Disneyland Resort Paris
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”.
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Categories: France Holiday, Paris France Tags: Aeroport, Animation, Big Thunder Mountain, California, California Park, Caribbean, Cars, Channel Tunnel, Charles de Gaulle airport, Chessy station, Davy Crockett Ranch, Disney, Disneyland Hotel, Disneyland Park, Explorers Hotel, Florida, France, Île-de-France, Japan, Paris, Space Mountain, Studios park, the 15th anniversary of the resort, The Walt Disney Company, Tokyo, Toon Studio, Tower of Terror, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, United Kingdom, United States, Walt Disney Studios
Tour de France
Tour de France 2009
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.
Russian gas supply to France down 70%
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.
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Categories: Environment, News Tags: energy giant, Energy group, Europe, European Union, France, gas, gas accounts, gas supplies, Gaz de France, Gazprom, GDF Suez, Île-de-France, Joakim Aleksander, Kiev, larger gas reserves, natural gas, natural gas passing, natural gas supplies, OAO "Gazprom", Paris, Russia, Ukraine, Utilities
Paris in Black
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.
Categories: Fashion, Paris France Tags: clothes, Fashion, Île-de-France, Paris, shoes, Smurf
Having theories
Thinking differently in Paris does not imply radical or in-depth questionings. Thinking differently simply implies appearing to be thinking differently. In Paris, this takes the form of having theories.
Categories: Paris France Tags: 9/11 conspiracy theories, Conspiracy theory, Île-de-France, Paris, Philosophy of science, Politics, Scientific method, Theory
La Politesse – Etiquette
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”.
Photo: Gregory Bastein
Categories: Living in France, Sightseeing Tags: etiquette, favourite restaurant waiter, France, Gregory Bastein, Île-de-France, la politesse, local mayor, manners, officer, Paris, Paris France, policeman, TGV
French Bank Crisis
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.
Categories: Financial Tags: bank, credit, EUR, finance sector, France, French Bank, GBP, Île-de-France, investment banking division, Lehman Brothers, Meritz Investment Bank, money, Paris, Societe Generale, USD
French Financial Rescue Plan
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.
Categories: Financial Tags: bank, Belgium, Britain, credit, Denmark, Dexia, Dexia SA, EUR, European Commission, European Union, Financial, Fortis, Fortis NV, France, french, Germany, Île-de-France, Insurance, Ireland, KBC, KBC Bank Deutschland AG, money, Neelie Kroes, Paris, plan, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, rescue, Sweden, United Kingdom
Driving in France
Photo: Conor Lawless
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 100kph (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
Categories: Motoring Tags: ATM, Britain, Conor Lawless, driving, EUR, first-aid, France, gendarmes, Île-de-France, Michelin, Paris, rented car, United Kingdom, vehicle insurance certificate, Yellow
Murray beats Simon in Madrid
Andrew Murray
World No. 4 Andy Murray (pictured) claimed his second successive ATP Masters Series shield by halting marathon man Gilles Simon 6-4, 7-6(6) in the final of the Mutua Madrilena Masters Madrid on Sunday.
The Scot was competing in his third final in four events, having captured his first ATP Masters Series crown at Cincinnati (d. Djokovic) and reached his maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open (d. Nadal; l. to Federer). He is already assured of his place at Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai for the first time, currently No. 4 in the ATP 2008 Race.
This week has also seen Simon build a strong case for his place at the season-ending finale. The 23-year-old Nice native came into Madrid at No. 12 in ATP 2008 Race. He will now move to No. 9 in the ATP 2008 Race, within six points of No. 8 Juan Martin del Potro, and become the No. 1 Frenchman.
Madrid Photo Gallery
Dunblane native Murray becomes the first British player to win two ATP Masters Series titles, as Tim Henman (2003 Paris) and Greg Rusedski (1998 Paris) both won one each. The right-hander is also the first player to win back-to-back titles at ATP Masters Series Cincinnati and Madrid (since 2002).
Murray now joins an exclusive list of players to have won at least two ATP Masters Series titles in a season over the past five years:
2008 — Rafael Nadal 3, Novak Djokovic 2,
2007 — Rafael Nadal 3, Novak Djokovic 2, Roger Federer 2, David Nalbandian 2
2006 — Roger Federer 4, Rafael Nadal 2
2005 — Roger Federer 4, Rafael Nadal 4
2004 — Roger Federer 3, Marat Safin 2
It is the Scot’s seventh overall ATP title and fourth of the season. Murray, who also triumphed at Doha (d. Wawrinka), Marseille (d. Ancic) and Cincinnati, becomes just the third player this season together with Juan Martin del Potro (4) and Rafael Nadal (8) to win four ATP titles. He is the first British player to win four titles in a season, eclipsing Mark Cox who captured three in 1975.
Categories: Sport Tags: Andrew Murray, Bouches-du-Rhône, Cincinnati, David Nalbandian, Doha, Gilles Simon, Greg Rusedski, Île-de-France, Juan Martin del Potro, Madrid, Madrid Photo Gallery, Marat Safin, Mark Cox, Marseille, Paris, Qatar, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sport, tennis, Tim Henman, US Open