Paris1972-Versailles2003

Ok never to far from the happenings in my belle France here are the latest. Today was foggy and rainy here in Vannes , as we expect the week to be but temps in the 10C or 50F. In the Paris region, they expect a mix cloudy and or rainy days with temps in the 50’s F.

Let’s talk about those wonderful passageways in Paris. The passages; one is the passage des Panoramas entering by bvld Montmartre ; the first one to show up the sky with glass ceilings in 1805. It is a wonderful relic of Paris joining the Bourse with blvd Montmartre to go near the Théatre des Variétés. 20 years later in 1826 the Galerie Vivienne opens; gorgeously decorated housing relics of great name and taste such as the  librairie Siroux (1828), and the  caves Legrand (1880).  The passage Verdeau ,passage Jouffroy, and passage Bercy . You can see and read all their story at the association that cares for them to preserve what was over 60 and now only 19 remains. Take care of them ok. The association is here: https://www.passagesetgaleries.org/index2.html

The Paris transformation is going on, with new lanes ,trying to eliminate the car hopefully elections are near. The wonderful Boulevard Périphérique is 35 kms long, with about 1,2 millions vehicles each day, at a maximum speed of 70 kph (already reduce from 80) and an average speed of 38,9 kph due to traffic jams. The beltway road was finished in 1973 and still has about 100 000 folks living just off it. It has 99 radar cameras link directly to the control center by fiber optics. The goal is to change it for the better by 2030…. The Eco terrorists wants to lower the speed even to 50 kph which will be terribly ridiculous (they better go after the factories to and lower employment) .  They are proposing to reserve two lanes to bus ,taxis, electric cars,and the auto sharing or covoiturage. The traffic lights will have tricolors or other panels to regulate the traffic flow and will have green areas (of course) along the boulevard concrete. Hey another great idea but like I said way until May….

The wonderful Centre Pompidou is celebrating 40 years and some suggestions for improvement are flying off its top too. For one the restaurant on top George (in honor of G Pompidou) is very expensive even with the panoramic view terrace in top floor. The simple sample menu has Badoit water at  8€ ,Cesar salad at  24€ , An omelette as you wish cost you 15,50€  the raw meat tartare or the tuna a la plancha is 39€ ; well that is why we have many tourists lol! For fun ,there is a new gallery for kids below the boutique, dedicated for the 13-16 years old and in the basement or  sous-sol, ready to smile for the little ones opens Wednesdays Saturdays and Sundays from 14h to 18h only. Some anecdotes on the centre was that it took 681 presentation to show the winning architect  Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, the opening was January 1977. It had  5 000 invited person on a private opening at 21h. Amongst those that came for the grand opening were the Princess Grace of Monaco, Queen Fabiola of Belgium, the president of Senegal, and the poet Léopold Sédar Senghor as well as the dictator Mobutu of Zaire.  The Republican guard welcome them as well as president Giscard d’Estaing.  Today ,you go in by one door that of piazza but at the beginning it was a ant place to come in by four doors south, north, east and west. Salvador Dalí is the superstar of the Centre Pompidou. His two expos were the most visited still today ;840 000 visitors in 1979-1980, and 790 000 in 2012-2013.  The first time the personnel was on strike and even Dali could not get in! Salvador Dalí  is the only artist to have open admission in the center for 24/24  for 3 straight nights in March 2013. In the top 10 of most visits we find two Frenchmen ,Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947), in 1984, and Pierre Soulages, 97 years old today in 2009-2010 as well as the one sought by foreigners with more than 500 000 visitors.  The musée national d’Art moderne, is in the  4^e and 5^e floor housing about  120 000 works dating from 1905 to 1965, where much is housed in the reserves of the museum for lack of space.  The MNAM  is the biggest museum of modern and contemporary art in Europe and the second in the world behind  MoMA in New York,USA.  However, the Beaubourg is the first loaner museum in the world. We can learn here about 250 languages or dialects from the popular English, German Spanish to also the  lapon, Zulu or navajo. Beaubourg,is a trip in our world. More here: https://www.centrepompidou.fr/

She has 241 years old in need of conservation who is this girl , well the statue of the Dame Fortune, quai Conti (6eme) in the court of the Monnaie de Paris, it is going thru a participation campaign to restore it and you can participate here :  https://www.culture-time.com/fr/projet/dame-fortune?utm_source_=%20ORST  . Sitting on a marble base, it is installed the sculpture of Louis-Philippe Mouchy since 1775.

