C'est la Rentree! School is in!

Bonjour tout le monde!
It is that time of year again, both in the US and France.  As usual, there are those who want to change the status quo, to make things better.  Here in the US, there are experts who theorize that adolescents need to sleep longer, so they want to start school later.  A great idea, but the logistics sound very formidable.  Start school later, classes end later, and then there are sports?  Or does one do away with sports?  Practice less? Start games later?
In France, schools are changing also.  Historically, French school children went to school full time on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday.  Then they went to classes half day on Wednesdays and also on Saturdays.  After classes on Wednesday, French school kids often went to the museums, which were free. As a student in Paris, I thought free museums were awesome.  Until a couple of times at a museum with lots of school kids had me running for the exits!  Being an art history student, I had a card that allowed me to visit museums at any time; that is what I did.  However, that did not include two hours at the Louvre every other Thursday.
Several years back, the Minister of Education declared an end to classes on Saturdays.  There was an outcry from parents and teachers alike.  What are we going to do with our Saturdays?  However, the prospect of being able to have entire weekends away at the family villa sort of overcame most arguments.
Now, the Minister of Education is doing away with free Wednesday afternoons, something that was in place since 1882. The school week will have a full day of classes from Monday to Friday.  The change seems to be just for the little ones, elementary school kids.  They will have their classes spread out over five days instead of four and a half days, and will have extra curricular activities until the regular end of the school day.
Since France has a centralized almost everything, that goes for school holiday schedules, too.  There are three zones throughout continental France, with separate schedules and some different holidays for the overseas departements. Check out the schedules for yourself: http://about-france.com/school-holidays.htm

No, not a school, it's Napoleon 1er's tomb.  He organized the first educational system

To read the article about the new five-day week schedule: http://www.thelocal.fr/20140901/france-school-reform-schedule-change

The Best ice cream in Paris

Bonjour tout le monde!
Earlier this week, I read that Raymond Berthillon died at the age of 90.  He was the founder of Berthillon's, home of the best ice cream in Paris.
Many Paris fans know all about Berthillon's, located on the Ile Saint-Louis.  The ice cream shop has been in the same place for 60 years, just at the end of the bridge that links the Ile de la Cite and Ile Saint Louis at the back of Notre Dame.  Normally, the shop is open continually from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, however if you are gong to be in the capital during the month of August, you are out of luck.  That is because the famous ice cream spot is closed from 27July to 3 September.
Every time we go to Paris, a visit to Berthillon's is on the must do list.  In 2012, Michael and I were in the city with my last Prep student travel group.  It was a free day, the kids had given me their itineraries so the adults had the day to themselves.  Michael's cousin Tommy and his now wife Wanda were also with us, so after cruising by Notre Dame, we walked across the bridge to Berthillon's.  Sometime during the morning, I inherited one of my students, so our group of five found ourselves standing in front of the shop trying to decide which flavors (parfums in French).
Berthillon's renown goes far and wide.  If you look at the Trip Advisor, it is the #4 top attraction on their Paris list, and for good reason.  The ice cream is delicious.  There are over 70 different ice cream flavors, in addition to the sorbets.  My favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla, but there are contenders - amaretto and grand marnier come in second!  Wanda loves ice cream, so that day in Paris, we spent almost 45 minutes at the shop, because the minute that she finished one flavor, she was back in line to try another.  I can't tell you how many different tastes we tried that day, except to tell you that they were all really good.
If you have been to Paris, but not to Berthillon's, then you have not experienced all there is.  If you have been there, what is your favorite flavor?  Rum raisin?  Lavender?  Let the commentary begin!

And, just to let you know all about the place - http://www.berthillon.fr/

Unfortunately, every time I go to Berthillon's, I spend the time eating ice cream., so here are some photos from other fans...

