Paris1972-Versailles2003

And here I am on my CCXXXII post on news of my France. It has been an incredible journey for me to come closer to what is going on in my belle France; hoping that it has giving you more insights into my beautiful adopted country. Oh it is No 232 for the rest ::)

I like to tell you a bit more on the news of France today Sunday 26 May on European Elections Day and Mother’s Day in France!

Ok so let’t start off with a bang on the results of the just finished Cannes Film Festival. Discover below the complete list of this 72nd Festival of Cannes winners

Palme d’Or: “Parasite ” by Bong Joon-Ho.  Grand Prix: “Atlantic” by Mati Diop. Jury prize: “Les Misérables ” by Ladj LY and “Bacurau ” by Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles.  Directing award: Jean-Pierre and Luc and Dardenne for “the young Ahmed”. Prize of the screenplay: “Portrait of the girl on fire” by Céline Sciamma. Award for feminine interpretation: Emily Beecham in   “little Joe “.  Award for male interpretation: Antonio Banderas in   “Pain and Glory “. Special mention: Elia Suleiman for “It must be heaven”.  Caméra d’Or: “Nuestras Madres ” (our mothers) by César Díaz. Palme d’Or short film: “The distance between the sky and us” by Vasilis Kekatos.  Special mention of the short film jury:   “Monster God ” by Agustina San Martín.

The attractions with thrills, the fairground stalls, the encounters with animals will be at the Jardin d’Acclimatation ,Paris. But the most beautiful sensation, today Sunday, will undoubtedly be that of the joy of moms shared with children. For the Mother’s day, the park with 47 the most modern rides, after a vast restoration, do not forget its traditions. The direction of the garden has planned to offer at the entrance, a rose to each mom and a relabelled of free workshops, once the entrance fee is paid. Jardin d’Acclimatation, 45 Mahatma Gandhi Avenue (16 éme). Métro Les Sablons. This Sunday from 10h to 19h. Entrance fee at 5€ for adults, free for children under 3 years old. Free animations and workshops. Hurry up if still in Paris! More info here: http://www.jardindacclimatation.fr/agenda/fete-des-meres

As I told you on an earlier post ,today is European election day and as usual France is been a bit slow but much better than last elections. The media is reporting quite a few French voters went to the polls this Sunday morning (And I did my civic duty already) to elect their European deputies. A figure, however, up from 2014. European elections 2019:19.26% participation level by noon today May 26th. The polling stations opened at 8h in France on Sunday, as in 20 other countries for the European elections. 47.1 million French are called to vote to renew, as every five years, their 74 deputies in the European Parliament; 79 if the UK is forced to leave the European Union( working on Brexit seems to be hard and long). More info from the European Parliament here: https://election-results.eu/

The departmental Stadium Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes (Hauts de Seine Dept 92). will host the women’s selection trainings next month for the United States. United States-Chile on 16 June will be the first official game at the Parc des Princes,Paris 16éme. The World Soccer/football women championships will be held in France starting from next June 7 with a France vs South Korea game. The USA is in group F, my other love France is in group A, and lastly my other love Spain is in group B; plenty of choices lol!!   More info here: https://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/matches/

Imagine Victor Hugo’s “Notre-Dame de Paris”, whose autograph manuscript is exhibited by the National Library this weekend, exceptionally, on the occasion of its Festival. There is only one version, these 455 flying slips written in four months. The writing is also heritage. Thanks to Hugo. “I give all my manuscripts, and all that will be found written or drawn by me, to the National Library of Paris, which will one day be the library of the United States of Europe,” adds the writer to his testament in 1881. The little story in the big news. Like the last words of queen Marie-Antoinette before her execution: “my eyes no longer have tears to weep for you my poor children; Farewell, Farewell! ». The semicolon perfectly traced, a few hours from the end point of the guillotine. The exhibit “Manuscripts of the extreme”, until 7 July 2019 at the BNF in Paris (13 éme). Every day except Monday from 10h to 19h, Sunday 13h to 18h. price:9€. Information at https://www.bnf.fr/fr/agenda/manuscrits-de-lextreme

In 1853 the name of Adolph Alphand is much less known than that of Haussmann, but the capital owes him, largely as well, his present physiognomy. Squares, parks, wood…   The passage from Trocadero to the Eiffel Tower will be vegetated by the time of the Olympic Games of Paris 2024, it is suggested another name: the “promenade Alphand”. Towards the end of 1853, the landscaping of the Bois de Boulogne, which was entrusted to him by Napoleon III, on April 15, 1854, Napoleon and Eugénie inaugurated in great pomp the first phase of the work of the old forest of Rouvray, where François Ier used to hunt for game. On that day, in front of the big waterfall (grand cascade) totally artificial and fuelled by an ingenious hydraulic system, the Imperial couple suddenly sees, at the given signal, the water gushing from the rocks!

