Paris Sorbonne Perch

This past week, while visiting Paris with my old friend (and recently published author) John Kortum*, we ended up (courtesy of John) sitting at an outdoor cafe - Cafe Tabac de la Sorbonne - located in a wonderfully shaded and quiet square near the Sorbonne. It is a perfect spot to relax, read or have a drink during any lazy, summer afternoon. We spent several unhurried hours at this cafe drinking beers, checking our internet messages, courtesy of the cafe's free internet, and chit-chatting.

This quaint square is named The Place de La Sorbonne and it's a popular hangout area for Sorbonne students and locals. The square is framed by several outdoor cafes on one side, the Sorbonne Church (Eglise De Sorbonne) and the Sorbonne university on the other. There are also several water fountains in the square and some book stores right across the cafes. Need I say more?

By the way, The Sorbonne houses the University of Paris which was founded around 1250 and The Pantheon (located right behind the Sorbonne), was a former church that was modeled after the Pantheon in Rome and St. Paul's in London. It is now a burial place of famous people.

Thanks John, for such a great find!

*By the way, John is the author of The Kortum Technique, a book that teaches us a new ways to identify future health problems in oneself and others.

Do you have any special spots in Paris you love! Share them with us! Send your stories to postcards@me.com and we will post them for you with your name.
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Flight Attendant & Pilot gifts - T-shirts, Buttons, Mugs, Pillows & more...

This is a really cute Internet site that sells everything "Flight Crew" related - There are Flight Attendant and Pilot buttons, mouse pads, t-shirts, baby clothes, mugs, water bottles and cards. Do take a look and see if there's something you like. Some are pretty funny!

The link for this site in here : Flight Attendant Gifts, T-shirts, Stickers and more - CafePress

Enjoy!

Old Airline and Travel Posters - Paris

I Just found this wonderful souvenir shop on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris that sells pretty cool vintage style, travel posters. The name of the shop is Tuileries Images and it's located in 210 Rue Rivoli, right across from the Louvre.

Take a look at the photos I took of some of the posters they sell. Each one sells for 15 Euros unframed. Some are old airline posters for TWA, United and Air France. They also have travel posters for other exotic, world destinations.

Don't miss the small picture I enclosed of a very cute small make up bag?/small tote? with adorable, old airline logos. A great little travel bag that sells for 14.50 Euros.

Tuileries Images
210 Rue Rivoli
(across from the Louvre)

E.Dehillerin : french stainless steel cookware

For serious, aspiring cooks, this is a must visit on your next trip to Paris! E. Dehillerin, a superb cooking supply store famous for it's heavy duty copper pots and other restaurant quality kitchen accessories. Even if you don't cook, you'll enjoy browsing their extensive collection of cooking and baking gear.

If interested in visiting Dehillerin's, head to Les Halles to the corner of Rue Coquilleriere and Rue Jean Jaques Russoe. The store is located on the same side as the Saint Eustache Church. For more information of E. Dehillerin, check out their official website in the following link and enjoy your visit - E.Dehillerin : french stainless steel cookware

E. Dehillerin
18-20 Rue Coquilleriere
51 Rue Jean Jaques Russoe
9-12 am
2-6pm
Sunday - Closed

Au Pied de Cochon - Paris Restaurant

Ahhh, to do the tourist thing in Paris! Not so bad really, if what you do is stop by " The Pig's Feet" restaurant in Les Halles, to indulge in a traditional French brasserie style meal.

Au Pied de Cochon is an institution in the area of Les Halles. It has been around since the days when Les Halles housed the most important food market in Paris (closed since 1970). It specializes in anything/everything pig related - pigs head and frittes (fries), pigs feet, pigs ears, etc. - and it appeals to tourists and French alike.

In addition to pig parts, they also serve traditional french dishes such as French Onion Soup, Escargot, multi-tiered seafood platters, etc. and they serve food 24 hours a day!!!
Also, for the summer, they have a most reasonably priced 16 Euro Menu available at any time of the day.

I had dinner at Au Pied de Cochon this past week and I sat outside in a table of my choice with out having to make a reservation. The service was super friendly and the menu was available in various languages. I ordered a French Onion Soup that was amazing and big enough for two. I also ordered a cold salad with chicken (so, so) and a memorable glass of white wine recommended by my very helpful waiter. My whole meal was about 25 Euros.

Some of my neighbors ordered the pigs feet with frittes (photo enclosed). Others had the huge, double tiered trays of seafood that sold for 45 Euros and seemed large enough to feed two from a single order. Unfortunately, it was too much to eat for me alone, so I had to pass on it , but it sure looked wonderful!

The whole experience was a real French treat! I highly recommend it!

For more information on Au Pied de Cochon, please visit their official website by clicking on the following link. Les Fr�res Blanc | Au Pied de Cochon

Au Pied de Cochon
6 Rue Coquilliere
01-40-13-77-00

Great Food Dictionary for Paris! ...or Rome...

This is a slim and handy restaurant guide for Paris, not so valuable for it's minimal food establishment recommendations, but invaluable for it's alphabetized food dictionary in the second half.

They call it a "French Menu Translator", I call it a life saver! If you ever go to France, you know how difficult it can be sometimes to understand the French food menus of Paris restaurants , even if your French is better than rudimentary. With this little guide/food translator (it is thin enough to fit in your back pant pocket), you will never be unprepared again when ordering a meal in French. It will definitely reduce the risk of ordering something and getting something completely different than what you intended.

This little guide is a definite must, specially in France, where they love to serve brains, kidneys, livers, pig's heads and snails as delicacies in the finest restaurants. No offense to those who love these foods. I just don't want to get them when I'm not looking for them, thank you very much!

So, next time you go to France, if you're like me and you need a little help with your French, pick up this guide before leaving and problem solved when ordering food. You'll never end up with tripe or "boudin noir" if you don't plan on it to start with.

By the way, in case you're going to Rome, they also have a similar guide for Italian Menu translations from the same publisher and if you don't know what boudin noir is, it's blood sausage! Bon Appetite!

Do you have any suggestions or recommendations about Paris you wish to share with us? please send your story to postcards@me.com and we will gladly publish it for you. Don't forget to share this with others, that's how we grow! thanks!

Eating & Dining in Paris: French Menu Translator
Author - Michael Dillon
Amazon price - $9.95 new

iPhone Travel Application - Tipping Tips

Tipping Tips is a very useful and easy to use travel application for your iPhone. It provides you with detailed tipping advice for over 100 international destinations. Pretty handy information for any international flying crew member.

Tipping Tips Features:

-provides an easy to use calculator
-it allows you split the check with up to 8 people
-includes a flashlight in case the restaurant is too dark to see the bill
-lists detailed tipping instructions/customs for 108 countries
-it only costs $.99 cents

If you wish to read more about this applications, please visit their home site at
http://www.snappapp.com/Tipping or check the application description in iTunes.

Do you have any favorite travel applications you'd like to share with us? If you do, just write to us at postcards@me.com and we will gladly publish your story.