 Expats
Living in France - As one of the
largest countries in Europe, France features a rich and diverse history,
culture, and geography. While the French are famously defensive about maintaining
their “French identity,” it is not at all singular. Influences range from
Ionic Greek in what is today Marseilles; to Celtic rein over ancient Gaul;
to Roman conquest of southern France and the eventual spreading of Roman
cultural influences throughout the country; to incursions by various Germanic
tribes, most notably the Franks, from east of the Rhine; to Celtic Briton
settlement of Brittany in the northwest. Figures such as Charlemagne, Joan
of Arc, Cardinal Richelieu, The Sun King Louis XIV, and Napoleon Bonaparte
stand as icons of a storied French history, and the Eiffel Tower stands
out among the world’s most recognizable symbols, representing all of the
vibrancy and romance of Paris, the City of Lights. The geography
of France holds as much diversity as the culture does. The posh Riviera
in the south, the stark limestone cliffs of Normandy in the north, and
the lovely Atlantic beaches of the southwestern coast offer beach-going
experiences that seem worlds apart. In the southeast, the Alps and the
Massif Central mountain ranges are cut through by the Rhone River Valley.
Whereas this river flows west out of Switzerland and then south to the
Mediterranean, the Seine, the Loire, and the Garonne Rivers feed the rich
agricultural landscapes throughout the rest of France, with the different
regions producing the many varieties of wines, cheeses, and other gastronomical
wonders that enrich the refined French palate. In the southwest, the Pyrenees
divide France from Spain, while the northeast is an economic and cultural
crossroads with strong German influences as well as connections with Belgium
and Luxembourg. |
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 Living
In Marseille - The Hippest Spot - by Tanja Bulatovic
- If you’ve ever dreamt of living in France, and you don’t want to
live in the middle of nowhere where the sun never shines, (north-west &
central France) then this could very well be your last opportunity. I’m
so certain of this fact; I’m trying to convince my own mother of retiring
here. She currently lives in Australia and I know what you’re thinking,
but we’re talking about affordability and quality of life here. With that
in mind, I have to admit that France comes out on top. Now, that’s a big
statement coming from an Australian girl, but I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t
mean it. There’s only one catch. If you (and my mum) wish to claim
your little piece of French paradise, you need to do it before 2013, which
is when the rest of the world will catch on. By then it’ll be too late.
Whether you’re looking for a home or simply a good investment, here’s the
scoop. Marseille is the current hot spot and there’s never been a better
time than the present. |
 Living
In France Made Simple by Tanja Bulatovic
- Once upon a time we had four eBooks on EscapeArtist.com about different
aspects of Living In France; how to live in France and write, how to find
real estate in France, how to find good restaurants in France, how to live
in Paris, how to find bargains, and so on. The combined price of those
ebooks was $80. A bit much for information even if it was decent information.
In the past year we've featured the articles & photographs of Tanja
Bulatovic on the website. She lives in France in the city of Marseille.
In fact she wrote an article on Marseille which has proven to be one of
our more popular articles, Living In Marseille - The Hippest Spot - She's
lived in Australia, Germany, the Philippines, Montenegro and a dozen other
spots. She is an expat par excellence, not only living in other nations
but learning the languages of the nations she lives in. What an eBook
she wrote! There are many reasons why people decide to move to France.
They include the attractions of what is seen as a gentler pace of life,
the sheer size of the country and the wide choice of potential areas in
which to live, the varied scenery and favorable climate especially in the
south, opportunities for sport and recreation that are available and easily
accessible, France's excellent health and education systems, the choice
between the countryside or Paris and many other vibrant medium sized French
towns, and in many cases the availability of attractive properties that
cost less than their equivalents in other parts of the world. -
Read
Living In France Made Simple and you'll live in France! |
 Living
in Paris – The Great Escape -
Have you ever wanted to escape or at least dreamt of escaping your hum-drum
life? Every woman I know has wanted to at some point in their lives. For
most it has been just a dream while others have tried and failed. Still,
a few lucky others have escaped and lived to tell about it, their lives
intact. I escaped first to Paris and then later to a small village near
Bordeaux. There is something about living in a foreign country that allows
you to see the world anew and from a different perspective. Living overseas
rejuvenates the soul and arouses a child-like curiosity as you delight
in all that is fresh to your eye. I don’t know exactly why this happens
but maybe it’s because fewer people know you in your new location, the
phone doesn’t ring as much and you can’t fully understand the TV, which
encourages you to spend more time outside. There are new discoveries and
adventures to be had each day even if you are just going to the market.
