1. Photos of Participants
2. Photos we took of the City and Environs
3. Photos of schools and PMQ area

Full Resolution Versions of the above photos as well as all submitted photos suitable for download and printing are available on  this Picasa Photo Page.

The task of populating these galleries is a work in progress as I get time to go through submitted photos.

Submitting Additional Photos

Participants are also invited to go through their photos and submit potential additions. I’m suggesting rhe following procedure:

• Check what’s already in the gallery and submit photos which either show something new or are an improvement over what’s there.
• Submit your photos. See this post for details.
• Hopefully, no one will object if I exercise my judgment on which photos to include. I think they should be representative and of good quality

My plan, and I hope you’ll agree, is to keep the number of photos posted to a reasonable number. So perhaps you would consider the following:

• Look at what’s already posted and only submit photos which either don’t duplicate what’s already there or are an improvement on what’s there
• Please provide caption information if it’s not obvious
• Give me the liberty to choose what to post

Processing

If you know how, I would be grateful if you would process your photo to show it in its best light (cropping, colour adjustment, et.).  Otherwie, I will do it. Please indicate if you don’t want me to do any processing.

How to Submit

For those of you who know how to upload to an ftp server, please use this method. Create a folder with your name or something identifiable and put your photos in it. Then send me an email and tell me you’ve done it along with any caption or other information. Here is the log in information:

ftp Sever: ftp.navereau.ca

User Name: metzphotos

Password: 2009reunion

Otherwise, just send your photos as attachments to one or more emails. I will acknowledge receipt so you’ll know they were received.

Whichever means you use, please send the image in high enough resolution to be printed as some people may want to print copies. If this makes no sense to you, just send them the way they came out of the camera.

Finally, don’t send any photos that you regard as copyrighted.

The change?

Most of us hated the metzbrats name. There was a reason for it but I won’t go into that. Our site URl is now www.navereau.ca.

So we don’t lose people, anyone trying to connect to metzbrats.org will be redirected to this site for at least the next few months.

There could be some broken links or other issues because of the change. Please report any issues to the webmaster.

Stay Connected

This site may become largely an archive although activity could pick up if some group decides to organize another reunion. If you want to keep informed or allow people to be able to contact you, consider the following:

• So you don’t have to keep checking, you can receive automatic notifications of new postings on this site or the Message Board. See links on left sidebar or click click here.
• If you have not already subscribed to the Newsletter, you might want to do so as we will use this for any impoortant announcemenst such as another reunion. See the link on the left sidebar or click here.
• Adding your name to the GNS database gives you the opportunity to make your email address available to your old friends who might want want to contact you. This works. Just a few weeks ago I heard from one of my class mates and this was 7 years after the site went up.

If you list yourself on the database or subscribe to the Message Board or website, please remember to modify your entry if your email address changes.

No commitments were made to a future reunion but I think everyone who attended would urge you to vist Metz sometime. It’s a wonderful city. The intention is to post some information to help you plan a trip to Metz. This will include general information as well as some stuff oriented to former Navereau students.

Click here to Enlarge Photo and see Caption

Former Students, Spouses and Guests during Walking Tour with Jaques Delisle

Sorry that you don’t all look your best but it was hard to get everyone to stand still. Good pictures of former students below except Joan is hidden (but she’s right in the front in the above photo)

Click here to Enlarge Photo and see Caption

Former Students on the Steps of the Chateau

I can relate to how his names came about as it is not that different from the very Catholic south coast of Newfoundland whre Marilyn comes from. If there is interest, I will translate this

The Who’s Coming list is now close to final with all but two on list having reconfirmed. The total number of attendees (including spouses and guests) currently stands at 43.

We are still waithing for official approval to include a visit to the Chateau on the bus tour.

Doug

PS

Marilyn and I will be biking from Paris to Metz for the reunion. You can see the route on our website and, where the  internet is available, we will provide updates during the trip.

Please use comments to add information or ask additional questions.

France is not the Country it was in the 50s and 60s

Back then, many aspects of life in France seemed a little behind the times or quaint — not so any more. It’s a modern country with great infrastructure (with the odd idiosyncracy like stand up toilets in some places). In many ways they are ahead of us in North America.