La Grande Arche - 25 years later

Bonjour tout le monde!
I was cruising the net, and found an article on the 25th anniversary of La Grande Arche, or the Grand Arch of La Defense.  I have written about it before, because it "closed" the axis of history that starts at the other end with the Louvre, goes through the Tuilerie Gardens and the Place de la Concorde, follows the Champs Elysees, and crosses the Arc de Triomphe.  The Arche de la Defense was opened in 1989 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution.  The big "picture frame" was a draw, and I took several groups of students to see the Arche.  We climbed the steps, admired the views of Paris in the distance; Michael and I even went up the elevator to the observation deck that offered a fabulous view of Paris and that axis of history.
Alas, the Arche hasn't aged well.  Marble tiles have fallen off one side, the elevator that sped tourists to the roof top observation area has fallen into disrepair - the observation deck has been closed since 2010 - and much of the interior office space goes unused.
It is still worth visiting the area, and seeing just how big the Grand Arche is.  A pilot has flown through it, and the interior space is runored to be big enough to contain Notre Dame.  There is a cool mall right there, and of course, there is the big thumb.  Why is it there?  I am sure that the artist would say, "Why not"?
It is sad to think about a building that started out with such promise and fanfare, but hopefully in the near future, there will be a happy ending to this story.
http://www.thelocal.fr/20140805/paris-the-not-so-grande-arche

The Arche up close

thumbs up!

The view from the now closed observation deck

Looking along the axis of history

The view from the other side of the Arche

Summer in the City of Lights

Bonjour tout le monde!
It's summertime, and what are Parisians to do?  How about going to the beach without leaving the city? From July 19 to August 17, the quais that run along the Seine are transformed into one long beach, complete with sand, deckchairs, ice cream vendors, and even concerts!
The beaches can be found in three areas: Louvre/Pont de Sully, Port de la Gare and Bassin de la Villette.  Each area has a different focus, so everyone can find something to do.
From the Louvre to the Pont de  Sully - about three kilometres - there are open air attractions such as tai-chi, boules, and roller blading.  Not in the mood for exercise? Deckchairs are out for your relaxation.  This year, the plages are on two sites - the walkway George Pompidou plus the terraces and open space in front of City Hall, and the Bassin de la Villette.
At the Bassin de la Villette, the newest addition to the Paris Plages there is a water sports complex with row boats, pedal boats and kayaks.  When finished with the physical exertion, beachgoers can get something to eat at quai side restaurants, or perhaps join in a game of boules.
So, imagine packing up friends and family with beach towels, swimsuits, maybe some water gear for kayaking, and then taking the metro to the beach!  Activities start at 9:00 am, and go until midnight.  
Here is a link to the page that provides all sorts of information on the beaches of Paris. Perhaps it is enough to make you hop on a plane to check it out?  Or, maybe you want to start planning your beach adventure along the Seine in 2015!

http://quefaire.paris.fr/parisplages

An amazing opportunity

Bonjour tout le monde!
I used to travel with students to Europe. I had a blast.  People used to tell me that it seemed like so much work, but not really.  I just thought of my group as one giant family.  Depending on the size, we could be like the Duggar family (more than 19), or just a mom, dad and 7 kids - an intimate group. It was a pain sometimes, usually when it was necessary to get everyone together, or when it was time to go to bed. However, I used to wonder who got more out of the experience, them or me.  I think that I got to know these kids better and on a different level.  Did they like to eat certain things, how adventurous were they, were they willing to go with the flow without question?  I guess that "getting my bluff in early" with my one rule - Don't embarrass me - worked for the most part, and I really only had one trip that came close to disastrous.
Now I travel with adults, which is the same and different at the same time.  I don't have to answer the same question more than twice, and we usually get to meeting points on time.  Then again, I don't have to keep up with them, since, well, they are adults!  And they get my jokes. We have more time to explore, and sometimes the wine comes with dinner!
I am taking a group of adults to the South of France and Paris this September.  Since I have been talking about this for awhile, you have heard all about it, but didn't act in time to assure your spot on the tour.  Well, sometimes you are given a second chance because just yesterday, TWO spots have opened for the September 18 tour!  Come with me, and an experienced tour director for 10 days of beautiful and historic sites, great food, and fun companions.  This opportunity is for you, and you don't even have to live in the Los Angeles area to take advantage.
Don't wait - you know that you wanted to come before, so let's go!  Call Go Ahead Tours, 800-438-7672 and ask for Britney Everett today!

En route on the Airbus 380

Tuilerie Gardens, Paris

The Eiffel Tower from the best kept spot in Paris (but I can show you)

The Promenade des Anglais in Nice

A beautiful town in southern France

Great wine!

Delicious meals (sooooooooo good)

"Weird Al" Yankovic - Word Crimes - This is great from a grammar point of view!

A blog post from LinkedIn

Bonjour tout le monde!
I guess that I have been a member of LinkedIn long enough to become a contributor.  I can never pass up an invitation like that, so I wrote about myself.  Pourquoi pas?
Here it is:
https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140707231837-29999217-life-after-the-classroom?published=t

Let me know what you think!