Paris1972-Versailles2003

So the week moves on and so do I. Nice day today on the first day of Spring!!! the sun came out and temps in the 10C or 50F no rain, just a bit sprinkle on way home but stop. My puppy Rex is moving alone nicely and the family is happy.

But heck, let me tell you a bit more of what is going on in my belle France!

McDonald’s, Burger King, or even the new small chain Five Guys.  Does that tells you something? Well the hamburger is on  85 %  of restaurant menus in France! And for the first time in 2017, the sales are passing those of the traditional French sandwhich the jambon-beurre, or ham/butter according to the cabinet Gira Conseil.  According to the survey over 1,46 billion burgers were sold with an increase of 9% . If you go by city, the cabinet Gira Conseil uses the indicator of the French sandwich jambon-beurre  to determine the purchasing power of the French. The average price in 2017  was 2,94 euros .  Paris, of course, is the most expensive city with for the ham and butter sandwich you pay  4 euros  on average an increase of +14,94 %, followed by Lyon  and Bordeaux  even at 3,34 euros (no surprise here either).  The least expensive was at Tulle for 2,48 euros. This is the cabinet:  http://www.giraconseil.com/content/6-connaitre-son-marche

SNCF train monopoly ,the branch Gares & Connexions, has announced the names of three architect firms to hold the improvements on the Gare du Nord . These finalists are the  Altarea-Cogedim with the group BTP Besix Belgium, Architecte Dietmar Feichtinger, Apsys with the sem Paris-Seine, Vinci, la Caisse des depots,and  Jean-Michel Wilmotte, and the Immochan with Eiffage and Valode et Pistre. The final choice will be decided in July 2018.

In other the three main unions of the RATP ( CGT,Unsa and SUD) are calling for a strike on Thursday March 22nd to support the announced strike by the SNCF. The strike will start on Wednesday March 21st at 21h and will lasts until Friday March 23 at 8h.  Stay on alert as the unions CGT-Cheminots, Unsa, SUD-Rail ,and CFDT are planning other strikes by periods of two days starting April 3rd and lasting three months. This according to them is to opposed the will of the government to continue by ordinances the reform of the train network system in France. Which is needed for sure.

And to continue to the problems of transportation, the place de la Bastille is getting ready to say goodbye to the traffic circle this summer.  As well as the works to make one way by more than half the rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine , this according to the city of Paris and the mayor’s office of the 11éme arrondissement.  From September next, the automobilists will not be able to take this road making about 1,1 km between the rue Faidherbe , and the place de la Bastille.

Bit of anecdote, the Tour Eiffel was closed for the most part Sunday due to the snow! and cold!!, it finally reopened by 16h30 after a security control. This is for about 3-4 inches of snow that fell in the City of Lights!

Another new find, and anecdote me think. If you go down cement steps on a tight spot you will come back to 80 years of history. You will need a flashlight or torch but once lighted you will be brought back in history with chills in your spine (so say the announcement). They have discovered a bunker to protect the bus drivers  from air attacks ,done in late 1930’s. A discovery made by the RATP at the Centre Bus RATP de Saint-Maur with all the furniture preserved, benches to sit, instruction panels etc. Now they will try to make it known to all as a new attraction of Paris.  The bunker goes in two directions until the Marne river on one side and the Abbey on the other. This is the Centre bus de St – Maur  4, bd Maurice Berteaux  94 100 St – Maur Tel +33  01 40 02 44 14.  Where garage the lines 101, 106, 107, 108/110, 111, 112, 201, 306, 317, and Noctambus H .  There is no webpage yet , you need to ask the RATP agent at Saint Maur to let you in, but I imagine they will need to work on it to have it open to the public, stay tune.

