Important Facts and Fun Things to Know

 

Best Driving Times There is less traffic in and out of Paris between the hours of 10:30-11:00 in the morning.
  and after 4:00 p.m. except on Fridays when less traffic is before 3:00 p.m. On weekend mornings the traffic is very light.
  In the evening commute to Paris after 8:30 p.m.
   
Appliance Instructions There will be an appliance instruction notebook available at the house in the family room-kitchen
Notebook    so that guests can use the equipment.
  Jonas Berg will also show guests around and explain amenities on the first day.
   
  France runs on 240 Electrical Volts.
   
Emergency Numbers These are the French Emergency numbers.
  (Although they speak French you may find an English speaking operator.)
  Police 17
  Fire 18
  Ambulance 15
   
Hospitals Hospitals in Fontainebleau
   
  Hospital de Fontainebleau
  55 Bd. Mar Joffre
  77300 Fontainebleau
  tel: 0160741010
   
  Directions: From the first roundabout in Fontainebleau take the 4th street on your right (direction Avon)
  The Hospital is on the right side 400 yards from the roundabout.
   
  There is also a clinic beside that hospital that is somewhat more expensive.
  Clinique Polyclinique de la Foret
  4 Rue Lagoresse
  77300 Fontainebleau
  tel: 0164697778
   
  For important medical needs its best to go to Paris.
   
Present Exchange        The present exchange rate is .84 Euro per $.
Rate  This has been fluxuating in the past 6 months with the dollar gaining strength. 
   
Banks in Credit Lyonnais
Fontainebleau Acceuil agence Fontainebleau 6934
  85 rue Grande
  77330 Fontainebleau
  Tel: 01820824406
  Fax 0160727347
   
  Agence de Fontainebleau
  156 rue Grande
  77330 Fontainebleau
  Tel 01820820001
   
  Standard Hours for all banks in France
  Mon. 9:00-12:00 and 1:45-6:00 Monday through Friday
  Saturday 8:30-12:10 and 2:00-5:00
   
  There are no banks in Barbizon. Only an ATM machine.
   
Money Exchange   It is not possible to change dollars easily outside of Paris. If you need to change money, however,
  do so, at the numerous “cambios” in Paris or at the airport where the exchange rate is slightly less.
  The best way to get cash in the countryside is with credit cards through the numerous ATM machines.
  They require a pin number.
   It is possible to get varied amounts of cash, with a maximum of 300 E per request.
  You can, however continue to do as many transactions as you wish at the same stop.
  ATM machines are located on the street in all the villages throughout the area.
  Near the house in Arbonne there are 2 easy suggestions.
  Barbizon- at the end of Rue Grande next to the post office.
   Fontainebleau in the main market square, on the side of the bank.
   
  All restaurants, supermarkets and stores accept some, or all credit cards.
  Cash would, however, be needed for the local outdoor markets.
   
   
Temperatures The temperatures in the countryside southeast of Paris are equivalent to those in Paris itself.
throughout the year Here is a general idea:
  Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. March 55-60 F
  April is rainy 65 F
  May 65-70 F
  June July August 80-90 F
  Sep Oct 75 F
  There can be a sprinkling of snow with perhaps 2-3'' of snow during the winter months, but this is rare.
  In summer the days are warm but it cools off at night with a delightful breeze.
  Summer months often have sporadic rainstorms.
   
How to call the US 001 Area Code + number
 from France  
   
France from the US 011 331 The telephone number
For cell numbers 011 336 The telephone number
   
Available liquor Good local wines are available in all the markets for very reasonable prices.
in France  
  Wines, for example, from 2002 are easily found for 7 or 8 E. Most whisky is also found,
   however, Tanqueray Gin is not available. This should be purchased, for example, at the duty free airport store.
  There will also be some stocks of alcohol available at the house.
   It can be purchased from the reserve or subtracted from the security deposit.
   
