by Ric Erickson

Number 1.41:- Metropole Paris - Monday, 2. December 1996:- There is no need today for the weather report I put here sometimes; last Wednesday's weather is unchanged and you can find it in this week's feature, 'Rare Book Search Gets No Café.'

For many years Paris had nearly no weather in winter - just flat grey skies for six months, but this year is a dramatic change for - more drama in the weather department. Snow began falling some weeks ago and it is working its way down to lower alpine heights.

This is not supposed to be bad news; it is just a reminder to dress accordingly if you intend visiting Paris. Oh, I know, lots of people are sensible and always go everywhere fully prepared - but there are some of us who never think in advance that the weather might be different to what it is where we are.

As you will be able to see in this issue, I went to the Salon Nautique, and I am not sure if I have ever been to one before. I suppose it is held at this time of year so that if you have the least glimmer of buying something nautical, you will do it now before you blow your savings on Christmas goodies.

Even if, like me, you have no savings to blow, the Salon Nautique is worth a trip for the moral boost it gives. It shows the promise of clean seas, blue skies and maybe even tropical south-sea islands. Boats are also about getaways, and at this time of year the idea of climbing aboard a brand-new sparkling white boat and heading for the tropics - the idea has its certain attractions. You can easily keep these in your head as you ride home on the métro.

Holidays at French seasides are well-known; but an activity that is on the rise is water-related vacations in the interior of the country - the river holidays. There is a growing selection of offers to choose from, and I will be reporting a bit about this in next week's Metropole. If you have already seen the most publicized sights in France, these river holidays are an attractive alternative and a good way to see the countryside up close - and far from autoroutes and the frenzy along the coasts.

To be fair, this coastal 'frenzy' is largely imaginary. If you have not actually experienced it, you will not know that France has so much in the way of coasts, that even in August, it is not all that crowded. As for being overpriced; if you live in France everything is overpriced, so it is something you put up with on a daily basis - it costs little more to go to the seaside than to stay home.

Paris Expo

The Parc des Expositions - Porte de Versailles has a new name. It is now called simply, Paris Expo, and it has a new, modern logo. Behind this cosmetic change, the huge exposition park plans a series of major renovations which involve the demolition of six of the existing halls, complete renovation of the Hall 1 and the multi-story Hall 7. Although the new Hall 4 has just opened, it will not be fully completed until 1998, and the rest will be finished in 2006.

Paris Expo hosts 197 expositions and salons per year at the biggest park of its kind in Europe, but competition is fierce and it has to move ahead. Operations will continue during the reconstruction - so many visits will seem to be to a vast building site as well.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

This new Disney animated feature opened in 600 cinemas throughout France on Wednesday, with the French title of 'Le Bossu de Notre-Dame.' It was inspired by Victor Hugo's novel, published in 1831, set in 15th century Paris. The present film is the eighth to treat the subject; the first was the 1906 production 'La Esmeralda' by Alice Guy and Victorin Jasset.

I have heard that Disney has an animation production centre in the Paris area, so I called them up to find out if the new film was made here - and they sent me an elaborate brochure.

The studio, at Montreuil, is called 'Walt Disney Feature Animation France;' it replaced the studio of the brothers Gaétan and Paul Brizzi in 1989. In the beginning, cartoon series' were produced for television and the first full-length feature was 'Dingo and Max.' The present film is the result of a co-production between the 110 artists and technician, lead by the Brizzi brothers, at Montreuil and the headquarters at Burbank in California and another Disney studio at Orlando in Florida.

About 15 minutes of the finished animated film were done in Montreuil, but the crew at Montreuil contributed to the ensemble by working on the film's color-palette and the general graphic style of the whole film.

The film has already opened in the United States, without quite the success of 'The Lion King,' but with $100 million in ticket sales so far - and with European receipts yet to come. Disney is planning to move the animation studio from Montreuil to near the theme park at Marne-la-Vallée, as a beginning of another theme park, much like MGM's in Florida.

About the author of 'The Sorrow of Raicho Gunchev:'

Paul Swider is a volunteer with the US Peace Corps and has been working in the Small Business Development program in Bulgaria, since June 1995. His real career, prior to Peace Corps service, was as a journalist, both freelance and for several US newspapers. He works as a business consultant, based on his experiences with the management of bars and restaurants during a prolonged collegiate career. In the Peace Corps his emphasis includes sustainable development, such as ecotourism, but also electronic networking, agriculture and business education.

Some Coming Events

Horse Show - 25th Edition Salon du Cheval, Poney et de l'Ane

Horses, riders, riding competitions, judgement of animals and equipment displays. Paris Expo - Porte de Versailles
From Saturday, 30. November to Sunday, 8. December
Daily from 10:00 to 19:00; to 23:00 Friday, 6. December
Tel.: 01 41 09 60 00

Sign Up for the Paris Marathon

The Marathon International de Paris - to be run on Sunday, 6. April 1997 - is now taking inscriptions. Inscriptions made before 31. December 1996 cost 150 francs for residents and 220 francs or US$45 or 70 DM. After this date the rates rise to 250 francs for residents and to 370 francs - US$75, 115 DM - for visitors. There are rates for inscribing on the day, but entries are limited to 22,000, and if the quota is full on race day you'll be out of luck.

Interested fast people can not enter by fax. For information or to request an official entry form, fax to (33-1) 53 17 03 13 from outside France. In France the fax number is 01 53 17 03 13. Otherwise write to: Inscriptions A.M.S.P., 8. Rue Crozatier, 75012 Paris

Payment must accompany the inscription. Elite or Preferential runners - the fastest people - must provide some sort of proof of a win less than two years old.

Starting time is 9:00 someplace on the avenue des Champs Elysées.

4th Salon de Livre Ancien

Friday and Saturday, 13-14. December, from 11:00 to 19:00, and Sunday, 15. December, from 11:00 to 18:00.
Maison de Radio-France, 1e etage
116. avenue du President Kennedy, Paris 16.
RER station line C1 or C3, station Maison de Radio-France / avenue du President Kennedy - there is no really close métro station. Bus: 70 or 72, from the Hôtel de Ville.