About France

is a country located in Western europe Clockwise from the north, France borders Belgium and Luxembourg to the northeast, germany and switzerland to the east, italy to the south-east and Spain to the south-west, across the Pyrenees mountain range (the small country of andorra lies in between the two countries). The Mediterranean Sea lies to the south of France, with the Principality of Monaco forming a small enclave. To the west, France has a long Atlantic Ocean coastline, while to the north lies the English Channel, across which lies the last of France's neighbours, England (part of the United Kingdom).

France is the world's most popular tourist destination (78 million in 2006) boasting dozens of major tourist attractions, like Paris, Côte d'Azur (the French Riviera), The Atlantic beaches, The winter sport resorts of the Alps, The Castles of Loire Valley, Brittany: Mont Saint Michel. The country is renowned for its gastronomy (particularly wines and cheeses), history, culture and fashion. France will be hosting the Rugby World Cup 2007 in October and November.

Cities

France has numerous cities and towns of interest to travelers. Below is a list of nine of the most notable:

• Paris -- the "City of Light", the capital of France

• Bordeaux - city of wine, capital of South-West
• Bourges -- a middle aged city, capital of central France.
• Cannes -- host of the annual Cannes Film Festival
• Lyon - France's second city, with a history from Roman times to the Resistance, restaurants (Beaujolais and delicatessen)
• Marseille - big harbor, heart of Provence
• Nice - a major resort on the French Riviera
• Strasbourg -- a historic city on the Ill Rhine and home to, among other institutions, the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, the European Ombudsman, the European Parliament
• Toulouse -- "La Ville Rose," a very nice and lively city in the south of France

Other destinations

Cities with the largest number of visible Roman monuments:

• Orange - Arles - Nîmes - Elne - Poitiers.

Cities with an outstanding Gothic cathedral:

• Paris - Amiens - Reims - Chartres - Rouen - Beauvais - Laon - Le Mans - Coutances - Bourges-Bordeaux-

Cities with an outstanding castle:

• Fontainebleau - Vaux le Vicomte near Melun - la Malmaison in Rueil-Malmaison -
• The Loire Valley with Montreuil-Bellay - Azay le Rideau - Blois - Chambord - Chenonceaux-Angers-Amboise
• The Dordogne Valley with Beynac-Castelnaud
• Nantes

Other notable Cities:

• Annecy - Medieval city situated on the shore of a mountain lake in the French Alps
• Bayeux - this Norman town preserves the famous Tapestry depicting Duke William's conquest of England in 1066 - also the first French town to be liberated after the D-Day landings in 1944
• Carcassonne - perfectly restored walled medieval town
• Chamonix - hometown of Mont Blanc, Europe's highest point
• Moissac - the Cloister ( twelfth and fifteenth centuries), Centre of Romanesque Art, wonderful countryside
• Mont Saint Michel - World Heritage preservation of a medieval abbey, situated evocatively on an offshore island off the coast of Normandy
• Oradour-sur-Glanes - the town preserved as a monument by Charles de Gaulle, its inhabitants murdered and the town destroyed by the Gestapo in June 1944.
• Versailles - on the outskirts of Paris, the vast royal palace and magnificent estate of Louis XIV, the Sun King, and his successors
• Avignon - Avignon is one of the major cities of Provence, in Southern France. It is the main city of the département of Vaucluse, and is located on the banks of the Rhône river. Avignon was one of the European Cities of Culture in 2000.
• Vitré - Medieval city with a very rich heritage (castles, churches, etc.) in the East frontier of Brittany.

Theme parks

• Disneyland Paris
• Parc Astérix
• Futuroscope

for more information about hotels in France please visit:http://www.cheaperthanhotels.co.uk/France/

Regional dishes

Every French region has dishes all its own. These dishes follow the resources (game, fish, agriculture, etc) of the region, the vegetables (cabbage, turnip, endives, etc) which they grow there. Here is a small list of regional dishes which you can find easily in France. Generally each region has a unique and widespread dish (usually because it was poor people's food):

• Cassoulet (in south west) : Beans, duck, pork & sausages
• Choucroute, or sauerkraut (in Alsace) : stripped fermented cabbage + pork
• Fondue Savoyarde (central Alps) : Melted/hot cheese with alcohol
• Fondue Bourguignonne (in Burgundy) : Pieces of beef (in boiled oil), usually served with a selection of various sauces.
• Raclette (central Alps) : melted cheese & potatoes/meat
• Pot-au-feu boiled beef with vegetables
• Boeuf Bourguignon (Burgundy) : slow cooked beef with gravy
• Gratin dauphinois (Rhone-Alpes) : oven roasted slices of potatoes
• Aligot (Auvergne) : melted cheese mixed with a puree of potatoes
• Bouillabaisse (fish + saffron) (Marseille and French Riviera). Don't be fooled. A real bouillabaisse is a really expensive dish due to the amount of fresh

fish it requires. Be prepared to pay at least 30€/persons. If you find restaurants claiming serving bouillabaisse for something like 15€/persons, you'll get a very poor quality.

