Used Books!

Check out a store called "Gibert Jeune" by place St. Michel (Metro St. Michel). The store spans several locations (and stories too!) around the plaza, categorized by subject matter. Used books are called "livres d'occasion" and are mixed within new ones by author. Check for the yellow sticker denoting "d'occasion." The used books range from 1-4 euro, depending on the lenght of the piece generally. It is a great place to find essential French readings - from Hugo to Camus, Appolinaire and de Beauvoir for really cheap. You can buy the new versions as well here, which would make wonderful souvenirs for your francophone friends and loved ones back home.

Enjoy!

PS - I'm starting to adore reading again because it is the cheapest activity in many ways. 2-3 euro can give way to days of entertainement, and that's not even counting re-reading. :)

PPS - Here is the website. Sorry I haven't figured out how to make it all fancy clickety links.

http://www.gibertjeune.fr/page/public/index.php

Library at Centre Pompidou

Hello again!

Haven't updated in a while, so here goes. Last Friday night while waiting for my significant other get out of class, I finally got a chance to check out the public library at the Centre Pompidou. It made me pretty happy. Most public libraries here close around 7pm, which would hardly service students. For students, studying or working on papers never stops at 7pm. Ever. Unless you happen to be a student ridiculously well trained in time management, but that is indeed a rarity. I've often wondered how students in Paris manage to finish all their work when the libraries close so early, but from asking around I've found that having jobs on the side of being a student is not as popular as back in the States, which would free up the day for library outings.

Anywhoo, the library at the Centre Pompidou (C.P. referred to as Beaubourg) stays open until 9:45pm all days except Tuesday when the center is closed. It is quite sizable, has lots of tables to sit, free wifi, a music listening area, computers, everything. Most of the works are in French, obviously, but I did find some English resources as well.

Also, on the very bottom floor as you enter, there are a few bookshelves dedicated to finding work, writing letters of motivation and CV's in French etc., which look like a wonderful resource for those of us ready for work but unsure of how to handle the process of being hired in France. (There are all sorts of forms of politeness and little tricks you have to add to your French letter of motivation, stuff that you wouldn't think to add to your cover letter in English for a job in the US.)

The library can be accessed from the opposite side of the main entrance to the museum. The main entrance of the museum is the one with the big open space where musical performers like to entertain, and where the Brancusi atelier is found as well. The library entrance is found on the colorful side of the center.

Check out flyers at museums & libraries

Generally, the smaller more specific theme-oriented museums here allow for brochures or flyers coming from external venues, so you can find out about other events in town within the same interest. Example: Went to the Palais de Tokyo last night, and even though the expos themselves were closed, the lobby area with restaurant & gift shop were open. I found a rack with little flyers from other art places... including one for a contest I might end up entering. :) Public libraries also tend to have flyer/brochure racks. Keep a look out for them because you might find out about awesome events you would not otherwise discover.

Fighting off the winter blues....

Paris has a winter that is indeed wintery - uncomfortable and energy-draining - like all winters in cities above (and below) tropical latitudes. The winter temperatures are fairly moderate for how far north Paris is situated, but it is cloudy on most days, rainy fairly often, snowy occasionally, and humid. For these reasons I would not recommend vacationing in Paris in the winter, but if you do make sure to pack a winter coat, a nice pair of flat, waterproof boots (trust me on this one ladies), scarves, gloves, hats, etc and an umbrella. You want to be prepared for a cold front, even if you may end up not needing all this wooly paraphenelia.

If you're finding yourself feeling a bit out of your element during the colder months, take care to continue eating well, exercise as much as the weather will permit, and not hermit yourself in your apartment (like my confused/cold floridian ass did). You need as much stimulation, if not more, to get through these months, even if it does not feel as natural to seek it. So go out and explore again and again... even if you think having been to the Musee D'Orsay 4 times is enough, you might find a painting you missed, or there might be a new expo open.

Take advantage of museum nocturnes (evenings in which the museums are open late). Generally museums close from about 17h-19h (5pm-7pm) but about once or twice a week, many museums can stay open till 22h (10pm). I'm finding the nocturnes to be particularly relevant in the winter time, as the sun sets pretty early. Save the day time for walking around the city and absorbing what little light can be found, and get your cultural fix in the evening juggling the different "noctures." (L'Officiel notes the nocturne days.) That way you won't miss out on your art needs, or the sunlight (that may be often filtered by clouds, but regardless, it is better than no light).