However, if you have already been to Paris or if you wanted to get to know other parts the country, Lyon and its beautiful surrounding villages will really make your day.  If you are up to it, I will give you an itinerary to follow that should satisfy your eyes and palate without a doubt.

Take Advantage of the TGV

If you land in Paris you can take the TGV train and be in Lyon in just two hours.  The Paris-Lyon TGV was the first line of the now huge TGV network in Europe.  For the first time in 1981 the fast train joined the two cities in just two hours on a non-stop trip.  I used to take the TGV to go back home every month when I was living in Paris.  If you have never been on the TGV, you need to try it.  It’s very affordable and the most comfortable train you’d ever have the chance to ride.

There is a TGV train station right at the Charles de Gaulle’s airport and you could be in Lyon by train before you’d board your transfer flight.  I should know because I’ve been there and done that!

The City of Lyon

Once in the city of Lyon, you should have no problem traveling around the cities with the subway, the buses or tramways.  You will even have access to a low price  rental car city service or even bicycle renting system created in Lyon if you are up to it.  Whatever mode of transportation you will be choosing will allow you to move from place to place in the city without any problems.

The Lyon metro (subway) first opened in 1978 with two lines.  I remember still this  beautiful orange train with a super modern look; with a dark beige interior and orange seats matching the color of the cars.  There was a digital female voice announcing the station coming up and again once the train had made a full stop just before the doors opened.  Back then, when compared to the much older Paris,  not so clean subway, Lyon subway was a breath of fresh air.  The metro in Lyon has now 4 lines called line A (red line) opened in 1978 line, B (blue line) opened in 1978, C line (orange line) opened in 1981 and D line (green line) opened in 1991.

Each of those lines will take you from Lyon to the surrounding cities such as Villeurbanne, Vaulx en Velin, Venissieux, Gerland, etc…

Enjoying the regions around Lyon

The regions around Lyon are called “Les Monts du Lyonnais” (the mounts of Lyon area) because Lyon is surrounded by hills and small mountains.

To me the most obvious difference between being in Paris and being in Lyon is that Lyon has a much larger and more beautiful surrounding than Paris does.  Paris is surrounded by flat looking plains while Lyon is surrounded by beautiful hills, mountains, vineyards, and old beautiful villages that will be worth your while.

I grew up in a beautiful small village 20 minutes up the hills surrounding the big city.  On a clear weather day I would go all the way to the highest part of my garden and see the large city of Lyon and its eternal famous flame from the infamous refinery of Feyzin, an industrial two just outside of Lyon.

Saint-Sorlin, the village that I grew up in was as far from the hustle and bustle of the city as it could be, but what’s amazing is that it was only a 25 minute drive from it.  In that village, however, as I like to say, there were more cows than cars passing by for years.  As time went on, the number of cars increased of course, but to this day, Saint-Sorlin in the department of the Rhone is still a small and quiet typical French village.

The Beaujolais Region

Another great place to visit while you are in Lyon is the Beaujolais region and all its wine tasting places, of course.  The Beaujolais vineyard region includes Julienas, Moulin a Vent Fleurie, Chiroubles, and more. The grapes harvested in each region make the wines baring the same name as the region they come from.  If you happened to be in Lyon do not miss the Beaujolais region located only about 20 miles north of the city.

The Monts du Lyonnais area, will offer you a not only a breath of fresh air from the large cities, but will introduce you to the deep France that you will fall in love with.

This is the reason on January 6 people eat “la gallette des rois” where one or two little statues made of plastic which represent a king are inserted in the pie.  This is why it’s very important to beware of each bites one takes, because, one of the guests will find the king in his slice of gallette.

Even though la gallette is the pastry of choice for many on that celebration day, la brioche is also very popular and even preferred by some.

In this post, I wanted to share with you my brioche recipe with step by step pictures.

