Secrètes de Paris

The weather has picked up a bit in Paris. Less rain, more sun, tons of wind. Spring, actually. Here are some pics from a stroll through down the Faubourg St-Atoine and the Marché Aligre.

One of the many passages of the Faubourg where you'll still find Parisian furniture makers.

A bit of Andalucia in Paris...the yellow forsythia is in bloom.

Fishmonger humor at the Marché Aligre.

A CNN anchor compared Paris to Tiananmen Square (and then another CNN journalist called the statement "regrettable").

In any case, the protests continue, I just saw a bunch of students march through Place d'Italie with their horns and signs. But they're gone now, and the intesection is back to normal. I'm still getting emails from people freaking out about their safety in coming to Paris.

How many times does one have to say: stay away from the marches and you won't have any problems!

Even on Tuesday's "Big Strike", all of the public transport was working at 75% of it's regular service, and unless you were on the march rout between Place d'Italie and Place République, you wouldn't even know anything is going on in Paris. Really.

I was listening to NPR (Diane Reams show, sorry if that's misspelled) and Diane was interviewing some French pundits and American journalists covering the protests and she asked, "But how do you know where the riots will be?"

As the guests replied, it helps to know a bit of French. All demonstrations are announced in advance, along with their routes, so everyone in Paris knows exactly what parts of town will have traffic problems. The protests are separate from the "riots", or the window-breaking/car-burning idiots from the suburbs who come into town anytime there are big gatherings in order to cause trouble. They're called "casseurs", or smashers. This is who thepolice are fighting with, and in many cases they're actally helped by the marchers themselves, who are the ones who are getting hurt from their clashes (again, the damage is happening under the "cover" of the large crowds during the marches; there aren't "rioters" roaming loose around Paris torching random cars). Many of these thugs have already been arrested and fined, in some cases sent to prison for a year (the idiot who set a car on fire that accidentally set a Gap on fire).

There's another strike andmarch planned Tuesday the 4th, FYI.

And here are some photos of Place d'Italie from last Tuesday.

No, not a burning car, just the flares of the union marchers.

As usual, the marchers have trashed the square.

The stinky food vans arrived at 10am to feed the masses. Whining builds up a big appetite, apparently.

If you couldn't read, you might think this was a Mardi Gras parade. Look at the purty balloons!

When I walked the dogs this morning at 10am, the Place d'Italie was already full of news vans, big banners against the CPE, and even a snack truck in preparation for today's march that starts here (and ends at République) at 230pm.

I have a tour today, and have no idea if the people will show up (although 75% of the public transport is still running in Paris). Mostly I'm glad I won't be here at home working because it's IMPOSSIBLE to work when they're out there blasting their music and chanting for three hours.

They're basically keeping me from working. As if the entire world is made of of evil bosses and slaving workers. Some of us work for ourselves and would like to get that work done, thank you!!!

So since I can't vote in national elections (being a foreigner), I'm going to join the ANTI-BLOCAGES (anti strike) march on April 2 at 3pm, Hôtel de Ville.

There is a growing movement against the people who are taking advantage of the strikes to cause trouble (the idiots burning car, for example). I'm all for political activism, but violence and refusing to even talk (the unions won't talk to De Villepin) is wrong.

Look here and here (sign the petition).

On Tuesday March 28 there's a semi-general strike scheduled by the people opposed to the new student labor laws. Expect 50% service on Metro and RER lines. For more info call the free (really!) RATP hotline: 0800 15 11 11

The RATP would like everyone to know:

La direction de l’entreprise précise que la RATP n’entre pas dans le champ d’application de la loi qui met en place les CPE et qu’elle poursuit par ailleurs une politique dynamique de recrutement, de qualification et d’insertion de 2000 jeunes par an.

It basically says that the RATP isn't affected by the new laws, and actively recruits more than 2000 young workers each year. So why are they participating in the strike? Well, the weather sure is nicer now...good day for a walk/protest march.

Brunch and Bloody Mary's are what make Sundays so lovely for those of us who don't have to drive out to the in-laws' for lunch.

Doggie wants her sexy horoscope read.


I don't know...laundry day? They kinda go with the cocktails. ;)

Today at about noon the Place d'Italie began filling up with students, ringleaders with their bullhorns, and idiots with huge sound systems on the back of pick-up trucks that made it impossible for me to get any work done, so I went down to have a look (Pedro needed to pee, actually).

From the ground, here they are gathering at Place d'Italie. Everyone is pretty much standing around while the music plays on the loudspeakers. Some enterprising promoter has tacked Ben Harper concert posters all over every surface, including the trees. If that doesn't give you an indication of the nature of these marches, nothing will!


And here is the trash the march leaves in its wake. Nice to see they're all guaranteeing jobs in the public sanitation sector.