For Adolph Alphand, it is the first day of a long career paved with glory. For thirty-seven years, the engineer of the bridges-and-roads will shape the new face of Paris, as an accomplished ace of urban surgery. To his credit, an impressive list: two immense forests Boulogne and Vincennes, arranged on either side of the city; 24 squares accessible in half an hour on foot for all Parisians, rich or poor, as demanded by Napoleon III. We must include as well the Square de Batignolles, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Rond-Point des Champs Elysées, Bois de Boulonge, Parc Monceau, boulevard Voltaire, Serres d’Auteuil, Square Montholon,Square du Temple, Jardins du Trocadéro, Parc Montsouris, and the Bois de Vincennes. More on the area here: Tourist office of Paris on areas of pedestrian idea

City of Paris webpage on info on the Grand site tour Eiffel: City of Paris on the project Grand Site Tour Eiffel

At Bazoches-sur-Guyonne (Yvelines dept 78) you can come to see the House of Jean Monnet, one of the founding fathers of the European Union, it is in his home, which we can now visit, that Jean Monnet drafted the text which, in 1950, laid the foundations of the European Union. The reception, which also serves as a small souvenir shop, offers umbrellas, flags, stickers and other pens in the colours of the European flag. For it is here, in the hamlet of Houjarray in Bazoches-sur-Guyonne, that the idea of a Union between the countries of the old continent was born. An idea that he had for several years by Jean Monnet and that he will end up dreaming black on white in 1950, in this house which he had acquired in 1945. This text, made public by Robert Schuman, then Minister of Foreign Affairs, remains considered as a founding document of the EU. A visit that is freely realized, and free of charge. Inside, the public can discover the salon where Jean Monnet expressed his projects to the decision makers of the time. The bedroom, the dining room complete the ground floor while upstairs, a projection room and interactive tables installed there since the month of January allow to know more about the life and work of man in a more playful way. More info here: https://jean-monnet.fr/en/maison-musee-jean-monnet/presentation-modalites-de-visite/

It was after several rewritings of La Recherche that he imagined that a Madeleine cake could bring the past to a resurgence. In the salons of the literary Hotel Le Swann, in Paris, the madeleines are pass before going to the Proustien spring, nine days of festivities in Eure-et-Loir celebrating the centenary of the awarding of the Goncourt prize to À l’ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs, (in the shade of the young girls in bloom) on December 10, 1919. Also, Illiers, his inspiration, became Illiers-Combray in 1971 in homage to the Romanced village of the writer. The Proust Museum is installed in the la maison de Tante Léonie or aunt Leonie’s house. The museum page in English: https://www.amisdeproust.fr/index.php/en/practical-information

Official on Marcel Proust achievements and the aunt Léonie house here in French: http://proust-personnages.fr/?page_id=4315

The actress Isabelle Carré is to see, until June 30th, at the Théâtre de la Renaissance,20 boulevard Saint-Martin 10éme, Paris, where she plays in the La Dégustation (tasting), a romantic comedy that explores the world of wine. She interprets a bachelor whose life changes after the meeting with her wine merchant, incarnated by actor Bernard Campan. One emerges from this story with the urge to tighten the others in its arms. We’re getting happier. The character is perhaps a little amateur, but his humor is not bold. We are in a humor that mixes everything, that does not separate. More info here: https://www.theatredelarenaissance.com/project/la-degustation-isabelle-carre-bernard-campan/

