Paris
The Parisian life style of joie de vivre (the joy of living) is visible in the cafes, wine, and food. It’s well known that sitting at a cafe and watching people as they carry on their day is like being inside a movie. It’s a highly valued experience by both visitors and locals alike.
Paris, the capital of France, is located on the river Seine. It’s one of the global leaders in politics, business, the arts and fashion. The city itself is divided into districts or (arrondissements), each of which is known for their individual characteristics such as fashion, cafe life, and more. With its many neighbourhoods, world class museums and some of the most instantly recognizeable land marks on the planet, Paris makes for a great walking city, but can also be quite large. Unless your prefer taxies, learning how to use the public transportation is important. The metro is the most common way to get around. It’s one of the oldest and most efficient in Europe. You are never more than ten minutes away from one. Paris is a safe city, but just as with any other major city, its a good idea to excercise common sense and to keep a lookout for pick-pockets. When visiting, its also very helpful to learn some basic phrases properly. Not only is a sincere effort always appreciated since the lan- guage is a symbol of pride, but its also part of the Parisian experience.
Facts
Flag: 
Population: Approx. 2.2 million +
Official language: French
Currency: Euro
Weights and measures: Metric
Electricity: 220-230 volts AC, 50Hz
Plug: 
Time Zone: GMT + 1
Internet Domain: .fr
Weather
Money and Costs
| Currency: | Euro | ||
| Costs (Euro): | small bottle of water 1-2 | candy bar 1-1.50 | bagette .80 |
| cup of coffee 1-3.50 | liter of petrol 4 | Book of ten tickets for metro or bus 10 | |
| Average nightly room prices (Euro): | Low 30-50 | Medium 50-200 | High 200-800 |
| Average dinner prices (Euro): | Low 20-40 | Medium 70-130 | High 130-650 |
Food/Beverages
To the French, good food and wine are a great part of enjoying life and its enjoyment is something that should not be rushed. In Paris, it's easy to find regional dishes from all over France and a great variety of different foods. Eating in France is an adveturous and great experience. It's always good to poke your head into any shop or restaurant (keeping prices in mind) at any time of day to discover and learn. You never know when you are going to find your favorite (or least favorite) places or foods.
Some foods that should not be missed are:
Cheeses, hams, sandwiches, crepes, fallafels, quiches, breads, pastries, ice cream, chocolates and caramels, pates, duck, goose,
rabbit, lamb, oysters, mussels, clams, crawfish, sardines, escargot, fruits, mushrooms, truffles, beer, wines and sparkling wines.
Customs/Etiquette
Tipping- Tipping is common place but not a lot. When dining, it customary to round up or 5%. Taxis 10%. porters, bus drivers on long journeys one Euro or two.
Dress- Dressing well and with thoughtfulness is always considered in good taste.
Invitations- When visiting a home, a small gift is always appropriate but not wine. When bringing flowers, be very selective as they have different meanings.
Other- The French are very proud of their language so its important to learn a few phrases properly and
apologize for your lack of knowledge on the language.
When entering a store, always say hello and good bye to the store keeper followed by a title such as
Mr or Madame (Monsieur or Madame).
When greeting some one other than frineds or family, adress them by a title.
When crossing the street, make sure to commit and not stop since drivers are only required to miss you by
only a couple of feet. Also, to keep an eye out for motorbikes and scooters.
Always use utensils when eating.
Bank Holidays
Jan 1- New years day
March - (Day Varies) Easter
May 1- Labor day
May 8- Victory day 1945, end of WWII
May- (Day Varies) Ascension
May- (Day Varies) Pentecost
July 14- Bastille Day
August 15- Assumption of Mary
November 1- All Saints Day
November 11- Armistace Day 1918, end of WWI
December 24,25,26- Christmas
Day Trips
Chateau de Versailles, Fontainebleau and Provins make for worthwhile day trips.
Helpful Links
www.chateauversailles.fr
www.fontainebleau.fr
www.provins.net
www.parisfrance.com
www.parisfrance.ca