• Tartiflette (Savoie) Reblochon cheese, potatoes and pork or bacon.
• Confit de Canard (Landes) : Duck Confit, consists of legs and wings bathing in grease. That grease is actually very healthy and, with red wine, is one of the identified sources of the so-called "French Paradox" (eat richly, live long).
• Foie Gras (Landes) : The liver of a duck or goose. Although usually quite expensive, foie gras can be found in supermarkets for a lower price (because of their purchasing power) around the holiday season. It is the time of year when most of foie gras is consumed in France. It goes very well with Champagne.

foie gras disgression : it can be purchased everywhere in france, the best quality with always be found in rural areas, be careful, you can find different prices and different quality, the best is " foie gras entier " ( whole liver ) down to something like " paté de foie gras" ( i don't want to explain, just don't buy it, the cheap thing in tin can, foie gras should not be serve in a restaurant with a round shape, round shape = tin can = poor quality ) if you can buy fresh vacuum packed liver ( foie gras entier sous vide, s'il vous plait ) uncooked ( raw, fresh, just liver ) foie gras is just a name, after that point you can find different cooking, some for you :

foie gras mi-cuit : - heat your oven at 90C ( absolutely not hot ) - your liver must be at room temperature, and washer several time in fresh water - boil some water - spice : juniper, porto or cognac, crushed pepper from whole grains, a teaspoon of sugar, 2 teaspoon of salt - 2 dishes one big to put boiling water in it, one small to go in the big one , surrounded by water. - one bottle of wine ( red, from languedoc (try pic saint-loup) how it goes, - water is boiling, oven is ok, - rub your liver with spices - put your liver in the small dish, a teaspoon of alcohol - pour water in the big dish and the small dish in the big one - put everything in the oven - cook from 15 to 25 minutes, the more it cooks, the more liver releases fat and maybe finish to taste like a piece of rubber take it out from oven , put cold water in the dish, allow 15 mins to cool, put it in the fridge eat the day after, you have 3 days to eat it ....

foie gras au sel- a fresh liver - salt ( with big crystal en francais : " du gros sel " ( big salt )) - wrapping film ( scell'o frais, in france look for "albal" ) - one bottle of wine rub your liver with salt, wrap it well, forget it up to one week in your fridge, unwrap it, open the bottle and taste.

foie gras should not be eaten with baguette bread, but try some kind of bigger loaf, and you should also not make a " tartine " with your foie gras. you should avoid eating it with a wine full of sugar, liquourous wine, because it is going to taste " fat on fat " and will kill the taste of the liver, instead try a dry white wine, wich will exhaust the taste and onctuosity of the liver .

something more simple, toast some slice of gingerbread ( spice bread " pain d'epices ) cut a slice of fresh liver ( at room temprature ) , cook it in a well heated pan 1 to 2 minutes each side put it on the hot-toast , and taste ...

cooking and drinking is a notable part of the french culture, take time to eat and discover new dishes...

Unusual foods

Contrary to stereotype, snails and frog legs are quite infrequent foods in France, with many French people enjoying neither, or sometimes having never even tasted them. Quality restaurants sometimes have them on their menu: if you're curious about trying new foods, go ahead.

• Frogs' legs have a very fine and delicate taste with flesh that is not unlike chicken. They are often served in a garlic dressing and are no weirder to eat than, say, crab.
• Most of the taste of Bourgogne snails (escargots de bourgogne) comes from the generous amount of butter, garlic and parsley in which they are cooked. They have a very particular spongy-leathery texture that is what is liked by people who like snails. Catalan style snails ("cargols") are made a completely different way, and taste much weirder.

Let us also cite:

• Rillettes sarthoise. A sort of potted meat, made from finely shredded and spiced pork. A delicious speciality of the Sarthe area in the north of the Pays de la Loire and not to be confused with rillettes from other areas, which are more like a rough pate.
• Beef bone marrow (os a moelle). Generally served in small quantities, with a large side. So go ahead: If you don't like it, you'll have something else to eat in your plate.
• Veal sweetbread (ris de Veau), is a very fine (and generally expensive) delicacy, often served with morels, or in more elaborates dishes like "bouchees a la reine".
• Beef stomach (tripes) is served either "A la mode de caen" (with a white wine sauce) or "A la catalane" (with a slightly spiced tomato sauce)
• Andouillettes are sausages made from tripe is a specialty of Lyon
• Beef tongue (langue de bœuf) and beef nose(museau) and Veal head (tete de veau) are generally eaten cold (but thoroughly cooked!) as an appetizer.
• Oysters are most commonly served raw in a half shell.
• Oursins (sea urchins) For those who like concentrated iodine.
• Steak tartare a big patty of ground beef cured in acid as opposed to cooked, frequently served with a raw egg.
• cervelle, pronounced (ser-VAY) lamb brain.

Cheese

France is certainly THE country of cheese, with nearly 400 different kinds. Indeed, former president General Charles De Gaulle was quoted as saying something along the lines of, nobody could govern a country with more than 265 different cheeses.

Here is a far from exhaustive list of what one can find:

Bleu des Causses	Livarot	Roquefort
Bleu du Vercors	Morbier	Saint Nectaire
Boulette d'Avesnes	Maroilles	Salers
Brie de Meaux	Munster	Sainte Maure de Touraine
Brie de Melun	Murol	Selles-sur-Cher
Broccio	Neufchâtel	Sainte Maure de Touraine
Camembert	Ossau-Iraty	Tomme de chèvre
Cantal	Pelardon	Tomme des Cévennes
Chaource	Pérail	Tomme de Savoie
Comté	Picodon	Valençay
...

