Bonjour *|EMAIL|*, Paris Story Telling Parler Paris Nouvellettre® Your taste of life in Paris and France http://www.ParlerParis.com Monday, May 18, 2009 Paris, France • Printer Friendly http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/18-5-09pparis.html • Parler Paris Blog http://parlerparis.blogspot.com/ • Community Calendar (Updated Every Wednesday) http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/calendar.html • Recommend to Friends http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/tell-a-friend/index.php • Don't miss a single issue of Parler Paris! "Whitelist" Parler Paris by adding "info@adrianleeds.com" to your address book. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Parler Paris Reader, I had full intentions of reporting today on Saturday night's annual "Nuit des Musées" when Parisian museums come to life till 1 a.m. the next morning...but cold and flu rendered me helpless, watching old movies on TV while friends partied without me. Missing such an important city-wide event is not part of my usual 'agenda' -- which means taking advantage of life in Paris to its fullest. Scroll Down to Read on... --------------------------------------------------------------------- Only Two Weeks Left...May Day is Play Day and Pay Day! Subscribe to FPI for just $1 per day the month of May 2009 Every Thursday, hundreds of hard-working folks receive an electronic magazine ("E-Zine") called "French Property Insider." For those who are even remotely interested in having their own "pied-à-terre" in Paris or stone cottage in the countryside of France...it all starts with French Property Insider! Now only $31 for the entire year for 50 issues of everything you need to know to make your dream to live and invest in France come true...Don't Miss this Special Offer... Click here to read a sample edition! http://www.frenchpropertyinsider.com/FPI_Sample_Edition.html?utm_source=Parler+Paris&utm_campaign=10044bc76f-pparis1_5_02fpi_promo5_1_2009&utm_medium=email or click here to subscribe! http://www.frenchpropertyinsider.com/members/signup.php?utm_source=Parler+Paris&utm_campaign=10044bc76f-pparis1_5_02fpi_promo5_1_2009&utm_medium=email --------------------------------------------------------------------- Parler Paris Nouvellettre® continued... Saturday, prior to the full onset of "la rhume," walking across the Pont Saint-Louis with Barbara Navarro, an American artist who has lived in Paris more than 30 years, we agreed that it's impossible to become bored or 'jaded' with so much pleasure surrounding us, in spite of the 'hurdles' we endure to overcome the cultural differences and French bureaucracy. She giggles as she tells a few tales that might make the average person's hair curlier than hers. Over dinner Sunday evening with friends who all own and rent their apartments here, we shared stories of some of those 'hurdles' -- the ones involving home ownership. Like letting too many people know about a new great restaurant find, that ultimately ruins the restaurant with too many patrons, we laughed that perhaps we shouldn't actually be sharing these stories with anyone else -- lest they would never want to own an apartment or decide to live here. However, and we all agree, part of the 'pleasure' of living in this particular corner of the world is, in fact, the challenge of surmounting those 'hurdles,' and ultimately enriching our lives with so many of these 'stories' we will surely survive to tell. Part of the issues we face are cultural, entangled with the mastering of the French language and the bureaucracy to get things done in a reasonable manner. Just this morning, renters called while I was in the shower to say their gas alarms were all buzzing like mad. I was standing at the phone half naked and dripping wet while recommending they call the "pompiers" (firemen). Luckily, the French emergency systems function beautifully and they were on the scene within moments. It didn't take long to determine there was a gas leak which seemed to be coming from the hot water tank and a plumber should be called. The "plombier" arrived on the scene, too, within a few minutes and discovered it wasn't the tank at all, but that the "chaudière" (hot water boiler) hadn't had a "ramonage" (chimney sweeping) in three years (by law, it must be done annually)! The next step is to have a "ramoneur" (chimney sweep) arrive as soon as possible -- as until then, there is no hot water in the apartment! As I write, this is being arranged. These are normal situations, that any homeowner faces, naturally. Sometimes, it is surprising how quickly and efficiently, particularly in an emergency, that things can be taken care of to everyone's satisfaction. The emergency services (firemen, police, medical, etc.) are amazingly dependable. Other times, the system can work against you and fuel your level of frustration. No question that once you acclimate to the cultural aspects, you can laugh (almost) at those times that might normally send you over the edge. If you can't acclimate, then the system wins...you lose. Everyone who lives here has stories to tell. It's part of our pastime -- to share them with one another, learn from them, and of course, laugh about them. In the meantime, we're walking across bridges, wallowing in the beauty, attending city-wide free public events, enjoying the cultural arts and pinching ourselves..."do we really live in Paris?" Yes. A la prochaine... Adrian Leeds Editor, Parler Paris Share this article with a friend... http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/tell-a-friend/index.php Respond to Adrian mailto:info@adrianleeds.com P.S. 