This Museum of Air and Space is located in Le Bourget (Seine-Saint-Denis dept 93), ten minutes from Paris. The number of birthdays it celebrates in 2019 alone justifies you to venture beyond the city. The Bourget airport celebrates its centenary this year. It was here, in 1919, that the first French civil airport was created. Although the number of passengers in that year was limited to 740, but twenty years later, on the eve of WWII, this figure had risen to 45 000. The growth of air transport will make that from 1961 onwards, the Bourget will be abandoned to the benefit of Orly (Val-de-Marne dept 94) then Roissy-en-France (Val d’Oise dept 95) in 1977. The 50 years of the first flight of the Concorde, the famous supersonic, as well as the 50 years of the mission that saw the first man walking on the moon on July 21, 1969, an opportunity to revive the seventeen Apollo missions through some emblematic objects. In addition, as every two years, Le Bourget welcomes this year the 53rd International exhibition of Aeronautics and Space (Paris Air Show) open to the general public from June 21 to 23rd. Finally, this anniversary year will end in apotheosis with the reopening of the great Gallery in the historic terminal, a nugget of the art deco architecture, conceived and realised in 1937. With one of the richest collections of aircraft, aerostats, mock-ups, uniforms, photographs, prints, posters and art objects in the world. More Information in French here: https://www.museeairespace.fr/

To all dreamers and lovers of sweet moments, the Les Heures Bleues or blue hours are made for you. Halfway between the end of the day and the beginning of the night, it is a perfect time for a chill party to share with friends, a white 1664 in hand. Neither too hot nor too cold, the air is ideal for an original afterwork or happy hour evening, to relax and especially to enjoy full animations. Every Wednesday and Friday, you will be able to fill up with animations. And you’ll have a choice! You can take part in a plant music workshop, and test your musical talents by making a few notes with citrus. Plus, a super DJ set of 16 pineapples. The group that usually plays with pineapples, will blackmail oranges and lemons for the occasion. Workshop 1664-the Les Heures Bleues at 47, rue du Cardinal-Lemoine 5éme Every Wednesdays and Fridays from 18h30 to 22h30. More info here: https://www.atelier1664.fr/about

For the resumption of the tour, the Freix Baravane selected the hottest spots of the summer: from Faust in Paris to the marvellous Island of Torcy, from Pete the monkey to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer to Scopitone in Nantes, the evenings and festivals are chained to the delight of Holidaymakers! In the program there will be: Festival, Mölkky games and of course cocktails, including the inescapable Sangria Blancaby Freixenet, and poptails with Freixenet ice ! La Freix Baravane to September 23 2019. More info here ! https://www.freixenet.fr/landing/?redir=/project/la-freix-baravane/

There you as always plenty to see in my belle France! Enjoy it to the limits!

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!

And back at you with my regular some news from France posts; thank you for reading and hoping always you can use it and enjoy it. We have summer weather here in France with sunshine and 20C in my neck of the woods Vannes or about 70F; while in Paris we have the same sunshine and 69F. As many friends and family tells me now time to enjoy the beach, oh yeah I still work here lol!!!

And now let me give something to rant about at least me. The landscape changes of Paris will be detrimental to continue holding the No 1 most visited city in the world if the continuing changes do follow up. The latest is again on restrictions.

In 2024, Parisians will be able to cross the Seine river on foot!, from Trocadero to the Eiffel Tower. The surroundings of the monument will be transformed into a huge garden, according to the project “Grand site Eiffel Tower: discovering, approaching, visiting” launched by the city mayor’s office back in January 2018. And the questions are beginning to come in, where are going to drive a car? On both sides of the Pont d’Iéna, at best motorists hesitate to take the project seriously, at worst they are criticize it as “a new anti-car charge of the Mayor of Paris! On the other hand, on the sidewalks of the bridge, looks and cameras pointed at the Eiffel Tower, phones in selfie mode and bus tickets in hands, most passersby rejoice. Normal, it is the visitors of the Eiffel Tower, dumped by tourist buses or by the Parisian Metro!!. One local explained “In this neighborhood the sidewalks are wide enough for people to circulate quietly, there are already many pedestrian facilities, cyclists etc! I myself have been cycling for 10 years, and there are bike paths 3 times wider than car lanes. Traffic becomes very difficult especially for merchants, and for all those who need the car, they should not be forgotten!”.

