;)
Tuesday
09Mar2010
first signs of Spring?
Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 6:00AM Despite our subzero overnight temperatures, it looks like Spring is starting to emerge.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 6:00AM Friday
05Mar2010
Travel Tips: Where to buy kitchen gear in Paris
Friday, March 5, 2010 at 11:42AM The other day I found myself in the pedestrian Montorgueil district of Paris. It's the area directly behind the Saint Eustache church on the north side of Les Halles. The main thoroughfare is Rue Monmartre. As I strolled along it I discovered that it's home to many of the city's major culinary supply stores.
I mst to confess to having a weakness for kitchen stores. You never know when you'll need some strange pan, odd-shaped spatula or industrial-grade utensil.
Rue MonmartreOn it you'll find La Bovina, A. Simon and Mora. Around the corner is Detou, which stocks an amazing collection of baking supplies and E. Dehellerin, which is perhaps the most famous of them all. Here's a map to help you find your way.
View Paris cooking stores in a larger map
Sunday
28Feb2010
Winter's final fury?
Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 12:29PM This morning a large swath of France was battered by a strong wind storm. It took its toll on the grounds, but happily it left the house untouched.
The driveway is blocked by the remains of one of the linden trees. The boys and I will be out this afternoon with the tractor in an attempt to move it aside. They've suggested that by leaving it there they could skip school tomorrow.
The smaller of the two walnut trees at the back of the house couldn't withstand the gusts.
Sunday
21Feb2010
Travel Tips: Speed cameras to become sneakier
Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 6:00AM 
The French government has just announced that it is going to make speed traps trickier to foil. Supposedly it's to further reduce the number of fatal accidents. But everyone is mumbling that it's because the government needs more money.
I've talking in the past about how to spot a French speed camera. They've always been easy to anticipate, thanks to the big sign politely located on the side of the road 400 meters ahead of the camera.
Motorists have got the hang of where they are (Hint: if the brake lights of the cars in front of you all suddenly light up, then chances are there's a radar ahead) . Sat-navs and other devices alert them to upcoming speed camera locations.
So here's what the prime minister announced that the government was going to do:
- 800 new speed cameras will be installed between now and 2012. Instead of the big warning sign upstream, a small sign indicating a speed trap zone (contrôles de radar fréquents) will be posted 1-2 km before the zone. And there could be more than one camera in the zone.
- 100 "average speed" cameras will be installed starting in 2011. These cameras will check your average speed as you enter and leave "sensitive area" as the government calls them and calculate your average speed.
Both measures should spell the end to the slow down-speed up dance that everyone does today.
tagged Driving, France, Jonvilliers, Radar, Speed Cameras in Bed and Breakfast, Driving, Jonvilliers, Travel Tips
Driving, France, Jonvilliers, Radar, Speed Cameras in Bed and Breakfast, Driving, Jonvilliers, Travel Tips Wednesday
17Feb2010
Travel Tips: Using Google Maps with Street View
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 8:00AM Google Maps never ceases to amaze me. I just discovered, perhaps belatedly, that they've added Street View for our village. So now you can see what the entrance to our property looks like before you get here.
If you're having trouble viewing our gate on the following map, drag and drop the orange figure onto the intersection with the arrow pointing towards the street at 10 o'clock (our driveway). Spin your view around until you see an white gate between two bring gateposts and two large hedges.