Mont Saint-Michel Monastery

This is a monastery that stands out as an easily recognizable landmark in France. It is because of many different reasons, especially because of the stories stating that Archangel Michael burned a hole in the skull of Saint Aubert before being persuaded to build it. Various reports highlight the fact that Captain Louis d’Estouteville’s ghost now guards the area, ever since the victory against England in the year 1434.

Versailles

Whenever thinking about France, Versailles is one of the most important and popular tourist attractions. The paranormal side of the Versailles starts with sightings that are reported of Marie Antoinette. Sightings have been going on for a really long time now. Marie Antoinette was executed and it is said that it haunts this castle ever since. Most of the sightings appear in the royal bedchamber, the one where she stayed in the past.

Chateau Du Chateaubriant

Go to the Chateau Du Chateaubriant before the Halloween in order to have a lot of fun and maybe some scares. According to the legend, every single October the 16^th, when midnight comes, monks and knights ghosts are seen following Francoise De Foix’s ghost, together with other personalities from the time. It will not be seen for a long time but according to various records, the sightings still happen.

Catacombs

This is, most likely, the most well-known haunting site in France. It is quite difficult to find a location that is creepier than the underground labyrinth right in the capital. There are so many skeletons present here. The walls are lined with bleached, old bones and the brave tourists can explore this eighteenth century burial ground. It was created for the corpses that overcrowd the graveyards of Paris at the time. Now, it is a sight that is perfect for the paranormal seeker.

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French Halloween Celebrations Beginnings

There is this belief that Halloween was celebrated by Gauls with the name Samain. The holiday was seen as marking summer’s end and the start of the dark season. Between October 31^st and the first day of November we had the New Year at that point in time. Various druidical rites took place then.

The folk celebration we see now as Halloween appeared in the country during the eighties. At that point in time we saw just English speaking communities that celebrated the holiday in restaurants or bars. French started to celebrate Halloween at the start of the nineties. During the year 1992 we saw Cesar, a fancy dress costume company, working on doing business in France. That is interesting because in USA we saw the large Halloween celebrations starting only in the year 1997 so France was ahead of the curb.

Halloween Celebrations In France

In most cases Halloween is celebrated in France by people that are young. They wear costumes and go to parties in clubs, homes or other locations. Costumes are normally scary in tradition with ghosts, witches and vampires being highly popular as opposed to superheroes or princesses. The latter are more popular in Great Britain or United States.

In France we do not see trick or treating. The commercial centers and stores will normally decorate pastry, candy and windows with a Halloween theme. The actual trick or treating celebration is only seen among some French kids in smaller communities.

Modern French Halloween Celebrations

Right now, we see that French Halloween is seen as being quite controversial because of many different reasons. The large controversy appears because of the fact that the period between the last day of October and November 2 is when older French generations honor saints, attend religious services and visit some cemeteries. Halloween is considered as being a distraction by those people and they believe that it is a lack of respect in celebrating dead individuals.

We also see Halloween boycotting that appears because of the belief that the holiday is just a marketing strategy that is used by Americans.

In the past we did see that Halloween was highly successful, especially in the period around 2000. Nowadays, in the last 5 to 6 years, a lot of religious and political controversy appeared and opposition is stronger. Halloween in France is faced with a decline, with shops and streets not being decorated as often and as fabulously as they used to be.

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Egyptians were the first people to domesticate cats about 4000 years ago, but still I wonder what Cleopatra did with her cats in the days of Egyptian splendour. Just think, cats were so popular and a very integral part of the Egyptian culture, that whether she liked cats or not she would have had to respect tradition and make the care of palace kittens a truly sacred affair. The Egyptian people so loved their cats because they helped in protecting the harvest and food stores from rats. Cats also provided a useful service of helping hunters catch birds from the marsh. Therefore cats became associated with great hunting skill. Egyptian cats were respected as great hunters and worshipped as gods and goddesses. In fact, so great was the Egyptian love of cats that cats were mummified before burial and there was a death penalty for anyone who would kill a cat. When a cat from an Egyptian household died, all the members of the home would go into deep mourning and shave their eyebrows.

