JOURNAL: Paris

Thursday: 08 Mar 07 > 57 degrees and beautiful :)

~The Musical Chairs Journey~

Start at the Wilkins Theatre at Kean University, nope - directed to relocate by the Vaughn Eames building. Here I met Lori and Steve, a really cool couple. Lori is a senior and Steve, well he is along for the ride - no work, just one lucky dude. Now I’m observing the funniest dude – Peter, whose partner in comedy just arrived – Oscar. Jump for joy, our bus is here and the group has just loaded it down with luggage, more luggage, and much more luggage. I believe the group has 44 persons in total and we are now ready to trek to the JFK airport in New York courtesy COACH USA. I have been entertained all the way by Radimus. Sony, Inc. you don’t know what you are missing - this dude has tunes! The group is flying with Lufthansa airlines into Frankfurt, Germany before continuing on to Charles de Gaulle Int’l airport.

LOL - I've been playing musical chairs a little too much lately. First, a man in his mid 50's was going to sit next to me on the plane and just as he sat down and asked “do you speak English?” his wife came over and moved him. So, I'm thinking I have two seats all to myself - right, totally cool maxing out with a ton of very interesting German magazines, when a Jewish Rabbi noticed the seat and then brought over another Rabbi - ok they are seriously checking me out from head to toe. Apparently, since I am not married, neither of the Rabbi's was allowed to sit next to me. GREAT! Oh, so one of the Rabbi’s proceeded to ask, guess who - the wife who relocated her husband, to come and sit by me so he could go and sit next to her husband. Twilight zone alert: she's nice, but extra weird! She has a band around her face from the bottom of her chin to the top of her head, so when she sleeps her mouth doesn't drop open and she's also sporting an eye sleeping patch as well. Passengers are ogling as they walk by, one even stopped and starred - think I could sell tickets? She has more gadgets than a computer geek. She also has this rubber gel half ball with spikes all over it. She says it helps her feet, and I thought it was for a massage! Ok, about 10 Jewish Rabbi's are putting on their top hats and are closing the curtains to the business sections - looks like prayer time. This is neat to witness even though I'm clueless to this "ritual"; childhood memories. So, I've just learned that the nice lady sitting next to me is on her way to Cairo, Egypt for an archaeological dig!

I wanna go ...

NOTE: Do not buy or bring any liquids such as orange juice or water before going through the boarding shakedown or you will have to leave them. No exceptions, the inspectors are very serious about the liquids. Also mademoiselles, all your cosmetics must be in a ZIPLOC bag. Guys that shave, same thing, zip it or lose it - so buy the bag!

NOTE: The German magazines have many FREE samples! (Shampoo & Conditioner, Facial Foundation, Facial Moisturizer for day & night, and Tanning Lotions)

On-tour assignment: Blog Reports

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Friday: 09 Mar 07 > 54 degrees
~Musical Chairs, Part 2~

Yeah, the plane has successfully landed in Frankfurt, Germany and I'm making a mad dash to the next gate. Guess what? I'm sitting here with two other comrades Anupt and Erica, eating a German yogurt ice cream when we learn our flight is leaving out of another gate and at 7:30 am instead of 6:55 am. Oh, and the newspapers are available at the plane entrance and here's a super bonus, they are FREE – awesome! Hey, I'm chatting with a German senior who's teaching me to speak German. He is so impressed I can already count to ten. So, now the group is off to Paris's Charles de Gaulle Int'l airport where I again encounter the game of musical chairs! I am assigned 11A and there is this Chinese business man sitting in my seat so I just sat down in seat 11F. LOL - now here is a Japanese business man, very politely telling me I’m sitting in his seat and I explain to him that that man is sitting in my seat, so he opts to sit in 11B.

