The Crystal Skull in Paris?

Known for great food, romantic atmosphere and a wealth of cultural activity, Paris can also be quite an adventurous place! The Quai Branly Museum is exposing the Crystal Skull for the opening of the latest episode of the Indiana Jones saga: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull!
From May the 20th to September the 14th, this museum, specialized in primitive art, is unveiling this ancient artefact, whose origins and conception’s are still surrounded by the greatest mysteries!
The Crystal Skull, a 5 inch high clear quartz ‘skull-pture’, was discovered in the 19th century on the land of the Aztec civilization and never stopped fascinating people ever since it first integrated the Trocadero Ethnology Museum in 1878, as a gift from the explorer Alphonse Pinart.
It was long considered a masterpiece representing Mictlantecuhtli, the ruler of Mictlan, the world of the dead. Its secrets are now yours to discover…

http://www.quaibranly.fr
http://www.rentals-paris.com

Great Paris Restaurant: L'Epi d'Or

Restaurant in Paris: L'Epi d'Or By Glenn Cooper - Rentals in Paris April 2008

Today it is getting harder and harder to find a good old fashioned Paris brasserie in the heart of the City of Light. True Francophiles who come to Paris looking to partake in those wonderful truly French dining pleasures have their work set out for them these days.

Luckily one of Paris' wonderful dining experiences is still there after 68 years and going strong at the Epi D'Or, conveniently located in the Palais Royal neighborhood around the corner from the Louvre and Les Halles.

L'Epi d'Or's owner since 1986, Pascaline is there every night catering to her clients, who range from many 'habitues' who eat here several times a week to a variety of newcomers whose smiles immediately illustrate their pleasure as the food makes it to their palates.

Pascaline offers a variety of meat and fish dishes including her famous Gigot de 7 heures (7 hour roasted lamb). There's also daily fresh fish, Fois Gras, an excellent selection of fresh vegetables and deserts that will make your mouth water.

One of her specialties is a Gratin de Fruits Rouges (a mixture of red berries, covered in a light cream and lightly baked which is my personal favorite. EVERY item on the menu is selected personally by her own hands as she does the food markets daily.

As she learned from her grandmother, a Cordon Bleu chef, who ran the business before her, "The key to offering clients a perfect meal is to master everything going into their plates."
These old fashioned values which make this establishment one of Paris' finest, are quickly noted by anybody having the pleasure to dine at l'Epi d'Or.

L'Epi d'Or, 25 rue Jean Jacques Rousseau 75001 Paris Telephone: +33 (0)1.42.36.38.12
Restaurant Review by Glenn Cooper of Rentals in Paris
http://www.rentals-paris.com/

Paris NON SMOKING capital

As of January 1st 2008, Paris finally moved into the new age of healthy well being. Smoking has finally been banned in all public places, despite the disgruntled cafe and restaurant owners who felt it would be the end of their businesses.

Thus far, the statistics have not demonstrated reduced patronage in either restaurants or cafes and things do seem a lot more 'lung friendly' these days.

Smokers are doing their thing in the streets in front of the buildings where they work or eat their meals, and for the moment, smokers and non smokers seem to be living peacefully in this beautiful city.

Just another great reason to plan to come back to Paris and to enjoy fully the wonderful restaurants and cafes in this new pleasant environment.

Glenn Cooper
www.rentals-paris.com

Glenn's favorite Paris cafes

Glenn’s Favorite Paris Cafes

1. La Rotonde: 10 Rue des Pyramides (corner of the Rue St. Honore).

2. Café Marly: 93 Rue de Rivoli (inside the Louvre courtyard).

3. Café Francais: 3 place de la Bastille (Rue Saint Antoine).

4. Café de la Mairie : 8 Place Saint Sulpice (Next to l’Eglise Saint Sulpice).

5. Café Combacau : 2 rue de Birague (Place des Vosges)

6. BHV department store 5th floor café (Opposite the Hotel de Ville) Inexpensive café with breathtaking views of the Hotel de Ville, the Seine River and Notre Dame.

7. Institut du Monde Arabe (top floor terrace café): 1 rue des Fosses St. Bernard (in the 5th district next to the Seine River). Excellent views and a fun place for an afternoon coffee.

8. Musee Jacquemart Andre (158 Boulevard Haussman, metro Courcelles). A beautiful private mansion converted into a museum with a large open garden café. Very chic and peaceful.

9. Tokyo Eat (13 avenue du President Wilson) next to Trocadero. A very trendy café where people go to see and be seen. Many French stars casually have their late night drinks in this very interesting place.

Glenn Cooper
Rentals in Paris
http://www.rentals-paris.com/

Chic Parisienne -- Rachel Kaplan

Rachel Kaplan, author of her outstanding guides about France including Best Buys to French Chic has just created her new website in order to share her knowledge and experience in the nicer aspects of French living with those of us who are new to Paris. She has wonderful insights and is in touch with so many aspects of good French living, that it's worth it just to have a look at her website (www.chicparisienne.com). You can also email her directly with any questions you have about what she and her team can do for you: rachel.kaplan@orange.fr

Glenn Cooper
www.rentals-paris.com

Paris visitors can use Bicycles as part of the Vel Lib program

Starting on July 15th, Paris has offered a new system of transportation to all people living in and visiting the City of Light. More than 10,000 bicycles will be available for rent from 750 self-service stations located conveniently throughout the the capital.

The Paris city authorities have created this program called « Vélib’ », this summer. The principle is simple: pick up a bike from one station and leave it at any other station at any moment during the day, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Vélib’ stations are very conveniently located, every 300 meters or so (about the same distance as metro stations are placed throughout Paris) and include a terminal and bike racks.

Annual, weekly, or hourly subscriptions enable everyone (i.e. Paris visitors) to have the opportunity to take advantage of this wonderful new travel option within Paris boundaries. The city has planned to expand the program and by year end, there will be over 1,500 stations and twice as many bicycles available.

Glenn Cooper
http://www.rentals-paris.com/

Your Great Days in Paris

Sally Peabody, a personal friend of ours here at Rentals in Paris (www.rentals-paris.com) can help you to make your next trip to Paris a very special one. Please feel free to contact her on our behalf for any questions you have about her services or her publications. Here is an overview about her company, Your Great Days in Paris.

Making Paris sojurns memorable for all the right reasons is our mission. Your Great Days in Paris works with travelers to get the most from their visits to this richly textured city, be it their first or fifteenth trip. If you appreciate small-group escorted travel, check out our Paris Culinary Treasures Tours, Tea.. Chocolate.. Paris, or Burgundy Culinary Treasures. Our tours have been highlighted in leading print and online media including The Boston Globe, The SanDiego Union Tribune, International Travel News, Boston Magazine, and on BonjourParis.com.

To further facilitate independent travelers’ Paris explorations, Sally has written Take Paris Personally, Your Guide to Discovering Quintessential Paris, a 116 page e-guide packed with useful information and itineraries. Take Paris Personally is downloadable from http://www.yourgreatdaysinparis.com in its second edition. She has also written a guide to Paris Tea Salons and Boutiques called Tour de Thé, Taking Tea All Over Paris (and is seeking a publisher for this much-anticipated book). Sally writes regularly about Paris for various print and online media.

Sally can be reached at (001) 781 391 6183 or via email at s.peabody@verizon.net, or sally@yourgreatdaysinparis.com
Your Great Days in Paris is located at 5 Chestnut Street, Medford, Massachusetts, USA, 02155.