But I am sure the Egyptians had some secret or the other about keeping cats under control, if they didn’t, I don’t think the palace would have been as grand as history has put it out to be. There would have been claw marks on the throne, shards of curtain flying in the Egyptian afternoon breeze, “stuff” in the corners of the hall, and pee on the red carpet. Cats have been known to swap with ease from their cuddle cat face to their bad cat antics. Running off the property and into “trespassers shall be prosecuted” territories, scratching on your living room wall or favourite sofa, and marking “territory” on your clean laundry are just some of the daily issues that cat owners are faced with. Unfortunately there are only so many ways to keep a cat grounded. While it’s fairly easy to teach a dog to obey, cats are rebellious and have their own ideas.

Thankfully for us now a days, Feliway was created in 1997 by a pharmaceutical laboratory in France called Ceva Sante Animale. Feliway, also sold as Comfort Zone in some stores, is liquid product that is available as Feliway spray or Feliway Diffuser. This liquid is a synthetic copy of feline facial pheromones. Cats give off pheromones from scent glands that are located in different parts of their body like their face, paw pads, and anal glands. Pheromones are chemicals that are released by animals to influence the physiology of that species. When a cat is new to an area and is inspecting it they will often rub their facial pheromones on it so that they can familiarize themselves with the spot. This is like marking their territory through putting a check mark on the area. Doing this gives them self-comfort and reminds them that this area has already been inspected and is acceptable. Whenever a cat feels stressed or frightened they tend to act territorial and mark their area by spraying, scratching, or making a mess in an attempt to gain control of their surroundings and feel safe again. Because Feliway imitates the pheromone smell that cats give off during marking, it helps cats to feel safe and secure during times when you have moved to a new house, are travelling, introducing a new pet or baby, or even changing the furniture.

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Experts believe that exposure to asbestos can lead to life-threatening conditions such as mesothelioma and asbestosis. As the number of people being diagnosed with asbestos related illnesses has increased so has the amount of asbestos compensation claims in which people are suing their employers for damages associated with the lifestyle and health changes that they are experiencing.

The area in the world which you live will dictate the potential places and materials in which you may encounter asbestos. For instance living in a poorer region of India will significantly increase the probability of exposure due to asbestos not only still being used on a widespread basis, but the buildings which contain it are often unmaintained or damaged. Studies have shown that even now the local residents know of the dangers, they are unable to move out due to other regions of India being far more expensive. If you live in a developed country such as the USA or the United Kingdom, living in a building that contains asbestos is highly likely, however many of these buildings are regularly maintained and as such any damaged asbestos is repaired or removed.

In the US and UK it is considered rare for someone who has not worked with asbestos to develop and asbestos related illness although it is not unheard of. Increasing the amount of time exposed to hazardous materials is known to also increase the chances that you may developing a debilitating health condition. However this is not entirely true with asbestos as inhaling even 1 fibre can be extremely dangerous especially if it manages to find its way into the lungs.

If you have worked with asbestos please be aware that many of the illnesses have latency periods of around 30 years after exposure. This means that even if you had worked with the material several years ago you could still be at risk and it may be worth a visit to your local G.P explaining your situation to see if there is anything they can do to ensure your safety. Similarly if you find damaged asbestos within you home or a building you should alert you local authorities or a specialist asbestos removal company who will aid in removal. Please note that asbestos products if undamaged are relatively safe but many people opt to remove them it to act as a safeguard in the future.

The peak amount of asbestos related diagnoses, is expected to peak in the year 2020 with over 2500 people expected to develop mesothelioma every single year in the United Kingdom. Activists are now asking for a global ban on asbestos including the mining a distribution process but this is unlikely as nations such as Russia rely on the revenue generated from the product and have even named a town after it.

Overall the chances of being exposed to asbestos in work or at home are very slim. If you are worried follow the steps above to completely eliminate any chance of coming into contact with this dangerous material.

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But standing out on the street is nothing compared to the challenges that await you in the kitchen of your rental flat in Paris.

Where Is All My Space?