Ingredients For Two Medium to Large Size Brioches

500 grams of flour (4 cups)
10 grams of salt (a coffee spoon)
20 grams yeast (2 packets of active dry yeast)
5 eggs
250 grams of unsalted butter (at room temperature) (9 oz)
60 grams of sugar (3 full table spoons)
1 deciliter of water (2 cups)

Clean your kitchen counter thoroughly with dish detergent, rinse and dry it with paper towel.  fill half a glass of warm water (not hot) and pour the yeast in it. stir with a spoon a little and let it sit for a minute or two.

In the meantime, pour the flour on your working counter and make a hole in the center.  Add the eggs, salt and sugar in the center. Then add the yeast mixed with the rest of the  water on the opposite site of the salt ( if the salt is directly in contact with the yeast it will prevent the yeast to be active).  Mix very slowly without breaking the flour wall until all the ingredients are mixed together.

Start Working The Dough

Beat and fold the dough for about two minutes until it’s not so sticky anymore and start shaping up.  Then let it sit for about 1 or 2 minutes. 

After one or two minutes start working the dough in the same fashion for 7 minutes.

When 7 minutes have passed, start adding the butter cut in cubes and at room temperature so, it’s very soft.  Incorporate the butter in the dough piece by piece and work the dough for 3 to 5 minutes until the butter is fully incorporated and the dough is a bit dryer.  Then,  let the dough sit for 1 or 2 minutes again before working it another for 7 minutes.

Let it Sit Overnight

Then, form a ball and put the dough in a bowl with a bit of flour at the bottom and cover with plastic film. Put in the refrigerator over night.

The next morning take the dough out of the refrigerator. spread a little bit of flour on your kitchen counter and cut the brioche dough in 6 pieces.

Shaping of the Brioche

Then take one piece at the time and flatten it with a pastry roll as shown on the pictures.

Then, with your hands shape the pieces in string shapes of the same length.

Then, start forming a thick braid with the three strings.  Make sure the ends stick together.

Let Sit the Shaped Dough For 3 Hours

Cover with a clean piece of cloth and let the shaped dough sit in room temperature (70+ F) for 3 hours.

Getting Ready to Bake

Preheat the over at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Use the yoke of an eggs to spread over the brioche with a kitchen brush just before putting in the oven.

Bake for about 20 minutes. Make sure you don’t over bake and open the oven once in a while to check. You can tell that the brioche is ready when it’s golden in color.

The Results

Bon appetit and enjoy your brioche anytime!

Please, leave your comments below if you enjoyed this!

Christmas Eve At Home

The magic of this time of the year always started on Christmas Eve.  All day my mother, my aunt and I were preparing all the succulent food for Christmas Eve dinner and it was quite a feast.  Christmas Eve was more like a standing up dinner with canapés of Foie Gras, pate, Caviar and cheese.  It took use all day to prepare those delicious canapés on small pieces of special bread.

We arranged all the canapés by flavor and style on beautiful trays used specially for the occasion.

When we were done with that we started preparing the dessert trays with the 13 desserts of Noël which are tradition in French Christmas and which includes, walnuts, nougat, figs, nuts and tangerines among others.  Check here for the full list of the 13 desserts of Christmas.

Of course the table was also going to be filled with chocolates boxes and papillottes (special Christmas warped chocolates) orangettes and marrons glaces.

When we were all done preparing the feast for the evening, it was time to get all dressed up for Christmas Eve before the guests arrived.

Another good feeling about this time of the years is that I knew that I was going to spend a good time with my aunts, uncle and cousins in a festive ambiance like none others.

At around 6 O’clock in the evening our family guests would arrive and we would start eating our Christmas delights all through the night while talking, and having a good time.

Just before midnight, us kids, would be sent to bed and that was the time (we didn’t get to see) when my mother, aunts and uncle would go to the attic and bring all the toys downstairs near by the Christmas tree.

Since there was always a minimum of 5 kids, sometimes even more, with an average of 5+ gifts each the living room was literally filled with toys.  I remember that it really looked like a toy store.  For us children it was just magic.

Christmas Morning The Real Magic Began

On Christmas morning when we woke up, rather early because of the excitement. it was when the real “movie-like magic” began.

With the toys all arranged by which kid they belonged to all around the tree, I remembered the room looking “unreal”.  My family liked to keep the toy unwrapped which actually  added to magic.