Drink

Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, the Loire Valley...France is the home of wine. It can be found cheaply just about anywhere. Beer (lager) is also extremely popular, in particular in northern France, where "[Biere de Garde]" can be found. Note that in France, the minimum age to buy alcohol at cafés is 16, but this is not always strictly enforced; however, laws against drunk driving are strictly enforced, with stiff penalties.

Wine and liquors may be purchased from supermarkets, or from specialized stores such as the Nicolas chain. Nicolas offers good advice on what to buy (specify the kind of wine and the price range you desire). In general, only French wines are available unless a foreign wine is a "specialty" with no equivalent in France (such as port), and they are classified by region of origin, not by grape.

Never drink alcoholic beverages (especially red wine or strong alcohol such as cognac) directly from a 75 cl bottle. Such behaviour is generally associated with bums and drunkards. Drinking beer from a 25 to 50cl can or bottle is ok.

Café prices depend heavily on location. Remember, you're not paying so much for the beverage as for the table spot; and accordingly, in general, it is cheaper to drink at the bar than seated at a table. Cafés in touristic areas, especially in Paris, are very expensive. If your intent is simply to have a drink, you'll be better off buying beverages from a grocery store and drinking them in a park.

There are a couple of mixed drinks which seem to be more or less unique to France, and nearby francophone countries.

• Panaché is a mix of beer and lemonade, basically a beer shandy.
• Monaco is a Panaché with some grenadine syrup added.
• Kir is a pleasant aperitif of white wine (in theory, Bourgogne Aligoté) or, less frequently, of champagne (then named kir royal and about twice the price of regular kir) and cassis (blackcurrant liqueur), or peche (peach), or mûre (blackberry).
• Pastis is an anise-based (licorice-flavored) spirit that is more popular in the South, but is also available everywhere else. Served with a small pitcher of iced water that is used to dilute the drink and turns the yellow colored liquid cloudy.

Tap water is safe to drink apart from exceptional cases (remote farms, remote rest areas), in which case it will be labeled eau non potable. Tap water may be obtained in restaurants by asking for a carafe d'eau; it will not come with ice. In some cities, it may have a taste such as that of chlorine.

There is a variety of bottled water, including:

• Évian, Thonon, Contrex: mineral water
• Perrier: fizzy water
• Badoit: slightly fizzy and salty water.

for more information visit http://www.cheaperthanhotels.co.uk/France/

Hotels

Hotels come in 4 categories from 1 to 4 stars. This is the official rating given by the Ministry of Tourism, and it is posted at the entrance on a blue shield. Rates vary according to accommodation, location and sometimes high or low season or special events.

As of 2004, the rate for a *** hotel listed in a reliable guidebook falls between 70 euros (cheap) and 110 euros (expensive) for a double without breakfast.

All hotels, by law, must have their rates posted outside (or visible from outside). Bargaining is not the norm but you can always ask for a discount.

Hotels located in city centers or near train stations are often very small (15 to 30 rooms) which means that you should book ahead. The newer hotels, business oriented, are found in the outskirts of cities and are sometimes larger structures (100 rooms or more); they may not be easy to reach with public transportation. Along the highways, at the entrance of cities, you find US-like motels ; they are very often reachable only by car. When visiting Paris, it is essential to stay in the city. The Latin Quarter is a good location if you plan on visiting a variety of attractions. Some motels have minimal service, if you come in late you find an ATM-like machine, using credit cards, which will deliver a code in order to reach your assigned room. The newer hotels are often part of national or international chains and have high standards. Many older hotels are now part of chains and provide standardized service but they retain their own atmosphere.

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Paris is the cosmopolitan capital of France and - with 2.2 million people living in zone 1 (Central Paris) and another 9.9 million people in the suburbs (la banlieue) - is one of the largest cities in Europe. Located in the north of the country on the river Seine, Paris has the reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic of all cities, brimming with historical associations and remaining vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design. Dubbed the City of Light, it is the most popular tourist destination in the world.

People

Paris has, in many respects, an atmosphere closer to that of New York than to that of London, Lyon, or any other European town; that is, hurried, and businesslike. Parisians have, in France, a reputation for being rude and arrogant.

However, Parisians' abrupt exteriors will rapidly evaporate if you display some basic courtesies. A simple "Bonjour, Madame" when entering a shop, for example, or "'Excusez-moi"' when trying to get someone's attention, or very important; say Pardon if you bump into someone accidentally or make other mistakes, will transform the surliest shop assistant into a smiling helper or the grumpiest inhabitant to an understandable citizen. Courtesy is extremely important in France (where the worst insult is to call someone "mal élevé", or "badly brought up"). If you know some French, try it! The French love it if you try!

Like city dwellers everywhere, Parisians generally expect people to speak in a measured voice when in a crowded place. They are likely to look down on people who talk very loudly in a train or subway car. Keep in mind that the people around you in the Métro are not on vacation, in general: they are going to or coming back from work and thus may not appreciate another source of headache.

Keep in mind that the vast majority of the Parisian population are not in any way related to the tourism business. You are not in a resort or theme park, with paid personnel meant to give you directions around, but in a city where people have to get on with their lives. But if you ask politely, any French will help you if they can.

for more information visit http://www.cheaperthanhotels.co.uk/France/Paris/

Landmarks

Notre Dame de Paris

• the Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) ( One of the most famous landmarks in the world.
• Père-Lachaise Cemetery ( See the grave of Jim Morrison amongst many others.
• Catacombs (. Used to store the exhumed bones from the overflowing Paris cemetery.
• Arc de Triomphe (. The grave of the unknown soldier is under the arch.
• Notre Dame Cathedral (. Impressive Gothic cathedral that was the inspiration for Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Saved in the 19th century by the best-known french architect Viollet-le-Duc.