My adventure started back in 1989 on a trip to France with my husband.
We’d only been married two years, but we took a grand tour of France, starting
at my sister’s house in Aveyron, then on to Bordeaux, Cognac, the Loire
and Paris. |
 Lake
Annecy: In the Beautiful French Alps - waterfront property with European
flair - If you’re looking for
active lakefront living in one of the most beautiful countries in the world,
then look no further than gorgeous Lake Annecy in France. Nestled
between the rugged and pristine mountains of the French Alps and just 30
miles away from the Geneva border, Lake Annecy is a French treasure waiting
for the world to discover it. Mountainous shorelines, a slower pace
of life and 24/7 access to wonderful French amenities and activities make
Lake Annecy a popular choice for international waterfront property. It’s
estimated that Lake Annecy formed over 18,000 years ago during the last
Ice Age, when the alpine glaciers melted to form this aqueous paradise
on Earth. Smaller rivers that wind through the Alps continue to feed
this glacial lake, which gives the water a crystal-clear appearance that’s
unrivalled by any other lake in France. Lake Annecy is also
unique in that it’s one of the few European lakes that’s fed by an underground
source (known to the locals as the Boubioz), which makes this lake particularly
resilient against droughts. Lake Annecy is the second-largest lake in France,
after Lake Geneva. Considering the larger size of the lake (2,800
hectares, or 6,918 acres), the waters of Lake Annecy are not very deep,
as it only has an average depth of 45 meters, or 147 feet. The deepest
part of Lake Annecy maxes out at 64 meters, or 2009 feet. |
 Paris
Rental Apartment: It May Be Small, But It’s Smart
- In the Paris apartment rental game, it’s not how large the apartment
is that increases rates or occupancy…but how many the apartment can accommodate.
A studio apartment of 20 square meters or less rarely can accommodate more
than two, but an apartment of approximately 30 square meters can accommodate
up to four, often in two rooms (two in the bedroom with two in the living
room on a sleeper sofa), rather than one large studio. Accommodating four
means your rental rate increases — not by double, but by about 150% of
the rate of two-person accommodations. If you’ve paid 50% more for the
apartment, then your return on investment for each is comparable. Your
decision to purchase a 20 square-meter studio may be purely financial —
in that your initial investment is lower by the cost of a smaller space.
Keep in mind that renovation/decoration for 20 square meters can be almost
identical to the cost of renovation/decoration for 30 square meters. Why?
Because the most expensive parts of renovation are the bathrooms and kitchens
which require expensive fixtures and appliances. |
 What’s
the Best Property Investment You Can Make in France?
- It’s a good question…and one that most lovers of France and investors
ask themselves: what’s the best property investment you can make in France?
Fortunately there are several great ways to invest in France, all of which
are different, yield different results and satisfy different needs. Therefore
there should be at least one which fits your goals and desires. 1. Single
ownership is one of the best ways to yield a high return. If you purchase
an apartment, home in the country, village house, château or other
kind of abode to live in yourself, then you will reap the enjoyment of
the property and whatever appreciation takes place over the years of usage
while costing little to own and maintain. Property taxes in France are
relatively very low and affordable, and if you own the property more than
15 years, no capital gains tax will be due. 2. Should you decide
to rent the property when you are not using it, depending on your rental
yields, you can earn as much as 10% of the value of the property each year
(before taxes), while still having the pleasure of usage. There is no question
that in terms of strictly financial gains, this is by far the most profitable
way to invest in France. Many variables will affect your profit success,
but if done correctly, will out-perform all other kinds of investments. |
 EscapeArtist
Expat Taxes Newsletter - Individuals have been leaving their own land to
seek opportunities elsewhere since the dawn of mankind -
But it has only been since the development of the modern nation-state,
and its taxation of the worldwide income of its citizen-residents, that
expatriation has taken on significant tax consequences. One of the first
tax advisors to appreciate the potential tax savings of expatriation was
my friend and colleague, Marshall Langer J.D., a valued member of The Sovereign
Society Council of Experts. Langer is an international tax attorney and
the respected author of several major international tax treatises. He is
also the daring creator of a now out-of-print book, The Tax Exile Report.
