One of the oldest articles for this blog is one I wrote on the Paris Museum Pass and whether you should get it when visiting as a tourist. My answer then and now is: only get it if you’re really … Continue reading
Author: Stephen Heiner
My Favorite Food App in Paris (and Europe): Too Good to Go
As we all know, the French take their food very seriously. But it might not be as well known that they take food waste pretty seriously as well. In 2016 they passed a law that banned large grocery stores from … Continue reading
My First (and Possibly Last) Brocante
I’ve strolled past dozens of brocantes (antique fairs) in my decade in France, but it was only last month that I finally had a mission which took me to one as a participant, not just as a passer-by. I often … Continue reading
Air France’s Cabin Bag Allowance and CDG Airport
For those who may not know, Delta Airlines, an American carrier, is in an alliance with Air France. That means that when you book a ticket from the US to France, regardless of whose website you end up using to … Continue reading
How to Apply for French Citizenship, Part III: Nailing the Interview
“I only think they ask you those questions if you’re boring, Stephen.” I was having coffee with Oliver, who hosts The Earful Tower. “I honestly think that people who give tight-lipped answers don’t give the interviewers anywhere to go, so … Continue reading
URSSAF’s Summer Robbery (and Autumn Reimbursement)
Back in 2016 I wrote my very first article about French taxes. I noted that I had to send two written corrections to the Ministry of Finance by registered mail, asserting (with my French accountant gently nudging me forward) that … Continue reading
How to Apply for French Citizenship, Part II: Interview Prep
The first article on my citizenship journey came out in April. In it, I said, “I expect to receive communication from the prefecture within 2-3 months, and if all is satisfactory with my dossier, an interview date 2-3 months beyond … Continue reading
The State of Coffee in Paris (and what is Cafe Richard, anyway?)
“So anyway, that’s part of why I think France has more of a cafe culture than a coffee culture,” I concluded, having just explained how much I appreciated the growth of specialty coffee in Paris. We were dining outside of … Continue reading
Earful Tower Book Club Reboot
For those who don’t know about it, the Earful Tower podcast is one of the most popular, if not the most popular podcast about Paris in English. It has hundreds of audio and video episodes covering everything about life in … Continue reading
How to Apply for French Citizenship, Part I: Documents
I suppose ever since I began this blog in 2013, this article was in the works. But in my early days of life in France, I always thought I would apply for citizenship on the very day I became eligible. … Continue reading