Finally, the île Seguin will have its development : this is the old Renault factory island and now will have a cultural center of 24.500 m2, done by RCR Arquitectes. In other a hotel  «Arty» with works of art in each of it’s 220 rooms and 13 .000 m2, on top a pool, spa, and bar with a panoramic terrace.  heavy site to open but all is here: http://www.ileseguin-rivesdeseine.fr/

Somebody send a letter to the director of the Maison de Balzac in Paris asking for an advise on the chimney that was always call in his family the chimney of Balzac. Well it is !!! and nicely found, more here: http://maisondebalzac.paris.fr/fr/la-maison-de-balzac-soffre-un-faux

The old guards’ room of Catherine de Médicis that was made into a boutique where the funds were consecrated to the botanic vocation has closed its door on January 6 according to the Le Figaro. After 20 years of existance as a boutique, the pretty library or librairie du jardin des Tuileries, located at the entrance of the wrough iron door has closed. The content has been send over to the Louvre library boutique where opens Wednesdays to Mondays from 9h to 19h ,night time on Wednesdays and Fridays to 21h45.  More here: http://www.boutiquesdemusees.fr/en/boutique/museum/musee-du-louvre/

The Rétromobile from February 8-12 at the parc des expositions de la porte de Versailles (15eme)  admission 18€; free under 12. It will showcase the adventures of the secret agent Goldfinger 007 and show the Aston Martin DB5 car as well as many gadgets from the movie.

The next rendez-vous is on Cinecittà when the studio  Willy Rizzo (7eme) rends homage until April 1st in the show  «Rendez-vous à Cinecittà» , photos but also designs from the many who passed by here. Names like Sophia Loren, Claudia Cardinale, Anita Ekberg etc the best of the Italian cinema of the 1960’s. Studio located at 12, rue de Verneuil (7eme.  Monday to Saturday from 11h to 19h , admission is free.

After a great success on their first album , recognized by theirs Victoires du Jazz 2014 ,Thomas de Pourquery and Supersonic are back with ” Sons of Love” (coming out in March 2017).  To see them at the Gaîté lyrique,3 bis rue Papin (3eme)  until April 25 2017, admission 24,20€.  More here: https://gaite-lyrique.net/thomas-de-pourquery-supersonic

On February 7, 14, 21,and 28 2017 and with the resounding voice of André Malraux we honor WWII heroe Jean Moulin on the night at the Panthéon or La Nuit au Panthéon. time 18h45 admission 10€ Place du Panthéon (5eme) ;more here in French: http://www.paris-pantheon.fr/index.php/Actualites/La-Nuit-au-Pantheon

If you like chic Paris and who doesn’t, then you go this hotel from the 19C and great views of the hill and Paris. Hôtel Particulier, Pavillon D23,avenue Junot (18eme) . webpage: https://en.hotel-particulier-montmartre.com/contact

And of course, have photos in other posts, but leave you with the amazingly beautiful  Sacré-Coeur at 35 rue du Chevalier de la Barre (18eme). The Church to see Paris and for Paris to see the Church. A must anytime. http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/english/

Enjoy your week, I am back at work dohhh!

So here I am in a slight cold front passing by that have seen temps go down to -7C in the mornings and now it is 0C or about 32F. nice cool night and sunny day just fine thank you.

Something new is the battle in Paris and France for the rights of hotels and real estate agents to survive the avalanche of rental houses and apartments that places like AirBnb ,Abritel, and  Le Bon Coin are showing.

Hotels and agents from the following unions GNI-Synhorcat, AhTop ,  associations  of real estate agents like  Fnaim , and the SNPI, have place a demand in the tribunal to stop these practices. The apartment rental places do not have the same requirements to rent places as the professionals of the trade and this have cause some jealocies that have end up in court.  Starting January 1st 2019, the reservation sites will have the obligation of reporting to the public treasury or trésor public all the revenues received from individual:family renters.

