More Independence Days to Celebrate

by Jamie Rhein on

August is another Independence Day bonanza. The shifts of power didn’t happen all at once, but 1960 was a big year. If you’re in any of these countries expect a holiday. Maybe there will be fireworks or a parade or a speech or two.

  • August 1 – Benin gained independence from France
  • August 3– Niger gained its independence from France
  • August 5 –Burkina Faso also gained independence from France.
  • August 11–Guess which country Chad gained independence from? That’s right, France.
  • August 13–Central African Republic also gained independence from–you guessed it–France.
  • August 14- Pakistan from the U.K. in 1947.
  • August 15- India from the U.K. in 1947.
  • August 17- Gabon. Can you guess the country and year? If you said France and 1960, ***ding ding ding ! [Did you hear the you win bells?]
  • August 19- Afganistan from the U.K. in 1919. Wow, that’s early.
  • August 24- Ukraine in 1991.
  • August 25- Uruguay from Brazil in 1825.
  • August 27- Moldova from U.S.S.R. in 1991
  • August 31- Kyrgystan from the U.S.S.R in 1991 and Trinidad and Tobago from the U.K. in 1962.

*The information is from the International Calendar published by the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Madison, Wisconsin. They put this calendar together every year and other Peace Corps groups sell it as a fundraiser.

Up the Seine Without a Paddle: Pros and Cons of Houseboating in Paris

by Martha Edwards on

Last year, weary from hostels and trains, I met my mother in Paris. Though we’re not ideal travel partners, she was footing the bill so I couldn’t refuse a stay aboard a houseboat on the Seine River that she had rented. It was impeccable–the summer home of a wealthy businessman and his gorgeous girlfriend–and though boats can be cramped and uncomfortable, this one was amazingly luxurious.

Here’s what’s great about staying on the Seine: Though the boat was permanently moored, the location couldn’t have been better — we were right across from the Tuillerie Gardens. The boat itself was amazing. And we didn’t have to spend too much money on restaurants, since we had our own kitchen. Plus? The look on peoples faces on the tour boats as they motored by us–enjoying wine and good food on the top deck–was pretty priceless.

Here’s what’s not so great about staying on the Seine: Said tour boats cruise the river all freaking night, using flood lights to illuminate the city and loudspeakers to explain what attractions are passing by. And the smell on the river was … um … ripe at times. The were also a group of people who actually lived under the stairwell near the boat, not to mention people fishing in the river constantly (and, if you’ve seen the Seine, you’ll know it is not a fishing river.) We feared the fishers were actually nearby restaurant owners, hence another reason to enjoy having a kitchen.

All in all, it’s a nice stay if you can get it. Though at 2000 EUR for a week, I’d be hostelling it if it wasn’t for mum.

Discover Your Inner Frenchman

by Iva Skoch on

Let’s go though this exercise again: An average worker in France gets 36 days of vacation. An average American gets 14 and uses only 11, Expedia.com 2007 Vacation Deprivation Survey shows. Why?

A topic for another Michael Moore movie?

A non-profit organization called Take Back Your Time, run by Cornell researchers, has been proposing a bill to Congress that would require companies to give employees at least 3 weeks of paid time off. If that sounds good to you, you can go to timeday.org and sign a petition.

Joie de vivre!

Where to Savor Wine

by Jamie Rhein on

A friend just sent me a link to A Fine Living Hub. I think it’s where people network about various topics. One topic forum that caught my attention was, “If you could drink a glass of wine anywhere…” Various people have offered up their favorite wine drinking spots. I’ve included their wine recommendations if they offered one.

Lessons in Futility: Eradicating Parisian Rudeness

by Neil Woodburn on

Parisians are notorious for being rude to tourists and are consistently ranked some of the rudest people in the world according to various surveys.

Filed under the category of “too little too late,” Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë has launched a promotional campaign trying to eek some friendliness out of his fellow citizens. The first ever Paris Tourist Day on July 9th, for example, featured a push to get taxi drivers to smile more and even speak some English. In addition, the city has printed up brochures titled “Charter for the Parisian and Visitor.”

The hilarious thing about this brochure is that it is not only directs Parisians how to act accordingly, but it is also tells tourists how to do so as well. I’m assuming that this is the result of some Parisian rationalizing that he wouldn’t be as rude if only tourists were more civil and polite themselves.

So, for what it’s worth, here is the Charter in its entirety. Let’s see if both sides live up to the promise.

Charter for the Parisian and visitor

As an ambassador of my country, I will share my culture

Commitments of the Parisian
– I will take the time to give information to visitors. I will make use
of my foreign language skills to reply to them in their language.
– I will recommend to visitors things I appreciate about Paris.
– I am proud of my city, the number one tourist destination in the world.

Commitments of the visitor
– I will experience the Parisian lifestyle.
– I will take advantage of my stay to try French products.
– I will respect the city and use public transport.