This title gained international notoriety when the late U.S. Senator Daniel
Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.), red-faced and angry, waived a copy of the book
at a televised Senate hearing, denouncing it as “a legal income tax avoidance
plan.” - Escapeartist has hatched a new partnership with Global Wealth
Protection that will set the standard for authoritative information on
Asset Protection, International Banking and Wealth Management and with
a number of accountants, lawyers and bookkeepers that know the laws regarding
expat taxes, how to do your income tax, which form to use, and which services
understand the complexity of expat concerns. Simply put, the EscapeArtist
Expat Taxes Newsletter portal will provide a wealth of information
that will show you ways to save on taxes . . . and then some. |
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 Passion
Play In Paris - Paris, the Grand Damme of expatriate havens by Robin Sparks
- In Tropic of Cancer, Henry Miller feels himself “drawn back again
to the proper precincts of the human world” (Paris) from the
death-in-life of the mechanized city of New York. He wrote, “Even
as the world falls apart the Paris that belonged to Matisse shudders with
a bright, gasping orgasms, the air itself is steady with a stagnant sperm,
the trees tangled like hair.” Hoo Boy, I mean Oh-La-La. All of you Lovers
out there, how ‘bout we just charter a flight to Paris right now? Today
there are approximately 200,000 Americans living in Paris according to
expat David Applefield who publishes the literary journal FRANK. He says
that many of the factors that pulled writers and artists from former lives
during the twenties, thirties, forties, and fifties -- freedom from moral
judgment and censorship, overt racism, Puritanical values on sexuality,
crass consumerism, an attractive exchange rate, are barely valid in Paris
today. |
 When
in Paris, Do as the Parisians - Tips on How to Get the Best Deals in Paris
by Rachel Kaplan - I also am a big fan of
the Monoprix chain where under a single roof you can find all sorts of
goodies ranging from gourmet food gifts to lovely silk scarves that are
virtually Hermès knockoffs. On my most recent trip, I bought some
lovely matching bras and panty sets on sale, fine cotton ribbed socks and
some lipstick by the same company that makes Chanel products for half the
price. If you have long hair that you like to tie back in a bow,
or wear with a headband, Monoprix is also your best bet for both quality
and price. Even their sweaters and jeans are nice for casual wear, and
their children’s clothing is definitely worth looking at. Best of
all, the size of these stores, which are in every arrondissement in Paris,
makes it a pleasure to visit, unlike department stores, which tend to be
exhausting. Most people don’t realize this, but thirty percent of the retail
sales in Paris is done during a six-week biannual period called “les soldes.”
They usually start the first week in January and in the second week in
June. If you are enterprising and love French clothes, try to schedule
a week in Paris to get the best deals on designer clothes and accessories.
Or, if you can’t schedule in a trip during those times, head for the designer
resale shops where you can find gently used clothes and accessories by
Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Yves St. Laurent, and Sonia Rykiel, to name a few. |
 A
French Lesson - Moving To France - My wife
and I moved to Mainxe, a small hamlet in the Charente, in October 2003.
