There aren’t many days left for the premiere of the 62nd Edition of the Cannes Film Festival that will be celebrated from May 13th to May 24th in the French city. For the first time in the history of the festival, an animation movie will inaugurate the contest: Up, by Disney-Pixar; although in previous years this genre has already been included in the Official Section of the event.

The renowned French actress Isabelle Huppert will preside over the jury of the present edition, accompanied by the Italian Asia Argento, the U.S. director James Gray, the Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan, the U.S. actress Robin Wright Penn, the Taiwanese actress Shu Qi, the British novelist Hanif Kureishi and the Korean writer and director Lee Chang-dong.
This year will see some great names from the world of cinema compete for the Golden Palm, with a special presence of Europe and Asia, and with The United States as the great absentee. These are some of the names that compete for the prestigious award: Tarantino with ‘Basterds and Antichrist’ (he will be the only North American filmmaker in the festival); Michael Haneke with ‘Le Ruban Blanc’; Ang Lee with ‘Taking Woodstock’; or Marco Bellocchio with ‘Vincere’. From Asia comes the Taiwanese director Ang Lee, the Chinese director Lou Ye, the Filipino director Brillante Mendoza or Johnnie To from Hong Kong.

The Spanish representation at the festival is very important due to the presence of two major nominees for the Golden Palm: Isabel Coixet with ‘Mapa de los sonidos de Tokio’ and Pedro Almodovar with ‘Los abrazos rotos’. But this will not be the only Spanish representation at Cannes as the film Agora by Alejandro Amenábar has been submitted “out of competition”.

In addition to Tarantino with ‘Pulp Fiction’, other awarded directors will compete in the Cannes Festival for the Golden Palm again: the British director Ken Loach with ‘Looking for Eric’; the Danish director Lars von Trier with ‘Antichrist’; and the New Zealander Jane Campion, the first woman who won the award in 1992 with ‘The Piano’ and who this year is presenting the film ‘Bright Star’.

Do not miss one of the best film festivals in the world. The Cannes International Film Festival 2009 is waiting for you in France. Take the first flight to Cannes and enjoy some of the best movies of the year. And while you are there, why not take advantage and visit the city of lights, too. Rent the best apartments in Paris and enjoy your stay!

Paris is a very tolerant and open minded city where you can express your personality without any problems. It has many gay or gay friendly locals, mostly located near the district of “arrondissements”, on the right bank of the Seine, near Châtelet and Hôtel de Ville. While the main meeting place for the gay community is at the heart of the Marais district (Fourth District).

Most gay bars and places are located in the heart of the historic town of Le Marais (the swamp). Here you’ll find many bars, restaurants and all kind of shops. Tourists visiting the historic district of Marais will see that is full of gay couples and lesbian women that enjoy their stay in complete freedom and tranquillity.

It would be fantastic to stroll around the rue des Rosiers and the Rue Vieille du Temple, the Temple Square, and discover all its charm: there is a mix of different communities and cultures. You’ll find Jews, Arabs and Asians living here along with a large number of artists, designers and intellectuals. The gay presence in the area called “pink triangle” is very strong, between the Rue Beaubourg and Rue Vieille du Temple. This is the heart of the crazy nights in Paris and also a good place to go shopping.

The local women have gone through an important change in the last few years, as well as a rapid evolution, and now they are accepting the presence of men. All this represents a real innovation! The Rue des Ecouffes in the south of the Marais has become a very interesting centre for gay women: there are many lesbian bars, shops and even a sexy shop just for them.

The life of gay people in Paris is very pleasant because they live in a beautiful city where people are tolerant. They can stroll hand in hand without any problems because people in Paris see it as a normal thing.

Here the gay tourist will find many bars, saunas and other gay meeting places. Paris is the capital of creativity! Depending on the different tastes, there are thousands of shop windows filled with design items or antique furniture, ideas for shopping or the latest collections of the most important designers of the world.

Paris is also the city of gastronomy. If you are part of the gay world or you would like to try new things, there are many gay friendly restaurants: Au Petit Tonnelier, A Casinha da Maria, Artishow, Gai Moulin.Le, and Au P’tit Canaillou to name a few.

A capital city for all those who dream, Paris stimulates the senses. If you like adventure book your vacation now! Rent apartments in Paris and enjoy this beautiful and charming city.