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Full four-week class can be taken for CUNY college credit, or participants can drop in for a week or two of continuing ed. For more information visit: http://www.frenchpropertyconference.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Free One-Hour Consultation with Adrian Leeds If you are a guest staying in any one of our luxurious Parler Paris Apartments, and would like to consider having your own "pied-à-terre" for your pleasure and profit, contact Adrian Leeds for a FREE one-hour consultation while you're enjoying the apartment in the City of Light. Visit: http://www.parlerparisapartments.com for more information or email me at: mailto:adrian@adrianleeds.com?subject=Guest_Consultation ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't Miss Adrian Leeds and French Property Consultation On House Hunters International. ***NEW: "Vacation Home in Paris" - Episode HHINT-1A05 June 15, 2009 10:00 PM ET/PT June 15, 2009 2:00 AM ET/PT New Yorkers Jeff Ballinger and Mary Schiller recently began the first steps toward making their dream together a reality. They have begun their search for a pied-à-terre in Paris. House Hunters International Episode HHINT-402 To learn more, visit http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/calendar.html or email Adrian Leeds, at mailto:adrian@adrianleeds.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You don't need to be rich to dine well in Paris - you just need to know where to go. Insider Paris Guide for Good Value Restaurants The first online restaurant guide to Paris! Published since 1996. Written and Regularly Updated by Adrian Leeds Enjoy fabulous three-course meals with wine for just $20 to $35, including tax and tip. Explore more than 200 hand-picked great-value restaurants. Plus, get a pull-out glossary of common food and dining terms found on French menus! Insider Paris Guides are written for people who love the City of Light. You'll get a Paris insider perspective on Good Value Restaurants... Making a Life... Black Culture... Expat Writers...plus, Practical Paris! For more information, visit Insider Paris Guides at http://www.insiderparisguides.com/member/go.php?r=39&i=l0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to your home in Paris. Home is how you will feel in a private apartment in Paris that has the "seal of approval" from Parler Paris Apartments and me, Adrian Leeds. NEW! Le Trésor du Marais One-Bedroom, Sleeps up to 4 Le Trésor du Marais is a charming one-bedroom apartment with a mezzanine (sleeping loft) located in the heart of the Marais district (4th arrondisement) of Paris just opposite the beautiful pedestrian street, rue Trésor, teeming with restaurants and boutiques. Its location on a charming courtyard provides solace in the midst of the exciting, high energy Marais district just outside your door. Reserve now! Visit Parler Paris Apartments http://www.parlerparisapartments.com/rentals/tresor.html or email: mailto:Apartments@AdrianLeeds.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Meet Other Parler Paris Readers at "Après Midi." Next Meeting June 9, 2009 The second Tuesday of every month, Parler Paris and French Property Insider readers gather at La Pierre du Marais for a drink and a "schmooze" -- it's an opportunity to meet and chat with other like- minded people and a great way to make friends! Costs nothing except whatever you drink, so don't miss the next gathering on Tuesday, June 9th, 2008 from 3 to 5 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/apresmidi.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Practice Your French or English and Make New Friends! Parler Parlor French-English Conversation Group 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 http://www.parlerparlor.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Get and Insider's Look at France! France Today The Magazine Of French Travel and Culture France Today is an insider’s look at French culture, people and trends - your savvy guide to off-the-beaten-track places and events in Paris and all over France! "France-Amerique est vôtre lien privilégié avec la France et la langue française!" To subscribe, visit http://www.francetoday.com or call 1-800-901-6560 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy and sell with Parler Paris classifieds: http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/advertise.html Read past issues of Parler Paris: http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/issues/readpastissues.html Know someone who would be interested in the opportunities in Parler Paris? Forward it for FREE to your friend, relative, or associate here: http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/tell-a-friend/index.php [FOOTER] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2011, Adrian Leeds® Adrian Leeds Group, LLC, http://www.adrianleeds.com