This is the impressive project unveiled this past  Tuesday in the late afternoon by Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris, who will literally disrupt the Trocadero landscape at the école Militaire passing through the Pont d’Iéna to be soon vegetated and very much pedestrian,  and of course the Champ-de-Mars and the Eiffel Tower. Kathryn Gustafson, is the architect whose project was selected this past Tuesday by the tender Commission, among the 4 finalists projects. This American landscaper,  who studied at the Ecole Nationale Superieure de Paysage de Versailles ! will draw and rethink 50 ha in the heart of Paris. Place du Trocadéro, no more roundabout around the equestrian statue of Marshal Foch. The cars will circulate in double direction on the outer part. New bleachers in the central open ground on the Parvis will offer both 12 000 seats and a view of the tower. The Parvis des Droits de l’Homme ( human rights square)  remains unchanged, but below, again, the gardens of Chaillot will be transformed by bleachers that will stretch all along the basin and water games. A set of kiosks and harmonized booths will offer souvenirs, treats and information. The place de Varsovie ( Warsaw) will be totally reserved for pedestrians. The Pont d’Iéna will be, between 2021 and 2023, totally wooded and planted with lawns. Only public transport and emergency vehicles will pass through the existing lanes instead of the current sidewalks. Quai Branly, in the direction of Bir-Hakeim, the cars will be relegated to the tunnel. On the surface, a track at 20 km/h will allow the passage of cars in the opposite direction. Another one will be reserved for buses. Objective: to facilitate the crossing by pedestrians from the quay to the Eiffel Tower. The place Joffre will also have to be reviewed. To this is added a continuous walk to Bir-Hakeim, creations of luggage storage, requalification of the kiosks, highlighting of the site… All this is planned, in a first phase, for the 2024 Olympics. At the Pavillon de l’Arsenal, visitors will be able to discover them and project themselves in the 4 pedestrian projects that have been proposed. Two virtual reality helmets will be made available. Info: 21 Boulevard Morland 4éme. Free exhibition, from Tuesday to Sunday from 11h to 19h. Guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 17h. More info on Paris mayor’s office in French here : https://www.paris.fr/actualites/un-appel-a-projets-pour-reamenager-la-tour-eiffel-5397

Until 2 September 2019, the children’s Gallery of the Centre Pompidou proposes to learn about the practices of prehistory in contemporary fashion.  It welcome children with animators and guides. From 4 years old. Centre Pompidou 4éme, Children’s Gallery, open from 11h  to 19h daily except Tuesday. Accessible with the entrance ticket, in connection with the exhibition “Prehistory, a modern enigma”. Rates: 11-14€.  More info here : https://www.centrepompidou.fr/en/Visit/Exploring-as-a-family

It is a large-scale restoration that has just begun at the Church of St. Louis de lÏle 4éme). The work in this church is expected to be completed in spring 2022. Know that worship and concerts continue to be assured. The restoration of the Spire, a steeple in stone of 18C, is one of the main points of the construction site which includes the renovation of facades and stained glass windows.  More on the Church here: https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71200/Eglise-Saint-Louis-en-l-Ile

Marnes-la-Coquette is decidedly a separate town. The least populated town of the Hauts-de-Seine (dept 92) attracted the greatest. In the early 1950’s, Jean Marais (famous French actor, director, writer, painter, sculptor, Potter and stunt man.) built a house on one level, where he lived from 1954 to 1971. Today, this house is for sale for 4.95 M €. At the time when Jean Marais bought the land, there was already a 19C hunting lodge Pavilion that has been renovated into a pool house. There is also a beautiful vegetable garden with cultivated greenhouses and vines of the 19C. The hero of the cloak and dagger films, Peau d’âne and Fantômas, also welcomed Jean Cocteau (Famous French poet, graphic designer, draughtsman, playwright and filmmaker). in his walls.   However, my passing to work by this town made me stop for the most important element here, the Memorial de l’Escadrille Lafayette (monument erected in memory of the volunteer American aviators engaged in WWI).More info on them here: https://www.marnes-la-coquette.fr/la-decouverte-de-notre-village/visites-et-promenades/le-memorial-de-lescadrille-la-fayette/

It is an exceptional heritage site but still little known. Built near Crépy-en-Valois in the 14C, the Donjon de Vez (Dungeon)  re-opens this past Monday with many novelties designed to seduce a wider audience. The Dungeon of Vez is the name usually given to the Castle of Vez, a 14C castle located in Vez in the Department of Oise (60). The Dungeon itself was built between 1390 and 1410 by Jean de Vez and probably his brother-in-law Robert of St. Clair, himself having remained  without descendants. It never belonged to Louis D’Orléans or a member of his family, but Jean de Vez was his Chamberlain and evidently appealed to an architect of the Royal or Ducal entourage. The pentagonal plan Dungeon has four livable floors, and its only defensive elements are its machicolations at the edge of the summit terrace. It is located on the edge of a large walled enclosure, partly contemporaneous, in the posterior part, and built on older foundations. In its center, there is a chapel of the same time as the castle and the ruin of the house from the years 1360/1390. In addition, exhibitions of modern and contemporary art are regularly organized such as sculptures, paintings and stained glass. More info here: https://www.donjondevez.com/