It’s time to have fun, meet Disney characters and live in a world of magical adventures! The best shows, imaginary countries, and many adventures are waiting for you. The Disneyland Paris fun park is the largest in Europe: it is an entertainment centre for the whole family, where you’ll find fun and experiment new emotions.

Make a wish and in this wonderful amusement park it will come true. Discover the most beautiful landscapes of Disney and you will see they look just as you imagined them when you heard the stories of the great classics; this is the place where fairy tales really do happen!

There are a thousand emotions to live, travel around the world, unforgettable adventures that will take you to the limits of time and space. In every corner of the park there are things to do for the whole family, but you can also organize a holiday with friends or your partner. It will always be a special and magical journey.

Shows, festivals and more importantly, hundreds of attractions for all ages await you every day in the streets of the park. The clientele is varied and heterogeneous. If you’ve always dreamed of Disney characters, this is your chance, your cartoons will materialize in front of you like a spell. In addition, the musicians and dancers from all around the world will welcome you with a big hug and friendly smiles.

At Disneyland there are 5 countries of adventure and excitement: Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Discoveryland and Adventurland. Believe in the fables, visit the small towns of the 1900′s, the conquest of the West, full of exciting adventures and entertainment, travel in time, this is really possible now at Disneyland Paris! The park also offers maps with all possible information on the best way to enjoy this experience.

After such strong emotions, don’t worry you won’t starve to death! You will find loads of restaurants, cafes and bars all with a fantastic atmosphere, where you can relax and enjoy a good meal after all the adventures of the day!

Now you only need to reserve your vacation in this fantastic world of adventure. Rent Apartments in Paris for your comfort and for saving money, come and enjoy more than a thousand great adventures in Disneyland Paris!

The Pompidou Centre will host the greatest Kandinsky retrospective of all time. After the vast success it has enjoyed in Munich, this exhibition features a wide range of works from different periods of the distinguished painter. Many paintings are loans from museums as far apart from each other as Russia, USA or Germany. From April 8th to August 10th the Pompidou Centre will bring together more than 100 paintings collected from these museums, whose Kandinsky collections include the largest compilation of this great painter. In addition, there will be on show some master pieces coming from significant public and private collections.

This major retrospective honours the work of one of the 20th century’s key figures, Wassily Kandinsky. He is considered the founder of abstract painting and great theorists of Modernism. He was born in Moscow in 1866 and he died in 1944 in Paris, and is seen as one of the great innovators in twentieth-century art.

This show will include only major paintings that were decisive in Kandinsky’s artistic development. It brings together such important paintings as the Impressions and the Improvisations. The Pompidou Centre will focus on Kandinsky’s work during the Russian Revolution and his time at the Bauhaus in Weimar and Dessau up to 1933. But it is also possible to see the famous Blue Rider collection. The collaboration between he Guggenheim, the Pompidou, and the Lenbachhaus museums will bring together works such as Munich’s early masterpiece, A Colourful Life (1907), or the Guggenheim’s Light Picture (1913) never before seen together.
Kandinsky is curated by Christian Derouet, Curator at the Musee national d’art moderne, Centre Pompidou, Paris; Tracey Bashkoff, Associate Curator for Collections and Exhibitions at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum; and Annegret Hoberg, Curator at the Stadtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich. Karole Vail, Assistant Curator, assisted with the organization of the New York presentation.
Do you like abstract art? Are you especially fond on Kandinky’s paintings? Travel to the French capital this spring and discover the greatest Kandinsky retrospective you’ll ever see! Rent Apartments in Paris and enjoy the best accommodation in the city.

On 8th of March we celebrate the International women’s day. On this special day we commemorate women’s fight for the right of co-determination and equality with men in society and in their personal life. In some countries the international women’s day is an official bank holiday and is designated by the United

Nations. For these reasons, one of the most important film festivals, FILM DE FEMMES, has chosen the month of March to celebrate its 31st edition of the women’s film festival. Come to Paris and discover the world through the eyes of women!

Between the 13th and 22nd of March, you’ll have the possibility to get to know the newest films produced by women, which will widen your horizons.

The international women’s film festival, founded in 1979, invites each cinema-lover for ten days to take an interesting trip through the spectacular works of feminine directors coming from different countries and cultures. During these 10 intensive days there will be shown more than 150 interesting movies of both famous and less well known feminine directors.