Le Grand Véfour restaurant in the Palais Royal is celebrating the 25 years of Guy Martin extraordinary cooking skills.  More on this institution in Paris here: http://www.grand-vefour.com/en/

Big legal battle in France on the appellation contrôlée regions for Méthode Ancestrale sparkling wines,Clairette de Die  has been given the green light to produce a rosé version, despite an ongoing battle with the appellation Bugey-Cerdon Méthode Ancestrale, which has hitherto been the only one to make a rosé. The first Clairette de Die rosés are due to be released this spring. However, this week the Syndicat des Vins du Bugey, which represents the Cerdon growers, has launched an appeal with the Conseil d’Etat, the highest administrative jurisdiction in France, against the INAO (the French body that awards appellations) and Clairette de Die.  An opinion is just about to be heard on this by the State Council or Conseil d’Etat of France.

One of the best Chinese/Oriental restaurants in Paris , my opinion, is Chez Vong, 10, rue de la Grande Truanderie, 1eme.

And one of the best Italians is Caffé Stern,47 ,Passage des Panoramas,2eme.

You want to follow fame chef star Michelin Cyril Lignac properties in Paris, well follow me:

Le Quinziéme, 14 rue Cauchy (15eme) : http://www.restaurantlequinzieme.com/

Le Chardenoux, 1,rue Jules-Vallés (11eme):  http://www.restaurantlechardenoux.com/

Aux Prés 27, rue du Dragon (6eme) : http://www.restaurantauxpres.com/

Le Bar des Prés  25, rue du Dragon (6eme) : http://www.lebardespres.com/fr/

A chocolate shop à la New York where he spent two years: La Chocolaterie,  25, rue Chanzy (11eme)

And the pastries of the pâtisseries  Cyril Lignac ; 24, rue Paul-Bert (11eme) . 2, rue de Chaillot (16eme). 133, rue de Sèvres (6eme)  and  55, bd Pasteur (15eme. Tél. +33 (0) 1 55 87 21 40.

And at the famous Crypte archéologique du parvis Notre-Dame ,  7 parvis Notre-Dame – Place Jean-Paul II (4eme); you will find until May 26 , 2017 the expo L’or du pouvoir : de Jules César à Marianne. The story of money and gold coins in Paris.  More here: http://www.crypte.paris.fr/

And on my beloved Versailles, something wonderful on the court of Louis XIV and onwards to the French revolution, how to party! at the Chateau de Versailles  http://en.chateauversailles.fr/news-/events/expositions/fetes-et-divertissements-a-la-cour-en/fd/lexposition-1-en

And while in the city , just walk a bit further from the famous potager du roi and you will come to the wonderful Parc Balbi in Versailles; done for the Countess of Balbi mistress of the Count of Provence, brother of king Louis XVI.  More here: http://www.versailles-tourisme.com/patrimoine-culturel#!/parc-balbi-943149

And well for now that’s is all folks!

Once again passing by lovely Paris even in the chaos of the traffic regulations and the pollution talks in fashion these days still a city to be reckoned with. Even losing 1M tourists already and rules that makes difficult to visit especially those wishing to arrive by automobile.  Now back to the drawing board to seek tools to avoid traffic and parking in Paris.

I was by there and as usual pick up some news locally to bring on here. Hope it helps.

Sadly to hear one of my favorite chains of Restaurants Chez Clement is closing ;bankrupt due to the crisis in the trade going on since 2014.  This is the chain known for it’s massive wood furniture and its pots and pans in copper hang on the walls loaded with flowers; it all started back in 1993.

The holding company still holds many memorable properties that will still be open and working fine such as the Maison Lapérouse founded in 1766, Le Saut du Loup in the Louvre, Les Jardins de Bagatelle by the Bois de Boulogne as well as le Tir aux Pigeons, also, the Café du Rond-Point in the theater of the same name and the Hôtel Ermitage in the heights of the Saint-Tropez (Var).

Not only is Chez Clement down , but other favorites are also on extention of oxygen by the courts such as the groupe Flo holding brands such as Hippopotamus (steakhouses) and Bistro Romain (Italian cuisine). According to article in the Le Monde newspaper of January 7, 2017.

Chez Clement my sentimental favorite now gone had branches in the Champs-Elysées, Maillot, Opéra, Porte de Versailles, Saint-Michel, Bougival (78), Boulogne (92), and Petit-Clamart (92). I have eaten at the Opéra (Bd des Capucines) near the Le Grand Hotel Intercontinental, and Saint-Michel( Pl Saint André des Arts ),and Bougival in the Yvelines dept 78 where had celebrated birthday parties for my sons.