To add to it, my aunt would turn her super 8 camera on with a very strong flash that totally illuminated the room and made those dolls, trucks and other toys shinny and bright, just like in a perfect dream.

It was like a ferry had touched each toy with her magic stick.  Quite a memory for a child between the age of 5 to 10 years old.

When I think about Christmas, this is definitely one of the strongest images that come to mind.  For us children, this made Christmas morning really magic.  Nothing could compare with it!

All through the rest of the morning when we finally snapped out of the amazement of all the new toy discovery, we all took turn in the bathrooms to shower and got ready for the rest of the festivities.

While the adults, mostly my mother, were busy preparing our Christmas lunch/dinner we were busy playing with our new toys.  I remember fondly what a joy time that was.

When lunch time came, we would all sit down around the huge family dinner table and enjoy a fancy Christmas lunch with roast turkey, escargots, and all the good foods of the holidays including the famous chocolates of this time of the year.

Later in the evening when it was time for the family members to go back home was always a little sad for me, but what a wonderful time we had.

What I miss the most when I think about France is French food.

Anyone born and raised here wouldn’t miss and not even know about some of the food that we can find in France, and therefore, never miss it.  However,  for those of us who have grown up eating some of such delights of the palate that consist of the many types of foods that are found in France, sometimes, not being able to run to the store and grab such food can be really tough, indeed!

And I am just talking about every day food, here.  When it comes to holiday foods, it just gets even better, and we can indulge in the finest and tastiest meal of the year at that time.

When it comes to traditional French Christmas dinner I can remember the extravagant dozen courses that such dinner included at my house. Actually it is called the Christmas feast.

On Christmas day, at my house, we probably ingested more calories in that one meal than some people would in a diet week.  But, then again, Christmas dinner in France is no dieter’s dinners.  If anything, it’s the most festive meal where you can eat all your favorite foods in just one day.

What is a Typical and Traditional French Christmas Dinner?

The traditional Christmas dinner starts on Christmas Eve at dinner time.  Most French households have a  copious  Christmas Eve dinner which traditionally may includes what we call the 13 desserts de Noël (the 13 Christmas desserts). Other foods served on Christmas Eve may include shrimps, find patés, foie gras (fatten goose liver paté), ousters, chocolate bouchées and other canapés.

In my house, Christmas Eve dinner was serve like a banquet where we would grab a piece of everything and eat it at our leisure while talking and having a good time. These were ones of the best moments of my life.

Of course, with the food, white and red wine as well as Champagne would be served.

The Christmas Day Dinner

Now, what we call Christmas dinner in this part of the world is really Christmas lunch in France starting by 1 PM.  French people, being bigger on lunch than dinner.

Christmas dinner (lunch) in my household started with two appetizers which usually consisted of both raw ousters (ousters are almost never eaten cooked in France) and the famous escargots de Bourgogne which stuffed snail shells with butter, parsley and garlic.  The stuffed escargots (snails) are baked in the oven for about 5 minutes.

Then, came the main course which usually consisted of a roasted turkey accompanied by lama beans, green peas, diced potatoes and cooked chestnuts.

Green lettuce is then served as intermittence before the cheeses.   Usually a “plateau de fromages”a full tray of 5 to 7 different cheeses is passed to each guest who cut their chosen piece with a special cheese knife.

La Bûche de Noël

Then, the bûche de Noël is served.  You can actually find this type of cake in some grocery stores in the US.

The bûche is a flat sponge cake which we cover with a chocolate mixed cream and roll up to form a wood log called “bûche” in French.

Then the bûche is covered with chocolate icing and decorated to resemble a log.  La bûche de Noël is usually served with Champagne.

After a little while coffee and liqueur can be served with chocolates or truffles or both.

Christmas was one of the best time of year for me.  I always enjoyed the ambiance, the food, the family reunion and of course the wonderful gifts.

Thanks Giving is upon us! Here is a little Taste of my French Turkey recipe.  Enjoy!

