Paris: Biography of a City

In this intelligently-written and supremely entertaining new history, Colin Jones sets out to give a sense of the city of Paris as it has been lived in and experienced, from one period to the next. The focal point of generation upon generation of admirers and detractors, a source of attraction or repulsion, even for those who have never been there, this town has witnessed more extraordinary events than any other. No spot on earth has been more walked around, written about, discussed, painted and photographed. With an eye for revealing, startling and (sometimes) horrible details, Colin Jones takes the reader from Roman Paris to the present, recreating the ups and downs of this capital and its inhabitants, in an entertaining historical perspective. Attentive at once to the urban environment and to the experiences of those who have lived within it, at different stages of its evolution, “Paris: Biography of a City” will be hugely enjoyed by habitual “Paris dream”  obsessives, by first-time visitors, and by those who know its landmarks only by repute.

 

 

The French National Health System

France has an excellent, although expensive, national health system.  If you qualify for healthcare under the national health system, you and your family are entitled to subsidized or (in certain cases) free medical and dental treatment.  Benefits include general and specialist care, hospitalization, laboratory services, medicines, dental care, maternity care, appliances and transportation.  Those who don’t automatically qualify can contribute voluntarily or take out private health insurance. Continue reading “The French National Health System”

Working in France

Regulations governing the right of foreigners to employment in France are complex. If you do not have permanent residency (une carte de résident) in France, which authorizes you to work here, obtaining a work permit depends on where you come from, whether you have legitimate grounds for living in France, and what sort of gainful activity you expect to pursue.  At present, citizens of pre-2004 member nations of the European Union and Switzerland need no official authorization to live and work in France (see further “Working in France for EEA Nationals”). For non-EEA foreigners, application for any prolonged stay (i.e., not a 90-day tourist visa) must be made through a French consulate in their home country.  Any authorization to work in France will be contingent on obtaining permission to live here.
Continue reading “Working in France”

French retirement homes

Excerpted from “Buying a Home in France ”
Image Traditionally, the French expect to care for elderly relatives within the family unit (indeed adults are legally obliged to provide for their parents in old age, according to their means), so retirement homes (résidence pour retraités/seniors) are less common than in many other Western countries, although they’re becoming more usual: there are now around 5,000 retirement homes. Continue reading “French retirement homes”

Buying a Business Property

ImageExcerpted from “Buying a Home in France”
The procedure for buying business premises is essentially the same as for buying private property in France. This is generally a straightforward process, although there are certain precautions to be taken and regulations to be observed. You can obtain a mortgage of up to 80 per cent on a commercial property, but you must fund the business yourself.Before buying any business property, you must do your homework thoroughly, particularly regarding the history and viability of the business. Continue reading “Buying a Business Property”

Montmartre, Forever toujours…

Paris legendary village on the hilltop is revisited through a juxtapositon of contemporary photographs and postcards produced a century ago, at a time when it was home to such Bohemian artists as Toulouse-Lautrec, Renoir and Degas. Historian Pierre Passot, a life-long resident of the Butte, makes Montmartre’s streets come alive with tales from its poetic past.  by Pierre Passot with photos by Jean Villain (Edition Artena) BR

Confessions of a French baker

First praised in Peter Mayle’s best-selling book A Year in Provence, Chez Auzet bakery became a must-see destination for food tourists visiting the village of Cavaillon in the south of France. In Confessions of a French baker, his tenth book, Peter Mayle joins forces with Gerard Auzet, Chez Auzet’s award winning boulanger and allows readers an inside look into the world of bread making.  Part-memoir part recipe book, Mayle weaves the Auzet family’s history and savoir-faire with recipes for classics such as the baguette, boule or bâtard as well as flavored breads (olive, thyme, saffron and even bouillabaisse). Confessions of French baker is more a step-by-step guide filled with Auzet’s tips and industry secrets than the scandalous tell-all promised by the title but it is Mayle’s talent as a raconteur of Provence life that makes it such an enjoyable read. The last chapter on pairing breads with wine is a fun extra. by Peter Mayle and G. Auzet (TimeWarner) Reviewed by Alice Quillet