The site is still on here:  http://www.chezclement.com/

The financial daily Les Echos point that the process is in reorganization under the Finance law of France similar to a Chapter 11 in the United States, and the idea is to try to save it, and the jobs, but will be a hard battle, I wish them good luck and will eat there again if staying in the area.

Other posts related to Chez Clement are here in my blog

https://paris1972-versailles2003.com/2014/02/24/again-paris-do-i-have-to-come-up-with-a-line-for-it/#comments

and on my list of the best both in Opéra and Bougival, and even in Nantes affiliate (5, Square Fleuriot).

https://paris1972-versailles2003.com/2011/01/08/my-best-restaurants-in-france-my-selection/

Many nice memories here for our family on what is eaten in style in France with good service, good food, and rich decorations. Hope it is saved.

Moving on in the culinary world of Paris , there are some new establishement worth looking into it me think. One not been yet is the La Réguliére , 43 rue Myrtha, (18eme) in the Goutte-d’Or district ,eating good food amongst books , Cartoons and romance novels with exposition and workshop on artists invitations. More here: http://www.paris.fr/actualites/la-reguliere-une-nouvelle-librairie-au-c-ur-de-la-goutte-d-or-4171 , and they also, have a Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/lareguliere/

Another that I have been is the La Rotonde de la Muette, 12 chaussée de la Muette (16eme) now reopen after renovation was finished.  The decoration is Art Déco with wooden motifs à l’Americain, banc seats with cushions and sofa in red leather with tables in marble.  This is sublime what coming to Paris is all about! More here: http://www.rotondemuette.paris/

As an information news, there is a new gluten free bio market in Paris , it is simply call Edmond, 90 ,rue de Rennes (6eme); 100% bio and without gluten, fruits, vegetables, meats, cold cuts ,oils, flours, and you can make your own sandwich to order. More her on bio site:  http://because-gus.com/restaurant/edmond-epicerie-100-bio-gluten/

Cut it here to tell you about two French companies that offer flights in France and even abroad. The first one does it from 6 French cities(Paris,Lille, Lyons,Marseilles, Mulhouse,Toulouse) and it’s call Aigle Azur or blue eagle.  Flying from Orly terminal sud, they flight to and from Algeria, Portugal, Mali , Guinea, Senegal, and China. site here: https://www.aigle-azur.com/en

The other is more known to me as it is part of the Air France/KLM group, this is Transavia.  Therefore, it has a lot more cities and destination to go to at many times lower prices. Also, base at Orly but in Nantes too, it has an option, the site is here for more info: https://www.transavia.com/fr-FR/destinations/

Another one is HOP! an affiliate low cost of Air France, and including regional airlines still trying to bring them all under HOP are Brit Air, Régional, and Airlinair.  The destinations are less than Transavia but still very good in Europe for connections and flights. I have used them often to connect from Nantes. More info here: http://www.hop.com/en/

nighttime you got it we have it too. One that is gaining and just came from absorbing my fav place Wanderlust is the Nuits Fauves.32 quai d’Austerlitz,(13eme).It has 1500 m2 space with three clubbing rooms,and two exterior terraces; all great tecno ,and house music , admission depending who is playing goes from 10€ and up, the hours are from 23h to 6h(11PM to 6AM).  More here: http://www.nuitsfauves.com/

And the new nighttime foodie Paris Texas ,74 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, from the success of the burgers the owners have come up with barbecue Texan resto. Open from 19h to 23h30 with a bar open until 2H or 2AM. Cocktails from 9€ menus from 14€. More here:http://www.paris-texas.fr/

Talking about the rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, a great ambiance of Paris on a street full of goodies from the chic restos 52 and Paris New York, and now the above mentioned , to the Indian restaurants of the Passage Brady and the African hairstylists even at 22h!