The principal theme of the current festival’s edition is “invisible frontiers”. This topic transforms the FILM DE FEMMES 2009 into a very special event, where more than 30 films treat these invisible frontiers in a very creative and thoughtful way. Therefore they establish a relationship between the United States and Europe comparing their cultural and social diversity of both continents. Furthermore they emphasize the importance of European feminine director’s initiatives, as well as the meaning of the new global world in regard to delicate topics of society. Some of the presented films will be Clara (by Helma Sanders-Brahms, Germany), The Secret Life of Bees (by Gina Prince-Bythewood, USA), Le Murmure des ruines (by Liliane de Kermadec, France), Wendy and Lucy (by Kelly Reichardt, USA.) as well as a lot more incredible movies.

If you think this will be a normal, conventional film festival,you’re completely wrong. During those 10 days the festival offers you a huge amount of special events and competitions in the following categories: fantasy films, documentary films, short films, as well as the special prize awarded by the jury, the so called Graines de cinéphage. In addition, you can participate in numerous conferences and debates about the world of cinema which will captivate you.

The highlight of the festival will be the guest of honour, the famous and enchanting actress, singer and writer Anna Karina, who has been the muse of the Nouvell Vague. Furthermore the festival will commemorate the lifework of the famous actress, singer and dancer of different cabarets, Josephine Baker.

ilm De Femmes will take place in the city of Crétil which is in the suburbs of Paris. In this way you can combine without any problem a spectacular trip through the world of cinema with a trip to the wonderful city of love. If you rent one of the best apartments in Paris, your stay in the French capital will be an unforgettable experience!

It’s very easy to get lost in the Louvre Museum. Sometimes because we can’t find the exit, and sometimes because so many of the works of art captivate us and we lose all sense of time and space. The Louvre Museum is one of the most spectacular and best known museums in the world. It receives over 8 million visitors annually. In fact, this is one of the most visited tourist attractions along with the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral.

The Louvre Museum began to take shape in 1516, under the Francis I rule, which began to rebuild an ostentatious palace on the ancient palace ruins of Philip Augustus. Francis I commissioned Leonardo Da Vinci to contribute and inject a bit of prestige into the French Renaissance. He painted the famous Mona Lisa for this project. Today, the enigmatic smile is considered one of the most prestigious art works of all time. Since then, successive monarchs have contributed to expanding and improving the museum. During the reign of Henry IV, the Denon wing (the area along the Seine River) was finished. Napoleon III completed the Richelieu Wing (the Rue de Rivoli area).

Around 1850 the state seized the Museum due to the French Revolution and in 1981, the Republic president François Mitterrand inaugurated the museum’s architectural showpiece: the glass inverted pyramid (by Ieoh Ming Pei).

In addition, the Louvre is located in the heart of Paris and enjoys a sublime landscape through the majestic Tuileries gardens and the Carrousel Arc. This is one of the most beautiful places in Paris, full of colours and beautiful odors. The main entrance to the museum is the inverted pyramid. According to the map, the museum is divided into three wings: Denon, Richelieu and Sully.

Denon: this is the most popular area of theLouvre. It houses the most important pieces of French and Italian art such as La Gioconda) and Italian sculpture. It also houses some paintings by Goya and Murillo.

Richelieu: here you will find French art, an exquisite collection of paintings and sculptures and other objects such as furniture, jewels and tapestries. Richelieu also houses a vast collection of Middle Eastern antiquities, Islamic art and Northern European Art (German painting, Flemish painting and Dutch painting).

Sully: here you’ll find Greek art, Roman Etruscan art, Egyptian art and medieval art. It’s impossible to visit all the Louvre rooms in just one day, so it’s recommended to visit the following collections: on the ground floor, the Greek antique and the Egyptian pharaohs; on the first floor, the XVI-XVII centuries French and the Italian paintings (La Gioconda). After that, choose the one you prefer most. Other possibilities include the temporary exhibitions.

If you just want to spend a quiet day in the Museum there is no problem: there is a delicious international restaurant. In addition, you can also buy some souvenirs.

The museum opens daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, except Tuesdays and holidays. On Wednesday and Friday it opens until 22:00 pm. The first Sunday of each month the museum is free. The tickets cost 9 Euros and you can also purchase them online.

Probably you’ve been to Paris and you’ve already visited the Louvre, but this museum is a mandatory stop. If youhaven’t, travel to the most romantic city and visit the Louvre Museum! Rent Apartments in Paris to have an unforgettable stay.