There are many ways to cook a turkey.  As a matter of fact there are as many ways as there are people willing to cook it.  Here I am going to give you a turkey recipe, the French way, or at least one of them as they are many as well.

There is no Thanksgiving in France, obviously, since it’s an American holiday but, this time of the years is definitely turkey meal time.  So, the turkey, in France is really a Christmas meal.  Christmas is also that time when we eat the very fancy and popular “foie gras”.

It’s not very hard to cook a turkey but, if you don’t do it right your turkey might turn up very dry and this is not what you want to accomplish.  If you cook it according to my instructions below you will have a perfectly juicy turkey inside with a crispy and delicious skin.

Before Preparation

If you buy a frozen turkey between 15 and 20 lbs it will take 3 days to defrost so, do not buy your Thanksgiving frozen turkey on Wednesday night.  I like to buy my frozen turkey the week end before thanksgiving and just place it in the refrigerator to defrost slowly.

Make sure you place it on a pan or dish because the plastic wrap will always leak out somehow.  Before you start preparing the bird for cooking, take it out of the fridge around 30 minutes before you start.  Do not put the turkey in the oven right after taking it out of the fridge.  This is one of the secret of making sure that you are going to have a juicy turkey.

When you are ready to start preparing your turkey for cooking, start pre-heating the oven at a high 475°F.

 Preparation

Make sure you remove the neck, liver and heart which are often placed in a small plastic bag inside the bird.  Then rinse the turkey thoroughly inside and out and place it on the turkey baker where it’s going to cook.  Then, dry up the excess water with a sheet of paper towel.

Ingredients for the preparation

• A half onion (preferably a yellow one)
• A branch of celery
• A couple of carrots
• A small bunch of parsley
• Fresh Thyme and rosemary (or dry if you can get fresh)
• Salt, paper and olive oil
• Cooking string

Cut the half onion in four, as well as the celery branch and the carrots.  Make sure your rinse all the preparation items thoroughly and inset them all inside the bird.  Keep just a bit of the thyme and parsley on the side to insert between the skin and the best toward the chest area.

Close the hole back with the skin and attach the two legs with a piece of string.  Then attach also the wings against the body by tying up a string around them.

Then, rub the whole bird with olive oil with a cooking brush, sparkle with salt and fresh grounded paper and place the bird on the rack with the back on top.  This will allow the meat of the breast to turn out more juicy and tasty.

Cooking

Cook the turkey at a high 475°F for 20 minutes and then at a low 250°F for 3 ½ to 4 hours depending on the weight of your turkey.

To measure the time of cooking you need to know the weight of your turkey calculate about 20 per pound.  For example, an 18 pound turkey should take around 3 ½ hours to cook.

The best way to make sure though, is by testing the meat temperature by plunging the thermometer in the deepest parts and make sure you reach around 170°F or cut the meat and check if there is no trace of pink color.

When done, remove the turkey from the oven and let it sit for 20 minutes before serving.  Use some of the juice that dripped to the bottom of the pan to make your gravy and to season some of the side dishes such as your corn and stuffing.

With my turkey, I like to cook on the side, corn, lama beans and sweet peas with baby carrots and of course some stuffing.

If you enjoyed this recipe or if you want to add your own tips, make sure you express yourself below.

Pérouges is a medieval village leaning against the plateau of the Dombes, Pérouges is located on top of a hill overlooking the vast plain of the department of Ain.  This beautiful ancient French village is located about 25 miles north east of Lyon.

This middle age village has been preserved as it was over 4 centuries ago and is now a delightful sight for tourists to explore and enjoy while they go back in history walking the narrow, uneven, and pebbled streets of the village.

Pérouges has been nominated one of the most beautiful villages of the world and it’s definitely one of the oldest preserved one with no new construction of modern times what so ever.

Entering The Old Village Of Pérouges.

You can enter the old village only through two doors which are called “Porte d’en Bas” (bottom door) and “Porte d’en Haut”  (upper door) which both access to the “Rue des Rondes” a street with modest little homes built of stones and pebbles and against one another with no foundation.

