Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Less taxes, more cafe?


Good news, prices in restaurants and cafés should drop a little from the 1st July onwards. Why? Because the VAT (Value Added Tax, a sort of sale tax) will drop from 19,6 % to 5,5% after this date. This long time demand was granted yesterday (May 28th) by President Sarkozy to the restaurants and cafés trade unions. This will cost 2.5 billion euros to our government! As a counterpart, the unions committed to hiring at least 40 000 people. As for the prices, even though they may drop the first 2 months, I'm pretty sure they will go back to "normal" afterwards. (BTW, don't forget the PDP picnic on May 13th. FYI, I've added last years videos in the the Facebook event page)

42 comments:

  1. I like the picture today, Eric. It looks so relaxing. I think I'll go right now and have a cup of Tea...

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  2. I can't believe I'm first! Is everyone asleep.zzzzzz I think I'll hang teabags on the crown....

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  3. Good heavens Eric that's a huge jump! How fantastic though - you'll be even more of a cafe society!

    Beautiful pic by the way, gorgeous hues.

    Hey Gramma Ann ... GF! Yay! What's on your crown? A teapot? Cafetiere?

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  4. That's quite a drop! We'll never see anything like that in the States.

    Lovely photo today! I like the green, and the reflection in the cup.

    YAY for GF Gramma!

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  5. It's photos like this that just make me want to BE there! Especially with the VAT slashed like that. Brilliant move, if you ask me.
    Congrats on GF, Gramma Ann!

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  6. That's because we don't have VAT in the US. People complain about taxes, but they haven't seen anything yet ;) on the other hand, if the government gives it back in the form of education, health care, etc... food for thoughts! ;)

    Well done Gramma Ann! I agree, the picture is very serene, just perfect! Makes me feel like putting my feet up and having a beverage of some sort! :)

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  7. Oh I like this one! I find it cute. Green back, green tablecloth and green inscription...well done.

    I don't know what's gonna happen with this decision, but I'm with you on this one Eric: the prices will go back to normal very soon!! Even more here in Paris...

    Yay Gramma Ann! A coffee? Drink it up!

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  8. Hi all, Thanks for being so kind to me. You ladies are great! I mostly just come to see what you all are up to each day. I enjoy your comments each day.

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  9. Oh the VAT got me when I was in France last December. A 15% drop is significant, unless as you say, it creeps back up.

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  10. I like this photo a lot Eric :)
    It's clean,simple lines.The colors are very subtle.How the light + shadows are reflected are nice as well.

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  11. Well that's just great. We'll be home from France by then. Oh well.
    V

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  12. Whoopee G-ma! We Americans don't like to talk about taxes and tea. We know these two don't mix well. But, ah, this photo does look lovely. I can smell and taste the brewed bean. I can feel the sun on my brow. And a new day is dawning in Paris. The VAT going down for a spell...hey, maybe we won't have to throw any bags, beans, or bodies into the Seine afterall. And now I can afford to have bread...or was that cake? with my cafe. :-)

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  13. There's something so nice about a cofee cup. And green. And saving money.

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  14. I just love when you capture details, like this one.

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  15. this looks so perfectly inviting Eric. I'd love to have a coffee at this inviting table.
    I wish I could be at the picnic with everyone too. I would love to meet all of you very charming funny people.
    maybe next year...

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  16. Perfect photo...absolutely lovely! Don't talk to me about taxes!! I have been out of the loop for a few days, down in Santa Barbara for a rest after paying my taxes, and now I'm catching up on my PDP photos. I love the photo of the ad for "Coco before Chanel"..I just saw the movie about Chanel that was made for TV with Shirley MacLaine, and I am sure Miss Tautou will do her justice.

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  17. 'Love the light and color in this photo. Enjoy the tax break while it lasts!

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  18. Lovely spring photo. I just want to be there !!!
    It's great that the prices are dropping, I just won't benefit from it this time around :-(

    Congratulations Gramma Ann ! Love your crown with tea bags.

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  19. Eric, I thought that yesterday we were still in April, weren't we? ;)
    I'm just kidding you. Given that I was wondering whether we were not in November, btw, regarding to the terrible weather Paris is currently experiencing.
    Un petit cafe en terrasse aujourd'hui, c'est pas gagne!
    But I'll have one after lunch and think of the next one with the sun.

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  20. It gives me a warm feeling when you post a photo of a cafe.

    Where exactly is this one in the Montparnasse area? What street?

    Good news about the tax huh?!