Sacré Coeur

• Sacré Coeur (. A church perched on top of the highest point in Paris. Behind the church is the artists' area, in front are spectacular views of the whole city.
• Sainte Chapelle (. Far more beautiful than the famous, but gloomy, Notre Dame. Make sure you go an a sunny day, as the highlight of this small chapel in Rayonnante Gothic style are the large stained-glass windows which soar up to near the vaulted ceiling. Also of interest is the extremely ornate lower level. If it happens to be rainy or cloudy, give Sainte Chappelle a miss, as the play of colored lights on the floor are well worth the wait for a sunnier day.
• Pantheon (. Underneath, the final resting place for the great heroes of the French Republic; above, a marvellous view of the city.
• Chateau de Versailles (Versailles). On the outskirts of the city, the "must see" home of the Sun King Louis XIV.
• Grand Arche de la Defense (La Defense). A modern office-building variant of the Arc de Triomphe. Has a viewing platform.

Museums and galleries

• The Louvre (. One of the finest museums in the world of art, art-history, and culture
• Musée d'Orsay ( Home to the great artists of the 19th century (1848-1914) - Impressionists, post-Impressionists, and the rest...
• Centre Georges Pompidou . the great museum of modern art, the building an attraction in itself...
• Jacquemart-Andre Museum . Private collection of French, Italian, Dutch masterpieces in a typical XIXth century mansion...
• Picasso Museum ( Contains the master's own collections.
• Rodin Museum ( His personal collection and archives, in a charming hotel and sprawling garden.
• Delacroix. National museum housed in the home of painter Eugene Delacroix.
• Invalides (. Museum of arms and armor from the Middle Ages to today.
• Carnavalet (. [ of Paris history; exhibitions are permanent and free. Noted for its collection of French Revolution artifacts, such as David's famous painting Serment du Jeu de Paume. Has Proust's bed and the dauphin's room in the prison tower diarama. Located in the Marais.
• Cluny ( Paris's medieval museum, housed in a part roman, part medieval building.
• Le Musée de l'AP-HP (. Paris's medical history.
• Le Musee des Arts Decoratifs (. Showcasing eight centuries of French savoir faire.

Do

• Indie Music in Paris [9] A blog in English with monthly venue listings, band and concert reviews.

• Bike About Tours [10] offers an insiders look at the 'city of light' with local, English-speaking guides who have lived in Paris for years. This small bike tour company gives 3 tours everyday at 10am, 3pm, & 7pm from the Chalemagne statue in front of Notre Dame Cathedral. They stay away from the touristy Paris and show you the 'real' Paris.

• Paris from above (9th). Check out the skyline from the roofs of Printemps, the Galeries Lafayette. There's also a hot air balloon at Parc André Citroën (south-western Paris). It doesn't operate on windy days, though.

• Ô Chateau, Paris Wine Tasting [11] (11th). Discover French Wines variety and specificity with a native French Sommelier. Informative, relaxing and fun. In English in a beautiful parisian loft.

Events

• Techno parade. During mid-September DJs and (usually young) fans from across Europe converge on Paris for five or six days of dancing etc. culminating in a parade whose route traces roughly from Pl. de Bastille to the Sorbonne.

• Inline Skating [12] and [13] Every Friday night and Sunday afternoon (except when raining) hordes of inline skaters take to the streets of Paris on a preplanned route, for about 3.5 hours. The trip is speedy; you will have to negotiate some real slopes. You must be good at skating if you want to join.Even if you don't participate, find a cafe near the route and watch them fly by.
• Bastille Day falls on July 14th and celebrates the beginning of the French revolution. The day in particular falls on the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prison by Parisians. Paris hosts several spectacular events on the day.
  • Bastille Parade - The parade is held on the Champs-Élysées at 10:00 AM.The entire street will be crowded with spectators so arrive early.
  • Bastille Day Fireworks An exceptional treat to travellers lucky enough to be in town on Bastille Day is the fireworks display. The Office du Tourisme et des Congress de Paris recommends gathering around the gardens of the Eiffel Tower.

• JANUARY

Maison & Objet [14] France’s furniture and interiors trade fair

• FEBRUARY

Six Nations Rugby [15] The annual rugby tournament brings together France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy.

• MARCH

Fashion Week [16] Women’s pret-a-porter collections for the following winter, summer collections follow in October.

• MAY

French Tennis Open [17] Over two weeks , starting on the last Sunday in May, the world’s top players battle it out on a clay court.

• JUNE

Rendez-vous au Jardin Open doors for many parisian gardens.

La Gay Pride 30th of june.

Fête de la Musique [18] Paris celebrates the summer solstice (21st June) with this city-wide free musical knees-up.

• JULY

Bastille Day, see above

Cinema en Plein Air annual outdoor cinema event takes place at the Parc de la Villette, on Europe’s largest inflatable screen.

Paris Plage now notorious event sees an artificial beach set up on the banks of the Seine for 6 weeks over summer. Urban family fun.

Tour de France This cycling race is held every year in July. It's route varies annually, however it always finishes on the last Sunday of July under the Arc de Triomphe.

• AUGUST

Rock en Seine On the last full weekend in August, this world-class fest reunites international rock stars.

