Photo: Anthony Atkielski,www.atkielski.com; Animation: www.tuasonracing.com
HOW I KNOW I AM IN PARIS. Because I was reminded about how the French know better than anyone that sex sells…big time. Recently I went to the cinema with an American friend who was visiting from Hong Kong, where she now lives. We decided to take in the new Woody Allen film Cassandra’s Dream (my friend’s disappointed review of the movie, "a waste of two perfectly good hunks.") More interesting than the movie though were the pre-movie advertisements and shorts that go on and on and on in France. Normally quite annoying in North America, the shorts in France in regular theatres are extremely provocative, and as we discovered, downright pornographic. So a half an hour or more goes by before you know it!
Even I, who has been immersed in ’sexual innuendo city,’ was shocked at the Orangina full-length commercial that rendered us wide-eyed. The campaign started in the fall with suggestive metro station posters. My personal favorites were bad-bear-boy with a strategically placed leaf, and the lingerie-clad courgette and cactus-girls, all sitting on melting ice cubes. What is this over-the-top, suggestive campaign advertising exactly? Orangina, the carbonated soft drink made from oranges and tangerines.
The brilliant animated short movie clip features sexy, anatomically correct/animated fruits, vegetables and animals cavorting in Moulin Rouge/Caligula ways in a forest, that would surely be deemed X-Rated in North America. The crème de la crème: deer-girl arching backward in a chair under an Orangina waterfall, and zebra-girls riding Orangina bottles that spray juice out in big bursts. And don’t miss what Ms Octopus does with her tentacles! Check out the clip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHA9Ig7HOGA. Their website is fun too, http://orangina.fr/. Click on the fridge to view all the ad posters. Read interesting background about Orangina’s outrageous campaigns at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orangina. Well, I have to admit, the campaign works for me…I’ve never really been a big Orangina fan, yet find myself ordering it more often…
RECOMMENDED BOOKS ABOUT FRANCE. (excerpted from Useful Links in Practical Paris, Everything You Need to Know About Paris But Didn’t Know to Ask, www.InsiderParisGuides.com):
SIXTY MILLION FRENCHMEN CAN’T BE WRONG, by Jean-Benoit Nadeau & Julie Barlow. Profoundly enlightening! Read this book written by French Canadians who were paid to do a study of the French for two years for fascinating, in-depth reasons that are backed by deeply researched historical facts as to why the French behave as they do. The BEST and most fun resource there is. Even my Parisian friends are fascinated to learn the reasons why they think/behave/act the way they do as researched and presented by this duo! Originally, when the book was first published, the sub-title was ‘Why We Love France But Hate the French’ (très intéressant…..) but has since been changed to ‘What Makes the French So French.’ Hmmm, perhaps some nasty Gallic backlash? Try to get a copy of the original version, which I’m certain will become a collectors item! Learn more on the authors site at http://www.nadeaubarlow.com/abouts/2.
FRENCH KISSES FOR PRACTICAL PARIS.
From Linda in Vancouver: SOS Dentists - I sure wish I knew this phone number when my tooth fell off in Gallerie Layfette in January…! My veneer tooth fell off when I bit into a power bar…!
From Natasha, Winnipeg: While many other guides currently exist in the marketplace I found Karen’s guide to be well written, witty, and practical. It’s not a bulky book to carry around with you and look like a "tourist" (which in Paris a lot of tourists do! Talk about being a target for pickpockets!), it’s something you can download onto a cellphone, PDA, BlackBerry, etc. and walk around looking like a local texting….
From Michelle, Victoria, Canada: Loved the section on Peeing in Paris!…so often I almost peed my pants in Paris trying to find a decent washroom…
PRINTEMPS BEAUTY NIGHT. Okay, you know the beauty nights they host at major department stores? In Vancouver, I’ve been to a couple and they’re fun. The store is otherwise closed, except for the perfume/cosmetics departments. It’s fun being able to roam while seeing other parts of the store closed, kind of like you’re in there on the sly and could steal something if you wanted to. But you don’t. In Vancouver, the Bay and Sears have hosted these events for a $10 entrance fee that goes to a charity. You can then get that money back if you purchase perfume or cosmetics. Kind of like a gift with purchase deal. You wander around trying perfumes and cosmetics. It’s a festive party atmosphere, and mostly filled with women. There are some give-aways, usually small samples. Some food, usually little bites of things. I don’t remember wine being served, but some kind of beverage. And at some, there are give-away gift baskets which are really great, if you are one of the lucky ones to win one.
Enter beauty night in Paris. At the most prestigious fashion department store in fashion city central: Printemps Paris. After receiving an invite from the wonderful Printemps people, my friend Marcia and I went, expecting it to be like any other beauty night. WRONG. Top DJ music and a light show was the stage for the evening on two floors. Champagne free-flowed all night, served in real Crystal glasses on silver trays by handsome, black-clad Frenchmen. Macaroons by Ladurée. Hors d’oeuvres by Alain Ducasse. Women AND hetero men, all chicly dressed. People dancing. Professional photographers with your photo in a frame given for free. Free 30 minute complete make-overs. We already felt as though we’d been to the best party in town as we reluctantly rushed toward the exit to catch the metro past midnight. But wait, Cinderellas, don’t forget your gift packages! EVERY participant, men and women, received a giant gift bag that was actually really heavy to carry and we are still giddy over. FULL SIZES of products, none of this sample nonsense. Some of our take: Prada body lotion (which I gave to a friend who says it is amazing and admonished me for getting her hooked on such an exquisite, expensive product!); By Terry bag filled with products; Orlane face cream; Chanel body and face creams; L’Oreal eye shadow; Nina Ricci L’Air du Temps shower gel; LaPrairie full skin care set in a gorgeous round silver container; a perfume book with lovely bookmark; Helena Rubenstein skin care system; and others….our absolute coveted treasure? A full size Diptyque Paris Figuier candle, which I am thoroughly addicted to (how did they know?), and is worth 30 euros alone!!
WHAT’S IN THAT BAG? While with a tour group recently at the Eiffel Tower, we were worming our way through the long line to buy tickets. A jovial security guard was haphazardly checking people’s bags and backpacks. "What do you have in there, a bomb?" he actually said to a puzzled Japanese tourist right in front of us. We couldn’t quite believe our ears as he winked at us. Obviously amusing himself to break from the routine of his job. We all agreed: in Canada, the RCMP would be swooping in on their calvary and in the States, every agency including the CIA would have his butt. The French constantly teach us to lighten up, so expect to see and hear anything!
METRO EXTENSION: Even as the country has been thrust into numerous strike action (and it continues), RATP continues to improve services, a common French dichotomy! The metro is extending its service on Friday nights by one hour: last train leaves at 2:15 AM instead of 1:15 AM. Thank you. Visit http://ratp.fr/ for hourly service updates.
Live, love, eat, drink and be merry this holiday season!
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