Now we have once again successfully landed and are meeting our very charming EF tour director, her name is Natalie. The bus driver is having a heart attack because he has just seen the luggage he has to load onto the bus and unload at the hotel. He asked if we are visiting Paris, or if we are all moving to Paris? We have arrived at our hotel and start to put away our stuff, when I learn my room is double booked - lol. Now I have room #400 all to myself - really - keeping my fingers crossed. Later ... the group is meeting up in the lobby and we are going out for tours.

Ok, were out the doors to the Bercy Village for lunch and shopping. I stopped in several stores: Oliver & Co. where I bought this fantastic Olive oil infused with Basil and another infused with Chili Hot Pepper. These oils are going to be great for salads! Next shop is the Le Cure Gourmande, where I purchased caramels, the cutest lolipops (Choupettes) and other Easter sweets for my CCD students. I'm having lunch at the UGC Cine Cite Cafe. I chose this delicious Mango Orange smoothie and a most interesting "salade".

Next trek is to -pause- Metro lessons first by EF Tour Director - Natalie. I'm in the very back, and she's talking about lines? and direction? Hey I got my map - lets bolt! Ok, were are trekking to the Georges Pompidou Centre. This place has the huge white pipe funnels that are actually ventilation shafts for the underground areas. The air-conditioning ducts are blue, water pipes are green and electricity lines are yellow. Millennium art you could say – still I think I prefer renaissance! Pose by the water fountain for group photos.

Next trek: The Saint Eustache Church - it's just beautiful! Unfortunately it's no longer a functioning church though and it's operating more like a musuem. Still beautiful artwork and a lot of history. I'm shopping again and I found the best tea infusers at Bodums - think I'll buy two for gifts. The group is going for dinner now at a restaurant . So, this is what happens when you put an French chef Sebastian and Italian chef Giovanni together! FLAMS! This restaurant serves unique or exquisite baked flast bread with tasty toppings the parisians like to call "Tarte Flambee". I think my table will settle for "very interesting". Drats! We are trekking back to the hotel for snooze time - buenos noches amigas!

NOTE: movie & wine are FREE courtesy on Lufthansa

NEWS clip: INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE: The BIG news in France is that it's a 3 way race for the presidential race and that this race includes a women, Segolene Royal. The three candidates are Nicolas Sarkozy (Gaullists), Segolene Royal (Socialists), and Francois Bayrou (Centrist).

On-tour assignment: Blog Reports

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Saturday: 10 Mar 07 > 55 degrees
~Saturday in Paris~

Hello everybody or should I say BONJOUR!

It's evening in PARIS, FRANCE and I'm updating you

about my day from the PEANUTS Internet Cafe :)

Ahh, nothing like sleeping in to beat jet-lag, here at the Mercure Hotel! I dreamed until 8:30 am, bolted for continental breakfast which included, but not limited too: freshly baked croissants with honey; apple, mango and orange juices; applesauce and yogurt. The group is off to the bus where we met a new tour director Isabel, also a new bus driver - Eddie. Natalie is here as well.

We are crossing a bridge passing over the Seine River. Some icons along the way are the Ministry of Finances, Faculte of Sciences, Institut du Monde Arabe, Lycee Henri IV High School for ages 16, 17, and 18. Pantheon, Le Sorbonne University, Musee d'Orsay, Pont Neuf, Condorcet Statue, and the Joan of Arch Statute. Here on the Rue of Rivoli, we find the Napoleon Statute in the square, but check out the beautiful black Lotus! - I want one :)

On the Rue de la Paix, ladies there's Cartier, next here's the film location of the movie Phantom of the Opera with a beautiful "gold-gilded" roof, Le Opera House National de Paris. On the Rue Scribe we find such a treasure as the Foucher Chocolates. Trekking across the Rue de Rohan and coming up to the Court yard du Louvre, unbelievable, a glass pyramid where supposedly Mary Magdalena was buried underneath. Passing over the Concorde Bridge and we see in King Louis IVX Court a tremendous water fountain and a monument that was a gift from Egypt. Next we are driving by the American Embassy, Pierre Cardin, the home of Jacques Chirac and now moving along the Avenue de Marigny, crossing the Pont Alexandre III Bridge where we see a tribute to Winston Churchill, the Air France building and now The House of the Invalid Solders (Invalides) where these soldiers were provided for until they married or died. France's monument to its war heroes and victims, l' Hotel des Invalides' is one of the most striking monuments of the French capital. It also houses Napoleon's tomb which draws crowds of tourists from the world over. On the Rue de Constantine, there is a Military Museum, and a surprise called Station Varepne - a gasoline station located on the sidewalk.

