#1 Oh boulangerie, boulangerie!

Boulangerie is the French work for bakery. While sometimes it seems like there's one on every corner, the trick is finding the really good ones! Yes, I'll admit that my frequent visits to my local boulangerie is usually to satisfy a grumbling stomach, but it also presents many an opportunity to practise my French and learn new words. It's easy to spot the croissants, eclairs and baguettes, however before I moved to France I had no idea what was in a chouquette or a jesuite... and now I do! All in the name of research, of course! ;)

On a side note, the French government subsidises bread here which means it's relatively cheap to buy. (We have the French Revolution to thank for that!) Not bad if you're on a budget!

... Just a shame the pastries and cakes aren't subsidised too. Oh well...

12 Days of Christmas / 12 Joys of Paris...

In the spirit of the festive season I thought I would share with you some more highlights of the great city of Paris. One for each of the 'Twelve Days of Christmas'... I hope you enjoy what's to follow.

Hello, sailor!

In early December Paris plays host to perhaps the biggest nautical exhibition in the country. Hundreds of thousands of boating enthusiasts converge on Porte de Versailles in the south to catch up on the latest and greatest in all things boats, including motor and sail boats, small craft, technology and gadgets. This is big business in France, especially when you consider how much coastline the country has compared to the rest of Europe!

Having spent most of my life growing up in droughts in Australia, I don't really know that much about boats. But after checking out what was on offer I was highly impressed and imagined setting sail on the Mediterranean aboard one of these... well, after I've won the lotto!

Parking in Paris...

Oi, you with the dirty mind! No, not that kind of parking! I mean parking... the actual manoeuvring of a car into a designated space. Just like any big city, Paris has its fair share of cars. And, just like any big city, there aren't enough car parks to go 'round.

Living in Paris has meant I've once again had to get used to not having a car. It's not so bad and the metro is pretty darn zippy for getting from A to B. When I see cars parked in Parisian streets it often fills me with a huge sense of relief that I don't have to navigate reverse parallel parking and here's one of the reasons why:

Most of the time the cars only have a couple of inches between them. I have no idea how they ever get out! To those who can manage this feat, I tip my hat beret to you in admiration...

Seeing cars parked so close together reminds me of this classic scene from Friends. You can watch it here. Enjoy! :)

Moving house in the big city

Ok, so maybe I've been living under a rock when it comes to modern day equipment that is used to help people move houses, particularly in the city. Clearly I've never been someone who has lived in a tall building with many floors... judging from past experience I'm usually more of a ground level or first floor kinda gal.

Quite a few times I've turned a corner in Paris and bumped into removalists helping people shift houses. But these guys don't just lug big, heavy furniture and boxes in through the front door and try and navigate the too-small elevators or stairways of Parisian buildings... no, they use equipment like in the pictures below. I'm sure there's some special name for it, but in my words it's: a-sort-of-electric-ladder-that-acts-like-a-conveyor-belt-but-in-the-upwards-direction. Such a nifty idea for getting to those tops floors! Then all you need is a large open window 'et voila'... all your belongings are inside!

... Hopefully I'm not the only one who has never seen this before! I still marvel at the ingenuity behind it! ;)

Milo / Malo kids

I recently came across this billboard advertisement in the Paris metro. The brand Malo has apparently been making dairy products in France for over 60 years. The words in the ad roughly translate to: Lou, 10 years, boxing champion and fan of Malo...

It reminded me a lot of my childhood in Australia, particularly the ads for the beloved after-school drink Milo (a staple ingredient in most households) and, as they used to say, the energy drink of champions!

Bear necessities...

140 United Buddy Bears have popped up in Paris to promote peace, tolerance and understanding. The fibreglass bears stand 2m tall and each pays tribute to a country from around the world. You'll find them lined up on the Champ de Mars, next to the Eiffel Tower, during October and November and they've certainly proved a hit with tourists and locals alike.

The Buddy Bears have made their way around the globe since 2002. They visited Sydney in 2006 and I even had my photo taken with one in Berlin in 2010. Now that I know the back story it all makes perfect sense! While they might look like they're involved in a high stakes stick-up, these colourful bears welcome everyone with open arms and make you want to go in for a hug.