On the occasion of the Royal Regattas organized in the famous Grand Canal of the Chateau de Versailles ,the biannual event reunited 1 200 rowers and 40 clubs; webpage of the  centre nautique de Versailles https://www.cnversailles.org/regates-de-versailles-2018-clap-de-fin-et-resultats-definitifs/

Until March 25 the all first barber shop truck will land in Paris direct from the USA . It will go to mythic spots in Paris to shave you nicely , places such as  Abbesses, Pigalle, le Marais, Belleville, Etienne Marcel, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés.  Free admission walk ins allowed . This is done by the firm  Redken Brews  and the team of salon barbers  “Bonhomme”, inspired by the Brooklyn style. You can ask questions here email: barbersandbrews@gmail.com

Redken Truck : Wednesday March 21 11h-20h;  Pigalle : 1, rue Fromentin – 9^e, Thursday March 22nd 11h-20h ;  Le Marais : 14, rue de Bretagne – 3^e, Friday March 23  11h-20h;  Belleville : 102, boulevard de Belleville – 20^e, Saturday March 24 11h-20h ;  Etienne Marcel : 52-54, rue Etienne-Marcel – 2^e, Sunday March 25th 11h-16h;  Saint-Germain-des-Prés : place Saint-Germain-des-Prés 6.  The official site in French is here : http://redken.fr/trouvez-votre-salon-redken/

The magnificent residence of Napoléon Ier and his wife Joséphine.  Where they divorced she lived here until her death in 1814. Before, she renovated the gardens and brought exotic animals and will tell you the history as to how the Consulat, from 1801 -1802, took the great decision of its time like the French Code civil, Légion d’Honneur, etc.  Today the property domain has two castles , Bois-Préau  and Malmaison  as a museum of the  châteaux de Malmaison and Bois-Préau  where you can visit the apartments of the Emperor and his family ,admire his works of arts and even the oval room where the Emperatrice died on May 29 1814.  Château Malmaison, Avenue du Château de Malmaison, 92500 Rueil-Malmaison, go from Paris on the RER A : Rueil-Malmaison http://en.musees-nationaux-malmaison.fr/chateau-malmaison/

At the Les Fils à Maman, we say have lunch without a fix price.  This restaurant has no price you eat and you pay what you eat known as participating lunches you fix your price on what you eat . Every Friday noon you can do this with a menu of the day dessert for the price of your choice . The menu is unique ,as long as there is food, when no more the service stops! Here you eat without waste that is the idea of Les Fils à Maman, 6, rue Aristide-Bruant – 18e https://www.lesfilsamaman.com/paris-abbesses/carte/

Ok so you want to see Paris from afar and wonderful view before your eyes, a few places can do this but I give you three here.

You climb the 250 steps to see what of the best views of Paris in a real green balcony but very urban. This is the  Butte d’Orgemont  or Orgemont hill where you see a windmill and a nice lawn at  176, avenue de Stalingrad – Argenteuil , Gare d’Argenteuil – Line J http://www.aev-iledefrance.fr/l-aev/toute-l-actualite/342-la-butte-d-orgemont-la-nature-a-deux-pas-de-chez-vous

then you have the Butte des Châtaigniers  at 125 meters high but you need to climb 360 steps to view the panorama of the Tour Eiffel, Montmartre, La Défense  and others at  15, boulevard Youri-Gagarine – Argenteuil Gare de Sannois – Line J http://www.aev-iledefrance.fr/les-missions/ouvrir-les-espaces-naturels-au-public/les-grands-projets/projet-la-butte-des-chataigniers-une-ancienne-carriere-devient-un-panorama-remarquable

A stylish panorama on a hill of 170 meters, and if not up to climbing you can visit the Military fort of Cormeilles  below it, very nicely preserve and open each first Sunday of the month . Forêt régionale des Buttes du Parisis – 95240 Cormeilles-en-Parisis; Gare de la Frette Montigny – Line J  http://www.aev-iledefrance.fr/les-missions/amenager-le-territoire/les-perimetres-regionaux-d-intervention-fonciere/prif-buttes-du-parisis

You come to see a huge pool of 8 meters long by 4 meters deep a special ballon in an ocean of bubbles or try the aquagym courses in version bubble, with licorne bouys .  AFterward, you will be pampered with ice cream for free!! you will be at the transats from  16h-18h). see it , Bubble Party until March 25th on the place des Étoiles,  Val d’Europe with free animations every day from 11h to 20h. The pool is open for sessions of 10 persons, easy for all, even less than 3 yrs old with supervision qualified ; https://val-d-europe.klepierre.fr/Bubble-Party

On the Artsy side we have good ones coming up in Paris.

