Disneyland Resort Paris was built to give a creative joy and entertaining experience for children and family. It should bring happiness and excitement with sensual pleasure and opportunities to explore. A magical place that is filled with amusement, magic and personal memories. From the smallest child to the biggest kids of all ages, Disneyland Resort Paris has been turning dreams into reality for the last fifteen years.

The Paris resort is the biggest of the four theme parks in Florida, Tokyo and California. There are a number of original additions and features that make Disney Paris a must visit amusement park of all times. It has been designed a little like the California Park where the little paths and corners are concerned but some of the shows and features are completely new. The rides are more exciting, the most popular being the “Pirates of the Caribbean”.

If ever you find yourself in France during the month of July, you will find it hard to ignore the carnival that is the Tour de France.  The 2009 race kicks off on Saturday, 4th July at Port Hercule in the independent monarchy of Monaco.  It will be the 17th time since 1954 (Amsterdam) that the cycle race has started outside the borders of “l’Hexagone” (France).  The Tour ends on Sunday, 26th July in Paris.

Energy group GDF Suez says it recorded a significant dip in delivery of Russian natural gas on Tuesday.

PARIS – Deliveries of Russian gas to France were down 70 percent from their normal level on Tuesday amid a dispute between Russia and Ukraine, energy group GDF Suez said.

Paris, the city of fashion. Particularly if fashion is defined by wearing black. Parisians love to wear black; black trousers, black shoes, black coats, you name it.

Parisian women are peculiarly fond of black clothes. It is well recognized that “le noir, ça mincit”. Parisian women having a cool obsession with looking slender, black is their best friend.

But besides its superb fat-erasing skills, black is a priceless social colour in Paris. With black, you go unobserved.

The French have some very formal rules about manners and etiquette (la politesse) and there are many, well written, books on the subject.  Here are a few ways to avoid embarrassment and not become too surprised.

Meeting people

The French shake hands almost whenever they meet and always when meeting someone for the first time or for business. Arriving at work it is quite common to greet colleagues with a handshake, and to shake hands again when leaving.  I once had some luggage stolen whilst traveling on the TGV to Paris.  Having arrived, I was asked to wait in the Police office whilst a report was written.  There were several other people in the room and I watched in pleasant surprise as an officer, coming on duty, went around shaking everyone by the hand (including me) and wishing a polite “bonjour”.

French bank Societe Generale has seen net profits crash by 84% for the third quarter, hit by the credit crisis.

Net profits in the 3 months to the end of September fell to €183m  ($235m; £145m) from €1.12bn  in the same period last year.

The bank has been hit hard by the chaos in the finance sector with the collapse of Lehman Brothers alone prompting a €447m write down.

Despite the results the bank said it was positioned to deal with the downturn.

The French plan to rescue the financial industry do not disrupt competition, says EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes .

The European Commission on Thursday cleared French and Dutch plans to preserve their lenders from the global credit squeeze.

Both were judged to be in line with EU rules on community aid and with guidelines reported by the European Union’s executive arm on 13 October.

These say that any rescue package should be limited in time and range and must not discriminate against foreign-based banks operating in that country.

The following should be considered if you wish to register a car in France.

You will also need a degree of patience and good humour (as with most things bureaucratic in France).

Following directives from Brussels, insurance companies will no longer insure cars with foreign registration plates and it is illegal to keep a foreign registered car in France for more than 6 months without changing to French  registration, i.e. obtaining a Carte Gris.  There will no doubt be a rush to register, (Immatriculation), cars by many expats who have been doing this for years.

Driving in France is well regulated, as with most countries.  Some of the most frequently broken and, therefore, most often prosecuted rules are below.  This is not an exhaustive list, but driver beware… if you cannot pay the “on-the-spot” fine, you may find your personal “tour de France” ends in jail.

Observe driving speed limits

Fines for speeding are DRACONIAN. From “on-the-spot” fines of €135 to as high as €1,500 (the higher fines include attending a court).  If you don’t have the cash on you to pay, the gendarme will escort you to the nearest ATM – or jail.

Built-up areas 50kph (31mph). The town or village name post starts the limit – the bar through name is the de-restriction sign.

Ordinary roads 90kph (56mph).  If the road surface is wet the speed limit is 80kph (50mph).

Toll-free autoroutes and dual carriageways 110kph (68mph); if wet l00kph (62mph).

Other autoroutes l30kph (81mph); if wet 110kph (68mph).

On autoroutes in foggy conditions, when visibility is less than 50m, the speed limit is 50kph (31mph).

DO NOT drink and drive

The alcohol limit is lower in France than Britain: 50mg per 100ml of blood… in reality a miniscule amount of alcohol. Fines can be as high as €4,500… so just don’t drink and drive.

10 VITAL RULES TO REMEMBER