Getting to Paris and to Metz

See my previous post on this.

Getting Around France

Unless you intend to explore the countryside, take the train (A previous post contains some general information on buying train tickets in France.). They are fast and not expensive. A car can be nice in the country but in cities parking and traffic is such a nuisance that you might wish you didn’t have it. I haven’t rented a car in years but, if you do,you should probably book it in advance.My understanding is that your Canadian driver’s license is fine (i.e.International License not needed). If you want to explore just one region, you might find it easier to take the train there and rent a car for a few days. This can be done at the same website you buy train tickets (www.voyages-sncf.com).

If you do drive, you will find The Michelin Travel Site very useful for directions, hotels and restaurants. For those of you interested, it is also useful fro planning bike and walking routes. In fact, I used it to plan the trip Marilyn and I will take by bike from Paris  to Metz for the Reunion.

Packing and Dress

Pack light as it’s a lot easier to get around. Unless you go to very high class places you’ll never feel you need a jacket or dress — and maybe not even then. I just don’ go to these places and don’t know.

Money

I’m sure most of you know that France, like virtually all of Europe, uses the Euro (current worth just under $1.55 Canadian). In general I would take little or no cash as I find you lose a lot by converting your dollars into Euros as a cash exchange. In my view, you get a much better rate if you take cash from ATMs as needed while in France and use credit cards for some larger expenses. I have gone with as little as no cash as there are ATMs right in the aeroport; but, if it makes you feel more comfortable, take 50 to 100 Euros. If you have a credit card with Chip and PIN capability (See my previous post), you can use it to buy your train ticket to Paris (or wherever) at a machine so you won’t need cash till you get there.

With respect to ATMs note the following:

• They are much more plentiful than in Canada
• It is simple to select English instructions if you have trouble with French
• If your PIN is not four digits long, change it before you go as they only accept four digit PINS
• Cash withdrawals always come from your chequing account (i.e. you are not asked for the account); so make sure you have enough money for your trip in your chequing account. A friend of mine learned this the hard way as she couldn’t get a penny until she transferred money to her chequing account.

Electricity

France like the rest of Europe operates on 220 Volts. While it is possible to take transformers to convert 220 Volts to the 110 we use, I suggest that you only take stuff that works on 220 (virtually all camera, MP3, computer battery chargers and the like, many electric razors and hair dryers do). Assuming your stuff works on 220 volts, you need a plug adaptor that looks like the one in the photo

You should be able to find these easily in a store that sells travel stuff. If, by any chance you are going to the UK, you need a different kind of adaptor or there are universal ones you can buy.

Restaurants

Menus

If you are planning more than one course, you are just about always better off ordering from a fixed price menu consisting usually of a choice of Appetizers, Main Courses and Dessert. See Menus for Reunion as typical examples. Often in Brasseries and Cafes you will see the day’s special (Plat du Jour) displayed on a chalkboard and menus (Formules) of Plat du Jour plus entree or dessert. The Plat du Jour is also available alone.

If you just want something light like a sandwich, look for cafes that serve them. This will be difficult for the evening meal as many of the cafes don’t serve food then.

Tipping

In France, tips in restaurants and bars are almost always  included in the bill. There is no need to add anything but it is normal to leave something if you are happy with the service. Avoid the temptation to leave 15% or whatever. Here’s some good guidance from David Lebovitz, an American pastry Chef in Paris

“Tips are always included in the amount shown on the check. In Paris, it’s fine to round-up in smaller restaurants, such as if the check is 19€, it’s okay to leave 1€ extra if you get very good service, but never required. In general, it’s acceptable to leave up to 5% extra for very attentive service. But some Parisians get upset that Americans leave generous tips, rightfully fearing it will lead to future earnings expectations.”

You might enjoy his blog at www.davidlebovitz.com/.

I even did some personal research. At great personal sacrifce, I sat at the bar of a Paris cafe one night and watched people pay and I can assure you that there were no big tips — and, in most cases, none.

L’addition!

If you ever read about a North American dying of starvation in a French restaurant, it will have nothing to do with the food. He just never asked for the bill. It is considered bad form to bring the bill (l’addition) until the customer asks. Just saying you’re finished isn’t enough; you have to ask specifically for the bill.

