Home Safely from Paris

Good morning,

We are safely home after a non-dramatic travel day.  All flights were on time and no glitches.  How fortunate we were.

BUT we did have one almost tragedy right at the beginning.  The fluster of getting out of the cab at the airport is always nut-so.  Grabbing all the bags, watching out for traffic, getting the push cart, paying the cab driver, etc. As we were starting to walk to the entrance, I noticed that we were without Bernie’s briefcase which contained his passport and all of our electronics including this iPad!  I screamed in horror at Bernie and he took off running after the cab.  Obviously,  he was successful in getting the cabbie’s attention and oh, what a memory.  Could have been disaster.

Thanks for your lovely comments about yesterday’s final blog.

Below is a wonderful newsletter that you may enjoy subscribing to called Secrets of Paris. The graphics and pics did not copy but you can look this up online.

Happy rest of summer!

 
Secrets of Paris Newsletter #158
August 14, 2015

Inside this Issue:

* Can You Wear Shorts in Paris?

* Budget Flights from Boston or DC

* Stay with a Parisian in a Real B&B

* Escape the Heat in Courtyard Cafés

* Free USB Charger at Bus Shelters

* Discover the Best Secrets of Paris in 13 Episodes

* International Entrepreneurs: Paris Welcomes You

* Write-In Paris Writing Group

* Zone-Free Paris Metro Passes

* Parking in Paris: Important Changes

* Charming Paris Jewelry Boutique

* Buy or Resell Race Entry Bibs

* Secrets of Paris Tours & travel Planning

Reading this on a smartphone or tiny screen? Click here for easier viewing in your browser.

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* Can You Wear Shorts in Paris? *
I get asked this question a lot. Especially this summer, which has been unseasonably hot (between 85°F-102°F off and on since early July). I always answer the same way: yes, of course you can! But then I have to go into the more extended version of that answer, because it’s not a simple question. Read more…
* Budget Paris Flights from Boston or Washington, DC *
If you’re planning a trip to Paris this winter, don’t miss the sale by Icelandic carrier Wow Air, with roundtrip flights from Boston as low as $415 (including taxes) or Washington, DC as low as $455 (including taxes), the catch being that you have to pay $67 to check one bag (carry-on is free), and fly through Reykjavik. Oh, and you have to get to Boston or DC if you don’t live there. But considering how expensive some tickets have become, this may still be the cheapest way to fly trans-Atlantic this winter.

* Stay with a Parisian in a Real Bed & Breakfast *
There’s no better way to experience what it’s really like to “live like a Parisian” than to live with one in an authentic Bed & Breakfast, aka Chambre d’Hôte. There are few B&B’s in Paris because of a general lack of space, but you can find a good selection through Une Chambre en Ville, a bilingual website approved by the Paris Tourism Office. Read more…
* Escape the Heat in Hidden Paris Courtyard Cafés *
Everyone loves a good hiding place, especially when it means escaping the crowded, noisy, hot Parisian streets in the middle of a summer heat-wave to enjoy a cool drink in the shade. Here are two favorites in the heart of St-Germain-des-Prés. Read more…

* Free USB Charger at Paris Bus Shelters *
Paris has been steadily rolling out almost 2000 sleek new bus shelters, complete with touch-screen info panels and free USB charging ports for your gadgets. But there’s one very important thing that these new shelters don’t seem to do very well: shelter people waiting for the bus. Read more…
* Discover the Best Secrets of Paris in 13 Episodes *
Looking for an informative, intelligent and entertaining travel show about Paris? “Next Stop Paris”, a Canadian TV series that features my good friend and fellow travel expert Lisa Pasold exploring 13 of the city’s most fascinating districts, is now available to watch for free online. Read more…

* International Entrepreneurs: Paris Welcomes You *
Do you still think Paris is bad for entrepreneurs and small businesses? That the French government doesn’t promote innovation? Then you haven’t heard of the city’s latest start-up incubators or the new French Tech Ticket, where the City of Paris offers financial incentives and administrative support to entrepreneurs from around the world who want to do business in Franc. Read more…

* Write-In Paris: An Angst-Free Weekly Writing Group *
Fellow expat writer Sion Dayson has created a new writers group in Paris for those of you looking for a cozy, communal writing session free from the regular distractions and procrastination tendencies. It’s not a class, nor a workshop, just a place where writers can gather each week to work on their own writing practice with a small, supportive group. The first five-week session begins this September, check out her Write-In Paris website for more details or to register.

* Zone-Free Paris Transportation Passes Starting September *
Up until now, the city of Paris and its immediate suburbs have been divided into five transportation zones (ie: Paris in zone 1, the airports in zone 5), with RATP’s metro/bus/RER tickets and Navigo passes getting more expensive with each additional zone crossed. In recent years, the weekends and summer holidays were de-zoned for weekly and annual pass holders. But beginning September 1st the monthly and annual NAVIGO passes will be zone-free all year long, including Versailles, Disneyland, and both Paris airports (RER and RoissyBus or OrlyBus, but not OrlyVal). It’s a great deal and simplifies life for those who make frequent trips out of the city center. For more info check out the rates on the RATP website.
* Parking in Paris: Important Changes *
If you use a car in Paris, there have been a few important changes in parking policy, including higher street-parking rates and no more free parking in August. The good news is that you can now use your smartphone or regular phone to pay the meter. Read more…

* Charming Paris Jewelry Boutique *
If you’re looking for a Parisian charm for yourself or for a gift and would like to avoid the international chains that have popped up all over town, check out this cute little jewelry boutique in St-Germain-des-Prés. Lilou (146 blvd St-Germain, 6th arr.) sells charms, bracelets, cufflinks, rings and necklaces, most which can be custom engraved on-site for free.
* Runners: Official Website to Buy or Resell Paris Race Entry Bibs *
There are many running events in Paris throughout the year, but the Paris Marathon, Paris Half-Marathon (Semi-Marathon de Paris), and 20km de Paris in October remain the most popular, selling out almost immediately. Until now, there was no legitimate market for those selling purchased bibs (because of injuries, illness or other commitments) or for those who missed out on buying them. Read more…

* Secrets of Paris Tours & Travel Planning *
I’m already completely full through September 15th, but if you’re planning to visit Paris in late-September or October, consider booking one of my private walking tours of Paris. I don’t do the museums and monuments that every tourist visits, but instead will take you to authentic Parisian neighborhoods and hidden sights most people miss. If you just need a bit of help planning your trip, sorting through piles of information and putting all of the pieces together, I also do one-on-one travel planning sessions by phone or Skype. Send an email for more information, newsletter subscribers always get priority!

* About Heather & the Secrets of Paris *
For those of you who are new to the Secrets of Paris, my name is Heather Stimmler-Hall, a dual French-American citizen and professional travel journalist living in France since 1995. I created this free newsletter in 1999 as an antidote to the useless fluff and misinformation that usually circulates about Paris. My only goal is to offer truly useful insider tips and news for visitors and English-speaking residents. I have no “team” of writers, no corporate sponsors, and no plans on selling out your emails and retiring. Today, thanks to my loyal readers who have helped spread the word, the Secrets of Paris Newsletter now has over 17k subscribers! If you have enjoyed reading, please consider passing it along; word of mouth is my only advertising. If you’ve been forwarded this newsletter and would like to receive it directly in your email, just sign up here. Merci! – Heather
Merci!
* Heather *

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