Musée des beaux-arts de Dijon or fine arts museum .Installed in this Palace of the Dukes and the States of Burgundy since 1799, the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts sweep a large period, from antiquity to the 19C. Renovated architecture, wider exhibition space (4 200 m2) and scenography more readable to rotate the approximately 130 000 works of the permanent collection. Not to mention the exhibition of the now local  Dijonais Yan Pei-Ming around the emotions. Located at 1, rue Rameau. More info here : https://musees.dijon.fr/exposition-yan-pei-ming-homme-pleure-17-mai-23-septembre

Moutarderie Fallot or Fallot mustard shop .It is one of the emblems of Burgundy, whose seed was historically cultivated in coal clearings. To become acquainted with the making of this condiment, the historical mustard Edmond Fallot proposes, in partnership with the tourist office, workshops of 1h15 to apprehend the manufacture and even realize its own mixture, to flavor according to its tastes. Tuesdays and Sundays, 11h  and 17h. 10€ admission, located at  16, rue de la Chouette .More info here : https://www.fallot.com/en/

The architect Philippe Maidenberg’s project for this hotel in the 2éme arrondissement of Paris, the 123 Sebastopol Hotel, as based on a film script: to succeed in associating in the same place, a Director, Claude Lelouch, a Screenwriter, Danièle Thompson, actors, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Agnès Jaoui, Jean-Pierre Bacri, Elsa Zylberstein and a famous film music composer, Ennio Morricone… In the sixth fl (7 US), the universe is dedicated to Jean-Paul Belmondo, boxing atmosphere, gym, punching-ball; black and white rooms for Claude Lelouch on the fifth floor, blue for Danièle Thomson in the fourth, with a room inspired by La Boum. Improbable ties and moustache for the third floor, framed like paintings, evoking the main character incarnate by Jean-Pierre Bacri in the  Le Goût des autres (taste of others). The rooms on the floor imagined by Elsa Zylberstein evoke the world of dance under the eye of Gena Rowlands and John Cassavetes, whose portraits were chosen. When on the floor of Maestro Morricone, a decoration based on music, including a master score reproduced in giant format on the wall. Last cinematic touch: the entrance is done by pacing a red carpet. From 160€ for two, including breakfast . More info here: https://en.astotel.com/hotel/123-sebastopol-en/overview

Are you tired of having to go back to Uber(especial us locals)  because you missed the last subway and the night-time is coming in an hour? That should cheer you up: the Parisian Metro will be open all night from September 2019. For the time being, the test will take place one night a month, for 6 months. We already know the days concerned: Saturday 14 September, Saturday 12 October, Saturday 9 November, Tuesday 31 December, Saturday 11 January, Saturday 8 February and Saturday 7 March. The Metro will operate nonstop from Saturday to 5h30 until midnight Sunday night. But beware; experimentation does not concern all metro lines! Only lines 1, 2, 5, 6, 9 and 14 are affected. The T3 and T2 tram will also be part of the game. And be vigilant on your night trips by Metro, because not all stations will be serviced.  More info check RATP here : https://www.ratp.fr/en/horaires-metro

From 22 May to 15 September, the Petit Palais celebrates Paris. More than 600 work, whether paintings, sculptures, costumes or even furniture, are gathered to honor the city of light during the romantic years. From the fall of Napoleon in 1815 to the revolution of 1848, these years represent a great period of founding the identity of Paris. The direction of the exhibition is made through various neighborhoods and iconic places of Paris, from Notre-Dame to the Latin Quarter and through the Palais-Royal. Very great artists are exhibited at the Petit Palais for this trip in romantic Paris. The works of Delacroix, Girodet, Chassériau, Préault or even Barye and many others are to be found at this exhibition, very Parisian and very complete. Paris Romantique, 1815-1848. Petit Palais ; Avenue Winston Churchill 8éme. More info here : http://www.petitpalais.paris.fr/expositions/paris-romantique-1815-1848

