborhoods to visit: a French bakery, pastry shop, French caterer, wine shop, cheese shop, and a fruit and vegetable shop and market. Free snacks are included. From $101.06. Book by clicking here.
A dancer in La Bayadere, a ballet set in India.
3. Nureyev’s La Bayadere – Paris Ballet at the Palais Garnier (Nov 17- Dec 31) Rudolf Nureyev produced his version of this classic ballet that he made known with his own performance in Paris in 1961. Book by clicking here.
Au revoir!
Image of photographer by Xavier Alberghini, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Image of Christmas decoration at Galeries Lafayette by Elsa L. Fridl. Image of 58 Tour Eiffel Restaurant by Andi Fisher, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Image of Paris Walking Tour: Paul Boulaingerie by Itamar Medeiros, Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Image of dancer in La Bayadere by Simurg, Flickr, CCBY 2.0.
To prevent your waistline from expanding while dining on French cuisine, why not take a Spinning class?
One quandary many travelers face is how to stay in shape while dining on local sumptuous cuisine. While I stayed in Paris for a month last year, I bought a couple of weights (3 kgs. = 7 lbs.) and a mat, and worked out downstairs (in a hostel) when few people were around. One of my roommates thought I was “making quite a commitment” by purchasing these items, but alas, I am not so French as to be immune from counting calories. I was afraid my weight would balloon if I didn’t do something — and I wasn’t about to forgo all French food while visiting Paris. That would be like visiting the Louvre and not seeing the Mona Lisa. Ridiculous.
While Spinning isn’t my personal choice for exercise (oh, my legs!), it is one of the most popular exercises available today, given its many benefits (explained here), such as an excellent cardiovascular workout, as well as a great abdominal workout. As the latter article explains, a good Spinning coach will constantly remind you of proper posture and technique so as to derive these benefits — and who knows more about maintaining proper posture and technique than former ballerinas?
Enter Dynamo Cycling, which is located at 14 rue Saint-Augustin in the 2nd arrondissement, a few steps east of the Paris Opera Garnier. (How fitting.) (Metro: Quatre-Septembre.) The class is 45 minutes and is described as “Paris’s version of an extreme spinning class.” With former Paris ballerinas as coaches, would you expect anything less?
Dynamo Cycling website See dynamo-cycling.com/classes. According to the email I received from Dynamo Cycling prior to publishing this post, your first session is free. (No mention of a commitment that goes with it.) The price of a class is 30 euros and decreases if you purchase a pack.
Au revoir!
Fitness class image by Nottingham University, Flickr, CCBY 2.0.
