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Thank You from Paris Perfect
Dear Madelyn,
Thank you for being our guest and for recommending us to your family and friends; we really appreciate your referrals! We hope that you and all of our guests feel the same as a recent family, who stayed with us and wrote us the following note:
"We truly were impressed by the level of your service. You did think of everything ... Even our friends staying at the George V said they would prefer staying at one of your apts next time. I have lived in Paris for 4 years before, but it is so nice to be able to get your own croissants in the morning, fresh cheese and produce, etc. Those were my favorite parts about living in Paris and you miss out on that when you stay at a hotel. My husband and I have been spreading the word and many of my friends have already asked me for your website."
In this issue we would like to introduce you to our new St. Amour apartment.
Kind regards,
Madelyn & Philippe
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Fall in Love With the Luxury St. Amour Apartment
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Friends and long term guests of ParisPerfect bought this beautiful third floor apartment and remodeled it with impeccable style.
They had excellent ideas, especially taking advantage of the three sets of French doors in the front of the apartment. The doors open to a beautiful view of the Champs de Mars gardens and the Eiffel Tower to the right. Rather than closing off the master bedroom, they enlarged the opening and put two large sliding doors on either side, so the light and space from both rooms flow through during the day - just perfect.
The Jerusalem stone in the master bath is beautiful, as are the small green mosaic tiles in the shower room. We love the chic powder room, with dramatic black crystal chandelier and mosaic tiles.
The chandeliers in the bedroom and living room were purchased in Venice, cut by a master craftsman in an unusual square-cut design. Ihe special cut means that in the afternoon when the sun hits them the chandeliers sparkle against the walls.
The second bedroom is small but has two bunk beds which can be closed during the day for more space. They were designed in Italy and are such a great use of space. And the lower bunkbed can remain open to serve as a day bed during the day so you have more room to spread out in.
Take a tour of Saint Amour.
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Gifts to Bring Back From Paris
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We are always looking for small gifts to give to friends and family when we go to the United States to visit. Here are some favorites, most from our neighborhood markets in the 7th arrondissement.
The Marché Volant or Open Markets near our ww.parisperfect.com apartments always have stands selling tinned pate's, dried herbs, homemade jams, and provencal pate's.
Gregory Renard: This young master chocolatier is one of 36 certified chocolate artisans in Paris and has a shop at 120 rue St. Dominique. Find award-winning macaroons in a variety of flavors and exquisite chocolate. Buy a small box of fresh macaroons in delicious flavors. He was written up by the Washington Post: 'Seductive Gems From the Kitchen of an Artisan.'
Bags of sea salt from Brittany, Sel de Guérande. We pack in jars and put a pretty bow around them. French chefs use this salt for all of their cooking and as a final spray on dishes such as foie gras.
Supermarket Finds: My children and their American cousins love French cookies so we buy inexpensive packages of Petit Prince, Lulu's, Speculoo's and more and arrange them in a basket with bow when we visit. Buy herbal teas (tisanes) or canned confit de canard, Cote D'or chocolate bars (Belgian but one of my favorites) or 70% chocolate bars from Meunier for cooking.
Collection of Old Fashioned Postcards of Paris; buy inexpensive frames when you get home.
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Hints and Tips for Taking the Eurostar Train to Paris and London
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WThe new Eurostar terminal has opened at St. Pancras station in London and the French are much happier about going there than to that ill-fated name, Waterloo Station. The ride has decreased to 2 hours and 40 minutes, city center to city center, and for most of us, it's the only way to go.
For travelers who are concerned about traveling the English Channel you never travel 'under water' per se, you travel in solid rock tunneled out beneath the Channel, there for millions of years
Reserving your Ticket:
Go to www.eurostar.com. It is the official website for booking the train to and from Paris/London and Brussels. You can book online and pick up your tickets at the station. To order tickets mailed to you in advance go to RailEurope.
Very important: be sure to keep your booking reference and the credit card you used to pay for it or they won't issue your ticket.