The good news about the bill is that nothing is added on. If you ordered two menus at 15 Euros and a half litre of wine at 8 Euros, your bill will be 38 Euros. The tax and service were included in the price on the menu. This is unlike most of Canada where ther will be 15% or so tax and whatever tip you leave on top of the posted price. Keep that in mind when comparing prices.

Hotels

The Star System

France has an official star system going from one to four stars. They have more to do wih amenities (number of rooms with bath, TV channels and so on). Two star hotels are very adequate and usually reasonably priced. three star hotels are often reasonably priced — especially away from Paris.

Booking Hotels

Nowadays it’s pretty easy to book hotels on line although I tend to stay away from the commercial hotel booking sites. I am also somewhat skeptical of most North American guidebooks as they tend to pick particular hotels for no apparent reason. The result is that, if you go to one of the recommended hotels, the only things that seems to differentiate it is the high concentration of North Americans staying there.

Two websites I recommend are:

1. The Michelin Travel Site. This is a very good site and also provides restaurant information, driving directions and so on. Note that hotels and restaurants have to meet a certain standard to be included. The driving directions are particularly useful as you can select the fastest route, scenic routes and even bicycle and walking routes. I actually find this site more useful for planning bike rides than Map My Ride.
2. The Logis de France Website. This is a loosely coupled  hotel chain with coverage everywhere in France. Hotels are in general moderately priced and good quality.

You can book rooms on both these sites although there may be a delay of a day or so to get a confirming email.

Unlike some other sites, it appears that the French and English versions are identical so use whichever language you are comfortable in..

The other way to go at it is through the Official Tourist site of the town, department or region you will be visiting. For example a search on “Champagne” and “Tourisme” will find the official Tourist Office for the region. These sites, they may offer you the ability to book directly or provide contact information for the hotels.

Breakfast

Breakfast is very variable these days. Some offer just the traditional bread, croissants (which is infinitely better than what we in North America call a croissant) and coffee while others have a fairly extensive buffet. Sometimes these are reasonably priced and sometimes not. If possible, I usually book without breakfast and then make up my mind when I get to the hotel.

Amenities

Most rooms in two star hotels have private bathroom facilities but a few may not. Make sure you’re getting what you expect when booking (It should be clearly stated). Note that many rooms have just a shower rather than a bath; so, if a bath is important to you, make sure you choose a room with one.

Not all hotels have elevators; so, if you have a probelm with a few flights of stairs, make sure there is an elevator.It will be indicated on the hotel description.

Hotels in Paris

I am often asked for recommendations on hotels in Paris. As we now rent an apartment when we go, I have seldom stayed in a Paris hotel in the last few years. However, I will make a few suggestions. By the way, the apartment option can be viable for stays as short as three days, although I would suggest that you try to stay a week if you go this way.

Paris hotels can be very expensive, especially in areas like near the Champs Elysees. However,other areas can be quite reasonable. Areas that I have stayed in and would recommend are near the Bastille, near Place de la Republique and Montparnasse. Some areas of the left bank can have reasonable prices.

To find a hotel, I would recommend the websites mentioned above. To this I would add one other  chain. Ibis Hotels are very standard with fairly small but functional and clean rooms and they are typically 70 to 90 Euros in central Paris. (I do note that they are higher than this in early October).

The Paris Tourist Bureau site is also very good and you can book rooms right on this site. They also rate the hotels inn terms of reviews received. I wouldn’t worry about a hotel that has two stars or more and a reasonable approval rate.

Our Tour Guide

Jacques Delisle, a former RCAF member who served in Metz and is now a tour guide there has agreed to help us in various ways icluding leading a walking tour of historic Metz. Here is an article from a Metz publication giving some background on Jacques.

Cost of Events

Restaurant Meals

As you  will see from the detailed schedule below, we plan to eat in a local restaurant on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday lunch. Cost of these meals will be from 20 to 30 Euros each including tips and wine (Typically 1/4 litre). Click here for details on menus and their cost.

Other

The Sunday morning bus tour will cost less than 10 Euros each. We will budget something under 10 Euros each for meals for our guide (who is volunteering his services) and his wife.

