Expat Life in the South of France

It’s just ended.  It may not be Rio (not enough scantily clad women) but it was terrific just the same. Here are some pictures.

I’m on a roll now!  Some time ago, we had an attempted break-in at about 4 am., however by the time my husband went into the garden armed with a hockey stick, the perp had fled leaving only his footprints and a mangled window frame behind. The police duly appeared, because the neighbours were also burgled, and we were told to report to the gendarmerie the next morning, which we did.

20 minutes later, the gendarme typing with 2 fingers managed to  finally get our name and address down. Now came the interesting part.

G to my husband: ”What is your mother’s maiden name?” 

Mike:  “Brooks.”

G:  “Her maiden name please.”

Mike, who decided to be difficult because he didn’t see the point of this question, deadpanned: “Brooks.”

G - taking both his hands of f the keyboard - to me: “Madame, would you please translate for your husband I need his mother’s maiden name.”

Me: “Brooks!” Then seeing his exasperation and not wanting to spend half the day arguing about my mother-in-law’s maiden name, I explained that his mother had the same name before marriage as after, at which he shook his head as if to say “I always knew the Brits were weird.”

The main question of course, and the one that never got asked, was what had my mother-in-law’s maiden name got to do with an attempted break-in at our home?  If any of you French residents has an answer, please let me know.

Much as I love living in France, the fonctionnaires really freak me out sometimes.  When we first arrived here, cartes de sejour were compulsory for all resident foreigners, even EU citizens. By the time they expired, 5 years later, they were no longer necessary for EU citizens. However, I found having one really useful for identity purposes and for passport free travel within Schengen. I duly presented myself at the Préfecture in Nice and very politely asked for one even though I knew it was no longer necessary. I couldn’t get past first base, so I gave up.  However, last week I discovered a French Government website which specifically states that permanent resident EU citizens can ask for one, even though it is not obligatory to have one, and that it would be provided.

Being a glutton for punishment I called the préfecture and referred the bureaucrat to the website and restated my demand for a CdeS. The reply was: “We have nothing to do with the government website, and we do not issue cartes de séjour EU citizens any more.”

Me: “But it is a government website, you work for the government don’t you?”

Bureaucrat: “No I work for the Nice Préfecture de Police, and regardless of what the government website says you will not get a CdeS here !”

Round one to the fonctionnaire! I’ll wait awhile before launching round 2 in this battle!

As promised - 5 tips on “doing” Paris without breaking the bank.

• Accommodaion: Instead of spending your hard earned cash on overpriced, postage stamp size hotel rooms, try the excellent value bed and breakfast accommodation from approximately 75€ for a double room. Bookings can be made through Alcoves & Agapes  . For a longer stay, consider renting an apartment. Studios start at about 350€ a week up to about 1,500€ a week for two-bedroom apartments. Paristay have a large selection in all sizes and areas.
• Getting around: Paris has probably the best underground system of any city that I know of. A single ticket costs 1.60€, but a carnet of 10 tickets is only 11.40€. The tickets can also be used on buses, RER the suburban express trains, as well as the two tram lines. One ticket allows for two hours of travel between two Métro stops regardless of the number of transfers. Go ride!
• Scenic Seine: The Batobus river shuttle leaves every 25 minutes from several stops along the river, including the Champs Elysées, the Louvre, Notre Dame, St. Germaine des Prés, the Musée d’Orsay and the Eiffel Tower. A trip down this, the most French of rivers, in the most French of cities, is magical, with monuments, museums and great architecture lining both banks. A one day pass available at all Batobus stops or tourist offices, is 12€ and you can either stay on for a round trip or get on and off to have a closer look at the sights. This is far better value than the exorbitantly priced one hour tourist rip-offs on the Bateaux Mouches or the Vedettes du Pont Neuf.
• Art Anyone?  If several museums are on your list of things to do, then the Paris Museum Pass is your best bet. Covering more than 60 venues in and around Paris, including the Château de Versailles, the Louvre, the Orsay and several others, it costs from 32€ for a 2 day pass.  Most national museums including the Louvre and the Rodin are free on the first Sunday of every month.
• Arias for All: 62 standing room tickets at 5€ are available for all shows at the Opéra Bastille approximately 90 minutes before the show.  

If you have any questions, just shoot me a comment and I’ll be happy to reply.

There you have it. Bon Séjour!