Foujita, les années folles . Going back to the women, the cats, natural death, the children, and the auto portraits marking the career of  Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita, Japanese artist and French citizen. See it at the  musée Maillol with an exposition dedicated to him until July 15 2018 with hundreds of works tracing his crazy years in  Montparnasse  between  1913 to 1931. musée Maillol,  61, rue de Grenelle  http://www.museemaillol.com/en/home

Margiela, les années Hermès ; the years of Hermés, Margiela, see the exposition tracing the work in the house of Hermès  showing at the museum or musée des Arts Décoratifs. From 1997 to 2003,the Belgian designer did several collections ready to wear under an innovating and luxe times.  This is a collaboration of the MoMu (Musée de la Mode d’Anvers)and  Martin Margiela, in the exposition there are 120 silhouettes interacting with you in view. Musée des Arts Décoratifs , 107, rue de Rivoli running from March 22nd to September 2 2018:  http://madparis.fr/francais/musees/musee-des-arts-decoratifs/

To find it in same building as the Louvre, old pavillion Marsan wing of the old façade de palais des Tuileries (now gone) http://madparis.fr/francais/musees/musee-des-arts-decoratifs/pratique/acces

Guernica, on the 80th anniversary of the creation of the work by Picasso. the Musée Picasso gives an exposition on Guernica, principal work of Picasso ,and counting as among the best known work in the world. It is preserved since  1981 in Madrid , where it is shown on a permanent basis. The exposition also offersa history lecture and clarification on the political involvement of Picasso. Musée Picasso,  5, rue de Thorigny  3éme; from March 27 to July 29 2018 http://www.museepicassoparis.fr/en/

Delacroix  in cooperation with the Metropolitan Museum of Art de New York, the museum of the Louvre  presents an exposition retracing the career of Eugène Delacroix.  There will be over 180 works of the master with the majority of paintings from the best showing of the 1820’s until his last creations little known of the public. Musée du Louvre , Rue de Rivoli showing from March 28 to July 23 2018 https://www.louvre.fr/en/homepage

Chagall, Lissitzky, Malévitch. L’avant-garde russe à Vitebsk (1918-1922)  or the forefront Russian of artists mentioned to know them , backgrounds and classics of our days. At total of 250 works will be shown put together by the Centre Pompidou  that shows light into the post revolutionary years far from the Russian metropolis, art history written by Vitebsk, city of Bielorussia. Centre Pompidou , place Georges Pompidou ,4éme , from March 28 to July 16 2018. https://www.centrepompidou.fr/en

Néanderthal , for a long time we thought it was a primitive creature, it is today known and accepted as Human. See the evolution in the  Musée de l’Homme, 17, place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre 16éme; from March 28 to January 7 2019  http://www.museedelhomme.fr/en

The museum Louis Vuitton in  Asnières-sur-Seine open its doors exceptionally to the public every weekend until April 15 2018.  A simple request is all it takes to come in and see behind the scenes the creation of the French heritage house without spending a cent. Come and see at the  La Galerie Louis Vuitton 18, rue Louis Vuitton – Asnières-sur-Seine reservations here : https://ticketing-la-galerie.louisvuitton.com/tour/la-galerie-louis-vuitton/?lang=en-GB

And of course food is everywhere here!!! Last but not least; I bring you the Rungis international market. Once passing the admission of 3,60€ if comes with a pro or 15€ full admission individual all it cost to see the biggest agriculture market in the world! A city within a city all dedicated to food. Behind the scene the ambiance change, there are no rules here, the truck traffic is chaotic and deliveries go and come. The visit by the public is possible (was there once with my job pros) all here : https://www.rungisinternational.com/en/visitors/

and how to get there: https://www.rungisinternational.com/en/map-and-opening-hours/

Hope you find something you like and will consider coming, Paris is a state of mind; once bitten the virus never goes away!! As Paris itself, it is eternal.

Enjoy your week, happy travels, good health to all. Cheers!

So on a rainy Thursday off day, cloudy windy (65 KPH), and miserable temps in 10C or 50F sitting at home. Well, let me tell you what is going on in my belle France.

Ok, so lots of construction going on in Paris due to a big program of modernization which they are behind and the Citizens are asking for faster and better service.

