Volume 4, Issue 1 July 2003
USC School of Architecture ¥ Centre d'Etude d'Architecture et d'Urbanisme ¥ Saintes, France
Each summer since we started the Saintes program, there has been the need to communicate with everyone after school is out in the spring. In order to keep you informed about schedules, meeting times and places, reminders, and general news, we started the "Saintes Newsletter". This is the first issue. We will send more if there is other news. Please read this carefully.
General Reminders
You have a room reserved at the following hotel for the night of Sept 2nd:
HOTEL ROYAL BASTILLE
14, RUE DE LA ROQUETTE 75011 PARIS TEL: 01 48 05 62 47
FAX: 01 49 23 07 58
EMAIL:
hotel royal bastille@hotmail.com
If, for some reason you can't get there on Sept 2nd, please call the hotel and cancel your reservation and leave a message for Gerald Knowles. We will be leaving Paris the next morning for Saintes, via train.
Getting to the Hotel From Charles De Gaulle Airport
Paris has two airports, Orly and Roissy Charles de Gaulle (CDG). Arriving from the US, you will land at CDG. There are two terminals at CDG, different airlines dock at different terminals; you can check in the airline magazine on your plane to see which one your airline uses.
Get some money from an ATM at the airport.
The best way to get to Paris from CDG is by the Air France coaches (big white buses, Les Cars Air France). The fare is about $10 and the trip, depending on the time of day, takes about 40 minutes. The bus makes several stops but be sure to get off at Gare de Lyon (Lyon Train Station). Take a taxi from there to the hotel. Get a taxi at the taxi stop inside the station. You may have to wait a bit, but this is better than the scab taxis outside the station on the street that are known to overcharge tourists. Be sure they turn the meter on and they will charge a bit extra for the bags. There are also several airport shuttle services (check the web), we've used one of them with good results, FAX or make on-line reservations: www.parishuttle.com (FAX 01-43-90-91-10), fare: I person=23 euros, ea; 2-5 persons= 17 euros, ea; 6-8 persons= 15 euros, ea.
The shuttle takes you right to the hotel. There are other ways to get to the city from CDG, including taxi (30-35 euros). You are advised not to use the RER rail link between CDG and downtown Paris. There have been recent US State Department advisories about gangs of thieves preying on jet-Iagged, luggage-burdened tourists on this train.
If You Miss Connections on Sept 2nd
The TGV train to Saintes leaves from Montparnasse station. Get a ticket to Saintes, (direction Bordeaux). Get off at Angouleme. You will switch to a local train to Saintes (direction La Rochelle) that is usually waiting at the station. Ask. At Saintes, take a taxi to the centre: 16 Rue Charles Dangibeau or call the centre 0-5-46-9300-50 (dial this number to reach the center from anywhere in France). It is a good idea to get a French Telecom card at Montparnasse Station so you can easily make this kind of call.
Preliminary Schedule
Sept. 2 Meet at Hotel Royal Bastille, Paris
Sept. 3 Travel to Saintes on train
Sept.4-6 Paris Tour
Sept. 7-9 Garden Tour
Sept. 25-27 Paris Tour II
Sept. 28-Oct. 2 Berlin Tour
Oct.3-Nov.8 Program and Site Studies
Nov.9-17 Spain Tour
Dec. 14-15 Final Reviews
Dec.16 Students depart Saintes
Some French Web Sites www.france.com (French Consulate site, good general and specific info, maps, news letters, music)
www.culture.fr (cultural events, Ministere de la Culture)
www.lonelyplanet.com/letters/eur/fra_pc.htm#scams (general tips on travel in France, maps, etc.) ww.bparis.com(lots of info about Paris and France including travel, restaurants, tips)
www.bnm.com/paris.htm(car rentals)
www.francetourism.com/regional/paris/htm (info on Paris with links to other Nat. Tourist Officesite and info)
www.excite.com/travel/countries/france (excite travel site with links to other French sites)
www.excite.fr (the French site of excite, great info, weather, etc. in French)
www.pagesjaunes.fr/wjpm_pages_jaunes.cgi? (Paris yellow pages)
www.ville-saintes.fr/ville.html (official Saintes home page)
www.europe-france.com (good general site with guides to regions and cities, maps) www.europe-france.com/hotel/index/shtm I (good French hotel guide) www.ismap.com/geo (street maps of major French cities
www.paris-touristoffice.com www.francekeys.com (good links to other sites)
www.state.gov U.S. State Department officiaI site, your best source for travel abroad, great site. Links to aIl kinds of travel info and travel advisories, general info as well as info for specific countries. See: www.state.govlasafetripabroad.html and www.state.gov/student_tips_brochure.htmI.
