Rudeness in Paris? Non!

We have never found Paris and Parisians unfriendly or rude, just like traveling in every city, much depends on how we approach the community and its people. We have to adapt to them and not expect them to adapt to us. I recall moving to Hoboken back at the beginning of the 1980s and gentrification, and the dislike of the new folks coming in and expecting the city to change to accommodate them, instead of the other way around. I was happy to adapt and discover local haunts including Carlos Bakery long before cake boss and when it was on Adams street across from my apartment and next to Fiore's Deli when it was still shipping mozzarella to Frank Sinatra every month in Palm Springs. I remember the newbies complaining every summer when the Italian feasts would take over the streets on certain weekends, complaints about noise, dirt, fireworks etc. I never got it why they didn't plan ahead and go away for the weekend, or just adjust and enjoy the lively energy of the streets and the food and music. So getting acclimated in Provence we work hard to enjoy the local community and its customs and traditions. Apparently, however, Paris has gotten a bit of a bad rap for rudeness of the local population, so the city is trying to work on it with a manual. Can't imagine this being given to cabbies in NYC, but it's an interesting idea. Should make fun reading. http://news.yahoo.com/paris-tackles-rudeness-tourists-manual-163555094.html

Spring break French style

The French are apparently trying to mimic a not so good American past-time, drunken, dangerous Spring Break, except it is in June, before final exams. Some companies are trying to promote trips to Spain to party. Oh well, not a positive development: http://worldcrunch.com/culture-society/alcohol-sex-and-a-touch-of-moderation-spring-break-a-la-francaise-/sea-sex-drugs-spring-break-spain/c3s12274/

France's high birth rate

Hard to believe but France has an even higher birthrate than the US and is the highest in the EU at 2.01. This is in part due to very good child care available at an early age and, depending on income, for free. Also there are payments by the government once a family has a second child. In fact, France is expanding its child care system which will also create jobs. Maybe something the US should consider? http://www.france24.com/en/20130611-why-french-women-make-more-babies-fertility-austerity-welfare-reforms-france

French housing crisis

Squatters apparently have rights in Paris that they would never have in the US. Apparently, they have to be visible and engage in activity seen by neighbors, like ordering take-out. A little pizza goes a long way. Now, the owner has difficulty removing them and apparently the French government may want to buy the office building and convert it to housing. With a long-standing and worsening housing crisis in France, these do not sound like good solutions. Looking at the statistics, they have many money homeless in France proportionally than in the US, due to soaring prices, especially in Paris, even through the recession as foreigners park money in French real estate investments, much as they do in NYC. http://news.yahoo.com/special-report-french-homeless-seek-refuge-offices-051131637.html

wine in a can? so de classe'

A few years ago I wrote about wine with a twist-off cap entering the french market, but now "winestar" is trying for wine in a can, to replicate what is already going on in Japan and Germany. Although I do not drink any alcoholic beverages, this one may be a little de classe' for the French. The company is targeting younger drinkers with a price of 2.50 euro per can. Still, it just doesn't seem French to me, and I can't imagine that it doesn't change the taste of the wine. It certainly does if drinking Perrier from a can, as compared to a glass bottle (the best taste) or a plastic bottle (the worst). Should be interesting to see if this catches on. http://www.france24.com/en/20130610-start-offers-french-quality-canned-wine

New Museum opens in Marseille this week

Looks to be interesting exhibits about France, culture and the Mediterranean region, and the first French national museum outside Paris, called MuCem. http://www.france24.com/en/20130604-marseille’-mucem-offers-bridge-between-mediterranean-europe