Saving Money: Look at the small ads for specials on the main page. Click on them and you can sometimes find cheaper fares.
If the fares seem expense because you're last minute, try to book two sets of tickets, one for a later date. You would use half of one for the outbound and half of the other for incoming. Sometimes it will save you money.
Food and snacks: The 18 carriage train has only two bar/café cars and the wait is long. Best idea is to buy your meal or snack before boarding at St. Pancras - lots of nice food stores in the station. In Paris, go to a favorite patisserie and food specialist such as Lenotre and buy a picnic - or there is a Paul Patisserie in the waiting lounge. If you don't have time, go to the Bar car immediately after departure so you don't wait forever to be served.
If you travel first class, the meal is included so no need to think about food.
Which carriage/taxi queues: If you book on line, you can change your seat when the system does its final confirmation of your journey - just before payment. Change your seat and car because the automatic assignment rarely places you at the 'right' end of the train for leaving the station and grabbing a taxi. If the train is full, taxi queues can be very long, so this is an important consideration.
London to Paris: Switch to any of the cars from car 14 to 18 as they are closest to the exit. If you wish to plug into your computer, it's car 14 that has European or English electric sockets -- and be sure to confirm this and to bring a European adaptor for your American plug. Computers are always 110/220 but watch out if you are thinking of recharging your camera or other small appliance as you may fry it.
Paris to London: Car 5 has the sockets and is 5 away from the exit. If you don't need electricity, then choose cars 1 to 3.
Taxi ranks:
Paris: Exit the Eurostar gates and immediately turn right and out the station to the taxi queue. If the train is full, hurry.
London: Exit immigration and the gates, and go right thru the station to find the taxi queue. We prefer taking the tube in London.
Practical Advice: At all train stations, and in any crowded and touristy place, watch your wallets and purses as it is easy to get distracted and get your pockets picked. Keep wallets, credit cards and passports and extra cash in a carrier around your neck or in a zippered security belt around your waist. At worst, keep it in your front pocket. In café's and restaurants keep your purse in sight/in your lap if you are in an open bistro or café - even friends who have lived in London and Paris for decades have been distracted during business lunches and found themselves without their purse at the end of the meal. If someone walks up to you and shoves a piece of paper at you to read, watch what's happening below it as they may be picking your pocket.
Have a great trip!
Paris Tip:
Buy the "Carte Musées et Monuments" at any Métro station when you arrive. It gives admission to 70 museums and the right to jump the queue. Cost is €15-40, depending on the length of validity.
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Trivia Quiz About Paris
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- How many public holidays in 2008?
- What is the population of Paris?
- What is the highest point in Paris?
- How many arrondissements in Paris?
- Who founded the Père Lachaise Cemetary and why?
- Who is buried there?
- Where was the first flight by a human?
- Under the Palais Garnier, the location of the Opera is, what will you find?
- What secured victory for French troops in the First Battle of the Marne?
- Where is The Thinker?
- What does the Le Musée des Egouts display?
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Answers to the Paris Trivia Quiz
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- 9
- 2.1 Million
- Montmartre and Sacre Coeur at 426 feet above sea level. Otherwise Paris elevation is about 114 feet above sea level
- 20 and they start in the middle and circle outwards like the shell of an escargot
- Napoleon in 1804 because the vaulted cemeteries in Paris were breaking through walls and causing health problems
- Famous lovers Abelard and Helois; Chopin, Isadora Duncan, Edith Piaf, Balzac, Maria Callas,Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison and many more
- Paris, 1783 when the Marquis d’Arlandes ascended in a hot air balloon for 20 minutes.
- An underground Lake, which inspired Leroux to Write The Phantom of the Opera
- 600 French taxicabs carried 6,000 reinforcements to the battle. Where are they when you need one now??
- Musée Rodin
- The Paris Sewer Museum. It’s in the sewers near the Pont de l’Alma and a fascinating firsthand look at this ancient and beautifully designed system.
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