And for jazz the legendary Caveau de la Huchette, 5 rue de la Huchette (5eme) ; Since 1946! listen to jazz until 4h or 4AM as well as the Blues… One of my favorites hangouts in Paris over the years here; more here:  http://www.caveaudelahuchette.fr/2/

The French consume about 15 000 tons of game food per year on the best period from September to February.  Wild boar, pigeons salmis, to hare they just love it and me too of course ::)   Where to eat it at modest prices go to Le Répaire de Cartouche, 8 blvd des Filles-du-Calvaire (11eme) just off place de la République menus from 19€. the deco to match. More from the tourist office of Paris in English here: http://en.parisinfo.com/paris-restaurant/70680/Le-Repaire-de-Cartouche

Go, run to the Musée Picasso, but you can see a glimpse if little time (tant pis) at the CDG airport in the espace  musée. The expo Picasso Plein Soleil or full sun Picasso is there now. At the museum thus, you have the largest collection of Picasso work in the world with over 200 000 pieces of archive and 5000 works of art. The expo at the airport comes from here on 22 creations from the hotel Salé in the Marais. More here at the airport : http://espacemusees.com/index_en.php  ;and the main museum site here : http://www.museepicassoparis.fr/en/

If near the museum in Paris don’t forget to visit the oldest market in Paris, the Marché des Enfants Rouges, 39 rue de Bretagne (3eme), created in 1615! you find all from food to clothing to flowers here.  The story in French from the mayor’s office Paris 3eme arrondissement ,http://www.mairie3.paris.fr/mairie03/jsp/site/Portal.jsp?document_id=11632&portlet_id=969   ;and hours and transports from the mayor’s office of Paris here: http://equipement.paris.fr/marche-couvert-des-enfants-rouges-5461

The Institut du Monde Arabe has until February 26 the expo of the adventurous of the seas or Aventuriers des Mers. 1 rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard (5eme).  From Sinbad to Marco Polo , from the Omeyyades to Alexander the Great, the biggest Arabs explorers will be showcase with more than 200 works of art.  Nice and beautiful place indeed. More here in English: https://www.imarabe.org/en

And this show is endless because the scheme is of everyday life in France or Paris or anywhere. My good friend Olivier Giraud continues at the Théatre des Nouveautés,24 blvd Poissonniére, (9eme) not far from the gare Saint Lazare metro grands boulevards, the show “How to become Parisian in one hour?”. More here: http://www.theatredesnouveautes.fr/spectacle/olivier-giraud

Many breweries springup in Paris but my favorite is the traditional one Gallia, 5 rue Méhul , Pantin (93) just outside Paris. It was the emblematic beer of Paris from 1890 to 1969 and greatly re introduce by the current owners in 2009. the Gallia lager the best, with wheat white, ale houblon and brune houblon as well. A new one is getting aged to come out in next Spring. They go on tours for 7€ lasting about 1h30 and worth it for the amateurs of historical good beers.  More here in English! http://www.galliaparis.com/en/

Anécdote from CDG magazine, the metro of Paris is the 9th busiest in the world and the first in Europe with 48 passengers per second! and more than 4 millions per day. !!! And here it is: http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/visiting-paris/

The new museum in Paris ,opened last December 2016 is the Grand  Musée du Parfum, all about perfums.  In the 8eme arrondissement with over 1400 m2 (previous the fashion house of Christian Lacroix was here), 73 rue du Faubourg Sainte Honoré .  You can smell the first perfume of Kyphi of the antique Egypt to Jicky de Guerlain a new beginning in perfumerie dating from 1889.  More here! http://www.grandmuseeduparfum.fr/

Paris is the world’s capital of cabarets! right: you know the Moulin Rouge( 82 blvd de Clichy), Lido( 116bis avenue des Champs-Elysées) , Paradis Latin( 28 rue du Cardinal Lemoine), and the Crazy Horse( 12 avenue George V). Should I tell you more? ::)

Try it and will make you come back for seafood lovers like me , the Au Rocher de Cancale (from Brittany of course) 78 rue Montorgueil (2eme) ,the façade is a historical monument of France, and inside is the seafood platters and the great planchas to share, another historical monument of France ::) More with menu here: http://au-rocher-de-cancale.zenchef.com/

Again that shopping outlet mall for brand names not far from Paris in my beloved Yvelines dept 78; One Nation Shopping, 1 avenue du Président John Fitsgerald Kennedy, Les Clayes-sous-Bois. You have here Cacharel, Zadig & Voltaire, Armani, Courréges, and Kooples Sport and Diesel just to name a few. Over 90 stores and easy only half an hour from Paris and 10 minutes from the Chateau de Versailles by car of course. It is possible by public transport from Montparnasse and by car directions are easy take the autoroute A13 direction Rouen/Normandie than get on the autoroute A12 direction Dreux, get on the right lane to get on the N12 continue direction Dreux and from this National N12 get on exit or sortie Plaisir/centre commercial Régional, follow the signs for One Nation Paris. Prices 30-70% off ! More here:  http://www.onenation.fr/en/

