http://www.newtoparis.com Living and learning in Paris Sat, 18 Jul 2009 07:54:38 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en My friend Silvana visit me recently and we decided to make a last minute trip to Le Mans for the the race. You could say it was a crash course in surviving the weekend as we did just about everything wrong. So here's some advice on how to make ... http://www.newtoparis.com/survive-24-hours-le-mans/ When you rent an apartment in Paris there will probably be a small clause that defines a yearly rent increase. It's your responsibility to keep track of this and increase your rent payments on the anniversary of your apartment rental. Most people, like myself, discover this the hard way when they ... http://www.newtoparis.com/hidden-rent-increases/ Stop the Presses! Paris Metro/Bus routes are now interactive! I'm not one to go gaga for flash and animated JavaScript driven web sites. The SNCF/TGV sites have been driving me crazy for an hour or so. But then my friend pointed me to the new interactive Paris Metro and Paris Bus ... http://www.newtoparis.com/paris-metro-bus-maps-online/ Versailles has been restored recently and is a fabulous place to visit. However, there are a few things to know in advance. There are few restrooms, so try to plan in advance, if you know what I mean. Buy a ticket to Versailles in advance. You can easily more than an hour ... http://www.newtoparis.com/paris-tip-visit-versailles/ I just came across this great resource for electrical outlets and plugs: Domestic AC Power Plugs and Outlets. It's an exciting topic, down right electrifying. Sarcasm aside, this was the perfect answer for which transformer I need for a trip to Romania in the morning. The Europlug is used in Class ... http://www.newtoparis.com/pack-electrical-transformer/ I've been to several Pride Parades in California and was looking forward to seeing one in Paris. I expected a similar format: groups of floats, bands, people in cars, Dykes on Bikes, and politicians riding down the route as thousands of people watched and cheered. I was really shocked when I ... http://www.newtoparis.com/paris-gay-pride-parade/ You'll have a lot to learn when you move to France. You'll need French language lessons, pick up the cultural references, and understand the history of Europe to truly appreciate your experience. But how do you find the time to do all of this studying? Fortunately, we spend many hours each ... http://www.newtoparis.com/learn-french-ipod/ It's a bit difficult shopping for a new apartment in France when you come from the United States, the non-metric country. How many square feet is that 35m2 apartment listed on Craigslist? Can I really fit my clothes and computer equipment? I've gotten pretty good at converting temperatures, money, and lengths ... http://www.newtoparis.com/convert-square-meters-feet/ There are several alternatives for purchasing your metro tickets. Surprisingly, your options are limited by the day of the week. The option you choose will also depend on how long you plan on staying in the city. Metro stations are the easiest place to buy tickets; you'll find automated ticket ... http://www.newtoparis.com/paris-metro-and-bus-ticket-options/ Riding the metro is a fact of life in Paris. Everyone takes the metro, it is safe, fast, and convenient. I wont drive a car in Paris... no, no, no Owning a car in Paris is a liability more than a benefit. Drivers  have to find parking, fuel is expensive, and traffic ... http://www.newtoparis.com/riding-the-paris-metro/