Rain of Hollywood stars in Paris

Paris was the capital of modern art from 1900 until 1968. Many artists considered it a free city and the perfect inspiration source. Great geniuses came together at this time in Paris: Max Ernst, Dalí, Matisse, Modigliani, and Picasso.

Unfortunately, European fascism and Nazi persecution forced the majority of the artists to flee from the French capital. Despite the Parisian magnetism, the European decadence and the economic expansion of the United States, along with the talent of some American artists such as Andy Warhol, ousted definitively the artistic reputation of Paris. Then, Manhattan became the artistic epicentre of the world for many years. Nonetheless, the elegance and good manners of the French intellectuals are still fashionable. The best sample is the exhibition of rain of stars that houses the Monnaie Palace museum until May 31st.

The Monnaine Museum hosts the largest retrospective of the North American photographer David LaChapelle. Nearly 200 works are classified in different thematic series: they will transform the museum walls in a jungle full of colours and kitsch eccentricities. Through David LaChapelle’s photographs you’ll discover the beautiful Paris and the “plastic MTV world”. There are photos of: Uma Thurman, Madonna, Elton John, Courtney Love, Paris Hilton, Leonardo di Caprio, Noami Campbell, Pamela Anderson, David Beckham, Angelina Jolie, Marilyn Manson, Kate Moss, Eminem, Hilary Clinton and Muhammad Ali, among others. The museum is also presenting to the entire world as something exclusive the last stage of LaChapelle’s work.

This is the culmination of his career, which intends to discover the porno-chic world of the celebrities. Andy Warhol, whom he met at the 54th Studio, introduced him to the art and fashion world. But he gained his own merit ever since his work appeared on the front covers of some of the most important publications such as The Rolling Stone, Vogue, i-D, The Face, Interview or Vanity Fair. He also participated in marketing campaigns for MTV, Diesel, Sirius, Ford, Iceberg, L’Oreal, M & M and he has directed some video clips for famous singers. He is considered a great show business character.

The exhibition is divided into the following themes: The Flood, From Heaven to Hell, Meditation, Memories of America, Accumulation, Destruction and Disaster, Dream evokes Surrealism, Plastic People, Excess, Consumption, Star System, Pop after Pop and Innocence Omens. Visitors will notice that there is a mix between pop art and radical realism (with airs of an American Dream that are hidden in the photographs). Only Paris could host this exhibition because it will always be the soul of all art movements. If you thought that René Magritte, Michelangelo and Wood were unfashionable, then you are wrong. Rediscover them with David LaChapelle’s photographs.

Don’t miss it! You have enough time (until May) to visit the LaChapelle exhibiton in the French capital. Rent Apartments in Paris and live a new experience.

Do you see clowns, Indians and cowboys everywhere? Don’t worry, you’re not going crazy! It’s just that the Parisian Carnival is beginning and people are busily dusting off their wigs and rescuing their costumes and masks from the loft. Soon, cities like Brazil, Venice and the Canary Islands will delight thousands of people celebrating one of the most fun and delirious festivals in the world: the Carnival.

They are not the only unique places which enjoy a noteworthy Carnival. Paris celebrates an enviable Carnival too!

The city of lights has given life to a former carnival custom which dates back to the Middle Ages until in 1952 it was interrupted due to organizational problems. It was reactivated by the “Right to Culture Association” in 1997 and is now more much stronger than ever! The Parisian Carnival enjoys a wide acceptance throughout the city, though it is not well known in the rest of the world.

Nowadays, the Parisian Carnival is a great event: the streets are filled with colours, music, costumes and masks. The star of the show is the same as ever; a huge cow called “Pimprenelle”, which heads the long parade that goes from Gambetta Square to the Town Hall.

This year Paris has a Cosmic Carnival theme with Astronauts and Aliens. Thousands of astronauts and aliens will enjoy the musicians and artists performances that have been hired especially for the occasion.

The Carnivals enjoy a unique atmosphere where everything is fun: associations, cultural centres and citizens. Everybody wants to have a great time at the Carnival! Despite the Parisian Carnival being of small international recognition, more than 400.000 people will meet in the Parisian Carnival parade.

The old regional traditions are gaining strength in the French capital. Increasingly, more people dress up, regardless of their age. Take your best astronaut costume and go to the Parisian Universe for this spectacular Carnival. You’ll dance more than ever and of course you’ll have fun like never before! To give your feet a break why not rent apartments in Paris to relax after the festivities.