This coming Summer you will see plenty of work (especially if take regularly) on the RER A, which will be closed from Saturday July 28 to Sunday August 26 2018 between La Défense and Nation. The stations of La Défense and Nation will be temporary terminus even if they will remain open and connections will be assured. However, the quays will be closed at Charles de Gaulle, Étoile, Auber, Châtelet – Les Halles, and the gare de Lyon. On the train line L of the Transilien network,and the service on the metro lines 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 13 et 14 ;Tramway lines T2 and T3a; bus lines 73, 114, 118 and 275. Mondays to Fridays a navette bus will be in service between Charles de Gaulle
Étoile, and La Défense.

Same for the RER A and train line L , from July 14 to September 2nd included; closing of the RER A ,and the line L between Cergy – Saint-Christophe , and between Cergy – Le Haut(temporary terminus Cergy – Saint-Christophe). On the RER C line from July 15 to August 25th included, the RER C between Paris Austerlitz and Javel / Avenue Henri Martin. This Summer this line will be closed. Be careful, the station gare de Pont de l’Alma will remain closed until January 2nd 2019. The line 10 metro will be reinforced as well as bus line 63 ; there will be a navette bus between Invalides and Javel.

Again the RER A will be closed from July 26 to August 26 included from Maisons-Laffite and Poissy. More for the French speaker here: https://www.ratp.fr/travaux-ete-rera

No time for me but the Livre Paris 2018 is on from March 16 to 19 on its 38th edition on the expo park of the Porte de Versailles. More here in English: https://www.livreparis.com/en/visit/authors-and-signing/

If not there see the libraries of Paris with contact, do not forget to put the 0033 and do not mark the 0 from abroad or look them up in google.
Les Libres Champs Léa. 18, rue Le Verrier (VIe). Tél.: 01 43 29 27 11. L’Écume des Pages. 174, bd Saint-Germain (VIe). Tél.: 01 45 48 54 48.Galignani. 224, rue de Rivoli (Ier). Tél.: 01 42 60 76 07.Gibert Joseph. 26, bd Saint-Michel (VIe). Tél.: 01 44 41 88 88.Librairie des Abbesses. 30, rue Yvonne-Le-Tac (XVIIIe). Tél.: 01 46 06 84 30.Librairie de Paris. 7, place de Clichy (XVIIe). Tél.: 01 45 22 47 81.Delamain. 55, rue Saint-Honoré (Ier). Tél.: 01 42 61 48 78. Librairie du Globe. 67, bd Beaumarchais (IIIe). Tél.: 01 42 77 36 36 Librairie Jousseaume. 45-46-47, galerie Vivienne (IIe). Tél.: 01 42 96 06 24. Boulinier. 20, bd Saint-Michel (VIe). Tél.: 01 43 26 90 57.

And if at the same time you want to read up and have a coffee in a historic Paris landmark, then head for these:
Le Procope. 13, rue de l’Ancienne-Comédie (VIe). Tél: 01 40 46 79 00.Le Café de la Paix. 5, place de l’Opéra (IXe). Tél.: 01 40 07 36 36. Le Café de Flore. 172, boulevard Saint-Germain (VIe). Tél.: 01 45 48 55 26. La Closerie des Lilas. 171, boulevard du Montparnasse (VIe). Tél.: 01 40 51 34 50. Les Deux Magots. 6, place Saint-Germain des Prés (Vie). Tél.: 01 45 48 55 25

Then, two classic for the Paris lovers. Even Emmanuel Macron celebrated his first tour win in the French elections here, today the President. The La Rotonde,is open since 1911,at Montparnasse becoming known as the four muskeeteers at the crossing of Vavin with La Coupole, Le Dôme, and Le Select. Mythical address of the left bank it is the place of frequency of many artists and intellectuals such as Picasso, Chagall, Apollinaire, Soutine, Modigliani, Cocteau, Diaghilev, and Foujita. See it at La Rotonde. 105, boulevard du Montparnasse (6éme). Tél.: 01 43 26 48 26.  https://www.yelp.com/biz/la-rotonde-paris-3

