Parler Paris Nouvellettre®, Paris Newsletter

Parler Paris Nouvellettre^®
Your taste of life in Paris and France
ParlerParis.com
Monday, December 20, 2010 • Paris, France

Travel in Luxury, Stay in Style with Paris Palais Apartments

At Paris Palais Apartments you will find our most luxurious and palatial vacation rental apartments. Large and spacious, beautifully and professionally decorated, completely equipped and functional, these apartments can accommodate up to eight in your party -- all in the center of Paris just steps away from the city's main attractions and neighborhood amenities.

Book now at www.parispalais.com or email: apartments@adrianleeds.com for more information.

For Les Petits Palais, visit Parler Paris Apartments.

The snow is still falling. I've never seen so much snow in Paris. Never. Statistically speaking, I'd guess it's breaking all records as the forecast predicts snow almost every day this week through Christmas.

My daughter is on route from New York as I write and although the flight was scheduled to land at Charles de Gaulle this morning, it's been diverted to a city in the U.K. (no, not "Leeds") and then there are no guarantees it will be able to land in Paris later in the day nor that the shuttle from the airport will be able to maneuver the roads to get her here.

We are having a 'white Christmas' whether (or "weather?") or not we want one. For those of you planning a White Christmas in the City of Light (or "City of White?"), bring your snow boots. This is a first for most visitors, huh?

Our plan for the holiday includes a Christmas Eve dinner with a friend who lives next door to Notre Dame. How perfect is that!? Mass begins at 4:30 p.m., but the Christmas carols begin at 11 p.m. led by the Archbishop of Paris Cardinal Andre 23. This is my chance to experience a REAL Christmas mass! Here's the official schedule:

And now you're asking: "What's a good little Jewish girl like me going to a Catholic mass?"

Why not? Will the Catholic church not let me in the holy chambers of Notre Dame simply because I'm not Catholic?

This morning an old Jewish friend living in New York sent me a link to a video sure to put a smile on your face -- the "Christmas Can Can" which doesn't leave anyone out from the celebration:

"It's the most wonderful time of year. We're running mad with Christmas cheer. Hey, what's troubling you my friend? It's not fair if you're Jewish, Jewish (not fair if your Jewish, Jewish). Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel I made it out of clay. You realize that Christmas ain't the only holiday."

"Wait for our ending. We should share this holiday. I wanna give a happy Chanukah to you, a happy Chanukah to you, a happy Chanukah to you. A merry Christmas, Chanukah and also Kwanzaa. Merry Christmas, happy Chanukah, and mer-ry Kwan-zaa, too."

The next day, Christmas Day, will be a bit different. What do Jews do on Christmas Day? They go for Chinese food and a movie, what else?

It's so traditional (in a funny, untraditional way), that this past June during Supreme Court hearings, Senator Lindsey Graham asked Justice Elena Kagan, in relation to a question about the Christmas Day Bomber, “where were you on Christmas Day?” that Kagan responded (to a deserved round of applause): “You know, like all Jews, I was probably at a Chinese restaurant.”

Since the Chinese don't celebrate Christmas, most Chinese restaurants are open on Christmas, unlike all the others. In many major cities across the U.S., there are kosher-certified Chinese restaurants to choose from, so that even the most observant Jew can eat Chinese on Christmas. I wouldn't think of missing it.

Movie theaters tend to be open, too, particularly in the afternoon. I've already staked out the films: Rapunzel ("Raiponce")?, The Tourist?, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1?, Burlesque? (I already saw Burlesque -- go for the singing, dancing and costuming, but ignore the stupid script, terribly predictable story and bad acting, even by those actors we've seen do better in other films!).

And if you prefer some other sort of other show, the Office du Tourisme offers up this list for things to see on Christmas Day: parisinfo.com

By the way, you don't need to be Jewish or Chinese to do any of these things on Christmas Day. You could break from your own tradition and do something different -- the things we non-Christians do. We somehow manage to have fun, too!

P.S. In the next few days, you'll be hearing about Parler Paris Apartments' newest luxury vacation rental: "La Belle Notre Dame." It's two steps from Notre Dame, has two bedrooms and two baths, has been magnificently renovated and decorated by our own Interior Architect and Designer, Martine di Matteo, with artistry mosaic tile work by Véronique Husson and is appointed for pure luxury! The Web site will be up soon, but in the meantime, email apartments@adrianleeds.com to book your stay now!

Parler Paris Getting a mortgage in France is easier than you think...

Let us show you just how hassle-free it can be to get a French property mortgage for your dream Paris pied-à-terre or villa in the country!

Visit French Property Loan or contact Mortgage Manager John Rule at loan@adrianleeds.com

PSI Communications -- Welcome to Tuesday Evening Cross-cultural Gatherings

Join our Tuesday evening salon with a lively mix of people, cultures and new ideas. Connect for business and pleasure. Make better friends with your own brain with new communication tools.

Visit www.psicommunications.com or email: antonio.psicom@gmail.com

Subscribe to French Property Insider for FREE!

This weekly e-zine gives you insights, recommendations, tips and discoveries about buying and investing in property in Paris and France. And now you can subscribe for free!

We have been publishing French Property Insider since 2002 for paid subscribers—50 issues a year-end we have amassed an extraordinary amount of information about investing in French property which is now at your fingertips. You'll have access to all past issues, archived articles, special reports and that latest Paris property price information — all absolutely free.

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Practice Your French...or English!
Parler Parlor French-English Conversation Group

KING CAKE PARTY!
(Les Galettes des Rois)
Saturday, January 8, 2011
11 a.m. at Lutèce Langue
OPEN TO EVERYONE!

Come for conversational exchange and celebrate the New Year over Galette des Rois with Vin Chaud.

SAVE 10€ OFF A 10-SESSION CARD AND 25€ OFF A 20-SESSION CARD THAT DAY!

Practice speaking French and English. Make friends, discuss interesting topics, learn about other cultures, progress in understanding and speaking, naturally and easily. Meets three times a week -- come as often as you like! For further details, visit Parler Parlor

Note: Parler Parlor is closed from 23 December through 3 January, reopening 4 January.

For further details, visit Parler Parlor

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