Wanted: Ideas

Dear Adventurers,
It has been way too long since the last time I wrote (11 days) and I am sorry for it. I have had piles and piles of other work that has been calling my name, but that's not an excuse. I have a few ideas rolling around in my head about my next posts, but I want to see if any of you have some unanswered questions/ideas.

• Do you have questions about Paris? 
• Is there a specific location you would like to know more about? 
• Any recipes you are dying to try, but can't seem to find the perfect one?

Ask me anything and I promise I will answer them!

Adrienne - the parisrambler

Camping at the Prefecture 2

A second commentary on the prefecture in Bobigny, one has to spend the night just to get a rendez-vous or their carte de sejour, it's really true because I have done it plusieurs fois (many times).

Of course their website only shows the pretty side!

 It was another event-filled day at the Prefecture!! Because it was Ramadan, Y and I woke up at 3:30 a.m. to eat and arrived at the Prefet by 4:30ish! (We didn't actually camp out, but we did see people doing it, ones that had been there since 5 o'clock the day before!)

Both of us were there for two separate reasons so that meant two different entry points. Y was a sans rendez-vous, without a meeting, which is the worse line possible. I was scheduled for an appointment at 14h, but somebody told me that I needed to stand in line early so there I was at 4h30. I found out when the line started moving at 8h30, that I could only stand in line "à partir de 12h", meaning get out of the line and come back @ 12h! So I was pretty angry.

A French Blog about the Prefecture

Y was able to get a ticket, they literally hand out 200 tickets to the first 200 people in line.

Today he was 31! Actually there were not as many people in line today as usual and we figured it as because vacation, Ramadan ( lots of Muslims go here), the mosque and other Friday events. But as usual every other person as a Pakistani/Indian selling their place (20 -200 euros!) And the fights were numerous today, therefore just try to stay out of the fight, in case the police come. 
Has anyone ever bought a place at the Prefecture, or do something of this nature in the states?

We submitted Y's dossier for a temporary work contract and carte de sejour. We hope that it gets accepted, because we kissed it and prayed over it. Please pray that we get good news!

I received my carte de sejour recipisse which means that I will go back the 15th of November to receive my real card!

Does anyone have questions on carte de sejours or visas either on the state-side or the French side?

To take or not to take that is the ?

My husband, Y, and I love going to flea markets and finding cheap little knicknacks that will brighten our apartment. But recently we have been gleaning the neighborhood (finding things in the trash and recycling them).

First, it was the three-tier little bookcase that we were thinking of converting into a medecine cabinet or a picture shadow box in honor of our wedding. It needs a paint or modpodge job and then it will look as good as new!


Next, it was the picnic table that Y found near his work, that fold up into a neat box! There really are no problems with it, no broken hinges and it has turned out be a lifesaver, no more dinners sitting down on the floor!

saved 50 - 100 euros

And then it was the TV stand at 3am that looked new to our eyes, so we wheeled it down the street and carried it up a flight of stairs while my sister gave us the talk about how we would really have to put it to use. Later, I have noticed that there are few things missing, but with some paint it will be brand new.

saved 100 euros

And then it as books during our adventure in Montmartre, and the packs of paper sheets (8 with 200 pages each) saved 50 euros.

We have even gleaned potatoes and corn from the leftover harvest. To check out the French gleaners, watch Agnes Varda's film "Les Glaneurs et la Glaneuse" 

To become a gleaner: just remember your eyes are the key and always have a purpose for the item 
+ you never know what you will find and HAVE FUN!

Aeroports in Paris

My sister went back home to the states today via the RER B to CDG 2 so I thought it would be appropriate to share some info about the airports, because I don't know how many times I have seen tourists go the wrong way to CDG.

One of CDG's terminals! So much FUN

One of the best ways to get to Charles De Gaulle Aerport 1,2, or 3 for the price of 10 euros or less is RER B. The first thing to keep in mind is that RER B has two end destinations ( Mitry/Claye and CDG). The most obvious route is the one leadin to CDG, going the other direction is nowhere near the airport. Remember to check the signs that list the stops and the direction, ask someone if you don't know.  Sometimes there are trains that are direct if you are leaving the Denefert Rochereau or Gare de Nord stations.

Buying the right tickets can be tricky, I know because I have done it. Make sure you buy the tickets that say CDG on them, if not you will not be able to get around the ticket carousel. Choose tickets that say to the airport, the ticket machine is in about 5 languages other than French, so use it.

Also, go EARLY, you never know if there will be an accident or technical problem or better yet a strike. It is better to be early (time to shop duty-free :) ) instead of running to the gate.


My sister and I left 30 minutes ahead of what we planned and you should have seen her face when I told her there was a technical problem at one of the stops we were going to pass. Thankfully we didn't experience any problems, and she made it there with plenty of time.



For more help: check out this practicable guide of paris by train.