As you walk along the narrow streets where most cars of today would not go through you will find La Place de la Halle (Halle Plaza) where a magnificent tree call the Tree of Liberty was planted in 1800 and still standing.  For this reason this plaza is also called La “La Place du Tilleul” (the linden tree plaza) which is one of the best preserved areas of the village with the old tree a live testimony of an ancient village still standing.

Another reminder of the ancient history of Pérouges is the low door entrances inside the houses which is a reminder to us that people where shorter back then.  Many door entrances are no taller than 5 feet.

As you go along you will also come across the church-fortress with its central nave keystone of arms of Savoie.

Famous Pérouges

The unique look of Pérouges has attracted many filmmakers and a few movies have been shot there.  The Three Musketeers was one of the several movies that have used Pérouge as a setting for their story.

Pérouges  has also received pregistous guests such as French artists and writers like Saint-Exupery, Academie Francaise member, René Clerc and more recently even American ex-president Bill Clinton

History of Pérouge

It is believed that Pérouges was founded by a Gallic colony returning from Perugia in Italy thus the French name “Pérouges” The Romans built a tower marking up the valley road used by its signal to the defense of Lugdunum.

In 1909 Pérouges was threaten by demolition and saved by Anthelme Thibaut who started a campaign against the demolition and saved the middle age village.

In 1911 a consolidation and restoration of Pérouges was ordered started by French president Edouard Herriot in order to preserve the village and has continued until today.

Wineries and Bakery

You will find few businesses in Pérouges as well as  two winery and a bakery in Pérouges.  Being located near the region of Beaujolais the wine that you can find in Pérouge will remind you a Beaujolais nouveau.

The bread and pastry sold in Pérouge bakery (boulangerie) is cooked the all fasion way with with wood fire.

If you are planning in going to France, in the region Lyonnaise, make sure you come by this beautiful antique village called Pérouges.

Visit Pérouges

Today, this article is going to talk more about the eating habits and manners of the French people, and how it differs from the eating habits and manners of the American people.

The three mains meals, and should I say only meals in France are pretty much like anywhere else, breakfast, lunch and dinner.  So far nothing worth alarming anyone, right?

The big difference, however, is more in the content and the importance of each meal which ultimately affects the overall weight and health of the French population (in a positive way).  Yes, that’s how important it is.

So, let’s take a look at each meal one by one and see how the French table manner-eating habits differ from the American one.

 French breakfast vs. American breakfast

To start off, the French breakfast is not a big meal at all.  While the American breakfast includes a complete meal with eggs, sausage, home fries, bacon and so on; the typical French breakfast includes only coffee or tea and sometimes orange jus with a couple of croissants, brioches or toasted slices of bread with butter, jam or honey.  This is pretty much it for the typical French breakfast.

Probably one of the main reasons why the French breakfast is much lighter than the American breakfast is because of the differences between the lunch habits of the two.

French Lunch vs. American Lunch

On the other hand, the French lunch is much more substantial than the American lunch.  Lunch is the biggest and most important meal in France and the meal where the largest amount of food is consummated, thus, the need for a smaller breakfast and smaller dinner.

While many people in America eat a simple sandwich or a small frozen meal or in some cases just skip this important mid-day meal all together, the French people enjoy a full meal at lunch, usually eaten anywhere between 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM.

A regular lunch usually includes an appetizer (entrée) a main course (plat de résistance) ending with cheese and/or dessert.  The meal will in most cases be accompanied by wine or water or both.

In some more rare cases beer may be preferred.  French people usually do not drink sodas or juices during a meal.  Soda is not popular in France.  Coffee is often served at the end of the meal, with or after dessert.

The everyday appetizer may include lettuce, mimosa eggs, quiche, paté and many others.  The main course will most likely include a vegetable and meat match up, a choice of five to six different cheeses to choose from and some kind of desert anywhere from a simple yogurt to some more elaborate crème brulée, flan or cake.

French dinner vs. American dinner

While the French like to eat copious lunches that will fuel their body through the rest of the day, their dinner is much lighter.  This is a big difference between the French and the American table manners and habits.  While Americans eat small lunches and therefore concentrate on the dinner with a full and much larger meal, the French dinner is lighter and for some people very light indeed.