Elsewhere, we have the wonderful Carnival de Nice coming up February 11 to 26 , almost like Rio (been to both).  This year it will celebrate the “King of Energy” with a grand finale of fireworks and the burning of the monarch as an effigy.  More here: http://www.nicecarnaval.com/en/index.php

At Grasse, the cité des parfums where LVMH just installed the nose of its Dior and Vuitton. There is the musée international de la parfumerie and perfume houses like Fragonard, Molinard, and Galimard. More here: http://www.museesdegrasse.com/en

Enjoy it and have a great Sunday. I am back see next post. Cheers

So this is again the routine in the world of France. Here is cold then mild nice only 9C or about 49F and no rain so far. Not as well did the East where they had even some snow already. Paris about the same now 50F and cloudy  but tomorrow rain as best as the weather folks can tell.

I will be out next week on a trip to Asia for a week, so stay dry and good….I will be hot and cool ::)

For now here is what is cooking in the Belle France.

The école nationale supérieure des Beaux-Art in the rue Bonaparte (6eme) is celebrating their 200 birthday,and many works on renovation is going on.  A museum will be open to the public soon this year. It will showcase a roadmap on the alumni of the school and the entrance will be on the quai Malaquais. The visitor can walk by the Salle Melpomène, the Church of Petits-Augustins and the adjoining cloister, as well as the stained glass cover courtyard of the Palais des études and Amphithéatre d’honneur. The school was founded in January 1817 with heritage collection such as 450 000 works of paintings, molds, sculptures ,designs, photos, and stamps . You can see the whole program here

 http://www.beauxartsparis.com/en/about-us

Two exotic places to eat in Paris with a Latin flair are the Uruguayan  Comptoir Montevideo, 44, rue Coquillière, Paris (I^er). Réservations required Tel +33 01.40.26.84.31. https://www.lafourchette.com/restaurant/comptoir-montevideo/270027

And the Venezuelan  Bululu Arepera, 20, rue de la Fontaine-du-But à Paris (18eme). Wednesdays to Sundays lunch and dinner ,info  Tél. +33 01.42.54.96.25. https://www.lafourchette.com/restaurant/bululu-arepera/79689

Le rap  is in Paris, at the Scred Festival, more than 30 groups are in show here such as the locals  Bastard Prod, with Furax , and ,also,  La Classic. Will be this weekend Fri, Sat,Sun. concerts admission 23€ or 65€ for the three days.  You can participate at La Place 10, passage de la Canopée (1eme), Théatre de Dix-Heures, 36 boulevard de Clichy (18eme) or the Le New Morning , rue des Petites Ecuries (10eme). More info here: https://scredconnexion.com/news/le-scred-festival

And of course, the fines will go up , what do you think they put all those electronic radars? get more money because the death on the road continue to  rise. Starting January 1, 2018 the idea of not paying a parking fine in Paris will go up from 17€ to 50€ n the  arrondissement or districts of zone I in the 1er to the 10me and 35€ in the suburbs in zone II from the 13me to the 20eme.  Of course, they tell you that in cities like London it is 96€ , and Barcelona is 55,50€ , to soften the blow  but its here that matters. And that is not enough the parking meter will go up too from 4€ per hour in zone 1 but the more you stay the more you pay like  8€  for the third hour, 10€  for the fourth hour, 12€ on the fifth and to reach 6 hours will cost 24€  now to 50€,  so a rise of 108 % !  In the suburbs of zone II the rate will be 2,40€ , the first hour to about 9,60€  starting from the fifth hour. Almost nothing, it’s an all out war on the car. And to add the Mayor of Paris Anne (Ana) Hidalgo is Spanish born from Cadiz lol!

