Paris - Fun Home Shopping at the BHV

Look at some of the humorous/colorful home items that I discovered on my last shopping outing in Paris at the BHV - Le Bazaar de l'Hotel de Ville. I think they would make lovely gifts or interesting conversation pieces?

If interested, they are made by a company named Pylones and they can be found in the main floor of BHV's department store, right next to their book department.

BHV is a much loved home goods store in central Paris where one can find just about anything for the home. To get there, take the Metro to the Hotel de Ville stop (Yellow line 1). Once outside of the Metro, look across the street from the Hotel de Ville (City Hall) and on the corner, you will see the main entrance of BHV. (photo enclosed)


Adress - 52 Rue de Rivoli (corner of Rue de Rivoli and Rue des Archives).


A dust Pan and Brush...


An Eiffel tower Grater...


Winged cups...(love these!)

A stapler in the shape of a skull...


Kitchen brushes...


Salt and Pepper Shakers...


Cat Nail Brushes...(various colors)...

Do you have a favorite store in Paris?

Geneva - Broken Chair Monument

Have you ever noticed as you drive in from the airport to the layover hotel in Geneva a monument of a giant chair with one leg missing in a small square? (photo enclosed). Ever wonder what it means?

On my last trip to Geneva I took a city tour that finally explained the meaning of the mysterious three legged chair.

The Broken Chair monument, represents the terrible destruction caused by land mines and cluster bombs on human lives (and limbs) all over the world. It measures 12 meters (or 39 feet) and it sits right in front of the main entrance of the United Nation's office in Geneva, Switzerland in the Place de Nations Square.

For more information on this amazing monument, check out the Wikipedia entry for The Broken Chair here :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_Chair

Paris - What are we Buying at the Monoprix in Paris?

Chocolate tarts....

Herbs from the South of France...for cooking...



Delicious French Vinagrette - with mustard and with onion and parsley...yum...


Anything by Fouchon...gourmet French goods...

Grated Emmental cheese for crepes...


Flavored salts...great with fish...


Lemon Tarts...

Vinagrette - pre-mixed oil and vinegar...


Sweet Crepes...


Alioli - garlic mayo...



Cornichons...excellent with french bread, butter and ham....


Nuttella...creamed chocolate with hazelnuts...great filling for crepes or on toast...


Delicious French butter...


Butter from Normandy with salt crystals....delish...


Confit de Canard...can of duck legs...


Reduced Balsamic Vinegar - creamy/tangy sauce for meats and vegetables...


French Wine for cooking...


Spicy oil for pizzas


French mustard...

A sample of French items that we buy at the Monoprix (Supermarket) in Paris during our trips to France.

Here are some prices:

- Confit the Canard (duck legs) 4 servings can - $10.55 Euros
- El Presidente Butter - $1.80 Euros
- Speciale Pizza Oil (flavored pizza oil) - $1.70 Euros (photo)
- Mini Six Pack of "La Villageoise" cooking wine - $3.95 Euros (photo)
- Balsic Glaze - Balsamic Glaze - $6.00 Euros (photo)
- Nutella (creamed chocolate)
- Normandy butter - Beurre Breton (demi sel)
- Gros Sel Gris Aux Epices (magic salt)
- Le Vinagrette ( French vinagrette dressing bottle "a la moutarde") - delicious! (photo)

What food items do you purchase while in Paris? Send us your list with a note to postcards@me.com and we will gladly publish it.

Paris - Fat Tire Bike Tours

Yesterday, the day before the Tour de France was scheduled to arrive at the Place de la Concorde in Paris for it's finish victory lap, I decided, in honor of this event, to join an organized group of cyclists for a biking tour of Paris.

My group, led by Fat Tire Bike Tours, required us to meet under their Eiffel Tower with their Fat Tire representatives. The Fat Tire folks were easily identifiable by the sign they held up (photo enclosed) with the name of the company. Once the group was counted, registered and assigned to a color group, we were all walked down to the Fat Tire office just a few blocks away from The Champ de Mars (the park behind the Eiffel Tower) to get our bikes and pay for the tour before hitting the road.

Fat Tire offers several English guided bike tours a day led by University students from around the world. They also offer Segway and walking tours of Paris for those who prefer to walk or tour by motorized vehicle. For more information on these options, visit their website at www.FatTireTours.com.

At the Eiffel Tower, I was signed up and assigned to the yellow group. I did not need to make an advance reservation for this tour, I just showed up at the designated time and gave the Fat Tire Reps. my name to put on the list of riders for the 3pm tour. We were then divided into groups by color and led to the Fat Tire office a few blocks away to pick up our bikes.

At the office, we payed and got fitted for bikes. Then we met our assigned guide Karl, a friendly Kiwi who gave us a short safety introduction on the bikes and information about the upcoming ride. Pretty soon we were moving as a pack through the small streets of Paris following Karl, our energetic guide from down under.