Try looking it up on a map and you’ll struggle as it only consists of a
few houses and a church some 10 km’s outside Saintes (the twin town of
Salisbury). Quite a move as, in my previous life, I worked in the
heart of the West End while my wife stayed at home to look after Holly
(aged 5) and Katie (3). One of the major reasons for moving to France was
so that I would have more time to spend with my family. We also wanted
our children to grow up in an area where people weren’t so focused on money
and property. We had some close friends in the UK but it’s just so difficult
to escape the cycle of big houses, expensive cars, long hours and whopping
great mortgages. The French property buying process is extremely
safe and secure, with various in-built mechanisms designed to protect the
buyer. The main sources of properties include estate agents, whose activities
are strictly controlled by French law. French estate agents are licensed
by the Departmental Prefecture and must carry professional liability insurance,
usually provided by one of their membership associations FNAIM or SNPI
(you will recognise the distinctive signs in the agent's window). |
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 Real
Estate Made Easy in Nice, France - Nice is
one of the most visited cities on the planet and a city where real estate
is taking off again as more and more foreigners are swarming to the sunny
skies and gorgeous landscapes of Nice. Downhill skiing is only ninety minutes
away; the southern coast of France is absolutely sumptuous with gardens,
palm trees, exceptional ocean views, entertainment galore, sightseeing,
amusement parks, golf and on and on and on!! For the cultural vacationers
and residents, there is architecture, museums, art galleries, theaters,
operas, ballets, fine dining, and wine tasting for everyone’s tastes... |
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 Apartment
In Paris - Finding A Place To Enjoy Your Time In Paris
- A French friend of mine, Roget, once said to me that to experience France
to its fullest, you must live there, and not temporarily, but through each
season of one year to see how the country, the people and the language
change. Witnessing change is an important, if not imminent, facet of travel.
We don’t often recognize that culture changes with the seasons, and why
would we? Most of our travel is temporary and those places where we choose
make our homes are often dulled by the unfortunate opiate of permanence.
To a European, the notion of making a home elsewhere, as an experiment
in adventure or romance, isn’t as daunting as it is for an American.. |
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 France:
Buying a Car for Our Barge ~ “You’re lucky
the police didn’t stop you,” the young man behind the rental car counter
in Dijon says to me. “This car has been reported as stolen. You are
very lucky.” He shakes his head. Now, to someone whose only brush
with the law was a speeding ticket twenty-two years ago, I receive the
news with equanimity. After all, I have righteous indignation on my side.
True, we’ve kept the rental car longer than the original contract stated,
but I’ve called the Paris airport rental office on three different occasions
to postpone the return date. I explain this to the young man after he shows
me two faxes from his Paris office stating that for two weeks the car has
been on a list of stolen vehicles. He appears to believe me and again shakes
his head. “Those people in Paris,” he says. “They don’t know what
they’re doing.” |
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 Paris
~ For An Escapeartist - When the sun
rises and sets, it's thinking of Paris. So should we all. Paris is not
only a mindset; it's a memory of something deep inside of us, of love,
of faith, of the grand expectations of civilization. Often, this is simply
called romance. And what isn't romantic about a place so grand, that each
alleyway, each square, and each small, hidden, fountain-graced Place is
beset with its own memories and mysteries, its own essential facet of a
une belle époque? Afternoon in the Place des Vosges with a Bourgogne
Aligoté, chevre and basil tart, and raisin-berry pastries. There
are children and old men dressed in suits, families playing the grass,
and a young couple arguing over a game of chess. |
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Le
Bout du Monde 5 - “There are too many
damned Brits for my liking." Thus wrote my oft-quoted friend Peter
in an email to me on his recent return from the UK to our tiny village
of Cansal. He has been staggered during the last year to find so
many planeloads of Brits on the new direct, year-round cheap flight from
Manchester to Perpignan. (Unlike me Peter is a very sociable traveller
and manages to tease out life stories from half a dozen fellow passengers
during these two hour journeys plus all the tedious waiting around in airport
lounges. Whereas I, miserable so-and-so, on my very rare trips to
Blighty, always bury my head in a book and grunt if anyone tries to engage
me in conversation.) Basil Howitt reports on the hoards of Brits invading
the Pyrénées Orientales (and elsewhere), and rails against
unwanted visitors who invade his little patch of paradise at Le Bout du
Monde. He is also bewitched by a Woman in White at a festival of grilled
scallions “grown on steroids and viagra”.
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Teaching
in France: Major Possibilities - Teaching
abroad could launch a new life in the country of your dreams.
Although many Americans and native English speakers worldwide are aware
of private school employers in countries like China, Korea, Japan, and
Taiwan, the French government is always looking for dedicated teachers
to help students learn to speak better English. - Freelancing
in France: What You Need to Know - Whether or not you already work
as a freelance in your own country, being one in France is a whole new
adventure. The culture, the language, the tax and social schemes,
the red tape, everything is different. And you do not want to underestimate
the importance of understanding and adjusting to those differences!