This is the first obstacle you will face. Kitchens in Paris rental flats are tiny. Really tiny. The space is even proportionally smaller than a kitchen in a similarly-sized apartment in New York. There are complex reasons for this that we’ll get to later.

Counter space is limited. Cabinet space is often crammed in overhead because it’s limited underneath by, yes, a washing machine. Because of the expense the number of pipes and drains was limited to basically the kitchen and the bathroom. The washing machine would have to be in one of these two areas, and, obviously, the kitchen is the better choice. Later it became normal and expected so it’s present in even newer buildings. If you have a dryer, it’s in the kitchen, too.

So be prepared to work in a small space.

Is That Tiny Thing My Refrigerator?

Yes it is. Don’t look around for a separate unit somewhere. You get just one tiny fridge, and that’s it. But don’t worry about it. You can handle it if you make a few simple changes:

• Get used to cooking fresh—it’s part of the reason why Europeans tend to be healthier than Americans, and you’ll love it
• Get friendly with your local market—it’s part of the Paris experience to drop in on your local market almost daily to pick up ingredients to cook tonight
• Store foods differently—Parisians often store fresh herbs on their balconies and cheese on their counters. If it’s used in a reasonable time frame, cheese stores well this way.

Follow these tips and you’ll be surprised at how well you get along with a very small refrigerator.

How Many Grams in a Cup of Comté?

If you are planning on trying to cook American recipes in Paris, you might want to pack your measuring cups. In France and other European countries, many recipes are written in weights rather than in volumes like in the US. If you’re lucky, your kitchen will have a scale. If not, you’ll have to buy one. But don’t expect to find the measuring cups you’re used to. Even if you do find some, they’ll be metric.

Why the Differences?

The home is the physical embodiment of culture. People design physical spaces not just around their utility, but around perceptions of their utility. In France, cooking in the home has traditionally been regarded as an undignified necessity, which is why the kitchen was often designed as a small, separate space that excludes guests.

In the US, people are proud of cooking, part of our general perception that labor is ennobling. Of course, this extends more to the ostentatious preparation of a space in which one could cook but rarely does. The result is that the kitchens are typically made into inviting spaces—think how many parties you’ve been to where you spent a great deal of time in the kitchen.

In Paris, if you want to avoid offense, don’t barge into your host’s kitchen or offer to help preparation or clean-up, even if you can fit.

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The best golf

There will be many purists who point to the east coast of Scotland when discussing the finest golf courses, but there are plenty more who feel the unpredictable weather conditions can detract from the enjoyment. For a great many experts, Portugal is regarded as the ultimate golfing location. The courses are undulating, spectacular and utterly beautiful, and the sun and blue skies are ready to welcome you throughout most of the year.

The best welcome

A number of European countries, especially those with a stake in the tourist industry, are proud to boast of the friendliness of the locals, but the Republic of Ireland has the strongest claim of all. This wonderful nation is home to a vast number of bars and clubs that are rightly known for the warmth of their welcomes, and there are many tourists who have visited for a short break and made lifelong friends in the process.

The best food Spain, Italy and Germany all have their own distinctive cuisines featuring a number of tempting dishes, but surely no country in Europe – or in the whole world – can match what France has. From the tiniest villages to the centre of Paris itself, a meal is regarded as something that’s almost sacred, and as such every ingredient has to be perfect. The true taste of France should be savoured by every traveller.

The best sightseeing

City break holidays are understandably popular in Europe, and the most impressive destination is surely London. The majestic capital of the UK offers a fascinating blend of ancient and modern, and it’s often the case that a short holiday leaves nowhere near enough time to see everything. If you plan to visit, be sure to include the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and the London Eye on your itinerary.

The best beach The countries of southern Europe entertain millions of tourists every year, each of them attracted by the wonderful climate and the impressive beaches. Although it’s difficult to single out just one, there is a consensus among many that Oludeniz in Turkey is perhaps the finest. The stunning turquoise waters of this wonderful resort, where the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas meet, provide the perfect backdrop to an afternoon of sunbathing.

Author:David Showell -Follow him on Google+.

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