JOIN ME AT THE PARIS CAFE: Well, not physically. But I invite you to pour yourself a cup of coffee, sit back, relax for a few minutes and join us at our favorite virtual place, Paris Cafe Newsletter.

A LITTLE BIRD SAYS: Un petit oiseau told me that you should stay tuned for an announcement about a series of books that are being written (intriguing) about life in a certain exciting city (Paris), chronicling certain events that may or may not have occured (hmmm), featuring memorable people who may or may not exist (double hmmm). But one thing is certain, early editing/test groups have reported that these quick-read, guilty pleasure novelettes promise to be fresh, sizzling, cheeky, naughty, inspiring and funny…stay tuned…

INTRODUCING: The new, improved Nuit Blanche Tours blog/website…visit us here! All articles and newsletters have been archived, there is a search function and a photo gallery is in the works. You will be added to the Paris Cafe Newsletter list and automatically be alerted by email of newsletters as they are posted to the site, and given a URL to view the newsletter.

TOURS UPDATE: We were in Paris. We shopped, we ate, we talked, we drank, we stared in awe. We walked until we dropped, we lost weight instead of gaining. We were chic and we were style critiqued by tour gal pals and store clerks. We laughed, we cried, we laughed until we cried. We drank in the middle of the afternoon, we flirted and we sometimes went to bed very late. We continually searched for toilet flushers, light switches and plug-ins. Our French was praised, mocked or gently corrected. We were bewildered by some things and surprised and delighted by others. We were enchanted by the mostly generous, kind and funny Parisians. We all came away with something different, special, enlightening or empowering. We made new friends. We would do it again.

KILLING ME SOFTLY…WITH OVER-AIR-CONDITIONING: So, I was back in Canada for the summer. How lucky can a girl be to have the best of two great worlds? And while my Parisian pals were sweltering in the untreated French heat waves this summer, I was C-H-I-L-L-Y like so many penguins in the Arctic. Yes, on and off it was warm to downright hot in Canada this summer, but must we blast out such a continuous stream of polar air in every store, car, office building, restaurant, ferry and home? And even when it isn’t hot outside? Meat could be hung and ski jackets worn. Not to mention the obvious energy over-usage. I’m reminded how lucky we are to have air-conditioning in North America, as we are lucky to have every other convenience and luxury that we take for granted. I’d just forgetten about these extreme cooling tactics! And although Paris apparently initiated extra measures this summer to avoid repeating the heat wave induced tragedy of 2003 when thousands of people died due to lack of air-conditioning, it’s too bad that we couldn’t send over some of our icy waves to help out with the cause. Okay, I’m going to chill out now…

HOW I KNOW I WAS IN VANCOUVER…. …BBQ’s instead of salons and soirees …Driving instead of walking …Pacific Ocean instead of the Seine …Cleverly named cocktails instead of kir royale …Real beaches and sand instead of the faux resort ‘Paris Plage’ …Extreme political correctness instead of saying what you’re really thinking …Fashion, footwear and accessories by Mountain Equipment Co-op instead of Le Bon Marche …REAL ESTATE, REAL ESTATE, REAL ESTATE

HOW I KNOW I WAS IN THE EAST KOOTENAYS…. …WalMart, not Galeries Lafayette …Mosquito repellent, not parfum …Casinos, not museums …Kokanee beer, not wine …Roadside trucker stops, not cafes …Pick-up trucks, not scooters …Wild animals, not wild tourists

HOW I KNOW I WAS ON VANCOUVER ISLAND…. …Folk festivals, not church concerts …Marijuana grow-ops, not vineyards …Organic teas, not cafe for me …Save everything demonstrations, not city-wide general strikes …Strip malls, not ancient Passages …Pot, not hash …BC Ferries, not the Metro.