The most beautiful city on Earth

Someone made me notice that we tend to harp on the negative aspects of living in Paris, such as the congested traffic and metro, the high cost of living, etc.

Just to clear things up, I have to say that Paris IS the most beautiful city in the world (at least, of the cities I have been to thus far), and I am privileged and fortunate to live here.

The architecture, the monuments, the streets, the people, the cuisine, the wines, the culture, the museums, etc., make this an incredible place to live in. Just strolling down the Champs Elysees makes you feel alive and content.

Going to a fabulous restaurant, and having an excellent dinner with wine, is amazing.

Just looking at the people walking around, très chic and with an obvious "joie de vivre", makes you feel wonderful.

If we sometimes comment on the traffic, the metro, the dog poop and the smells, it is all because we would like to make it even better.

That said, I am reading a hilarious book on the downsides of life in Paris, entitled "A Year in the Merde", which is really, really funny :-)

http://www.amazon.com/Year-Merde-Stephen-Clarke/dp/B000QUUTPU/

Salut!

Sitios de artistas latinoamericanos en Paris

Este sitio tiene enlaces a varios sitios de artistas latinoamericanos en Paris:

http://www.scremini.com/index.php?pg=links

El sitio, en sí mismo, es de Renato Scremini, quien se especializa en mosaicos, collages, espejos, maniquies, etc.:

http://www.scremini.com

También hay enlaces a diversos medios y sitios sobre la cultura latinoamericana en Francia:

Radio latina
Le site de la radio de toutes les musiques latines. Concerts, Cinéma, Théâtre, Expositions, Soirées DJ’s.

Amelatine
L'actualité de l'Amérique latine en France

Latina TV
La premiere chaîne généraliste et multilangue du monde latin en Europe

LAGENDA
Le site de tous les événements.

EVENE.fr, c'est toute la culture !

Caramba Spectacles
CARAMBA Spectacles est une agence de production de spectacles et de tournées, spécialisée dans les musiques du monde

Lecture avec le poète équatorien Jorge Enrique Adoum

Jorge Enrique Adoum es uno de los más destacados escritores ecuatorianos.

Por cierto, recomiendo en general los eventos de la Maison de l'Amérique Latine

http://www.mal217.org/agenda/agenda.cfm

Date : lundi 5 mai 2008
Horaire : 18h30

Rencontre-lecture avec le poète équatorien Jorge Enrique Adoum

A l'occasion de la parution en français de L'amour désenfoui, traduit de l'espagnol (Equateur) par François-Michel Durazzo, Myriam Solal Editeur.

En compagnie de Nicole Adoum, François-Michel Durazzo, Ramiro Oviedo et Jean Portante.

Myriam Solal Editeur

Great restaurant, shopping area and multiplex

By sheer serendipity, we found an excellent and inexpensive restaurant.

It is called "Les 6 Jours", and it is located in the Hotel Ibis near Cour St. Emilion metro station and shopping area.

Ibis is a chain hotel, 2 stars, and I suppose the café is also fairly standard (at least in terms of decoration). But the food is excellent, and relatively inexpensive (for Paris).

Or, if you are feeling a bit more spendthrift, you can go to one of the nice restaurants in Cour St. Emilion, which is a lovely shopping area (it used to be a series of wine warehouses).

Also there is the UGC Ciné-Cité Bercy, which, for my money, is the best multiplex in Paris (and we have been to most of the cinemas within Paris). It is clean, has excellent stadium seating, great surround sound, altogether a great experience. The multiplex itself has a fairly good café.

Fodor's also gives this multipex a "thumbs up":

http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/france/paris/entity_153683.html

Speaking of movies, you cannot beat the "UGC Illimité" card, which enables you to go to as many movies as you want per month, in most of Paris' movie theaters, for 19 euros (or 35 euros for two).

I realize I am starting to sound like a comercial, but this unlimited movie deal is simply fantastic (and makes me miss Netflix a bit less)

Velib, the way to go

The Mayor of Paris has established a system of bike rentals that is available about every 3 or 4 blocks. It is called Velib'

You can get an annual pass for 29 euros, or a weekly pass for 5 euros. There is a charge for using it over 30 minutes (but you could, for example, return a bicycle after 29 minutes, and immediately get another one).

More info:

http://www.velib.paris.fr/

Paris is ideal for this, as it does not have too many hills, and the dowtown area is fairly compact. On the other hand, you do have to deal with the Parisian traffic, except in those areas where there is a bike route.

Highly recommended, and good for the environment!