Along the Musee Rodan, we are learning about the three Napoleon sons. The second died in 1821, and Hitler as a gift gave France his remains 1940. There are the most interesting green boxes along sidewalk and I learned that they are for evening vendors to sell second hand books. Cool, we are making a quick stop and here we find a statue of JH Mansart, the Effiel Tower in the background and another statue of Joffre (1852-1931). There is an orientation tribute to some important event very interesting to observe, but I don't see another translation of the presentation. On the fence is posted "Pelouse Au Repos" and "Mairie de Paris, La qualite des". I have a feeling these are probably advertisements and unrelated.

Yeah, we are boarding the bus and going to Versailles now. We are passing Novotel, OMYA, LeMuguet, FRANCE TELEVISIONS building, HSBC, signs for the Peripherique (roadway system around France). Now we are observing Henry IV, Louis XIII Lord of Versailles Hunting Lodge and learning history of the La Fronde, a Civil War that took place. We are passing Versaille Chateau Centre, Conseil General des Hauts de Seine, trekking the Rue deGal Pershing where the Cassee d'EPargne is located.

We are having our Palace Tours and are meeting back at "The Gate" at 2:50 pm. Wow! In this salon on the ceiling is a real Hercules Fresco and in the next room is another fresco of Mary Magdalena washing Christ's feet. Now we are being told that the rest of these ceiling paintings are actually "Tapestries." Ok, my stamped tin and gold leaf teakwood ceilings have to go! These ceilings are amazing!Their panel doors are trimmed in 21K gold and the ceilings 24K gold. At least I have the gold leaf trimmed doors at $50.00 a gallon. We have an excellent tour guide and are touring and learning the history of many salons in the Palace:

--Salon de Diana of Hunting, Salon Mars, and Salon de LeTente deDarius

Note: Summer walls have silk with 5K gold and the winter walls have velvet with 5 K gold.

--Salon de Mercury, Salon de Apollon, Salon de Wars - the coat of arms & shields of armor are over laid with gold leaf also gold leaf is found on the wood, bronze and doors.

--Portrait de Maria Lieczinska

--Chambre du roi (WOW) with goldleaf banisters too!

Note: King Louis has the bed of beds - I really like your style, my bed has to go!

--Galerie des Glaces, Hall of Mirrors, is spectacular for Mis Quince celebrations!

--Gardens with Canals, water brought by Aqueducts system.

--The Treaty of Versaille was signed in this room

--Salon de Peace Drawing

--La Chambre de la Reine (WOW) The Queens Chambers, her jewelry box is larger than my triple dresser! The Ostrich feathers on top of the canopy are very costly, symbol for fertility, and girls, the lady in waiting delivered publicly :[--

-- Portraits: Marie-Antoinette de Lorraine-Hasbourg, Joseph of Austria

--Salon: The Queens Noble and Reception

Note: Louis IIVX died in prison

--Salon de Queens guards, Salon La Salle du Sacre - The Coronation - Sacre de l'empereur Napoleon 1st et Notre-Dame. Note: Napoleon blessed himself and his wife in the Popes' presence before aristocrats to claim his power was of his own doing and not from any blessing received from God!? I'm scared, next room please.