The French Opera was started at the beginning of the reign of king Louis XIV. Stemming from the Court Ballet in vogue under the last Valois and Italian Opera introduced in France by Cardinal Mazarin, it is in the ambiguous relationship between the affirmation of a national ambition and the aspiration to a transalpine model that is created the first Opera Academy in 1669. This exhibition celebrates the 350th anniversary of the first French lyric scene through a course that traces the activity of this institution, from the time of the Sun King to the French revolution.  The exhibition course revolves around 130 pieces, mostly from the collections of the BnF (national library of France) and the national archives. Manuscripts, drawings of costumes and projects of decorations are attached, among other things, to describe the process of impregnation of the Italian culture by the performing arts in France. The national and international influence of this great institution is also at the heart of the exhibition. Start: May 28, 2019 end: September 1, 2019. Bibliothèque-musée de l’Opéra , Palais Garnier, 8 rue Scribe. More info here : https://www.bnf.fr/fr/opera

There you go enjoy my belle France and sublime Paris. And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!

And back at you as the weather turns and France reawakens ,even if a bit cloudy we have a nice 16C  or about 62F in my neck of the woods and Paris has 64F and sunnier! I have to tell you more because France always has more. So my latest favorites of the many are to follow below.

This American of Chinese origin has made many monuments around the world. In 1983, he won the Pritzker Prize, the “Nobel of Architecture”. The architect Leoh Ming Pei, renowned in France for being at the origin of the Louvre pyramid, inaugurated in 1989. He has died at the age of 102 years. He is the son of the American artist, born in China in 1917, who announced the news to the New York Times. Some of his work were the Dallas City Hall, Cleveland’s Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame or the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong. He, also built the East façade of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., more recently, he was also asked by Qatar to designl the Islamic Art Museum in Doha. RIP

Just after the fire of Notre-Dame Cathedral, the amount of donations, fueled in particular by the announcements of the great fortunes and companies of our country, was valued at one billion euros. But for the time being, this astronomical sum is far from being reached. According to our own count (Le Parisien newspaper) of the four collecting agencies selected by the State, 71 million euros have, to date, been casted on the half-billion that was directly promised to them. In detail, the Heritage Foundation is still awaiting the payment of 170 million euros, the Fondation Notre-Dame 300 million euros, the Fondation de France 20 million euros and the Center for National Monuments, 1 million euros.  Firstly because we do not know the budget necessary for the reconstruction, the expertise is coming to begin. Secondly,because most of the donations have not yet materialize.  Agreements will be signed between the Associations and the families Pinault and Arnault, who respectively promised 100 and 200 million euros. Payments will be made as the project progresses, many communities, which have not yet unlocked the promised appropriations, should do so in the coming weeks. Some mayors have still made a backhand retreat facing the sling of administrations preferring to give a boost to the the local buildings threatening ruin. From Le Parisien newspaper . Notre Dame Cathedral webpage here: https://www.notredamedeparis.fr/en/

At the Church of St. Paul and St Louis  4éme, the three large 17C stained glass windows that frame the altar of the Virgin were removed this week., and transported for restoration to the workshops in Tusson (Charente). So, the two large bays on both sides of the statue as well as the oculus of the upper part, protected by a kind of Plexiglas, let pass a white light that will illuminate the choir until September when the stained glass windows will be restored. As the Church has 49 stained glass windows and the donations allow to renovate two to three a year, the whole work will take about fifteen years. The first two were restored in the Choir Chapel in 2018. The Church parish is here: https://www.spsl.fr/contact

175 patronyms will be added on the wall of the names of the 76 000 Jews deported from France. 1 823 names, 1 097 first name and 1 498 dates of birth will also be changed. Fourteen years after its inauguration by President Jacques Chirac and Simone Veil, herself a survivor of Auschwitz, the wall of the names of the 76 000 Jews deported from France (including 11 400 children), erected in the courtyard of the Holocaust Memorial (4éme), will be fully demolished and replaced by a new one, also with stones from Jerusalem . The construction site began at the beginning of the past week and will be completed by January 27  2020 for the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Soviet army in the Auschwitz camp. Formed from the archives of the Gestapo anti-Jewish service recovered in August 1944, the lists of the names of men, women and children sent to the death camps were not free of errors: some for example, could be arrested under false patronyms (alais names of resistance or Frenchized…) .That’s why the spelling of 1 823 names and 1 097 first name is going to be changed. 1 498 dates of birth will be added or modified, and 175 names of deportees found through departmental archives or family intervention will be added. The Memorial of the Shoah  is at 17, rue Geoffroy l’Asnier , 4éme. Open every day, except Saturday, from 10h to 18h, until 22h on Thursdays. Free admission. More info here : http://www.memorialdelashoah.org/en