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 Privacy
Is A Psychological Necessity - If we do not have the right to privacy,
we do not own the rights to our own lives
- An excellent selection of important articles about Privacy, how we're
losing it, how to regain it, how to protect it. We believe these articles
are very important. If you want to continue to live free, these articles
are crucial. Articles About Protecting Your Privacy Appear Monthly In Our
Overseas Lifestyles Magazine - EFAM - Escape From America Magazine, the
Expat Magazine for those who want to move overseas, and those who have.
- It's the international lifestyle magazine that provides real information
on what it takes to live abroad, including articles on International Relocation,
Overseas Retirement, Residency, Privacy, 2nd Passports, Jobs Overseas,
International Real Estate ... |
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Is A Good Idea |
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 EscapeArtist
Asset Protection Newsletter -
Live & Invest Offshore - Get the real facts from the best; including
Doug Casey, Bobby Casey, Bob Matthews, Global Asset Advisors, Inc., Jeff
Schneider CPA, PassportIRA and more of the best international investment
advisors. |
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 Guess
what makes Escape Dates different ?
- Single, Married, interested in growing your international
network of friends, now you can travel the world, and make money searching
for the perfect mates with EscapeDates international singles and social
networking community. EscapeDates has fused an online dating and social
networking community, with a unique income opportunity that pays members
to build their friend and social networks. Escapeartist.com, the largest
website in the world for international living and overseas jobs recently
launched EscapeDates and is well position to becoming a leader in the international
dating industry. |
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 Introducing
Spiritual Journeys - Enlightened Experiences for the Soul! By Mahira Amir
Khan -
I am honored to announce the launch of our new magazine SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS.
The birth of this online publication arrives perfectly timed for the advent
of the year 2012. The year that has been prophesied and spoken of as a
turning point in humankind's evolution. The ancient cultures of the Hopis
and the Mayans, speak of the window of divinity that opens for us now,
a shift of the ages that will activate our deepest potential. Life as we
know it today, will never be the same again. |
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 Make
Money Overseas - How? Watch The EscapeArtist Country Program Video
- I have had an excessive amount of inquiries on the EscapeArtist
Country Program and because I have not been able to respond to all of them
I have produced a video for you explaining the program. If you have an
interest in securing an exclusive license program after watching this video
please send us some information on the specific experience that qualifies
you to secure the license and which license or country you are interested
in. The minimum upfront cash requirement is USD $11,250 to get a portal
launched. Before we begin the process of licensing and training we will
require proof of funds. We are building success stories every month with
Escapeartist. - Read what our Escapeartist Partners are saying about their
success . . . |
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 To
learn more about Living & Investing in France request our FREE report:
- France is the #1 investment destination in Europe and has doubled its
investments in the last ten years with twice as many foreign companies
relocating their base of operations to France totaling 23,463 foreign companies
and employing 2.3 million people. Not only is France the world's most favored
tourist destination, UNCTAD ranks France as the third-leading recipient
of foreign direct investment in the world in 2009, receiving US $65 billion
in foreign investment flows, second only the United States (US $136 billion)
and China. - Free
Report For Immediate Download |
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 Food
Lifestyle Photography From France & The World - The Blog Of Tanja Bulatovic
- Every Wednesday is organic market day in Cours Julien - a trendy little
suburb in Marseille packed with second hand book stores, cafés,
kiddy playgrounds, gorgeous fountains, street art and gypsy's playing well-worn
tunes for some spare coin. I like hanging out there because the people
seem somehow different - less polished, more rough around the edges, interesting,
bohemian, relaxed. Going to the Bio Market feels like belonging to a secret
club. People brush past you and smile with that ethereal glint in their
eye. You know...the kind that emanates from behind the eyes. As if to say...
"Hi. I see you. I know you. We're the same."- Belly,
Heart & Soul |
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 Medical
Tourism In France Safe Overseas Medical Tourism
Offshore Medical Tourism WorldWide. Find Safe Clinics, Read Reviews, Active
Discussion posts. Members and providers can communicate directly and exchange
information freely. |
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