--Portraits: Napoleon Bonaparte 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

Here is where our tour ends. I could definitely recommend this palace for Mis Quince celebrations or weddings. So I'm off to wait at the designated gate where I encounter an angelic being amongst the hellish souvenir vendors and coincidently secure French-in-a-minute lessons: NON MERCI=No thanks, JE'NA PAS D'ARGENT=I don't have any money, JE SUIS UNE ESTUDIANTE=I'm a student, Il pleut=it's raining, Il fait chaude=it's warm outside, Je suis=I am, Je suis foid=I am cold and Je Chant=I am singing. These French lessons were courtesy of a Canadian teen who observed my verbal challenges when dealing with the souvenir gurus while waiting outside the gates for our tour groups. Initially, they were intended to ward off the very aggressive vendors trying their best to make a living, then we decided to just have some fun. Merci Heather! The bus ride to Notre Dame including trekking along the following streets: Quai des Tuleries, Quai de la Megisserie, Rue des Bourdonnais and the Centre Georges Pompidou.

NOTE: Toillettes Gratuites!

NOTE: Fontaine des Innocents, I’m loving this water fountain and the architecture here in France.

~~Visiting the Notre Dame~~

Magnificent! Here I received enlightening history lessons from our tour director - Isabel, about the Notre Dame Church and its historical Catholic teaching methods. Since peoples back in the day could not read, comic pictures and sculptures were used to tell biblical stories. Gargoyle statue heaven. Inside I attended Mass and observed The Crown of Light (Le Couronne De Lumere ou Grand Lustre) chandelier. There are signs posted throughout the extra large church "Priere Silence", Silent Prayer and "Messe", Mass. The cantors sound very angelic singing the hymns before and during mass. I'm trying to figure out how to say "Peace Be With You" in French, and in Español, it's "Paz Con Usted"; so maybe in French it's "Pas Avec Vou"?

Ok, the Priest is in the middle of what's seems an extra, extra long homily and I'm feeling a bit nervous. I've just realized I'm the only person from my group here and I have to figure out how to take the Metro back. Ok, I'll just breathe... and go ask directions from those two GQ police officers I saw outside. No problem, just take Line 14, Direction La Bibliotecque, SORTIE Bercy! The Mercure Hotel is just down the street - THANKS be to God! Whew! LOL - Hey - at least I remembered to ask for a Metro ticket :)

NEWS clip: La TRIBUNE: Interview with Michel Sapin - France is the world's fourth largest economic power in terms of GDP. The country's assets are varied and include its transport and telecommunications sectors, agri-foodstuffs and pharmaceutical industries, along with banking, insurance, tourism and the traditional luxury products of leather goods, ready-to-wear fashion, perfumes, fine wines and spirits, etc.

On-tour assignment: Blog Reports

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Sunday: 11 Mar 07 > 60 degrees and sunny :)
~Pay TV~

It was a beautiful day and I am here again in the evening at the Peanut's Internet Cafe writing to you. Today, I discovered Pay TV Numerique. A patron goes to Channel 24 for the movie menu and chooses the movie(s) and enters the channel number. Next confirm your movie. The title of the movie does not appear on your bill and parents need to contact reception to prevent access to adult material.

Pay TV Numerique: 24 heurs / 24-7 jours / 7 : Consultez la chaine 24 choisissez votre film et selectionnez la chaine correspondante. Validez votre choix. La titre du film n'apparait pas sur votre facture. Contactez la reception pour interdire l'access aux films adultes. Saisissez code d'acces. Quadriga.

Mercure Hotel - PARIS Bercy
Liste de vos chaines TV et Radio

TF1 - TV - Francais
France 2 - TV - Francais
France 3 - TV - Francais
Canal+ - TV - Francais
Arte - TV - Francais
M6 - TV - Francais
Sport+ - TV - Francais SPORT
Cinema Premier Pay TV - TV - Francais Cinema
National Geographique - TV - Francais
1TV - TV - Francais INFO
TV5 Monde - TV - Francais
BBC World - TV - English INFO
Sat1 - TV - Deutsch
TVE - TV - Espanol
Rai Uno - TV - Italiano
Euronews - TV - Francais Info
RTL - TV - Deutsch
Phoenix - TV - Chinese
Eurosport - TV - Deutsch SPORT
Al Jezira - TV - Arab Info
France Musique - Radio - Classic
France Info - Radio - Francais INFO
Movie Guide Pay TV - Pay TV - Cinema
PayTV (29&30 Adult) - Pay TV - Cinema
France Info - Radio - Info
FIP - Radio - Jazz
France Musique - Radio - Classic
Europe 2 - Radio - International

