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Photo by Erica Simone

What Do You Do on Christmas Day in Paris?

Parler Paris...
Your taste of life in Paris and France
ParlerParis.com
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Paris, France

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Dear Parler Paris Reader,

I've stayed home in Paris almost every Christmas since having moved here. So many friends and relatives head this way while they have vacation Stateside, that someone has to take care of the "inn" I've affectionately called "Hotel Leeds."

Warning to all those who contemplate owning an apartment in Paris: you will discover friends and relatives you didn't know you had! Oh, it's not so bad. In fact, it can be downright wonderful that they all come to you and you get to just enjoy the City of Light like a tourist.

This year, my daughter pried herself out of her new West Village "pied-à-terre" to spend three weeks with her mother and her boyfriend of more than five years. Her long-standing junior and high-school friends have been dropping by to say hello, showing off their bulging pregnant bellies or new jobs and their perfected English, now that they're using it regularly in their adult lives.

This week we "rendez-vous-ed" for lunch with friends from Germany who came in for just one day (!) to visit Paris with two exchange students from Chile they are hosting this year...and again with a friend from Chicago who also came for just one day (!!), only to return again the next morning to the Windy (and very cold) City for Christmas Day. Paris is a 'magnet' for a "Bonne Noël!"

So, what does one do in Paris on Christmas Day?

While most Parisians are opening their gifts, slicing into a turkey or ham and pouring up the "Vin Chaud," Jews and non-Christians are heading to the movies and then a Chinese dinner. It's tradition! Most of my daughter's friends from her school days in Le Marais are of mixed nationalities (making for an eclectic and quite beautiful group of young French), so they're happy to join us at the big round table (seating 12) at our favorite Asian restaurant in Belleville, "Lao Siam" (number 49, rue de Belleville).

But if you're not so inclined as to take on the tradition of non-Christians, and prefer something a little more in the Christmas spirit, let me make a few suggestions for great things to do in Paris on Christmas Day:

Visit the Christmas markets: http://www.sortiraparis.com/

Visit the department store "vitrines": http://www.cityzens.fr/

Go see a sexy review...The Crazy Horse, the Moulin Rouge, the Paradis Latin, the Lido...all have Christmas "spectacles": http://www.pariswelcome.net

A few museums are open (!): The Aquarium Trocadero (http://www.cineaqua.com/), The Centre Pompidou (http://www.centrepompidou.fr ), The Musée de la Magie ( http://www.museedelamagie.com/ ), The Musée de l'Erotisme ( http://www.musee-erotisme.com/ ), The Wax Musée Grévin (http://www.grevin.com/ ), the Musée Jacquemart-André ( http://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/jandre/ and of course, the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Judaïsme (http://www.mahj.org/ )

What could be finer than to be at Notre Dame for midnight mass or on Christmas Day?: http://notredamedeparis.fr/

Take a ride on the Grande Roue Ferris Wheel at Place de la Concorde: http://www.paris.fr/

Or skate on one of the three city-sponsored ice rinks!: http://www.paris.fr
Get a great view of the city. Both the Eiffel Tower and the Tour Montparnasse are open for ascending!
Eiffel Tower: http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/index.html
Tour Montparnasse: http://www.tourmontparnasse56.com/

And where to eat? One of the big brasseries! Brasseries Flo Brothers...or Frères Blanc will have their doors open. Visit http://www.flobrasseries.com/ or http://www.blanc.net/ for a listing of their locations all over Paris.

And if none of those suit you, head for a movie and a Chinese restaurant! You'll find all the non-Christians there enjoying the Christian holiday!

A la prochaine...and a very Merry Christmas!

Adrian Leeds (with Erica Simone)
Editor, Parler Paris

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P.S. We want to know what you're thinking! Please email us at Parler Paris to let us know what how we can improve our newsletter starting in 2009: What kinds of information would you like more of? Are you getting what you want and need to know about upcoming events? What would you change? What would you not change? If you're a loyal reader, why? And if not, why not? Help us make Parler Paris everything it can be...and more in 2009. Click here now to email us your brief, but to-the-point explanation: info@adrianleeds.com Many thanks and Happy Holidays!