The common every day dinner will usually not include any appetizer or desert and the main course will also be much lighter.  It could include a main course of with simple artichoke vinaigrette, a croque-monsieur, omelette, a slice of pizza, often home-made, and a salad.  A light dinner may or may not be followed by cheese with bread and/or fruits or light desert.

The most popular dinner time for French dinner is usually between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM.

Snack anyone?

Well, snacks are not very popular in France and most adult people go by with their three regular meals with no snacks.  Snacks are more popular among children on school days with a small snack around 10:00 AM during class recess and 4:00 PM in the afternoon.

In some cases, afternoon snacks for adults would be an occasional expresso café or hot chocolate which may be enjoyed with a “jambon beurre” sandwich (the third of a baguette with two sliced of cooked ham with or without spread butter on the bread).

 To sum it up!

The French tend to eat more at lunch and less at dinner.  They do not drink a lot of sweet drinks and basically no soda at all.  They prefer wine or just water either plain or sparkling.  French people do prefer homemade food as opposed to processed food and whole meals as opposed to sandwiches.  Those are most likely the main reasons why the French population is learner than the American population in general

It certainly can be said that there are numerous differences between American and French table manners and etiquette.  Most of those differences are based on the overall cultures of both countries.  While there are many other differences that could be noticed between both cultures let’s discuss today one of the most impressive ones, table manners and etiquette.

This article will cover the main table manner and etiquette differences while a future article will cover more the food and eating habits aspect.  The reason why I know them so well is because I am French, but I also live in the United States for many years.  So, here we go, let’s see what are some of the table manners and etiquette that you need to know and to have if you are going to France, especially if you are going to be at some French host tables during your stay.

French proper table manners and etiquette

The very first table etiquette difference that jumped to my eyes when I first came to the U.S was a very common and specific one – while American table etiquette require that the hand not used for eating be placed on the laps, French table manners and etiquette requires that both hands be on the table.  Hands resting on the table shouldn’t come up to more than half the forearm (no elbows should rest on the dinner table at any time) However, both hands should rest on the table at all time.  No hands under the table at French tables.

Another French table manner is when cutting a piece of meat in your plate.  The meat should be cut as you eat; you shouldn’t cut your whole steak at once.  While cutting the fork should be in your left hand facing down and the knife in your right hand if you are right handed, and the other way around if you are left handed.  In other words, if you are right handed you should be eating your meat holding your fork with your left hand while still holding the knife with your right hand.

If you are not eating, but not finish just yet, your silverware should never be placed on the table but on each side of your plate with only the handles touching the table and the fork facing down.  When you are finished with your meal, both fork and knife should be placed in the center of the plate side by side.

Does French table manners and etiquette allows you to eat with your finger?

Only French fries (which are actually from Belgium and are NOT called French fries in France) and asparagus can be eaten with your fingers, as well as bread of course.

Your bread slice should be put directly on the table cloth, not in your plate.  Cleaning up left over sauce in your plate with a piece of bread using your hands is something French people love to do at home, but which shouldn’t be done when you are a guest eating in someone else s’ house.  It is allowed to use a piece of bread to cleanup your plate, but when using a fork to hold the piece of bread. This is kind of rather impractical, but who said that French table manners always were?

Would you like more?

When you would like to be served more wine, do not ask for it, but just empty your glass.  On the other hand, when you do not want to be served anymore wine, just live a little bit of wine in your glass.

French table manners and etiquette in France require that when you are asked if you want more either food or drink you answer no the first time – the host will always ask you if you want more at least one more time which you should then say yes, if you do.  Because of this “tradition of French politeness” to say no the first time you are asked, the host may ask even more than once.

This means that sometimes, if you really don’t want more you will have to say no two to three times as the host may seems like insisting strongly to serve you more food or drink.  As you know, this is not common in America, as you would say either yes, or no the first time and that’s it.  What can I say? I didn’t make that rule!