This year is the coming out of a movie on the life of the late singer Dalida , very much in love by all Parisiens. It comes out today. At the place Dalida (18eme), there is a bust of Dalida on a throne in the butte Montmartre she made it home and lived for 25 years, from 1962  until suicide on May 3 ,1987.  Her house was at 11, bis rue d’Orchampt ,that she purchased in 1962. Upon her death, the place was sold and made into apartments sadly. She went often to eat at the Moulin de la Galette, just steps from the house and had her usual table by the window, and on her last years she went here almost every day usually with friends.  After her death , it is at the cementary of Montmartre that was put in the 18eme division, Dalida or Yolanda Gigliotti. RIP. More here on her page and movie about to come out: http://dalida.com/actualite/film-dalida-2017.html

A new skyscraper will be build at La Défense, at the Jardins de l’Arche ,with about 200 meters high. It will be next to the U Arena , show hall and home of the Racing 92 rugby team that will open next October  with a view of the terraces of Nanterre.  It will have superficie of  65 000 m², where 45 500 m²  will be dedicated to hotels such as the group Intercontinental Hotels Group, presenting hotels of the gamme of  Crowne Plaza,  Holiday Inn , Staybridge Suites. The remaining 19 500 m²  will have offices, business center, spaces for co-working ,and fab-lab, a gym and shops.  All to be done by 2022.

More on La Défense, the hotel Melià, opened in February 2015 facing the pont de Neuilly, with a panoramic restaurant .  The Esplanade de la Défense will have a Sofitel and the Cnit will house a Hilton.  This year facing the  U Arena, a hotel  CitizenM  will open with 170 rooms.  In 2021, behind the Cnit in the place du Pouce de César, you will see the towers of Sisters, where one will be entirely occupied by a hotel. And my company world headquarters will move in this year too ::)

And the RER E train will go out further from Paris reaching Mantes-la-Jolie and Poissy, two royal towns of France with wonderful Cathedrals, see search and key in these names for my post on them. This will be from La Défense and do for opening by 2024, you heard it here first.

You come in 2017 to Paris do not miss Rodin at the Grand Palais , the Louvre with Rembrandt and Pissaro at Luxembourg.

http://www.grandpalais.fr/fr/evenement/rodin-lexposition-du-centenaire

http://www.louvre.fr/en/rooms/salle-rembrandt-Holland

http://museeduluxembourg.fr/expositions/pissarro-eragny

Some of my favorites around Les Halles à Paris , never wrong here: Au Pied de Cochon 6, rue Coquillière,  more here http://www.pieddecochon.com/

and for a splurge inside the Halles,  Champeaux, the latest from Ducasse ,Forum des Halles , La Canopée, Porte Rambuteau; more here: https://www.restaurant-champeaux.com/fr 

Stay healthy and happy travels ;Cheers

Hi there, and welcome to 2017 on my blog Paris1972-Versailles2003. For those new, I name my blog back in November 2010 after my very first encounter with the most beautiful city in the world, PARIS; coming on the heels of the great movie The Last Tango in Paris with Marlon Brandon, and Maria Schneider. Thereafter, added my year of permanent resident citizen in France on August 2003 in royal Versailles.

Ahh for my own sake, the CXLV is post No 145 in the series.::)

Some happenings and anecdotes from France and Paris in particular.

Between 2009 and 2014, the number of Parisian went from 2 234 105 to 2 220 445. Or a loss of  13 660 inhabitants in less than five years.  14 out of 20 districts are concerned.  Only four peripheral districts escape this trend and see their population increase between 2009 and 2014: the 12th, 14th, 17th and 19th. The reasons according to the mayor’s office is the lower birth rate affecting cities and an increase in the number of second homes in Paris. Now the next Council of Paris (30, 31 January and 1 February)a tax on second homes will be increased and will multiply the devices to encourage homeowners to put their apartment with the devices ‘multiloc’ or ‘ rent solidarity” Just to fight against Airbnb. Big battle on renters in Paris trying to make some additional income because not only they escape paying some taxes, but the homes remain off hands for permanent renters. They make more money on the tourists! Source: INSEE

After the BHV, Galeries Lafayette ,and Le Bon Marché ;the Au Printemps will finally be allowed to open its doors Sundays. Employees working occasionally on Sunday in addition to their working time, can make up to 12 maximum Sundays per year and will benefit by Sunday worked 100% of the salary increase, a compensatory rest day  due to work on a day not worked and 60€  child care assistance.  And further, ,employees normally scheduled Sunday as a day of work will enjoy the same benefits with the exception of the compensatory ceilings of 12 Sundays. Great idea, finally catching up here in la Belle France.