I heard on the news that protesters in one town have been throwing rotten food at the town hall. Next thing you know Villepin will be telling them to throw cake. ;)

Paris Authors in Bed with Agent
New York-based firm commits to naughty project

March 19, 2006; Paris, France - Authors Carolyn Heinze and Heather Stimmler-Hall announce that literary agent Rebecca Friedman of New York's Sterling Lord Literistic has committed to representing Naughty Paris: The Good Girl's Guide to Being Bad in the City of Light. Targeted at women, Naughty Paris is a sassy work that surpasses the "romantic" Paris that has been exulted and dissected in guide after guide. Instead of offering up the dreamiest spots for French kissing, authors Heinze and Stimmler-Hall tell readers where to snag that Frenchman to kiss. Wanna strike a sexy pose with a dry martini? They give you the lowdown on Paris's sultriest bars. Feeling a little frisky? The authors reveal how to delve into the city's historic libertine culture in Paris's chicest fetish and echangiste clubs. In between, they point to where to find the most elegant lingerie, the naughtiest thigh-high boots, and the best hotels for igniting steamy trysts. They even uncover what to expect from those oh-so-irresistible - and extremely forward - French lovers.

Two self-described "good girls," Heinze and Stimmler-Hall provide information that's hot, but definitely not sleazy. The guide is delivered in a cheeky, playful tone designed to address both innocent ingénues and daring damsels alike. Accessible and fun, Naughty Paris helps women to choose the aventure they are most comfortable with, making Paris as memorable as the city deserves to be.

About the Authors

Carolyn Heinze is a freelance writer/editor with over 10 years of editorial experience. She writes about everything from politics, culture, and current events to business, travel, entertainment, fashion and beauty, technology...and even horses! Currently, Carolyn's Letters from Paris - which discuss everything from French food, French wine and French men to how to have a romance when neither of you speak each other's language - run regularly on her website at www.carolynheinze.com and The Women's Place. Born and raised in Canada, Carolyn contributes to magazines in North America and Europe from her current pied à terre in the City of Light.

Heather Stimmler-Hall is an American-born writer and guide living in France since 1995. She's the author of the Paris & Ile-de-France Adventure Guide (Hunter Publishing, 2004) and contributor to Fodor's Da Vinci Code Travel Companion, Fodor's Paris 2006, TimeOut Paris 2005, Fodor's Provence 2006, Avalon's Moon Metro Paris, 3rd Edition, and the Michelin Green Guide for the French Riviera. She contributes travel and lifestyle articles for publications such as ELLE, The London Times, France Magazine, the easyJet in-flight magazine, and Hemispheres. Heather's Secrets of Paris newsletter and "Off-the-Beaten-Tourist-Track" tours have been giving visitors a more in-depth Parisian experience for the past five years. After receiving countless "discreet inquiries" into the more risqué aspects of her adopted city, Heather decided it was time to write this book.

Sterling Lord Literistic combines a long tradition of literary excellence with a diverse and successful client list unparalleled in the industry. The agency represents a wide range of authors, including National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize winners, New York Times bestsellers, literary and commercial novelists, politicians, journalists, scientists, and favorites in children's literature. The winning combination of established authors and newly emerging voices attests to the past achievement and future promise of the agency. Sterling Lord Literistic has deep roots in the world of publishing. In 1952, Sterling Lord founded his distinguished agency and counted such literary icons as Jack Kerouac and Ken Kesey among his early clients. Peter Matson established his firm in 1979 and rose to prominence representing such writers as Dee Brown and John Irving. In 1987, the two joined forces, creating the prestigious agency that continues to flourish today.

For more information, contact:

Rebecca Friedman rebecca@sll.com

Carolyn Heinze carolyn@carolynheinze.com

Heather Stimmler-Hall heather@secretsofparis.com

Visit the Naughty Paris Blog!

Students protesting the changes in work contracts for "first job" employees take to the streets again this week (it's nice out, why go to class and bother with that degree?) with an estimated 40,000 students around the country in the streets.



Some press are referring to the "riots". Aside from blocking traffic and a skirmish between police and students who wouldn't leave the university building they were occupying (about 100 students were tear-gassed and, according to the local news, arrested) all is "business as usual" in Paris. There was also, today, a protest against the university blockade by students who were angry that they were missing class. Bravo!



In the ten years I've been in France, I've never seen any violent marches. As you can see here, students and passers-by are just hanging out, watching the noisy procession go by. They're actually fun to watch the first few times. Then they get a bit boring. Same signs, same chanting, same banging drums, same trail of garbage behind them...vive la France! Now get back to class, little hooligans!

I am not a fan of McDonald's (aka McDo, pronounced "mac-dough" by the French). But here I am, for the third day in a row, drinking a hot chocolate (not bad for €1.10) and checking my e-mail. There are no signs, but McDo offers free WiFi in almost all of its restaurants in Paris (notably not at Châtelet). It's not exactly the kind of place where they'd kick you out for sitting there all day on one cup of coffee, either. There are other WiFi accessible places in my 'hood, but Le Commerce (Rue Cinq Diamants, 13th) won't let you surf when they're serving lunch or dinner (which seems to take up most of the day), and Le Sputnik Bar (Rue de la Butte-aux-Cailles) is a tad too smokey and loud at night, not free, and usually disconnects every five minutes. Lame. So voila, I'm a McDonald's customer. As soon as my Freebox gets connected ("10-21 days") I'll be able to return to homesurfing. Nothing gets done quickly in France, though. Patience....