• SEPTEMBER

Jazz à la Villette The biggest names in contemporary jazz from around the world at Paris' annual jazz festival.

• OCTOBER

Nuit Blanche On the first Saturday of October Paris is transformed into a moonlit theme-park for this arty all-nighter.

Fashion Week Women’s pret-a-porter collections for the following summer; winter collections are presented in March.

Paris is one of Europe's culinary centers. The restaurant trade began here, but some people prefer the French cooking found in small rural restaurants, outside of the city, closer to the farms and with their focus on freshness and regional specialities. Even amongst French cities, Paris has long been considered by some people as second to Lyon for fine dining.

That said, the Parisien restaurant trade is very much alive and well. Today you can find hundreds of beautiful restaurants with thoughtful (or just trendy) interior design and well-planned and executed cartes and menus offering a creative mélange of French and exotic foreign cuisines. It's safe to say that Paris is once again catching up with its Anglophone rivals.

Of course there are also some traditional offerings, and for the budget conscious there are hundreds of traditional bistros, with their sidewalk terraces offering a choice fairly simple (usually meat centered) meals for reasonable prices.

Remember that many attractions are situated in upscale areas of town, and that mass tourism attracts price gougers. It is frequent to hear of people complaining of very high Parisian prices for poor food and poor service - because they always tried to eat close to major tourist magnets. Try to go eat where the locals eat.

Many restaurants are tiny and have tables close together - square meters are at a premium and they like to save on sitting space. In some cases, when the restaurant is crowded, you may have to sit besides strangers at the same table. If you disagree to it, go to a more upscale place where you will pay for increased room.

Trendy restaurants often require reservations weeks, if not months in advance. If you haven't planned far enough ahead, try to get a reservation for lunch which is generally easier and less expensive.

For an easy-to-manage eating budget while in Paris, consider: breakfast or "petit dejeuner" at a restaurant, possibly in your hotel, consisting of some croissants, coffee, and maybe a piece of fruit (this typically costs around $5 to $10 depending on the area). Get a 'walking lunch' from one of Paris' many food stands--a panino in the center of the city, a crepe from a crepe stand, a falafel pita or take-out Chinese in the Marais. Traiteurs serving Chinese food are ubiquitous in the city and good for a cheap lunch and many patisseries sell inexpensive coffee and sandwiches. All these are cheap (about the same as breakfast), easy, and allow you to maximize your sightseeing and walking time while enjoying delicious local or ethnic food. For dinner, stroll the streets at dusk and consider a 20-to-40-Euro prix-fixe menu. This will get you 3 or 4 courses, possibly with wine, and an unhurried, candlelit, magical European evening. If you alternate days like this with low-budget, self-guided eating (picnicking, snacking, street food) you will be satisfied without breaking the bank.

[edit] Self catering

Budget travelers will be very pleased with the range and quality of products on offer at the open air markets (e.g. the biggest one on Boul Richard Lenoir (near the Bastille), Rue Mouffetard, Place Buci, Place de la Madeleine and over the Canal Saint-Martin in the 11th or in any other arrondissement). If your accommodation has cooking facilities you're set, especially for wine and cheese: a decent bottle of French wine will set you back all of about €3-€5, while the very good stuff starts at around €7. Bottles for less than €3 are not recommended. Keep in mind, that the small épiceries which open until late are more expensive than the supermarchés ( Casino, Monoprix, Franprix, etc.) For wine, the price difference can be up to €2.

Recommendation: Buy a baguette, some cheese and a good bottle of wine and join the Parisian youth for a pique-nique along the Seine (especially on the Île Saint-Louis) or along the Canal Saint-Martin. The finest food stores are Lafayette Gourmet in the Galeries Lafayette or La Grande Epicerie in the luxury department store Le Bon Marché. They are worth discovering. You will find a large variety of wines there, otherwise try wine stores such as Nicolas or Le Relais de Bacchus (all over the city), or why not some wine cellars. Some of them are real diamonds.

for more information visit http://www.cheaperthanhotels.co.uk/France/Paris/

Kosher dining

Paris has the largest number of Kosher restaurants in any European city. Walk up and down Rue des Rosiers to see the variety and choces available from Israeli, Sushi, Italian and others.

Vegetarian dining

For vegetarians, eating traditional French food will require some improvisation, as it is heavily meat-based. For fast food and snacks, you can always find a vegetarian sandwich or pizza. Even a kebab shop can make you something with just cheese and salad, or perhaps falafel. Paris has several excellent vegetarian restaurants. Look for spots such as Aquarius and Piccolo Teatro in the 4th, and Le Grenier de Notre-Dame in the 5th, or La Victoire Suprême du Coeur in the 1st just to name a few. See the arrondissement pages for more listings.

There are also lots of Italian, Thai, Indian, and Mezo-american places where you will have little problem. In Rue des Rosiers (4th arrondissement) you can get delicious falafel in the many Jewish restaurants. Another place to look for falafel is on Rue Oberkampf (11th arrondissement). Take away falafel usually goes for 4€ or less.

Moroccan and Algerian cooking is common in Paris - vegetarian couscous is lovely. Another good option for vegetarians - are traiteurs, particularly around Ledru Rollin (down the road from Bastille) take away food where you can combine a range of different options such as pomme dauphinoise, dolmas, salads, vegetables, nice breads and cheeses and so on.

