FITTING INTO THE FRENCH WAY OF LIFE - CultureShock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette: France - page 55

My favourite for price and selection in household goods
is the BHV ( Bazar de la Hotel de Ville ), which has a fabulous
hardware department in the basement, and lighting and
furniture departments upstairs. Like the grands magasins they
still feature cosmetics on the ground l oor. They will deliver
your purchases home, for a small fee.

Shopping For Non-French Specialities
When you tire of French food, or you have a hankering for
something from home, Paris offers a bewildering assortment of
alternatives, including your home name brand products. To i nd
the many stores which offer these, you are best to look in the
following arrondissements :
British and American The 6th and 7th arrondissements ,
including l'Epicerie in the Bon Marché,
There are also British pubs in 1st and 2nd near the Opera.
Chinese and Asian

Around the M. Belleville in the 9th and
20th, or the 13th

Greek

The 5th

Indian

Around the Gare du Nord, in the 10th

Italian

Some Italian products in all the
supermarchés

Japanese

In the 1st and 2nd near the Opera.

Jewish

In the Marais, the 3rd and 4th

Middle Eastern

In the 19th and 20th

DRESSING THE CHANEL WAY
“The French are full of l attery for themselves,” Coco Chanel
once said. Some people criticise the French, especially the
Parisians, for their overwhelming concern for the way they
look. Indeed, there is something of the 'peacock' syndrome
in Paris. (Remember that rooster.) People dress to show off,
to display their taste and sense of class.
Tourists dressed sloppily and poorly groomed stick out
like a sore thumb in Paris. If you want to feel like you are
part of the scene, take a few basic lessons from your hosts.
The French are not frivolous about their street clothes.
Chanel herself wore her suits seven or eight years (lacking