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  21. That's great news, I wish it were happening sooner so my daughter in Paris wouldn't have to spend so much of my hard-earned money for her cafe :-)
    Byt the way, Eric, an award for you...it's kind of a sissy award, but my way of saying thanks for a nice daily read :-) http://dwquiltart.blogspot.com/2009/04/rewards-of-blogging.html

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  22. Monica,
    Le Café de la Place, in the 14th, is rue d'Odessa, so 2 minutes walk from la Tour Montparnasse.
    And there is another Café de la Place, but in the 8th, rue Balzac (close to my parisian "pied-à-terre")

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  23. Amazing - you'll see a bit of synchronicity if you have a look at my blog - complete coincidence, on the same day - how about that!
    Sab :-)

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  24. If I look closely, can I see Eric's reflection in the cup?

    Gramma Ann, congrats! And very sensible - teabags hang much more easily than trying to balance coffee cups up there.

    Coltrane, perhaps a little Boston Bun with your cuppa?

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  25. My first time commenting here, but I never miss a day. Yesterday in the Los Angeles times (and even from different blogs) coffee in France is strong and bitter (not very good) unless asked "bien serre" and even then, not that great. Out of 10 countries polled, french coffee was the worst. I don't drink coffee but was wondering if anybody has an opinion on that subject?

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  26. "my parisian "pied-à-terre" Thib, I won't comment but LOOOOOL

    Nadege, welcome! I disagree with you though. ;)
    Yesk, our coffee is bitter, but we drink it like that. Maybe that's a French thing. I had a breakfast at "breakfast in America" (restaurant) last month here in Paris, the beverage I drank there was not coffee but a real 'jus de chaussettes' as we call it here (socks' juice)!. Not black but brown , and they served it in a HUGE mug. Quite unusual...

    But I'm curious to hear other accounts!

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  27. Wow, Nadege, be careful... you might get a few million irate Frenchies defending their sacred coffee in no uncertain terms! Honestly now, you can't beat a 'petit noir' and a fresh, crispy croissant in a café in the morning...

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  28. Guille, I knew you would react ;-))

    Nadège, welcome here ! You know what we (french people) sometimes say about the difference between french coffee and american coffee : the amount of coffee may be the same, but it's the amount of water which is different... a small cup vs a big mug ;-)

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  29. Yeah Thib, I was going to keep it hush-hush, but Guille had to go and spill the beans. So, this little pied-à-terre, does it have high taxes or is there some sort of discount?

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  30. Speaking of taxes Eric, as an American expat, I can tell you that if Mr. Sarkozy doesn't get me, Uncle Sam does. It's a double whammy to be taxed on worldwide income and to think we left England to get away from all of that. Hmmmph! Bring back those tax havens!

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  31. Does that reduction apply to all sales taxes or just restos and cafés?

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  32. Mmmm, just what I need to wake up this am.

    I just had a cup of cappucino at Harvey Nicks yesterday that cost me 7 dollars. He even made a heart on top with the cocoa sprinkled on top, like in Italy. Yes, it was smooth, but I won't do that again!

    I hate Starbucks because it is bitter, so I go for the smooth cup of coffee. I have found many places in Paris that serve their coffee that way. The last place charged me 1 euro sixty--I remember because it took me 30 seconds or so to figure out 60 but then, I have trouble with the numbers 70 80 and 90 and everything in between.
    VAT? I have been in Bloomingdales in NYC where Europeans are arguing for their tax back. They know foreigners get their tax back in their country(following the special rules), but why not the same for them in the US? The answer is.... because...unfortunately.. you nor anyone else can't!!! OK if you ship it you can, but that will really cost you!

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  33. Welcome Nadege! I kind of agree with you. Sorry Frenchies lol! The French coffee is too bitter for me, it also makes me 'zippy'! it's too strong for delicate English me. The other thing about it is that there is not enough! I like a good cup of coffee, capuccino or tea, but a decent drink you know? I do like good coffee (I agree Guille that some instants are mere other drinks and not coffee at all) but not the very bitter stuff. Eeek! What have I said? Eric, Michael! Anyone? Protect me! ;)

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  34. It's all a matter of what you're used to, no? I no longer do caffeine (if I drank Eric's little cafe here at 3 in the afternoon, I'd still be flying high at 3 in the morning),
    but must admit to a preference for the jus de chausettes—and with plenty of milk. Personally, I think the coffee in Rome is much more bitter than the coffee in Paris.

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  35. A very soothing sort of photo. The cup is very reflective! Its nice to imagine the cafe and the street where the cup is, too.

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  36. Raise your hand if you think Eric should tell us who the hand belongs to!

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  37. A cup of French café is heaven. Yes, I am accustomed to a larger cup, but I make it very bold. Those who do not like expresso will not like French café.

    I've been at a conference for five days. I missed you all. I love the gallery photo of 27/4. Lovely. The art is interesting, too.

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  38. Oh, yum. I just had a great cup of coffee with cream and a small piece of apple coffee cake. *Sigh* Now I have to go back outside and work it off. I worked out today and don't want to ruin all that work!

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  39. Ooooh FAB news... now I NEED a plane ticket!

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