www.cdc.gov This is the official site for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, perhaps the best site about diseases and health in various countries and what the traveler should expect Not really a problem for France, but important for travel elsewhere.
www.monum.fra wonderful site about French Historic Monuments
Summer Readings, Design Materials & Research Topics
Books
Be sure you give yourself plenty of time to get the books that you will need in Saintes. This includes your book from the Portable Library and, Fragile Glory by Richard Bernstein. You should read the Bernstein book over the summer and begin on the others. Be sure that you are happy with the books you have signed-up for. It is also important to bring all of the course syllabi and schedules. We will not have second copies in Saintes.
Research Topics
We cannot stress how important it for you to collect materials about your topics during the summer before you get to France. You need to take the time to carefully research all the material that has been published about your spaces and buildings--research well beyond any internet sources--copy this material, and be familiar with it. Remember, you will be making classroom presentations (see attached schedule) of this material in the early weeks after you get to Saintes.
Photo Stuff
If you are still looking for a camera, there are some good buys lately on 35mm SLR, Canon & Nikon, in the $5-600 range that include 28-80mm zoom lens: perfect for architectural work. Try to stay away from the point and shoot type cameras. Quality used 35mm SLR's are also an option. Also, it is a good idea to have a small camera bag...get one large enough to carry your guidebooks and sketch book. Remember you will need several rolls of color slide film for your projects so you can explain your topics with slides in the class discussions. Film is cheaper in the US.
Odds and Ends
Le Corbusier Tour: if you plan on seeing as many Le Corbusier buildings as possible in France (and neighboring Switzerland), the best guide is: The Le Corbusier Guide, Deborah Gans, Princeton Architectural Press, 1987 paperback. Even for the Paris buildings, this is an excellent guide and also gives you a good summary history of Le Corbusier
Modern Architecture in Paris: There are two good guides: Guide to Modern Architecture in Paris, Herve Martin, Editions Alternatives, 1996, paperback; and, Contemporary Architecture in Paris, Jean Michel Hoyet, Techniques & Architecture, 1996, paperback. Both of these books are available at the architecture bookstore on Place de l'Odeon.
Saintes Kit: (per person)
Two photos for ID cards;
Personal medical supplies like cold medicine, etc;
Draft’g supplies: 2 packs X-acto blades,
Can spray mount,
Drafting tape,
Metric scale,
2-3 rolls trace paper,
Be sure you have your own ink pen set, umbrella, and a heavy winter coat, etc.
Bring the watercolor stuff,
A sketchbook and fountain pen.
Please bring one set of bed sheets (single) a pillowcase and towels.
Luxembourg gardens. This is the best architectural bookstore in Paris
Paris History Guide: There are many good guides to Paris-- take your pick--but the choice of many is the Michelin Green guide, Paris, latest edition, paperback.
Guides to France: If you travel in France in addition to the School excursions, (you can use your own guide for this), an excellent choice is France, Eyewitness Travel Guides, DK Publishing, semi hardback.
Economical Travel: if you plan on traveling in France and Europe either before or after the semester, you might get one of the comprehensive guides like, Let's Go Europe, which is a subsidiary of Harvard Student Agencies, (whatever that means), or one of the Rough Guide series (they have one for almost every country and are, therefore a bit more comprehensive that the 'Let's Go' guide). Remember though, everyone else traveling in Europe has the same guides.