This small structure created in 1960 in a beautiful 17C  house surrounded by gardens, in the rue Cortot, and a high place in the history of art, where successive painters Auguste Renoir, Raoul Dufy, Suzanne Valadon and Maurice  Utrillo came to paint and lived. Yet for four years the Museum of Montmartre is fighting for its entry into the fold of the Inter Museum Association which about 56 cultural venues in Paris and the and Ile-de-France region and proposes the Paris Museum Pass, which allows visitors free access to museums. Only here, Montmartre is excluded from the Pass. http://www.museedemontmartre.fr/

Well surprise right? Not really if you live here. Parisians rarely visit the monuments of their beautiful city. Even when they walk in the streets of the capital on the weekend. They don’t know the history of their neighborhood. Given this situation, a start-up embarked on market tours specifically designed for Parisians . For a year, “My Beautiful Paris” offers to help discovered the secrets of the city of light. Visits take place in small groups max 15 persons and last for 2 hours, renewed every month. To find out the full program, the dates to visits and buy a box online or an individual visit the webpage  www.redecouvrirparis.fr.  For info a gift giving card for two cost 39€, for 4 cost 74€ and for 6 places cost 99€ and 12 it is 199€.

something interesting and part of the French everyday life is the baguette well here is one of the best and most historical flour makers.  The Bourgeois Mills settled in Verdelot, if not there by chance 25 kms west of the commune of  La Ferté-under-Jouarres in the Seine and Marne, dept 77. Stones were  made,for several centuries to grind the seeds.

“The global benchmark of the wheel was there”, says David Bourgeois.  The last Mills closed in the 19C. “The Millers tradition  continues: it was the best stone to crush the grain.  There are millstones of La Ferté  to Asia and South America as early as the 16C, the know-how of the millers of La Ferté who made these circular stones was recognized worldwide.  Milling was good from the siliceous rock, stone as it is very porous. The stones  was, also, used to build the houses of  île-de-France region for the millers. The French Revolution at the end of the 18C 3000 people lived directly from this activity at  La Ferté. Bourgeois Mills  by the numbers:

200 million. The number of baguettes made annually by the Bourgeois flour.   40M€ The annual turnover of the Bourgeois mills.50 000 tons. The amount of flour per year. 1,000. The number of customers bakers, within a radius of 300 km. 95 the number of employees; 22 the number of company  delivery led trucks.

One museum I passed by on my last visit to Paris is the musée Jeu de Paume at the Jardin des Tuileries. Showing now Soulévements, L’histoire de la geste populaire. Until January 15 2017. 282 works coming from 105 lenders on 1000 sq meters of space with 210 enlevements seen by 21 partner institutions. It gives the space to the philosopher and art historian Georges Didi-Huberman. 

Talking about Montmartre do not missed the seafood of La Mascotte, 52 rue des Abbesses ;webpage here http://www.la-mascotte-montmartre.com/

For something down, get the roasted chicken of Le Coq Rico at 98 ,rue Lepic, webpage here: http://www.lecoqrico.com/

And for the ladies you find those wonderful Parisian creations at Spree , 16 rue la Vieuville; webpage here : http://www.spree.fr/en/ 

The activities of Versailles are great with this extravaganza going on until March 26, 2017. An exhibition showing varieties and ingenuity of entertainment provided by the court, making Versailles simply monumental, extraordinary and fantastic to show off its parties and shows. More in English here: http://en.chateauversailles.fr/news-/events/expositions/fetes-et-divertissements-a-la-cour-en

And to end with a bit of nostalgia for the Circus with CirkaCuba by Circus Phénix in the Pelouse de Reuilly, 75012 until January 15 in Paris and then on tour in France. These are Cubans artists doing their best which is dancing and acrobatic dancing acts, more info here: www.cirquephenix.com/ and the show info CirkaCuba is here: http://cirkacuba.cirquephenix.com/

Last minute on the Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi, The Louvre Abu Dhabi – annex of the famous Paris Museum in the Emirates – open end of 2017, on the island of Saadiyat, with two years behind the original schedule.The building housing the future Museum, in the form of rose of the sands and capped by a huge dome inspired by the traditional Arab architecture, was designed by the french architect Jean Nouvel. Its construction, which started in January 2013, cost 582 million euros, according to AFP. A collection of 600 works of arts. The Louvre Abu Dhabi will bring together 8600 m2 of space, not to mention the outdoor areas , works of all civilizations and all periods, including contemporary arts unlike its French home . It has already built up a collection of more than 600 pieces including 300 loaned b French partner museums for the opening.