P.P.S. Reminder: I'll be at La Pierre du Marais Saturday afternoon with Victoria, of "Divine Feminine Touch," to learn the "Joy of Sex-y!" Hope you can join all us gals in learning the trade secrets from a woman who knows how to get a man and/or make yourself happy (!)...it's sure to be an absolute blast! Scroll down for more information and to reserve your ("G") spot or visit /frenchproperty/conference

This as an opportunity to prosper...if one knows how.

Buying power is up thanks to a stronger dollar, prices are down or stable, interest rates are coming down. THIS IS THE RIGHT MOMENT. Warren Buffet says it is -- when the market is down...and Franklin D. Roosevelt said we have nothing to fear but our own fears.

So, why aren't you seizing this amazing opportunity to fulfill your dream to own your own little piece of Paris, Provence, or anywhere in France?

Visit French Property Consultation and discover it for yourself.

Then, as our gift to you...a small token of our appreciation of you as readers and friends...during this holiday season...we offer you a ONE-HOUR FREE CONSULTATION by phone or in person between now and December 31, 2008.

Simply schedule it any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Paris time (except holidays) by emailing info@adrianleeds.com

Take Advantage of the New Low Interest Rates

If it's a new mortgage, then now is a perfect moment to take advantage of lower interest rates!

Crédit Foncier is offering 3, 5 and 25 year fixed rate loans as low as 4.95%!

Banque Patrimoine et Immobilier is offering 5 to 18 year fixed rate loans for the first year at 4.6% and 19 to 25 year fixed rate loans for the first year at 4.75%, plus a 5 year fixed rate of 4.99% then reset every 5 years!

You can refinance an existing property and can even apply for a larger amount for a longer term. Although there are usually Notaire fees payable on securing a new mortgage on a property, often, the charges can be absorbed into the loan itself.

And if you already own property in France, why not release equity from your current property to purchase another one?

For more information and to apply for a low interest mortgage in France, contact John Rule, Mortgage Manager, www.FrenchPropertyLoan.com, email loan@adrianleeds.com

Reserve your stay of three nights or more during the month of January in any one of Parler Paris Apartments at a discount of 10%!

Welcome is how you will feel in a private apartment in Paris that has to live up to our standards...meaning only the best!

Visit our newest apartment...La Table du Roi!

"La Table du Roi" ("The Kings's Table) is a one bedroom slice of old world charm, destined to please those looking for luxury and elegance. On the first floor (European) of a 17th-century building on rue du Roi de Sicile in the heart of Le Marais (4th arrondissement), it is steps from rue de Rivoli, rue Vieille du Temple, the Hôtel de Ville, Place de la Bastille, the River Seine and everything that Le Marais has to offer. La Table du Roi is now available for holiday rental!

For more information and to reserve your stay in Paris now, visit Parler Paris Apartments or email: Apartments@AdrianLeeds.com

Special Offer on "Depressiongraphs"
by Erica Simone

Photographer Erica Simone's 'ever-faithful' Mr. Canon EOS20D has suddenly ascended into the photographic heavens and left his Parisian mistress completely camera-less...and quite sad. To help little Miss Erica re-gain creative happiness in these times of world economic stress, now is your chance to purchase her limited edition (10) "Depressiongraphs" at the ridiculous price of $100!

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Choose from any of these especially selected images (click on each photo to see an enlarged version):

Beautifully Odd	Bronze
Canon in the Canyon	Hearted
Drowning	Eiffel Works
Jagged Boy	Paradise in the Eyes
Love is Never Black or White	Porcelain
Shadow in the Window	The Flock

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Wishing you all beautiful December times with prosperous New Year's resolutions.

Erica Simone

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