Lebanese restaurants and snack shops abound as well, offering a number of vegetarian mezze, or small plates. The stand-bys of course are hummas, falafel, and baba-ganouche (caviar d'aubergine). A good place to look for Lebanese is in the pedestrian zone around Les Halles and Beaubourg in the 1st and 4th.

Tourists and locals

When you are looking for a restaurant in Paris, be a little careful of those where the staff readily speak English. These restaurants are usually - but not always - geared towards tourists. It does make a difference in the staff's service and behaviour whether they expect you to return or not.

Sometimes the advertised fixed price tourist menus (€10-€15) are a good deal. If you're interested in the really good and more authentic stuff (and if you have learned some words of french) try one of the small bistro where the French go to during lunch time.

for more information about nice hotels in France and Paris visit http://www.cheaperthanhotels.co.uk/France/Nice/

The Top 10 Steps for Choosing a Career!

Career choices may well be more difficult today than at any time in history, for three reasons: there is infinitely more to choose from; career definitions are more fluid and changing; and the levels of expectation are rising. Most men and women entering the workforce today can expect to change careers three or more times during their working lives. Here are ten steps that will help ensure that your choices are good ones.
1. Begin with your values.
What's really important to you? What turns you on? What do you like to do so much that you would almost feel guilty getting paid to do it? These questions are designed to help you get at one of the key elements in career choice: values. Your values are the emotional anchor of all that you do. Satisfying careers are built upon the notion of a high correspondence between one's personal values and the work they will be doing. Begin your career search by sorting out your values and writing them down as clearly and succinctly as you can.
2. Identify your skills and talents.
A skill is something you've learned to do. A talent is something you've been born with, or at least that you seem naturally qualified to do. It's important to recognize the difference between the two. You may be skilled at something and still not find it interesting. Chances are, however, if you are naturally talented at something, there will be a correspondence between that particular talent and your values. Put another way: you are more apt to enjoy doing what you do well naturally than what you have simply been taught to do.
3. Identify your preferences.
From early on, we approach the world with certain personal preferences--how we perceive others, how we think and make decisions, whether we prefer concepts over people or vice versa, and the extent to which we are comfortable with uncertainty in our lives. For many, these preferences operate at a subconscious level, but they strongly influence the way we function with others. Some questions may help: Do you regard yourself as highly intuitive? Are you outgoing or reserved? When faced with a decision, do you rely primarily on facts or feelings? Your answers to these questions can tell you much about the kinds of work you will find interesting and challenging. One way of sorting this all out is by taking the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator a self-assessing instrument that helps clarify these issues. If you haven't taken it in the past year, or at all, I strongly recommend that you take it and include your results in your career deliberations.
4. Experiment.
There's no substitute for experience, the more the better. It's probably safe to say that nearly every career looks vastly different from the outside than from within. If you're new to the job market or if you are considering a career change, get out and talk to people who are actually doing it. Take a job in the field or industry and see for yourself if it's really all you thought it would be. And don't rely on a single authority or work experience. Within the bounds of the area you've picked, try to get as much and as varied experience as you can. If you're committed to finding out about a certain career, you may want to consider volunteering in order to gain work experience. That way, you'll be able to test out whether it fits your values and preferences. If you aren't getting paid to do it, chances are you won't stay with it unless you like it.
5. Become broadly literate.
In this high tech information world, there is an incredible pressure to specialize, to know more and more about less and less. That's dangerous, because it increases your chances of being obsolescent immensely. Many people lose their jobs and scuttle their careers because they have gradually developed tunnel vision about who and what they are and what their capabilities are. The old debate over specialist versus generalist is being tempered by a new term: the generalist/specialist. That's the individual who has been able to grasp the large picture while, at the same time, becoming expert on several of its parts. That's what becoming broadly literate is all about. Learn as much as you can about what interests you and about the jobs and careers your're considering--not just what those involved are currently doing, but about where the industry or profession is heading.
6. In your first job, opt for experience first, money second.
If you're at the top of your class graduating summa cum laude, you may be able to combine both in a single package, but for most new entrants into the workforce, it's a matter of priorities. A good way of sizing up several opportunities is to ask yourself: "Which position will offer me the best chance of becoming excellent at what I do?" And that may not be the one that pays the highest initial salary.
7. Aim for a job in which you can become 110% committed.
Modest decication and average performance are unacceptable today. The problem is, with downsizing becoming fully acceptable you aren't likely to discover the truth of that statement until you're out of a job! So, how to protect yourself? If you aren't able to commit 110% to what you are currently doing, start NOW to find something in which you can.
8. Build your lifestyle around your income, not your expectations.
Recruiters are famous for courting desirable applicants with promises such as: "Why, in two years, you could be making X thousands of dollars". The problem is that many new entrants into the job force buy into this line and begin living as though they were making the kind of money promised in two years. A better way is to begin, right with your first job, to structure your lifestyle in such a manner that you can put away ten percent of every paycheck. Starting early and investing regularly and wisely are probably two of the greatest secrets of wealth accumulation.
9. Invest five percent of your time, energy, and money into furthering your career.
In terms of a forty-hour week, that's only two hours per week. The point is, you cannot rely on your employer to spoon feed you. Employers today are oriented towards immediate returns on their dollar. They will invest in you only when they can see an immediate or relatively quick expensive benefit, or when they see extraordinary potential. Better to not count on either. Dedicate yourself to getting ahead by keeping ahead, and you do that be controlling the one thing you can control: your dedication to being the best that you can be.
10. Be willing to change and adapt.
If you re-read the preceding steps in this list, you'll note an absence (refreshing, I hope) of emphasis upon goal-setting and a substitution instead, of words like "values", "skills", "talents", and "preferences". It's not that goals aren't useful, but rather that they should emerge naturally from these other factors and, even though you may write them down and paste them on your mirror, they should not obscure the need to be willing to change and adapt to new conditions, your own growth, and developing opportunities. The distinction here is between "direction" and "plan". An ant has a direction, but not a plan. The ant knows where it wants to go and is willing to turn around, back up, and change course in order to get there. But the ant hasn't written it down, posted it on a bulletin board, or gained concurrence from all the other ants. The ant just knows, with absolute certainty, the general direction in which it's heading and that it WILL get there. That's what modern day career direction is all about