French table manners and etiquette when it comes to meal courses

Most French courses during a meal come one by one.  French people do NOT fill their plate with 4 or 5 different types of foods like Americans love to do.  Only the meat may be served with some green vegetables and eat at the same time. Salty food is NEVER mixed with sweet food and cheese is NEVER mixed with other foods, but bread.  Bread is eaten with pretty much everything except for fruits and desserts.  Dessert ALWAYS comes last – no exception.

This discussion will lead us to our next topic, which is French food habits and compare them with that of American food habits.  In the meantime I hope you enjoyed your lesson of French table manners and etiquette.

This article by Sylviane Nuccio

This year, even if the heat wave does reach the heights of 2003 with a catastrophic 15,000 death toll among which most victims were elderly people, the country is much better prepared.  Each “Département” is ready and health facilities are prepared for any type of emergency due to the heat wave.  Hospitals have more bed available and staff is ready to take action.

There are still a lot of habitations and buildings which are not equipped with air conditioning in France and most people who don’t understand why, should know a little bit of the history of the climate in France.

The summers in France in general used to be very hot back in the 1930’s to 1950’s.  Then for some reasons, summers started cooling off gradually, and by the late 1970’s it was evident that summers in France had cooled down considerably, and people would more often complain about having not enough of hot summer than the other way around.  So, therefore, very little need to equip houses and building with air conditioning systems when it became available.  This is why there are still quite of few places where you won’t find air conditioning in France and when heat waves hit the country such as this year and back in 2003, the problem can become dramatic.

Nowadays, summers in France tend to be reasonable and also the heat tends to be dry.

How the largest cites are coping

Lyon, second largest city of France and its metropolitan which includes the whole Rhône department is the third emergency service for high alert in the country as the heat wave is hitting hard in the southern part of the country.  Every hospital and clinic of the city is ready for emergency calls.

The metro in Paris is now a roasting place and makes travelers pretty much uncomfortable.  Maybe this is the time to take your bike out and at least enjoy the air flapping on your cheeks as you are taking speed.  Needless to say that the already numerous motor-bikes in Paris are the best way to travel through the city with this 2011 heat wave.

Of course the one of the best place to be with this heat wave hitting France might be the French Riviera “La Cote D’azur” where you can at least take a deep into the Mediterranean see.

This article by Sylviane Nuccio

The reason why it’s much easier to travel to Paris, or anywhere in the world nowadays, is because you have an incredible access to everything online. That’s right, at the click of your mouse you can find and purchase everything you need for your trip form travel guides, travel packages, best plan tickets, hotels and more. This blog actually offers all of them, just about all the time.

Few facts about Paris

Paris, the capital of France which includes over 2,000,000 inhabitants in the city alone is also the capital of the world that sees the most tourists every year.  Yes, the capital of Paris finds room for the 70 million tourists who come to the city of lights every year.  Needless to say that Parisians are used to tourists.

If we include Paris surrounding urban regions which extend the boundaries of the city, 10 million people live in Paris today.

the area of La Defense is now where the buildings of the wealthy stand.  This Paris district has become a multi-purpose commerce district where  you can find very high profile French businesses such as the famous OECD and the UNESCO.

Today, it is a fact that Paris is taking the lead in business, cultural and politics alike. The city is influenced by the latest fashions, arts, gastronomy and even modernity.

As most places in France, cooking is popular in Paris as well.  There you will find high quality restaurants with fine delicious food with everything from appetizers followed by a delicious entree, followed by the “plateau de fromage” and true French deserts like there are none in the US.

Paris is also packed with the most interesting museum such as the largest of all, the Louvre. Great night life like you can find in “Pigalle”. And of course the most  most popular monument in Paris, the Eiffel Tower.

Paris metro (subway) will take you everywhere you need in all the corners of the city and even beyond.

If you chose to plan a trip to Paris this summer, you will not be disappointed, you will enjoy one if not THE most beautiful city on the planet with an incredible range of history, facts and historic sites, as well outdoor “cafe terraces” where you can relax while enjoying your favorite drink en just enjoy life like French know how to do like no one else.