Colleen's Tips

Listen and read French

The Paris mayor's office makes it possible to read the history of the Bois de Vincennes and the Bois de Boulogne, but also to hear the history read to you.

Click on these links and once on the respective page, click on the megaphone where it says "Ecouter cette page".

Bois de Vincennes or read the English translation.

Bois de Boulogne or read the English translation.

Emergency numbers

If you are using a cell phone in Paris and need to make an emergency call the Mayor's office provides a list of useful numbers in the back of their monthly magazine distributed to all households.

Health:

SAMU (Emergency medical help in Paris): 15

Police (Emergency): 17

Pompiers (Fire department): 18

SOS Médicins (website available in English) 24-hour doctors - 01 47 07 77 77

Urgences médicales de Paris (Emergency medical services) - 24-hour doctors - 01 53 94 94 94

Pharmacies (open 7 days a week/ 24 hours):

84, avenue des Champs-Elysées (01 45 79 53 19 or 01 45 62 02 41) - 75008

6, place de Clichy (01 48 74 65 18) - 75009

Urgences funéraires (emergency funeral arrangements) 7 days a week/ 24 hours: 08 00 88 00 88

Objets trouvés (Lost and Found): 08 21 00 2 25 (0.12 cents/min) Monday to Friday

Magazine/Newspaper website links

You might not read French but you sure can enjoy the photos. Whether it is clothing, colors, styles, kitchen utensils, interior design, whatever, these are two good links to view on line: Coté Maison and

Femme Actuelle.

You can find recipes, garden planning, photos -- I can go on and on and I will one of these months in a special article.

In the meantime, enjoy the photos!

If you would like to read about the current events in France before your voyage or during your voyage and compare note with the International Herald Tribune (get the link), I recommend Le Figaro in English on line. Word on the street says that they lean to the left and Le Monde leans to the right.

Remember, in French politics, the right has more in common with the U.S. Democrats, who are reputed to lean toward the left.

France 24

French language and tutoring
Are you looking for a tutor?

I can give French lessons to American women or speak with them.

My telephone number is :06 83 85 54 61 (cell) or 01 46 40 02 51 (home)

and I live in Neuilly sur Seine (within the Paris region).

French Etiquette - Do's and Don'ts

Something I have recently thought about mentioning is etiquette that would make a visitor feel comfortable in France.

The Paris Tourist Office has taken care of it by providing companies that assist the visitor with: Etiquette Do's and Don'ts, Make-Up, Cosmetics, and Mastering Evening Etiquette in the French art of living.

I have copied their press release for all the information.

Banking

You can have free ATM usage in France when you have an account with Bank of America.

This hint comes from Frances:

"...if one has an account at Bank of America they can use the ATM without charge. Bank of America in in an alliance group with a number of other bank around the world and if you have an account at any one of these banks there is no charge when using them..."

USA Today published a "Your Money" article about which are the best credit cards to use and avoid fees.

Some highlights:

• Visa and MasterCard charge a standard 1% fee for foreign purchases. In recent years, many banks have tacked on currency-conversion fees of up to 2%.

• The lowest currency-conversion fees according to the article are: Capital One (none); Washington Mutual (1%) and American Express (2%). www.indexcreditcards.com

• ...3% on a credit card is less than using traveler's checks...and the change currency at a U.S. airport...

• Use ATMs to acquire foreign currency for tips, taxis and other non-credit card items

• Do not use your credit card to get cash from ATMs

• Reject offers from merchants to convert your bill into dollars (i.e., Harrods in London offers this service)

"Before going abroad, check out ways to reduce currency-exchange fees" by Sandra Block www.money.usatoday.com

Where to find a good French hairstyle (women and men)

If you are staying in the south of Paris and would like a French style at a reasonable price, I can recommend Sylvie Demont Coiffure.

Recommended by a colleague, I made a reservation, showed up late by accident and not a word of was said (I realized that night that I had made a mistake).

