DID YOU KNOW...

Expatdatingfrance.com is now ready to launch here in France, connecting all English speakers in France. For all the info: expatdatingfrance.com. 

Looking for a yacht job this summer? There are a number of crew positions listed here.

Great news for Americans traveling to Provence! The low-cost airline XL Airways France has announced its new JFK/Marseille/JFK route. When the seasonal flights become fully operational by early June, 2013, they'll be the only direct non-stop flights between the U.S. and Marseille (Marignane or MRS), the major airport in Provence. The start date for JFK/MRS is May 31st. Here's the schedule for now: On Sundays you can fly from New York to Marseille. On Wednesdays, you'll be able to fly in either direction. On Fridays, you can fly from Marseille to New York. Starting May 13, 2013, the Paris-based airline will also fly direct non-stop between New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). For all the info, click here.

Just Provence is now including a meal prepared by a personal chef with many of their Provence rentals in spring and fall. For one gorgeous rental house in St. Remy that's included in the offer, click here. For the Just Provence website, click here.

You can now get Starbucks coffee and other products by mail in France. My friend just placed her first order at Starbucksstore.fr on Sunday and had her favorite coffee at her home in Cannes on Wednesday.

A new wellness oasis has opened in the heart of the French capital. Located in what were originally the stables of Prince Roland Bonaparte’s hôtel particulier, the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris’s new retreat includes fitness facilities, an indoor pool with an outdoor terrace and a beauty treatment center. The transformation of the space is a tribute to the creative vision of interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, the hotel’s long-time collaborator. According to Alain Borgers, the hotel GM: “The space, as conceived by Pierre-Yves Rochon, is the culmination of several years’ consideration, as well as renovations carried out with the highest respect for this place and its heritage, both past and present.'' The Shangri-La Paris is in the 16th arrondissement, in the former private home of Prince Roland Bonaparte, grand-nephew of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Now restored to its original splendor, the landmark building retains its residential heritage, offering 81 rooms and suites, nearly half of which have views over the Seine and the Eiffel Tower. For more info about the new wellness center, click here or call:+33(0)1 53 67 19 78. For info about the hotel, click here.  

Thinking of settling in Monaco? A new booklet called“Settling in the Principality of Monaco” has been published in English by the Principality’s Monaco Welcome & Business Office. All the information is also available for download on the Internet. Click here.  

After seven years in the South of France, English-owned outfit Diamond Diving has recently been awarded PADI 5IDC Resort status. Diamond Diving is based in Golfe Juan (between Cannes and Antibes), just a half an hour away from Nice Airport. In addition to the Instructor Development, Diamond Diving prides itself on the quality of other PADI courses from Discover Scuba Diving right through to DiveMaster, how well they look after small groups (maximum 12 divers) and of course the high quality of fun local diving. For info diamonddiving.net is the website.  

Author Sheron Long, who wrote Dog Trots Globe: To Paris and Provence, is offering a free download of her e-book Sniffing Around Provence. If you enjoy humorous adventure stories, travelogues, or photo-essays, you'll love following Chula the Sheltie in this fun family read suitable for all ages. Sniffing Around Provence is a fun escape for dog lovers and anyone interested in experiencing a slice of French life and culture. Get the free download here. 

Eurostar, the high-speed passenger service linking London and mainland Europe, has introduced a new quiet coach facility on-board all of its trains for travel from September 2012. Passengers booking Business and Standard Premier tickets for travel from September 11th onwards can choose a seat at no extra cost in a dedicated quiet coach at the time of booking. This service is being introduced in direct response to customer requests for the option of a quieter environment in which to work or wind down during their journey. Throughout June, Eurostar is also offering business customers an itinerary of exclusive events in all of its business lounges. With afternoon tea, beer tasting and spa treatments all scheduled this month, the special, hand-picked collection will help business travellers escape work for a few moments and indulge in the local culture. Events on offer in June include cocktail evenings (St Pancras), massages and other spa treatments (St. Pancras), afternoon tea (St Pancras), pastry chef workshops (St Pancras), wine tasting (Paris Nord) and more. For more info or to book, click here.  

The British Council will open a new English Language Centre in Marseille in September, 2012 offering a broad range of courses for children ages 6 to 17 and for adults. All British Council teachers have at least a first degree and a qualification in English language teaching. Courses for children take students from beginner to proficiency, offering them the chance to take the Cambridge ESOL exams. These courses will run during the school year (30 or 60 hours) and intensively during the school holidays. Courses for adults will include: General English, Business English, Preparation for IELTS and Cambridge exams as well as more specialised professional English language for Legal and Financial English courses. These will run on the basis of 30 hours over 8-week periods throughout the year. For more info, click here.

Great opportunity! SolarShare can help you get a free solar PV (photo voltaic) system installed on your roof in Provence, thanks to current tax credits and subsidies. SolarShare is a non-profit promoting solar PV energy in Provence. The group financially aids and facilitates the installation of rooftop panels on private homes. For more info, click here.

Lausanne-educated hotel director seeks hotel (or other exciting) position in Provence, preferably in or near St. Remy. He has 20-plus years experience managing four- and five-star properties and is fully bi-lingual in French and English. For more info, click here or call 06-77-09-14-33.  

Daniela Loretz has left the Hotel de l'Image (St. Remy) and set up her own reflexology, acupressure massage and yoga relaxation studio at #15, Place de la Republique in St. Remy. It's a great central location with plenty of parking. Small-group yoga classes will be priced at 120€ for ten one-hour sessions. Massage is 60€ per hour and packages are available. Daniela can be reached at 06-60-77-64-66 or loretzdaniela@yahoo.com or danielaloretz.com. She speaks English, French and German.

Sabrina Sadeghi Millecamps has set up shop teaching yoga in St. Remy. Trained in New York City, she is certified by Yoga Alliance and has taught in New York, Aspen and Paris. Sabrina is American and is fully bi-lingual. For info, schedules, pricing and more, see her website here or contact her at: sabrinadarya@hotmail.com.

Aurelien Cottet has launched a website called The American Clubs, filled with all sorts of English-language events in France. He also runs job listings, classifieds and more. To see the latest edition, click here. To sign up for the free newsletter, click here. To contact Aurelien directly: contact@theamericanclubs.com.

The Marseille Chapter of Democrats Abroad France is launching a women's caucus in Marseille. They are looking for candidates to chair this caucus. Send names to: pamela.king@free.fr. For more info on the caucus, click here.