Now with the internet, if you know where you are going, you can check out places to stay and eateries in advance. The old standby is to go to the tourist offices at train stations (if they are open) or other places and they usually have a list of inexpensive hotels and will often help you find something in your price range.
Paris Maps: You will be spending time in Paris with the group. If you plan on touring Paris on your own you will need a good map & street index. The small books of the Plan de Paris that are arranged by "arrondissements" are great and usually include a fold-out map of the whole city as well including the suburbs (banlieu). Another choice is a fold-out plan with street index like the Michelin Paris Plan No. 12, scale 1/10,000. With these you can see the whole city at one time. Both kinds of maps can usually be found at stationery stores (papetier) tabacco stores (Tabac), or news stands in train stations.
Luggage & Packing Tips
It is tempting to believe that since you will be gone for 3 months that you need to bring everything but the kitchen sink. A happy traveler is one who travels light. Every year someone tries to leave some of their bags in Saintes because they don't want to carry them across Europe. But Gerald will not be able to ship these or store them for you. Some tips:
· Follow the example of the airline people; a large bag on wheels (maybe a 27" - 29" size), and a second bag that fits over the handles that is a carry-on. The big bag carries the main stuff and the second (like a duffel bag) is used for all the personal items. Both can be wheeled together leaving one hand free. The second bag can also be used for shorter trips and as a weekender.
· Many folks like a small backpack for a second bag.
· It is also a good idea to take one of these small nylon SAC-type bags that fold up into a little packet...as an overflow bag.
· Re: Big Backpacks: A lot of people like these, all your stuff in one huge bag you can carry on your back. This is probably OK if you plan on trekking across Europe (or the Alps), but they are not really very good for packing clothes (if you plan on looking like anything but a trekker) and they really were not designed for packing around on public transportation like trains where they are hard to manage.
· It is a good idea to have a lock and secure labels on your luggage. (Read the State Dept. recommendation re: luggage labeling and other security measures on their web site, see above).
· Tie something bright on your luggage so you can tell it from all the similar luggage at baggage claim.
· The Centre has a 17 passenger bus that we use for the trips. But when we all get into it with our luggage, it is very tight. Also, in some of the places we stay, you may have to carry your luggage several blocks. These are more good reasons to have a smaller bag that you use on trips.
· You will never regret having wheeled luggage.
· If you just can't figure out how to pack your bag or what to bring try this site for the Universal Packing List: www.henricson.se/mats/upl/
Guests at the Centre
No overnight guests are allowed at the Centre in Saintes in the fall. This policy is strictly enforced. If friends plan on meeting you in Saintes, you might want to check out the Youth Hostel or one of several inexpensive hotels within walking distance of the Centre (See Saintes web site). Also, we can't accommodate visitors on the bus tours because there is barely enough space for us. If you are making plans for parents or relatives to meet you in France, please don't make plans for the last couple of weeks of the semester, you will have your hands full completing the studio projects. We frequently have visitors at the evening meal and you are free to invite family and occasional guests provided this is approved in advance by Gerald.
Food & Travel Costs
Be sure you have paid your room and travel fees to Marie Tran before you leave USC for the summer. France. The total amount is due at the end of Spring Semester.
You are responsible for your own room and board expenses on the trips. These can vary from about $30-60$ depending on the cost of the hotel and what you eat. We try to stay in inexpensive places, and some are very cheap, although sometimes we have to stay were we can. There will be times when we all eat together and split the bill, but smaller groups also break off and eat on their own. Sometimes everyone will buy their food in the town markets and this is usually very inexpensive, however, when we are traveling long distances, sometimes it is not convenient to stop and market. The accommodations are usually adequate and sometimes really nice. To get the low rates, you are looking at multiple occupancy. Gerald usually collects for the hotel bills either while we are traveling or when we get back to Saintes.