In the Mercure hotel, the only channel you don't have to pay for is an international news service, CNN - and it's in English. There are FREE newspapers available every moring in the hotel lobby: La Croix, La Tribune, Le Monde and Les Echos. During subway treks, I have bought three French Fashion magazines: Elle, Marie Claire and Vogue and will compare them to the same magazines issued in the US when I return. All are the March 2007 issues.

UPDATE 16 Mar 07: So I'm here back in the USA - Edison, NJ at my favorite munch and study hang-out, the Menlo Park Mall's Barnes & Nobles cafe, where I have been comparing my French magazines to the US issued magazines. Similiarly, the March issues of both the French Vogue and the US Vogue, for the most part have the same advertisers, such as: Bally, Balenciaga, Barberry, Bottega Veneta, Roberto Cavalli, and Versace to name a few; some of the photo layouts are different though and only the US Vogue offers free perfume samples.

NEWS clip: LaTRIBUNE: Nicolas Sarkozy's political book entitled "Temoinage (Testimony)", a hefty work of confession and stricture , promises to be this year's summer blockbuster.

On-tour assignment: Blog Reports

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Monday: 12 Mar 07 > 59 degrees
~Louvre and Montmartre Trek~

Today we visited the Palais Royale Musée du Louvre, where I saw the famous Mona Lisa painting and the pyramid of course. It’s located right in the heart of Paris, next to the Seine River and the Tuileries jardins. There are paintings from 1400’s to 1850’s that you could spend a couple of days marveling at.

Afterwards we went to Montmartre where we saw the famous Moulin Rouge (Red Windmill) nite club and I got my foto snapped in front of the cafe that was in the Amelie movie. I saw the cute fruit and vegetable stands and yes, walked on cobble stoned streets in style – my heels!

Next our group went to Saint Peters Church and the Basilique du Sacre Coeur de Montmartre where I climbed to the very top - great view too! Tonight we will tour Paris on a river boat called a BATOBUS. It was amazing to see the Eiffel light up at dusk - but even more amazing to hear the guide conducting the tour retelling PARIS history in six languages. He is originally from Tanzania, Africa.

NOTE: Peoples with acrophobia – fear of heights - you can climb to the top of the Basilica, because it is an enclosed structure. However, don’t even think about the Effiel Tower – the view is totally open. The Effiel is cool to observe from the ground level during night especially at the changing of the hour when it has thousands of twinkling lights that stay on for about 10 minutes. Oh yeah, it’s named for the engineer who designed and built it in 1889.

NEWS clip: Le FIGARO: Paris says "Au revoir" to Jacques Chirac as he will not seek a third term as Frances' President.

On-tour assignment: Blog Reports

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Tuesday: 13 Mar 07 > 57 degrees
~Bones and Books~

Today we visited Les Catacombes. That’s a 130 steps down into the dimly lighted bone pit and 83 steps backup. Egads! Bring a flashlight!

Afterwards we went to du Pere LaChaise Cimetirere to see where the lead singer for the Doors - Jim Morrison, was laid to rest. On his grave was an inscription that read: "The Soul of an Indian will come back to dance on fire" LVCH '07. I also discovered Le prince de L'lle Bourbon grave (Nelle 7 Juin 1793, Mort a Paris Le 19 Fevier 1881). Enough bones!