Another jewel same place since 1899 in the Champs-Élysées,this Brasserie chic went over to the group Barrière (casinos) in 1998. It was closed in February 2017 for renovations and its hotel as well opening again last early July. The frequency here since early the 20C is the all Paris like Ettore Bugatti, Colette, Pierre Brasseur,Aga Khan, and Raymond Poincare. From the 1930’s was the meeting place of the cinema people from Raimu to Depardieu, passing by Gabin, Ventura, Delon ,and Signoret. Since 1977,it hosts the dinner of the ceremonies of the César (the French Oscar). Le Fouquet’s. 99, avenue des Champs-Élysées (8éme) Tél.: 01 40 69 60 50.  https://www.hotelsbarriere.com/en/paris/le-fouquets/restaurants-and-bars/fouquets.html

The mansion Hôtel de Sens,or the library Forney hosts until May 26 a free exposition on the poster artist Charles Loupot (died 1962). It will have hundreds of work from posters, models, photos, and publicist articles that trace his long career. The expo is call the Loupot, peintre en affiches à la bibliothèque Forney. Location :Hôtel de Sens. 1, rue du Figuier (4éme).Tél.: 01 42 78 14 60. Expo held on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 13h to 19h30, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10h to 19h30. Closed Mondays, free admission even for the expo. https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71820/Bibliotheque-Forney

And because they want to make business center and the sales are not order decision taken to closed the Centre Commercial Bercy 2 (shopping center mall).It is by the Boulevard périphérique and the autoroute A4 handy on way and coming to visit family for me! The mall aka as « la Baleine » or the Whale was opened in 1990 , and has now 70 stores.  http://www.ccbercy2.com/

Last January 19 at the aquarium of Sea Life in shopping center Val d’Europe,near Disneyland, a baby royal penguin was born in captivity. The penguin is with chocolate plumes and weights a bit more than 7 kg (about 15 lbs). He is not yet on the basin but stay with his parents to do this and swim will need about a year. More here: https://www.visitsealife.com/paris/en/

And now hold on, the SNCF trains of France in simple terms has voted by their unions a strike two over 5 days per week starting by April 3rd and for a period of 3 months; due to better working condition and the management push for quick modernisation of the structures. So , now with some towns holding back on automobile traffic ,and the trains of France on strike with structures on average 32 years old ,sure the tourist will think we are just fine….. More news here:  https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/Prime-Minister-s-SNCF-reforms-provoke-strike-threats

And to add to the train,our beloved subsidized Air France also has announce strikes. Air France’s pilots are asking for 6% rise in their salaries, a request the airline has refused to meet. Even though the Air France-KLM Group clinched a 42% increase in its operating profit to €1.49 billion in 2017, it is only offering a 1% increase to the unions, to be paid in two installments. The unions said it was a “small change.” More here: https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/air-france-union-will-strike-march-23/

The Festival of Mojito will start in June 2018 with tastings for free!!! The establishment participating will be decorated for the event and will have entertainment like concerts, gifts giving , and salsa courses; all before the World Cup of Football/soccer June 2018 in Russia. More in French here: https://www.lafetedumojito.com/

At the Musée du Luxembourg  come see the Tintoret, or the little tainter was name  Jacopo Comin, and now will be showing his early years  with the expo tintoret birth of a genius until July 18 2018. One of the most emblematic painters of the Renaissance.  More here in English: http://en.museeduluxembourg.fr/exhibitions/tintoret-naissance-dun-genie?_ga=2.255750600.171699832.1521143734-1712516395.1521143733

And last but not least;see a museum for free in Paris, no not just the Sundays first of every month but everyday. Here they are: Petit Palais, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Maison Victor Hugo, Musée de la Vie Romantique , Musée Cernuschi, Musée Curie, Maison Balzac Mémorial de la Shoah, Musée Valentin Haü, and Musée Jean Moulin. And of course, plenty free for those under 26 yrs old link below

https://www.parisinfo.com/decouvrir-paris/guides-thematiques/paris-gratuit/musees-et-monuments-gratuits-a-paris/les-musees-et-monuments-gratuits-a-paris#Ancre%206

Now get ready for the TGIF ok you are new to this Thanks God Is Friday. Have a great weekend, happy travels and good health to all. Cheers!!