We all know Paris as the city of the lights, of love, of Haute Cuisine, Shopping and first of all we know Paris as the city of the museums. The French capital is one of the favourite destinations for a lot of tourists because of the delicious cuisine, the historical monuments, the charming districts or only because of the romantic streets. The Centre Pompidou is one of the most spectacular cultural centres in the world. Sit back, relax and discover the Musée National d´Art Moderne, the national museum of contemporary art!

The Centre Georges Pompidou not only stands out in the landscape of cultural centres in Paris because of its impressive architecture, but also because of the huge amount of cultural activities. Thanks to those once young and unknown architects named Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, the Centre Pompidou enjoys a wonderful creative design. We have all perhaps seen pictures of that unusual and gigantic building without having visited the museum. We all recognise those big tubes, the stairs which are outside of the building, the huge escalator, which is also known as the big “glass caterpillar” or the vast quantity of different colours.

The Centre Beaubourg, the original name which was later renamed to The Pompidou Centre, was inaugurated on 31st January in 1977. In the past, the famous market of Les Halles used to be in this area. Nevertheless due to the former President George Pompidou this area with economical and social problems was transformed into a dynamic and active centre. If you want to discover the French capital, then you will find the Centre Pompidou near to Les Halles and Le Marais, the famous districts known for the vivid and explosive nightlife especially for the gay public. You can spend all day long in the Centre Pompidou without getting bored.

The Pompidou offers you a big public library (la Bibliothèque publique d´information), the National Museum of Modern Art which concerns itself with contemporary art done after 1905, a lot of spectacles and a huge variety of different concerts. If you want to relax a little bit from all the new impressions, why don’t you have something to drink or eat in the restaurant Georges which is situated on the 6^th floor?The Centre Pompidou doesn’t offer you only cultural treasures, but also a gastronomical culmination. You can enjoy the most delicious French food in a pleasant and young atmosphere.

Moreover the creative decoration of this restaurant, as well as the wonderful view over the city of lights makes you feel like a king, drinking coffee on the terrace of his palace. Besides it should be mentioned that there are a lot of cafeterias where you can have something to drink although you can only enjoy the wonderful view over the French capital in the restaurant George. So what now? Are you still sitting there on your chair in front of the computer? Come on! Book a flight to Paris! Discover the French capital and enjoy the huge amount of cultural offers that the Centre Pompidou offers! For spending fantastic vacations, why don’t you rent an apartments in Paris? With our apartments your stay in Paris will be unforgettable!

France, and more in particular Paris,is the birthplace of the Nouvelle Cuisine and the perfect dining experience. It is also the birthplace of some of the most important chefs in the world. Some delicacies such as the foie, crêpes or Camembert cheese are French products that have been exported to the rest of the world. Undoubtedly, one of Paris’ main attractions is its refined and exclusive gastronomy.

In the 1970’s, a few chefs decided to renew the classic dishes of French aristocracy, giving them a new cosmopolitan touch, but always taking into account their nutritional level. Since them, fresh food is a priority, a thorough elaboration on recipes and unique dishes (the garnishes are served separately). Thus, Paris became the capital of Haute Cuisine.

Many of the world’s most prestigious restaurants are located in the city of lights: Maxim´s, the Tour d’Argent, or the Les Ambassadeurs to name but a few.

It also has the best specialty delicatessen stores where you can find truffles from the Maison de la Truffe, Heriard jams or Kaspar caviar. We know that Haute Cuisine is not affordable for every wallet, but don’t worry because Paris also offers more attainable dishes, especially in the Latin Quarter. On the other hand, there is a regional cuisine that comes from the old rural zones and whose specialty is onion soup.

One of the fundamental elements in Parisian gastronomy is the cheese, whose king happens to be the famous Camembert cheese which has an intense flavour and a soft texture. While there are suitable cheeses for all tastes and all wallets, other Parisian specialities are the breads and the confectionery, where some chefs are real masters. There is also a huge variety among the breads and the pastries.

You have to taste the petit fours, the meringues, the typical fritters or the famous baguettes.

Wine is another indispensable element in fine French cuisine. Among their best drinks you’ll find Burgundy, Cognac and Champagne. The Vin de table is a high-quality and more affordable typical French wine.

Without a doubt, Paris is a gourmets’ paradise. All those food lovers who want to taste the most delicious French delicacies, Paris is the preferred city. If you want to enjoy a perfect stay, rent
Paris Apartments and make it unforgettable.