Lucy, Valentina and I are going for lunch and then we are going to Shakespeare and Co. Bookstore. I am having Salade Noicoise, very nice. Time to bolt! The Shakespeare shops are totally cool, no cafe, but I could spend some time here. It’s an International library on the smaller scale - books galore in many languages and some dating back to 1700's. You can buy them or check them out for four days.

ps: Location #30, Div. 6

NEWS clip: Le FIGARO: French doctors and nurses have signed a petition declaring that they had helped patients suffering from incurable diseases to die and calling for the government to legalize euthanasia. The petition from 2134 medical professionals is believed to be the first such declaration in France.

On-tour assignment: Blog Reports

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Wednesday: 14 Mar 07 > 56 degrees
~Strolling les jardins~

Today, we are on our own "FREE TIME". I'm out of my room 6:30 am for munch and brunch and a stroll through the Parc de Bercy, established 1995 here next to the Palais Omnisports stadium featuring pop singer - Michel Polnereff. Who? Well he has played with Led Zepplin, Johnny Hallyday, the Beatles and its 4:15 pm and there are already hundreds of people lined up at the stadium. Tickets are sold out too.

The skies are clear, the sun is shinning and this park is pretty neat - BIG understatement! Did I tell you it's just out the back door of the Mercure Hotel restaurant. It has a section dedicated to skateboarding with ramps, lighting, graffiti background, etc. You could promenade, stroll, jog or relax and take in the scenery all day long. The flowers and stair waterfalls, make the Parc de Bercy very picturesque for photographers alike. My favorite is these statues I discovered - they represent world culture and various religions. The kids really love this millennium windmill - they actually climb a pole in the centre.

I am bolting up the stairs across the Peripherique (parkway) bridge - amazing view. Crossing the next bridge and here I see the river Seine with dinner boats and a boat that hold's a huge indoor swimming pool. Across the next bridge are the three library buildings. The architecture is very modern and picturesque. Back over the bridges and admiring the park from a view. There are many maze walkways with benches entertaining romantic encounters and chatters alike. This park even has a merry-go-round for children and chairs for the parents waiting for the tykes.

Adjoining the Parc de Bercy are dedicated gardens called Jardin Yitzhak Rabin (1992-1995. General et Homme d'etat Israelien, Prix Nobel de la Paix, Assassine le 4 novembre 1995 a Tel Aviv.A writers heaven - very relaxing and inspiring, the flowers are in bloom too. Persons are studying, jogging, and admiring various flowers. Garden maze after maze and so artistically done. I'll be spending some time here at the Exposition Crachez vos Pepins after I tour the dragerie and La Cinematheque Francais just next door at 51 Rue de Bercy.

NEWS clip: La TRIBUNE: Paris is accused of orchestrating the merger of French energy firms Suez and Gaz de France to prevent Suez from being bought by Italian firm Enel.The intervention of the European Commission follows complaints by both Enel and the Italian government. The French government, which denies any wrongdoing, owns 80% of Gaz de France. France has two weeks to respond. Jean-Francois Cirelli is president of Gaz de France.

On-tour assignment: Blog Reports

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Thursday: 15 Mar 07 > 59 degrees

~Au revoir~

It's a very sad morning because we have to leave Paris now and say goodbye to Natalie, our EF tour director. So that's 44 students packing suitcases, checking out, boarding the bus and off to Charles de Gaulle Int'l airport. We will stop in Frankfurt, Germany before landing at Newark Int'l Airport.

ps: The Charles de Gaulle Int'l airport is amazing, but it looks like something from another century. My assigned seat, 27C, from Germanyto Newark was double booked – lol - the game of musical chairs! Many thanks to Professors Londino, McHugh, Mirrer, Searson, Tung; Anupt & the group for an awesome trek!

NEWS clip: Les ECHOS: - Paris is celebrating the opening of LGV (Ligne Grande Vitesse) another high speed rail system; other TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse). 15/03 Inauguration de la LGV Est européenne ! Découvrez les images de ce superbe spectacle http://www.pleinsfeuxsurlalgv.com

On-tour assignment: Blog Reports