Along the way, Karl stopped us repeatedly to provide us with quick historical sound bites and lots of entertaining historical trivia about Paris. Through him we learned that high heels were invented by King Louis XV, a man so vain that he wore them to accentuate his calf's. Check him out next time you see a painting of him in the Louvre. He's always flexing one calf! Karl also showed us the bullet holes on the walls of the Ecole Militaire made by the Allied forces during WWII and led us past the Hotel d'Invalids where the remains of Napoleon rest divided in several small boxes, one containing his heart and some cutlery, who knows why.

Our tour lasted about three hours and we pedaled leisurely and tightly as a group (24 cyclists) around the city stopping periodically for Karl's historical tid-bits. We "dominated" small streets, crossed ornate ancient bridges, walked through royal gardens and visited numerous monuments along the way with out a hitch. These guys are experts in keeping their group members cycling together and safe. Thanks Karl!

Bike tours are scheduled for the summer to meet under the Eiffel Tower at 3pm and at 8:30pm. Each one of these tours is different and they are both complimentary. I did both the same day - left the hotel at 2:30pm and returned by midnight. Read the descriptions of each tour in Fat Tires website and pick the tour you like best or sleep all day and catch the 8:30 pm tour that ends with a one hour guided boat ride on the Seine with Bateaux Mouches that includes free wine. A lovely way to see the city from the river at night.

Airline crew members receive a discount on Fat Tire's tours. Just tell them your are a crew member when you pay. I payed 24Euros for the first tour (discounted from 28Euros) and 16Euros for the second.

If you decide to go, wear a small backpack to carry your belongings. It makes your bike riding easier by freeing both your hands. Also, bring water and some snacks plus sun protection and a hat if it's a sunny day.

The rides are suitable for families and really any level of bike rider. It's a super easy and safe ride on flat roads the whole time. The bikes come in several sizes and are cruiser style, so they are comfortable and adjustable to your size.

You may reserve ahead via Fat Tire's Internet site or just show up under the Eiffel Tower at their designated times.

Enjoy your ride!

FAT TIRE BIKE TOURS - PARIS www.FatTireBikeTours.com www.CitySegwayTours.com www.ClassicWalksParis.com

Oh la la! Nespresso in Miami Beach!

Lincoln road now has it's own swanky Swiss Nespresso Cafe, one of only three in the United States!! and yes it's amazing coffee!

Remember my earlier post on the best coffee I tasted in Paris at the Nespresso's on the Champs Elysees? (link enclosed) Well now we can have that same memorable experience in SOBE (South Beach). Hello Nesspresso South Beach, here I come! POSTCARDS FROM THE AIR: PARIS - Memorable Coffee at Nesspresso

Nespresso in Lincon Rd. opens daily from 10am to 10pm and serves "the coffee experience". They do not sell cups to go, they only serve coffee in ceramic white cups while you sit at their fancy coffee bar or in one of their multicolored modern chairs in their modern coffee restaurant.

Each cup will set you back around 4 to 5 dollars, depending on weather you order a single or double shot cup of coffee and you can select the flavor you prefer from an impressive menu of delicious world brews.

Nespresso SOBE serves salads and snacks to accompany their coffees, but their main attraction is, you guessed it, their memorable coffee! The Nespresso cafe is also a Nespresso shop where sublime Nespresso coffee makers are sold for $200 to $700 dollars a piece.

Next time you go to South Beach, stop at the Nespresso SOBE coffee bar at 1111 Lincoln Rd. and don't forget to enjoy the people watching!

Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport - Food to go...

One last French morsel before flying across the pond? Stop at the 407 Bar before boarding your plane. Located inside Charles de Gaulle airport right next to gate 20-28, they serve delicious fresh, crunchy baguette sandwiches to go.

My favorite one is the sandwich du "Jambon" with butter, but they also make an awesome mozzarella and tomato baguette.

The 407 Bar also brews a mean cappuccino to go. It will give your engines a quick start.


Now that's a nice way to start your flight don't you think!

Au Revoir! and Bon journee!

Canal St. Martin - Paris

A wonderful thing to do in Paris on a Sunday afternoon (a notoriously slow day in Paris) is to head to the 10th Arr. to the Canal St. Martin for a leisure walk along the water. There you will find 3 miles of planted banks, ancient locks and metal foot bridges plus some inviting outdoor cafes with sitting areas along the water's edge.

Take the Blue #2 Metro line to the JAURES stop, in the direction of NATION - you can connect to the blue line at the Charles de Gaulle - Etoile station. Once you arrive at the Jaures station, you will see the canal right below the train tracks. Start your walk from here and head south along the water towards Place de la Republique.

Don't miss the Hotel Du Nord along the way, it was featured in a 1930's French movie. It has a welcoming outdoor and indoor sitting area and the restaurant serves decent French food. Also along the way, is Point Ephemere. An art complex located inside an industrial building that sits right below the Jaures Metro station. It houses an art gallery, a space for music venues and a restaurant with an outdoor terrace by the water.

By the way, the Canal St. Martin was built by Napoleon around 1822 to provide drinking water for Parisians. Today it's one of Paris's most romantic spots.

Do you have any favorite week-end spots in Paris? Share them with us! We will post your story with your name. Send your story to postcards@me.com

Enjoy your visit!
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