The elected folks  of the depts Yvelines 78, Hauts-de-Seine 92 ,and Val-d’Oise 95, as well as those of Calvados 14, Eure 27, and Seine-Maritime 76  are determined to put the Seine on the front of the  tourist scene. Of the 350 km separating Le Havre from Paris, there are only twenty-five Seine river stops. The reception and the information to the tourists must be improved thanks to the trails and, why not, local guides. The banks of the Seine must be animated, brought to light as is the case in the Hauts-de-Seine. The river must also become useful again. In Mantes-la-Jolie, the barge of the Boucanier offers an original concept of floating restaurant popular especially in summer ( I attest to that very nice ambiance). In Bennecourt, a little further downstream, a lover of the Seine had the good idea to launch a floating cottage. This water camper can be rented by individuals or promoters.  In Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, the Seine is put forward every year by perpetuating the national pardon of the batellerie, (river boat building, a nice place indeed with a museum) a ceremony that is both commemorative and religious. Not to mention the Guinguettes that return to the taste of the day or the Seine docks made to pedestrians, as has been the case in Sartrouville since the beginning of the May’19. More info on the Fluvial Seine on the magazine Fluvial webpage here: http://www.fluvialnet.com/voies-navigables/bassin-de-la-seine

Info on tourism in the  Seine estuary in French: http://www.bassindelaseine.vnf.fr/tourisme-et-domaine-r316.html

In the evening, come to the castle for a Cine-Bal. The TAM dance company will initially offer a playlist of music films. Then a dozen film-danced sequences will be broadcasted on a giant screen. On the Parvis of the City/Town Hall, farandole of associations this coming Saturday from 14h,  and spring market on Saturday from 10h to 22h, and Sunday from 10h to 18h. At the Castle, night of the museums Saturday from 20h to midnight. Free, more information at tel +33 (0)1.64.73.49.00 and  City of Champs-sur-Marne (77) page here: www.ville-champssurmarne.fr

In it find a pdf file in French with all activities and a map! http://www.ville-champssurmarne.fr/actualite/doc/Champs_Fete2019_programme.pdf

Pierre-Paul Heckly’s collections auctioned this coming weekend by an auctioneer from Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne dept 77. Pierre-Paul Heckly was an architect and navigator located in Saint-Germain-en-Laye (Yvelines dept 78). He died in 2018, and left behind a real Ali Baba Cave. Tens of thousands of objects, fruits of 60 years of discoveries, according to his multiple passions; bronzes, paintings, prints, crystal, silverware, furniture., etc. In the House, not a square cm or inch that does not carry or support a work. Upstairs, erotic drawings, a collection on the theme of marine anchors, an empire bed or the collection of almanacs Vermot (some dating back to the 1920’s). Close to these pieces of choice, drawings of unknown artists and trinkets caught in flea markets or souvenir shops, like this showcase that is brimming with objects on the theme of the scallops, of a perfect bad taste. But also hundreds of boxes of sardines, full and carefully listed. Or dozens of meters of shelves filled with glasses and beer mugs from all over the world. the most striking collection remains that of advertising lighters, it has 28 000 in its collection. The incredible collection of Pierre-Paul Heckly, is on sale Saturday and Sunday May 18-19  at the Auctions House Osenat  located at 9-11, rue Royale,Fontainebleau. Information and registration via the website . https://www.osenat.com/catalogue/96096?npp=150&

Last night, according to reports in the Le Parisien newspaper ,  the final project of the renovation of the Gare du Nord was unveiled. A green roof, sports fields, bicycle parking…Its new face totally amazing!  For the busiest train station in Europe. The work of the big work will  end in 2022, without consequences on the movement of trains. A second stage will begin in March 2023 for the upper floors and the impressive 11 000 m2 park. The ambitious idea of making the Gare du Nord the showcase of the French art of living (mais ouii). The giant rooftop terrace of 7700 m2 originally planned for 11 000 m2, and its lawns and garden.  Also, apart from children’s games, you can find rest areas, different cafés and many benches for a chilling moment. The rooftop terrace will also offer a range of equipment for sportsmen, at affordable prices: Padel (small tennis), basketball courts, as well as a trail of 1 km long and 50 m of elevation where to spend in the open air after a large day. 2000 bike places will be available in the secure parking lot, it will even have the possibility to have it repaired, to drop the equipment in lockers or to take a shower after a long journey. A space of 45 000 m2 will offer many shops, cafés and restaurants but also local shops and a range of surprising services such as a medical practice, a co-working space or a library. The project includes a lounge area with a waiting zone for Thalys travelers as well as a more extensive duty free area for Eurostar travelers. Official Gare du Nord SNCF: https://www.gares-sncf.com/fr/gare/frpno/paris-gare-du-nord