Sylvie uses a razor combined with scissors for styling. The shampoo, cut and style was 30 euros.

She and her staff understand English but are shy to use it. Take a photo reference if you like. I believe that they understand more than they let on. You will find them all very gracious.

147 Boulevard Auguste Blanqui, 75013

Telephone: 01 53 80 26 57

Open: Tuesday and Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Thursday: noon to 8:30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

------------------------

I have to pass on this information on to you. My hairstyle was now 3 months old, growing out great, thanks to my Czech/Chicago barber.

However, I wanted something more French.

I have to recommend Coiff1rst.

Usually I walk past or look in the windows to see what kind of feeling I get.

The Coiff1rst that I happened upon rue du Four in Saint-Germain-des-Prés was at the end of a vine covered entry with white lights shaped as a vault to pass through.

I walked in was asked if I would like something immediate or would I like to make an appointment.

The feeling was immediately comfortable (not to speak of the wonderful shampoo massage!)

Sabine was my consultant and she also is the directrice of this branch. She pointed out what made my hair look American and how she would alter the style.

Her fee is the highest; however, I was not prepared for 75 euros; so she offered the top student price: 65 euros.

After all, I did a style!

Coiff1rst has their own cutting and style technique and guarantee that you will keep the style from four to six weeks.

Their prices are related to the level of stylist and range from about 35 euros to 75 euros.

They have stylists who speak English.

Coiff1rst in Paris

Saint-Germain-des-Prés

44 rue du Four 75006

Telephone: 01 45 44 84 39

Saint-Germain-des-Prés

10 rue de Buci 75006

Telephone: 01 44 07 10 20

In the 8th

40, rue Marbeuf 75008
Telephone: 01 42 25 08 50

Montorgueil

98 rue Montorgueil 75002

Telephone: 01 45 08 92 93

Opéra

53 rue des Petit Champs 75001

Telephone: 01 42 25 08 50

They are located in Saint-Tropez and Strasbourg, Guyanne and Tokyo, Japan. Consult the Coiff1rst website.

Jean-Louis Deforges

Jean-Louis Deforges is another great place for a style. The Deforges methods guarantees that with their cut, you barely need to brush; it will fall into place just by using your fingertips.

I always use Antoine at the Boulevard Richard Lenoir salon and school location.

If you want someone specific, make an appointment; otherwise, they will try to accommodate walk-ins.

Deforges Saint-Germain-de-Prés

8 rue du Sabot 75006

Telephone 01 42 22 05 05

Deforges  Bastille

71 Boulevard Richard Lenoir 75011

Telephone: 01 43 55 56 67

Deforges La Réunion

42, rue Jules Olivier

Saint-Denis de la Réunion
Telephone: 500262 94 35 36

Chains:

Jean-Claude Béguine

Jean-Louis David

Salon Jacques Dessange

Have a suggestion? Let me know.

Paris Tourist Office (Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau) all over Paris

Ask for the free guidebook and map:

"Paris for you" and the "Paris for you map -- A"

What does the book contain?

Sightseeing and events, walks and a directory.

Sightseeing: "calendar of events, top 12 Parisian sights and the River Seine"

Walks: "Twelve (12) different atmospheres to discover Paris time after time, area by area, as the mood takes you."

Directory: "Some 200 useful addresses, a metro map, information, hints and advice -- all you need to enjoy a smooth stay in Paris".

The information centers are located at popular tourist areas. The centers provide a full range of services (hotel reservations, excursions, etc.

For more Paris tourist office information:

Telephone: 01 49 52 53 68

08 92 68 30 00 (0,34 euros/minute)

Marie-Christine Rabot

mcrabot@paris-touristoffice.com

Year-round locations

Seasonal locations

Paris Tourist Offices - 6 locations:

To view the map where

the tourist offices are

located, left click on the photo

Gare du Nord tourist office "welcome kiosk"

Gare de Lyon

Montmartre

Carrousel

General religious/cultural information

The Catholic diocese of Paris website (l'Eglise catholique de Paris) provides lots of information.