Looking for a bright career in SAP?

Join GCI enterprise solutions (formerly IVL group of companies)

Global consultants Inc (GCI) headquartered in the us with a turnover in excess of us $250 million and a strength of 3800 plus worldwide, are poised for explosive growth in coming years. The company is currently looking for bright, energetic, dynamic and resourceful candidates for its projects in India and overseas.

1. Domain consultants in excise/VAT/Service tax/inter and intra state sales tax/export/import.
   

• Job code: (DC/07/<Domain>)
  
• Job involves consulting, product development and implementation in large enterprises using SAP software.
  
• Candidates should be graduates/postgraduates with 3+ years of relevant hands on domain experience in the industry.
  

1. SAP functional consultants.
   

• Job code: (FC/07/<SAP Module>)
  
• A minimum of 3+ years of industry experience and 2+ years of SAP consulting experience in HR/PP/MM/FI/CO/PM/EP/BW/APO/CRM/BW-BPS.
  
• One full life cycle implementation experience is mandatory.
  

All the positions are for Trivandrum.

Candidate should possess strong communication, presentation and client facing skills for all positions. If you are looking for a challenging career with immense growth potential and your profile matches with our requirements, rush your resumes mentioning the job code in the subject line to hrd@ivl.co.in

 

GCI Enterprise Solutions

Nila, Technopark, Trivandrum-695581, India

Tel: +91-471-2700182/972/410

www.ivlind.com/www.g-c-i.com

An Outstanding Job Interview

For most of us, the job interview is an experience we both crave and dread. On the one hand, we know that the interview brings us one step closer to acquiring an employment position we desire. On the other, we know the interview could also spell disaster for our attempts if it doesn't go well. Very few, if any, people actually enjoy job interviews. Even the people who are requried to conduct them don't generally enjoy them, possibly because they remember all too well what it's like being on the other side of the desk. Being in the "hot seat" puts you under more stress, forces you to think up answers to difficult questions on the spot, and makes you second guess every word you say and movement you make. What's even worse is that most of us never learn anything about good interviewing techniques. Most high schools and colleges fail to instruct us about the ins and outs of interviews.
Instead, we get advice from all of those around us on what to do, how to act, what to say. It simply makes us more confused and stressed, which ends up causing poor interview performances. There will also be some individuals who falsely belief that a well-written resume packed with skills, experience, and education that meets or exceeds what the employer is looking for will be all that it takes to earn a job. The truth is that the resume just gets your foot in the door; it's the interview that really matters. That's why it is extremely important to understand the job interview process, so that you can ace the job interview and land the job of your dreams!

Find a part time job

Find a Part-Time Job

Not all jobs have to be full-time and intense. If you're looking for a bit of extra cash, why not take on a job that's fun and nearly hassle-free? Market research companies are always looking to add consumers just like you to their database. Sign up with as many market research companies as you can in order to increase your chance of attending focus groups or one-on-one surveys. Groups usually last anywhere from half an hour to two hours and can range in pay anywhere from $50 to $200 cash. You can search online in many great places for focus groups and for market research companies. Even if you don't qualify for what they're looking for immediately, forward your information and sign up with them anyway! You might be surprised at the amount of groups you may qualify for in the future! Do you need a flexible job with hours that can fit into your schedule? Perhaps you should look into providing personal services, such as pet sitting, babysitting, or personal assistance. The hours are usually flexible, and the individuals needing this service tend to be very understanding about your demanding schedule. For a part-time job, a personal service job tends to be good paying. Are you a student? There are many employers that will hire a student simply because they're majoring in a related field of study. You won't have to go
through tons of interviews and wait weeks or months to start a part-time position. It is a good opportunity to get hands-on training in your chosen career path, and will look good on a resume when you graduate. Some companies offer employment on a semester to semester basis. Looking for something that's fun? Try a part-time job with the park district or the zoo. Maybe you can find part-time work on a film set, or as an extra! You might find yourself in a movie one day! Temp agencies will send you to various companies to help out with mass mailings and other marketing projects, should you ask for this type of work. These are usually fun and easy! There are other temporary employment opportunities as well, but the great thing about being a temp is that you have the option to accept or decline an assignment and you can work as much or as little as you need. Promotional work can be very profitable for working only a few days each month. The work is usually fun and exciting and you'll end up working on some really interesting and unique promotions and events. A part-time job doesn't have to be boring and it doesn't have to involve fast food. It can be an entertaining and enjoyable experience!