Reunion Headquarters Location

Many will be staying at the Hotel de la Cathedrale and some evnts will start from there. You can also contact members of the Organizing Committee (Doug Pincock, Rick Bennett, Joan Murray, Charles Godwin, david Godwin and Tony Himphreys) at the hotel starting Thursday. The hotel is located here.

Program Details

Thursday, Oct 1.

Although the official dates are Oct 2, 3 and 4, many will be arriving during the day of Oct 1. We are proposing that those who want to would meet for drinks and dinner and to organize informal activities for Friday morning.

5:00 to 7:00 pm: Meet at bar of  Hotel de la Cathedrale.

7:30 pm: Supper on your own or you can join group who will be eating at the Hotel (North African cuisine)

Friday Oct 2

Morning: For those who are there in the morning, there will be a few possibilities such as a walking, bike or shopping tours.

5:00 to 6:30 pm: Official Registration at Hotel de la Cathedrale

7:30 pm: Supper at Brasserie ABC (2 Place du General de Gaulle across from the Gare). This is a 1.5 km walk from the Hotel de la Cathedrale (or you can take a taxi)

Saturday Oct 3

9:00 to 12:00: Guided walking tour of historic Metz led by Jacques Delisle leaving from Hotel de la Cathedrale

7:30 pm: Supper at A la Ville de Lyon (9 Rue de Piques) which is located in an old monestary dating back to the 14th century.

Sunday Oct 4

9:00 to 12:30: Bus tour around Metz (itinery to be determined.  We are still working to get access to the Chateau and, if we are successful, this will be part of the tour. As many of you know a regional hopsital is being built on the site so the base buidings are gone but the Chateau is being preserved.

1:00 pm: Lunch at le Montecristo which is located on Place d’Armes very near to the Hotel de la Cathedrale.

Where prices are given, they are in Euros (1 Euro is currently over $1.60 Canadian at time of writing but will hopefully this will change in our favour soon)

Note on Phone Numbers. To call from Canada or the US, you put 011 33 in front of the number and leaveleave out the first zero that’s in brackets.

• Hotel de la Cathedrale: Most people registered are staying here and the rooms may be all gone but, if you want to try, contact Catherine (email:  hotelcathedrale-metz@wanadoo.fr, Phone: (0)3 87 75 00 02 , Fax: (0)3 87 75 40 75) with a credit card number and indicating that you are part of the Ecole General Navereau group. Please note that this hotel has four storeys and no elevator.

• Hotel du Theatre: Contact Mme Najet HADDAD (email:  reception@hoteldutheatre-metz.com, Phone: (0)3 87 31 10, Fax: (0)3 87 30 04 66) with a credit card number and indicating that you are part of the Ecole General Navereau group. They have quoted rates for Bed and Breakfast of 99 Euros including breakfast for a double with a “Superior” room going for 115 Euros (Click here to see quote).

• Ibis Metz Centre Cathedrale: We have made no formal arranegements with this hotel. They will definitely be cheaper than Hotel du theatre and have a nice location as well. It’s probably too early to book (normally they only do it 6 months ahead) but the best way is through the  Ibis Website. If a number of people want this option, just let us know by commenting below and we’ll see if we can arrange a deal. If you book directly, make sure you book the right one as there is more than one Ibis in Metz

Use it for anything related to General Navereau School or the Reunion. For example:

• Recollections from your Metz days
• To find which of your friends are considering going to the reunion
• Make suggestions for the reunion
• To ask others for information on travel, accommodation, restaurants and so on.

So you don’t miss new articles that appear on the main site, a message will be placed on the Board whenever a new one appears. Note that you can arrange to reciev automatic email notification of new content on the Message Board.

The following is extracted from “Using the Message Board”. There is a link to this on the Board itself

Using the Board

This is intended for former students, teachers and friends of General Navereau School. Postings not related to the school, its people, our time in Metz, etc. will be deleted

You don’t have to register to p topics or comments. However, registering gives you acces to some additional features. Two feature sthat might interest you are automatic email notification whenever there is a new post or commnet and the ability to have your photo (”Avatar”) added to each post you make.
If your post is a new topic, simply click on New Topic and write your post. Note that you will be able to edit any post you make for 60 minutes which allows you to correct errors.If you want to add a comment to an existing Topic or Comment, just click on that Topic or Comment.