A simple local guide to the Gare du Nord in French: http://www.gare-du-nord.paris/

From 1960 to 1980, musical currents crossed the channel, transforming Paris and London into multicultural capitals. The “Paris-London exhibition: Music migrations 1962-1989” at the Museum of the History of Immigration  proposes to explore the music that has moved the previous generation. One learns how several generations of immigrants, in these two former colonial powers, have seized the music to make their rights heard, claiming their place in public space and contributing to the transformations from the economic and cultural times of both countries. Shows, performances, concerts, screenings and encounters will enrich this magnificent Expo. You will be transported by pieces of reggae-punk, ska, R&B, Rachid Taha punk, electro-rap, rock Etc. Palais de la Porte Dorée,  Musée national de l’histoire de l’immigration,  293, avenue Daumesnil 12éme Paris. More info here:  http://www.histoire-immigration.fr/paris-londres

Now let’s finish with a bang and dance away in the nights of Paris for the young at heart.

It is not a grocery store but a bar located in the 11éme arrondissement. L’Alimentation Générale or L’ali-gé  for the intimate locals. It’s a rather chill atmosphere: you can have a drink with your buddies in the early evening and then sweat until the end of the night to the sound of concerts and DJ sets. At 64, rue Jean-Pierre-Timbaud 11éme Metro Parmentier, Couronnes, or Goncourt.  Open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 19h to 02h, and Fridays and Saturdays from 19h  to 05h!.More info here:  http://alimentation-generale.net/

A real institution in the Belleville neighborhood, the Café Chéri (e) changes at the very end of the weekend. Exit the regulars who come to take their coffee, from 22h to 02h, the DJ’s raise the temperature of this room to the red neon: electro, rock or even jazz, the Café Chéri (e) always makes you happy. 44, Boulevard de la Villette,19éme. Metro Belleville. Open every day from noon to 02h. More info here:   https://www.facebook.com/cafe.cherie/posts/?ref=page_internal

Located a few steps from the Grands Boulevards, the B58 is a bar that wants to mingle culture and fiesta. Expos, stags evenings, the bar has the reputation of being a festive place where you drink well, and not too expensive! The small plus: the B58 can be privatized. At 58, rue richer ,9éme. From Tuesday to Saturday from 18H to 02h . More info here:  http://www.b58-paris.fr/

The party animal that is in you must definitely test the Favela Chic. Known to locals, this tropical-like bar will make you dance until the end of the night! You can even enjoy in the first part of the evening of friendly concerts. At 18, rue du Faubourg-du-Temple ,11éme. Metro République. Open from 19h30 to 02h  from Tuesday to Thursday and until 04h30 on Fridays and Saturdays. A real ambiance assure! More info in their Facebook page here :  https://www.facebook.com/FavelaChicSurofficial/

Located right in the heart of the Villette, this property is completely hybrid. A la folie its a restaurant, bar, guinguette and club, this is the kind of spot where you can spend a whole day. Outside, deckchairs to chilled  and inside a bar quite sympathetic to the colorful and urban décor of Parc de la Villette, 26, Avenue Corentin-Cariou 19éme Metro Corentin Cariou. Open Monday to Thursday from 12h to midnight and until 02h on weekends. More info here: http://alafolie.paris/

You who have a bad image of the neighborhood  of Saint-Michel and its tourist bars(indeed), be attentive and do not miss the Le Cavern Club. Not only because its prices are unbeatable in view of the neighborhood  with 3,50€ cocktails during Happy Hour! (mais ouii), but also because the music is cool. And the little thing in addition: a hidden staircase that leads to a huge vaulted cellar with a second bar. In terms of music, Electro-House enthusiasts should be delighted.  At 21, rue Dauphine, 6éme. Métro Saint-Michel. Open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 18h to 02h, and until 06h on weekends. More info here:. http://www.lecavernclub.com/

And they you go be ready for the end of Spring and Summer in France sublime, this is the best time to be here except maybe October and December.  Enjoy it fully as we do. France is a movable feast!.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!