Choosing The Right Career

Choosing The Right Career

How to choose a career for yourself? It is important to go for a career that is your calling. There are numbers of options to choose from. You can make a career in medicine, law, architecture, finance, designing, media and many more fields. Your career will also decide what you do for the better part of your day/night and more importantly the course of your life. Therefore, it is advisable to choose a career that suits you and your expectations from life.

Choose a job that you love and you will never have to work. This maxim holds true even today. You can choose a career suiting your skill sets and personality type. If colors and designs have inspired you since long, a career in designing will suit you just fine. Give wings to your dream by becoming a pilot. If you can stand up against the wrong and are a vociferous speaker, then a degree in law is awaiting you. For the lovers of words there are careers in media. Different people have different motivations. Some people want to be famous and some want a career that gives creative satisfaction. Then there are others who want to serve humanity and work for noble purposes. Ponder over what are your motivations in life and accordingly choose a career.

There are a host of creative career options that you can choose from such as films, arts,


music and theater. However be prepared to work hard in any career you choose. All these avenues might seem very glamorous, but the truth is that a lot of hard work and perseverance goes behind them. In case you choose acting as a career, do a reality check. Do not enter harboring dreams of instant fame and success, since all this may take time. For the time success does not court you, the going might get very tough. Most of the passionate actors in such cases work in the evening shifts to make their ends meet and they go for auditions in the daytime.

While choosing a career it is important not to get bogged down by parental or peer pressure. There are also times when there is a certain wave that takes the economy by sway. In such times it is important to hold ground and not get carried away. You should not be choosing your career on the basis of such factors. All these influences might result in you getting a career that might not be your call or it is not motivating enough.

Beware Of Job Fraud Scams!

Beware Of Job Fraud Scams!
Searching for a job can be difficult enough, but when you finally spot the 'job of a lifetime' - just consider that if the job sounds too good to be true - quite likely, it is!

Imagine the job of "Designer - Developer/Applications/IT" with a tax-free salary of $120K for 6 months work.

Perks including Paid Overtime at $300 per hour, paid first-class accommodation, $3,000.00 flat rate travel/entertainment allowance for every intercontinental trip, free comprehensive healthcare, two weeks of paid vacation, a free laptop computer and free transportation/vehicle.

WOW!!! - Where do I sign up???

This is just one of the many recent postings on Monster.com - other jobs with the same salary and benefits are also available - including:

* Project Manager - Project/Infrastructure/IT * Analyst - Systems/Support/IT * Technical Advisor - Computer/Security/IT * Analyst - Data Manager/IT/

Sometimes the scams are easy to spot - other times it can be more difficult. Quite often the job titles and job descriptions are often stolen from other legitimate employment sites.

You may be able to enter a snippet of the job description in double-quotes and find the original source through your favorite search engine.

For example, the position I mentioned earlier contained the text "(C++, Java, HTML, PHP, Visual Basic)" in the job description.

Search for this in Google (including the double-quotes) and you'll quickly see how often this exact string has been used in scam-related job postings.

These companies (more likely individuals) have absolutely no intention of hiring you - they are simply after the "Administration Fee" you need to send in advance.

Here is an example of some terms on a recent posting on monster.com:

You are liable to make charges of about USD$950.00 for the procurement of your working and residential permit documents which covers:

1, Administrative charges: 2, Diplomatic Courier Charges: 3, Working Permit charges: 4, Residential Permit charges: 5, Hard copies of the terms:

They promise reimbursement of fees and travel expenses to attend the interview, but only AFTER you've shown up for the job and discovered they never existed!

In addition to money sent to the fraudsters in advance -- you could be suckered in for airfare, hotel and thousands of dollars in other expenses.

Some obvious clues that should send up bright red warning flags:

* The job is in Nigeria, or posted on behalf of a Nigerian company. Quite often the jobs are IT-related in companies involved with oil,


banking or mining.

* The contact is using @hotmail.com or some other free email service. Legitimate offers generally come from legitimate companies with real email addresses.

* The telephone number is a fake. Don't even try to call. Most often, if the number even works at all, it leads to a mobile phone in Nigeria or a similar country. Check the country code before calling and see if it matches the company's address (if they even provide one).

* Beware of requests for detailed personal information, such as a copy of your passport, birth certificate, SSN card and so forth. This trick is used to make the application more 'real' but if they can't sucker you on the 'application fee' - they may just sell or use your identity instead.

* Quite often, there will be many errors in the references, spelling and/or grammar. Here is another example:

"You are to receive the hard copies of the contract terms and agreement and also your working and residential permit altogether, it will be delivered through Diplomatic Courier Services(DHL) to your various designated addresses respectively."

Do a Google search for "Diplomatic Courier Services(DHL)" and you will again see dozens of listings discussing or exposing the scam.

There are many variations to this new type of scam. Currently, IT professionals seem to be the major target. Monster.com and Monster's country-specific sites have become the hot target for these scamsters.

Although Monster does remove bogus job postings fairly quickly, the process to complain about them is difficult and time-consuming.

In many online job boards, there is no 'filtering' or human review process for job postings -- otherwise such fraudulent listings would be need to be much more difficult. Many job boards also allow free postings for advertisers -- making them even more attractive for scammers.

The important thing to remember is that few legitimate employers will ask for fees of any kind up-front - in fact, many employers will pay for your travel expenses in advance.

Don't let the job of your dreams become a financial nightmare - be cautious when dealing with any business you can not easily identify or verify. Best of luck on your job search!