Although in French, the mass section (Messes) section has a map to find churches in the Paris arrondissements and find out mass times.

Clicking on the church name provides the address and other practical information.

Calendar

Click on "Evenments" for a calendar of upcoming church services.

For example, Ash Wednesday in (Mercredi des Cendres, entrée en Carême), Holy Week (Semaine Sainte), Holy Thursday (Jeudi Saint), Way of the Cross (Chemin de croix), Good Friday (Vendredi Saint), Holy Saturday (Samedi Saint), Easter Sunday (Dimanche de Pâques), etc.

Ash Wednesday information

For information about churches where you can receive your ashes consult the Catholic Diocese's website.

When the Lenten season is close to beginning, they will enter current information as to churches, Mass times and other bits of information in French under the heading "Mercredi des Cendres, entrée en Carême" .

To read more click on "lire plus...." .

The linked words "Voir les initiatives des paroisses parisiennes pour le carême" which means Paris churches for Lent and it will take you to a page listing the churches.

The word for Mass is messes.

Questions?

French francs to euros

Banque de France, Service des Caisses

48 boulevard Raspail 75006

Telephone: 01 49 54 27 27

Metro: Sèvres Babylone

Open: 8:45 a.m. to noon and 1:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

What to expect at the Banque de France

When you are ready to enter the bank (and all banks in France), you enter one person at a time.

Push the blinking button and wait for the green light; enter the cubicle and repeat the same procedure.

You need to fill out a form (printed in French and English) either at one of the round tables or pick one up at the reception desk (accueil). The last line of the form is unnecessary to fill out (le cas échéant pour le compte de....) .

Take a number from the dispenser on the pillar.

Go to the cashier when your number shows up where you will sign the form and receive a receipt and your euros (100 francs will equal approximate 15 euros).

The Banque de France at the Bastille is no longer collecting French Franc (FF) coins. Although a general date of 2012 has been set for final redemption of the notes, one never knows when one of these old bills will turn up.

While housecleaning I found an envelope of old bills stashed away for a dishwasher. In another more recent case, my niece found a 100 FF note on her doorstep in Florida!

Although the redemption center has moved, it is in another great location.

If you know the department store "le Bon Marché", you are very close to the bank.

The bank is across the street from the Hôtel Lutetia and the Square Boucicaut (in front of the department store.

In order to see if you have a valid note, take a visual journey through the French money of different eras when you visit the website entitled "Banknotes that are No Longer Legal Tender ".

Scroll down to the heading "Banknotes Denominated in Francs".

All of the French francs notes specify the name of the image. For example, a 100 FF note is decorated with the image of Delacroix; a 50 FF note with Saint-Exupéry.

You will obtain detailed information about deadlines to exchange certain bills. Some have expired; while others still have a "grace period".

Although there is a general expiration of 2012 date for the most recent French franc bills; various redemption dates exist for various bills.

The Delacroix bill can be exchanged until January 31, 2009; however, if you a 50 FF bill with the image of Saint-Exupéry, you have until February 17, 2012.

When you click on the links in the Banknote section, an image will appear of the bills.

It is a fun way to go back through some of French history and look at old French bills as far back as 1871.

You will see the dates that the bill was in circulation and sometimes who designed it.

The Banque de France in Paris on boulevard Raspail is now the only bank that exchanges your francs for euros.

What to expect at the Banque de France

When you are ready to enter the bank (and all banks in France), you enter one person at a time.

Push the blinking button and wait for the green light; enter the cubicle and repeat the same procedure.

You need to fill out a form (printed in French and English) either at one of the round tables or pick one up at the reception desk (accueil). The last line of the form is unnecessary to fill out (le cas échéant pour le compte de....) .