Staples available The house is also stocked with basic coffee, tea, salt, olive oil
at the house  
   
Local farms and There are wonderful small farms and markets right in the village of Arbonne.
markets in the  
village of Arbonne They open at 8:00 a.m. and close about 7:00 p.m. (They do however, close for Lunch break 12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m.)
  The most popular of these is                         
   
   
   
  It is right around the corner from the house open every day but Sunday afternoon
  8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (Lunch Break 12:00-2:00)
   
  Even Parisians come to shop here. Go out of the front gate and around the corner. (a 3 minute walk)
  This is run by 2 rather "gossipy" older women. It is however, lots of fun!
  Just inside the doorway you see goats and chickens as well as a permanent tractor.
   
  Many months there are bottled string beans, peaches, tomatoes etc.
  There is always wonderful produce and fresh vegetables, a good selection of cheese,
  (the Brie is divine) fresh baked baguettes and chicken if ordered in advance.
  (I’m sure I know where these come from!)
   
  On the right just (1 minute) along the same street is a small village market.                                         
   
   
   
  It stocks a bit of everything:
  again fresh bread, great bottles of wine for very little as well as: ice cream, cookies, canned vegetables,
  packages of ham, eggs, milk etc.
  What you might expect from a small market.
   
  On the same side of the street along the road again about 3 windows down there is a third small store that sells mostly vegetables.
  It is called:
   
  There is a very nice woman- but there is a little less selection.
   
  I have also seen frequent village signs advertising fresh eggs, chickens, cheese throughout the surrounding area.
  It is fun to take a day and go in search of these delightful village spots that sell specialties right from their homes.
   
Outdoor Markets  Outdoor market day is also a big event in all the villages, and each village has its market on a different day.
   The 2 closest are Fontainebleau one direction Wed Fri Sun (15 minutes) and
  Milly la Foret -the other direction Thursday (15 minutes)
  Fontainebleau is more like a bazaar than a regular market and it is fabulous.
  Every type of cheese, produce, flowers, etc. are here, even clothing items.
  Milly la Foret still has the antique "balles" from the 16th century.
   The market is right in the center square of the village. It is a delight! Don't miss it!
   
American Like If you need however the large American type stores try Carrefour, out for size, ....and size is definitely a factor!
Super Market This huge store has literally everything under the sun. The sales help are on roller skates it is so large!
  Carrefour
  Route Nationale 7 BP 23
  77195 Villiers en Bière
  Tel: 01-64878787
  Fax: 01-64398041
  www.carrefour.fr
  Open Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Sat 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
  There is an incredible assortment of cooked specialties as well. Each section is divided into
  meat, bread, fruit etc. and each section has a phenomenal array of anything you could possibly care to eat.
   By the way, the ice cream area just outside the supermarket has divine really "yummy" gelato.
   
   For supermarket carts you put a 1 E coin in the slot by the chain and it releases the cart.
  When you return it, there is a metal tongue that pushes your coin out and returns your euro.
   There are also plastic "coin like" tokens that can be used instead of real coins.
   These can be obtained from customer service at the same markets.
   
Traveling vans There are a number of traveling vans selling their specialties.
with food Every day at 11 a.m. the pastry truck shows up right outside the farm house.
specialties You know he’s arrived from the extended honk on his horn.
  He sells the freshest croissants, éclairs, and pastries I’ve ever eaten.
  There is a second specialty van that comes at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday and Friday and parks in front of the small market (described above).
  He transports an array of beef, lamb, pork, cheese and fresh fish.
  The 3rd of these “special treat” trucks comes in the evening carrying a selection of fresh fish.
   
Pizza night in Arbonne Thursday night is pizza night in Arbonne. The entire village shows up to enjoy the event.
  You can call to order pizzas:
   
   The truck stops in the main square just by the Marie. This is a 3 minute drive from our house.
  The pizzas are cooked on an open fire inside the truck and, they are, without a doubt, the best pizzas I have ever tasted.
   I particularly like the goat cheese with “cherizo” a local sausage.
  Since there is a considerable line, your best option is to call ahead and reserve a pizza for the time you want to pick it up.
   Be sure however, the price is that marked on the menu.