• August 21, no service between La Défense and Nation alternatives available
    Life in Paris & France,  Transportation,  Videos

    Paris RER A Renovating after Forty Years

    After forty years, RER A is renovating between July 23 and August 21. Alternative transportation options are available. Two videos and a website explain the details. The RER A serves forty-six stations (35 RATP metro and 11 SNCF) and carries 308 million travelers a year with two minutes between trains. Read more about the RER A project and other statistics. Guides for How to Get Around this Summer on RER A and C can be downloaded as well as the special instructions booklet, practical guide to prepare ahead, guide for the disabled and how to get around Paris and the outlying areas this summer.....

  • cover of Rosemary Flannery's Angels of Paris Architectural Tour through the history of Paris
    Book Reviews,  History,  Seeing Paris,  Videos

    Rosemary Flannery’s Angels of Paris

    How do you view Paris? With an angel on her shoulder, Rosemary Flannery views Paris through angel eyes. Rosemary is the author of the book, "Angels of Paris, an Architectural Tour through the History of Paris". Rosemary wrote the text and took the photos, even if it included carrying a ladder around to get the best angle of an angel. I only recently discovered this book, a little slow on my part, but that shows the timelessness of a subject that dates back....

  • Barefoot college, Tilonia, India, man sitting next to Merry Xmas/Happy New Year banner
    Events and Trade Shows,  Videos,  Welcome to Colleen's Paris

    Happy New Year 2015 from Paris!

    The Paris Mayor’s Office brought in the new year with a spectacular display of “video-morphing” on the Arc-de-Triomphe. The spectacle lasted 20 minutes and ended with fireworks from the top. Wherever you were on December 31 (I was almost a month in northwest and central India), you can relive a slice of the moment virtually on their Daily Motion (French YouTube) channel.

  • Horse pulling cart with workers at Guédelon
    Children and Teens,  History,  Travel Destinations,  Videos

    Guédelon is About Building a Fortified Castle

    We headed down for a weekend visit with friends in Ravière. On the way, between Burgundy and the Loire Valley lies the region of Guédelon (gay-de-lone), “a land full of tastes, color, culture and literature, history and memories.” We had visited Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye and the pottery museum a few years ago. This time, I found there is more to this region for families and even adults without children than I never knew existed. A place my husband always wanted to visit was the building site of Guédelon. Often when visiting fortified castles, they have been standing since the thirteenth century in various shades of disrepair or renovation. If you have never seen…

  • Events and Trade Shows,  Videos

    Postcard from Paris Plages

    Paris Plages is open mid-July to mid-August, even if it rains. To watch the video in HD high quality, I suggest you put the YouTube setting to 720p (the wheel in lower right corner of video). On the Hotel de Ville plaza play volleyball or wheelchair basketball. Fill up your water bottle at the "Eau de Paris" stations (eau=water). This is the 12th annual Paris Plages sponsored by the mayor's office of Paris (Mairie de Paris). Paris Plages is always in three locations

  • History,  Life in Paris & France,  Videos

    Paris Hôtel de Ville Guided Visit

    Visit Paris city hall in French. Weekly visits are available for thirty individuals. It is recommended to sign up at least two months in advance. During the summer, visits are held twice a week. More information is available at Salon d'Accueil, 29 rue de Rivoli (4° arrondissement) from Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm. Their phone number is +33142764343.