Take a number from the dispenser on the pillar.

Go to the cashier when your number shows up where you will sign the form and receive a receipt and your euros (100 francs will equal approximate 15 euros).

Banque de France, Service des Caisses

48 boulevard Raspail 75006

Telephone: 01 49 54 27 27

Metro: Sèvres Babylone

Open: 8:45 a.m. to noon and 1:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The 1993 Saint-Exupéry 50 FF bill is redeemable until February 17, 2012

The 1978 Delacroix 100 FF bill is redeemable until January 31, 2009

The 1968 Pascal 500 FF bill -- if you didn't turn it in by February 28, 2007, you missed your chance

Send a Paris postcard

The Champs Elysées website has a link to send a postcard over the internet.

At this time, however, it appears that they are still working out the kinks (i.e., they haven't named the fields of the form. You will see blank boxes but do not know what to add -- let me know if this changes).

So what you can do is copy paste and borrow the card for now. Right click and save the picture to a folder.

The themes they have are:

• Old card design

• Love

• Typical Paris Postcards

• Gay Pride 2000

• Place de la Concorde

The Paris Tourist Office also runs a postcard (e-card) service. These are standard photos.

Meeting the French

One of my readers, Michaela, suggests a website where you can dine with the French in their home. At present 40 French individuals or couples are wish to host someone for dinner or lunch. Click on "Host portraits" for their invitations.

This website also provides for B&B accommodations, tours, a chance to meet the Parisians at work, etc.

Some of their tours might include the Bagatelle vineyard with a professional wine grower or a Paris gourmet tour, or a pastry and chocolate tour, company guided tours for 5 euros. Some tours are available only in English, some in either French or English.

Cybercafés - Internet cafés - WiFi in Paris

The Paris tourist office website provides a list of internet locations. This page also provides links to find out about making telephone calls within France, calling to France or to another country, use of telephone cards, mobile phones and the post office.

When the weather is nice, take your laptop to any park in Paris and connect for free.

Paris in images (Paris en images)

As an experiment, the city of Paris and France Télécom have decided to produce a website along the photo agency, Roger-Viollet and Crayon noir e-médias. The object of this site is to make make available images of Paris that are cataloged in their libraries.

The categories available include Galerie des Collections (Gallery of the collection); Au fil du temps (As time goes by); Au fil des images.

"For those in love with Paris, discover a selection of 15,000 of the capital. You can either look through the archives or download them to your mobile phone or PDA."--- Paris en images

The website can be viewed in English.

Conversion chart *

Quick reference:

1 meter = 3 feet, 10 meter = 33 feet. 2 meter = 7 feet, 11 meter = 36 feet. 3 meter = 10 feet, 12 meter = 40 feet. 4 meter = 13 feet, 13 meter = 43 feet ..

Bra sizes (found at http://www.breasttalk.co.uk/size_charts.asp ) Their cup sizing chart shows same cups between AA and D.)

Help with tons and tonnes and square meters and square feet

I found this all-inclusive private web address that includes everything you have always wanted to know about conversions!:

http://www.mbarron.net/Nile/measure.htm

or try the Google calculator: http://www.google.com/help/features.html#calculator

Centimeters into inches:

To find centimeters: Multiply inches by 2.54.

To find inches: Divide centimeters by 2.54

Kilometers to miles:

To convert kilometers to miles: one kilometer is equivalent to 1,000 meters or 0.62 miles. Thus 20 kilometers is about 12.4 miles.

Square meters - square feet:

To find square feet: Multiply square meters by 10.76

To find square meters: Multiply square feet by 0.0929

Tonnes to tons:

To find tonnes: Multiply tons by 0.9072

To find tons: Multiply tonnes by 1.1023

Useful cooking measurement conversions:

Additional cooking measurements from What's Cooking America

Women’s dresses, knitwear and blouses :

Women’s shoes (chaussures):

Men’s shoes

Some linear examples: