Archive for January 27th, 2023

January 27, 2023

Some news from France , CCCLXXX

This is my latest from my belle France ; as we are in Winter and the rain has stopped ! Most said winter will be harsh but with the exception of a brief few days the temps are been warmer than usual, However, is that time again to tell you my latest rants about some news from France. An eventful post in my blog that I have enjoyed together with you for the last 12+ years , And for those non Roman CCCLXXX is 380 ! ,with another dandy round of news of my belle France , of course, chosen by me; there are many others. We will be tidy and drinking a nice glass of wine! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

Paul Pairet, known to the general public as a juror of Top chef, the cooking show of M6 TV, inaugurates this past Wednesday January 18 2023 , Nonos. Its new restaurant located within the Hôtel de Crillon, the famous palace on the Place de la Concorde. If you find dishes on the menu for less than 10 euros, the steak and fries is charged 28 euros, the prime rib (for six people) flies away at 250 euros and the matured meat flames even more. Webpage : https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/hotel-de-crillon/dining/nonos-comestibles-paul-pairet

Responding to the call of Fabien Roussel, National Secretary of the Communist Party. The mayor (Socialist Pary) of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, (who else!) announced this Thursday morning January 19 2023 , that the City/Town Hall would close its doors on January 31, on the occasion of the day of mobilization against the pension reform. Of course, they show their true colors lol !!

Police, soldiers and security guards by the hundreds to the the Gare du Nord where they wants to put an end to delinquency. What is really happening in the bowels of the largest station in Europe, placed night and day under high surveillance, Yes as said Paris is a big City not all is gleaters, stay away from big train stations at very early mornings or late nights, You were told

The future planned urban forest on Place du Colonel-Fabien, Located at the junction between the 10éme and 19éme arrondissements of Paris, should be redeveloped by December 2025. Partly pedestrianized and vegetated, it will also host an 800 square meter urban forest. Welcome to Place du Colonel-Fabien in the new Paris,

The beforementioned Tramway T13: from Saint-Germain en Laye to Poissy, Achères, Conflans and Cergy has well as usual delayed extension, While the commissioning of the first section between Saint-Cyr-l’École and Saint-Germain-en-Laye dates from the summer of 2022, the cities of Poissy and Achères should not be served before… 2027. Concerning the terminus in Cergy, the works should not start before 2029, La vie en rose ,,,By the time is done, it will already be congested lol ! This is now Transilien info webpage : https://www.transilien.com/fr/page-lignes/tramway-t13

Jean Castex Director RATP promises more transparent information for RATP users in the event of an incident on the metro trains. While this change is unfortunately not likely to resolve traffic incidents any faster, it will nevertheless allow users to be better informed. Oh yeah like before going all the way to the track to find out a technical problem and having to walk all the passageways back again lol ! I hope they do it for good ! More info from BFMTV news in French webpage : https://www.bfmtv.com/economie/entreprises/transports/metros-et-trains-bondes-et-retardes-que-veulent-dire-les-messages-abscons-de-la-ratp-et-de-la-sncf_AV-202210260279.html

And finally, the Line 6 of the Paris metro is about to say goodbye to the MP73 (1970’s) and their iconic green seats for trains coming from line 4. The very first will be put into circulation in a completely renovated version before the end of January 2023. Completely refurbished MP89s from line 4 will be appearing very soon. Brighter, modernized and automated, users of metro 6 will be able to enjoy greater comfort with the entry into service of the very first train before the end of January 2023. Fully renovated seats and ceilings, the installation of placement of doors that open on both sides of the train, the installation of signage on board… this is what awaits users of the historic line 6. And for more security, on-board video protection will be installed, Ok let’s have them for my dear old line 6 yeah !! Here is BFMTV news in French webpage : https://www.bfmtv.com/paris/paris-bientot-de-nouvelles-rames-de-metro-modernisees-pour-la-ligne-6_AV-202301100731.html

¡Viva Villa!” , an immersion in Avignon in the process of creation of the Villa Médicis, the Villa Kujoyama and the Casa de Velazquez, The three major French institutions for artist residencies abroad exhibit, at the Collection Lambert, the works more than seventy of their boarders. What is happening at the Villa Medici (French Academy in Rome), the Casa de Velazquez (French Academy in Madrid) and the Villa Kujoyama in Kyoto, Japan , participates remotely in the vitality of the French scene. However, since 2016, the prestigious trio of artist residency institutions has chosen to give a common echo, and in France, to these activities by organizing “¡Viva Villa!” », an event now hosted by the Collection Lambert, in Avignon. Webpage : https://collectionlambert.com/en/exposition/viva-villa-4/

You know you live in the 18éme arrondissement of Paris when..lol !. You have your breakfast at Francis la Butte even if you know that the best croissants are at the bakery at the intersection rue Hermel, You have concrete buttocks by going up and down 1573027 steps at each health walk in the neighborhood, You cried when Michou died, You know that Etienne Daho and Angèle are your neighbors and, even if you rarely see them, if at all everything, you feel oddly close to them in a way, cutest theatre? The Workshop, of course! For an aperitif at sunset, forget the steps of the Sacré-Coeur full of tourists, you know you have to meet at the Soleil de la Butte, The market on rue du Poteau is one of the nicest and nothing can’t make you say otherwise, Amélie Poulain who? “The 18éme is really a village honestly”, You finish all your evenings at the Soleil de la Butte, You’ve never been able to use a bike other than an electric one, You live 5 minutes from Sacré-Coeur but you had to go home about twice inside to break everything in your life, You can scour the Boule Noire, the Cigale and the Trianon and walk home all tipsy. When you discovered the existence of the Hôtel Particulier Montmartre you felt. super important and aware of a secret, now everyone hangs out there but you were there before first, During confinement you walked alone.in a deserted Montmartre and rediscovered the beauty of the neighborhood usually in full of touristic excitement ,They will say what they want, you know that the stairs of Abbesses when the elevator is broken are the closest to hell that a human being can experience on Earth ! Yes, you can really be a Montmartreois !!!

What to see around Paris, me think,

In the spring, the “Divine” Sarah Bernhardt is honored with an exceptional exhibition in the heart of the Petit Palais. An emblematic figure at the turn of the 19C and 20C, the indomitable Sarah Bernhardt was a real star before her time. Using her image for her own publicity and always keeping up to date with new releases, the “golden-voiced” actress and entertainer has triumphed on stages around the world. With more than 400 works on display, the route retraces both the life and career of the multifaceted artist Sarah Bernhardt  Et la femme créa la star or and the woman created the star ,Petit Palais Avenue Winston Churchill 8éme, From April 14 to August 27 , 2023 ,Webpage: http://https ://www.petitpalais.paris.fr/en/exhibitions/sarah-bernhardt

Essential painters of the 1860s-80s, Édouard Manet and Edgar Degas will soon be exhibited together at the Musée d’Orsay, in a unique journey, rich in masterpieces never before brought together. Manet / Degas, Musée d’Orsay, 1, rue de la Légion-d’Honneur – 7éme, From March 28 to July 3 2023. Webpage:https://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/whats-on/exhibitions/manet -degas

In the heart of the kingdom of Ramses II, great pharaoh of the Egyptian golden age. Discover an exceptional collection of more than 180 original pieces, with works exhibited for the first time outside Egypt , Ramsès et l’Or des pharaons or Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs, Grande Halle de la Villette, 211, avenue Jean-Jaurès 19éme, From April 7 to September 6 2023, Webpage: https://en.lavillette.com/programming/ramses-the-great_e1111

With the return of fine weather, the Musée Jacquemart-André makes you (re)discover the work of the great master of painting Giovanni Bellini who, all his life, led a quest for new influences. Through fifty works, retrace the journey of the father of the Venetian school, who paved the way for an art of color and tone, which became the hallmark of the Venetian 16C, Giovanni Bellini, Influences Croisées or Cross Influences, Musée Jacquemart- Andrew, 158, boulevard Haussmann 8éme, From March 3 to July 17 2023, Webpage:https://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/en/node/2256

My picks of pizzerias to liven up lunches (and dinners)! By experience are Peppe, at webpage : https://www.peppeparis.fr/en/ ,and La Vera Pizza Napoletana,(actually says the true Napolitan pizza) at webpage : https://www.guillaume-grasso.com/pizzeria/#contact

And hot plates for the winter I like: Beef bourguignon with shells from Bouillon Pigalle 22, boulevard de Clichy 18éme, Savoyard fondue from Marmottes, 26, rue de la Grande-Truanderie 1éme, Ultra-melting tartiflette from Monbleu, 37, rue du Faubourg -Montmartre 9éme, Ultra comforting onion soup from Au Pied de Cochon
6, rue Coquillière 1éme, The very Frenchy Le pot-au-feu stew from Drouant 16-18, rue Gaillon 2éme, and The ancestral veal blanquette from Chez la Vieille 1, rue Bailleul 1éme, All Paris !

And finally, my rant of the month or year . I do not know if just me but I have been noticing many folks trying to follow my blog giving a few likes and once ok the « friend » contact they just disappears ! I do not know why people follow , but to me , me think, you follow me because you like my content lol ! Just goes without saying that once in a while you should stop by to say Hi ,give a « like » and so on, I have taken many down from as much as 3000 followers to just over a thousand, Still a lot with hardly any real following, Is it me ? Or is just my mind ? What do you think ?

There you go folks, another round of my some news from France coming to you freely by the road warrior travel guy . Hope you enjoy this post and do take care of winter but still not feld as much, and the white one, well has stay away from me , great,,, And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all 

January 27, 2023

The gare or train station of Vannes !!!

I am surprise only briefly mention the train station of Vannes in my travels there ! Actually, I used it lots of times in my business travels and really needs to have a post of its own, for memories’ sake. Vannes is our capital City of my beautiful Morbihan dept 56 of my lovely Bretagne and in my belle France, I still nostalgic remember of my trips very late at night or very early in the morning from here to go to Paris Montparnasse or Nantes Atlantique airport ! Hope you enjoy the post on the gare of Vannes as I.

vannes gare train station front apr18

Vannes gare trains lines to paris montparnasse

The train station or gare de Vannes is a railway station on the line from Savenay to Landerneau, located in the gare or train station neighborhood, on the territory of the city of Vannes. It notably serves the Gulf of Morbihan. It was put into service on December 21, 1862. Just next to the hospital center (CHBA) and the Etang du Duck or pond . About 15 minutes on foot from the City center or port of Vannes. The chosen site is away from the city, close to the imperial road 167 and the village of Saint-Symphorien. The passenger building conforms to the style developed for sixteen of the line’s stations, it features alternating red and white lines made of bricks and white stones. During WWII the only bombardment on the city of Vannes was targeted at the station and its neighborhood. It only destroys an empty tank car.

vannes gare train station arriving aug21

You can make by train direct from Paris Montparnasse or even Roissy CDG with less frequency. For ticketing and information see SNCF Voyageurs 7 place de la Gare also boutiques Galerie commerciale Carrefour   and Boutique SNCF Centre at 5 place du Poids Public in old town. The Vannes train station, I took many times over the last 10 years almost weekly and it is tops, full facilities free parking and services .

vannes gare parking to gare to redon jan18

A major renovation and modification site was opened in 2004. the old goods yard was replaced by a car park, the underground is equipped with a lift allowing access to each of the platforms for people with reduced mobility, a multiservice center is created in a new space built in the extension of the old building which is renovated and to which is added a glazed hall in front of the old facade, which has retained its original appearance with the alternation of red bricks and white stones of similar stations of the line. The construction lasted two years, the inauguration took place on November 17, 2006. However, again major renovations are on order to be finished by 2025 for many improvements, to be continue…

Vannes is served by the TGV and regional express trains such as TER Bretagne and TER Pays de la Loire. It is served by the TGV inOui and Ouigo from the relationship between Quimper and Paris-Montparnasse via Rennes and Redon, A bus station is served by city buses and there is a park for bicycles (20 places + 48 in a secure room for TER subscribers) and parking, place de la gare (paying but closer) and rue de Strasbourg, (free behind the train station is where I parked ), and a Vélocéa station (self-service bicycles) is present nearby. There are also car rental services and a taxi rank , Intercity bus lines passing through this station are line 02 – Rennes Quimper line 03 – Quimper Nantes line 12 – Vannes Lorient ,line 19 – Redon Vannes , and line 27 – Saint-Brieuc Pontivy Vannes Lorient.

Vannes gare bus terminal depot by the gare apr18

Four car rental companies are located in the train station or in the immediate vicinity, within a radius of 500 meters or around 6 minutes on foot. These are Hertz, Avis, Europcar and National Citer, The car rental counter hours are Monday to Friday: 5h05 to 20h (open Monday 6h05 . outside school hours) – Saturday: 7h30 a.m. to 20h. Sundays and public holidays: 9h05 to 21h. The train station or gare opening hours are Monday to Friday from 4h30 to 23h (Monday opening at 4h and Friday closing at 23h45) Saturday from 5h45 to 23h, Sundays and public holidays from 6h45 to 23h45.

The TER Bretagne trains from Vannes : https://www.ter.sncf.com/bretagne/se-deplacer/gares/vannes-87476606

The SNCF trains gare de Vannes : https://www.garesetconnexions.sncf/fr/gares-services/vannes

The local Gulf of Morbihan tourist office on the renovations in Gare de Vannes Janvier 2023 > Janvier 2025 https://www.golfedumorbihan-vannesagglomeration.bzh/pem-gare-vannes

The City of Vannes and its heritage : https://www.mairie-vannes.fr/decouvrir-le-patrimoine-vannetais

There you go folks, a wonderful memorable train station, actually , I missed it,,, You get the general overview here and if any further help let me know. The Vannes train station is very much walkable for the main sights , and it is superbe. Hope you enjoy the post as I.

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

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January 27, 2023

The 3 of Vannes !!

I have written on them in spots in different posts but need to have one with more information on these wonderful restaurants of my capital City of Vannes in my beautiful Morbihan dept 56 of my lovely Bretagne in my belle France, I have gone to many restaurants,as it is part of my hobbies on a foodie level and would to tell you about three memorable ones in this post. Let me tell you a bit on these wonderful restaurants : A l’Aise Breizh Café, La Saigonnaise, and Chez la Mére 6 sous , I wanted to say the 3 muskeeters of Vannes that was too much me think lol ! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The A l’Aise Breizh Café, right on top of the  capitainerie in the Le Port marina area of Vannes. This is the pleasure marina with berths for 3000 boats!!! You eat on top of the capitainerie and see the canal with all those boats.

vannes a l aise breizh cafe backside 17nov2013

The ambiance here is excellent, very helfpul happy, prompt service always.  The food is great well done and well presented. You need réservations for the evenings and weekends as it is packed with locals. On Sundays you have many families from the area bringing their eldest to eat together. The dining room is packed and I love it.

vannes a l aise breizh cafe terrace to port back 17nov2013

In the restaurant , my twins got a nice gift as a coffee mug from A l’Aise Breizh Café ,which ,also, has a boutique on each of their location , Nice ,great treat indeed.

vannes a l aise breizh cafe dining to-port 17nov2013

The A L’Aise Breizh Café :https://www.alaisebreizhcafe.fr/en/

The RestaurantGuru reviews on the Breizh Caféhttps://restaurantguru.com/A-lAise-Breizh-Cafe-Vannes

One of my colleagues at work here told me about an Asian resto, and as my wife like that food, and I have been taking it on lately on my travels in Asia, we decided to try today. It was a find, wonderful family very helpful Vietnameses, great service, the food is all home made on site, and good prices, prompt personalise service, and we left feeling like we have found a home in Vannes. The place La Saigonnaise, 2 Place de la Madeleine. They have take out service for 15% less than the menu carte prices. Indeed we went overboard with Chinese and Vietnamese beers, then the menu for entrée, plat, and dessert . An assortments of samoassas, nems, raviolis,papillottes with shrimp, cantonese rice, chinese fry noodles, with two distinct sauces, I had the bœuf au saté or beef satay sauce; great, and for desserts dame de saigon (coco,banana ice cream and chantilly cream with a vietnamese nougat on top).

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The La Saigonnaisehttps://la-saigonnaise-restaurant-vannes.eatbu.com/?lang=en

The RestaurantGuru reviews on La Saigonnaise: https://restaurantguru.com/La-saigonnaise-Vannes

This one is by old town, walking around all day we needed to eat and we stop at one of the quant places to eat in Vannes , the resto Chez la Mére 6 Sous, 11 Rue Thomas de Closmadeuc; great goat cheese salad, mussels and fries, chorizo spanish pizzas , a bottle of brut cider from the Val du Rance all good.

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Chez la Mère 6 Sous is an art bistro nicely tucked away in a colorful cul-de-sac in the pedestrianized center of Vannes, they do home cooking and good casual food with . traditional cuisine with local specialities such as Breton dishes, oysters from the Gulf of Morbihan, scallops, sea sauerkraut, certified organic wines. The owners are there since December 1 2019 ,after 12 years in La Trinité-sur-Mer in the restaurant Le Carré, Jean-Marie and Véronique Launey , Anyway they figure this is a restaurant with a good 30 years of history!

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The Chez la Mére 6 sous : https://www.chezlameresixsous.com/

The RestaurantGuru reviews on the Chez la Mére 6 sous: https://restaurantguru.com/Chez-la-Mere-6-Sous-Vannes

There you go folks, yes we have been out a lot ,and of course now with more vivid memories than ever as my dear late wife Martine was the motor that got me going to these places. I think you would love it in these wonderful places in my dear Vannes. Bon appétit, and drink wines, cider, beers all in moderation , good for the economy and the traditions of France. Unesco World Heritage Intangible listed ! Again, hope you enjoy the post as I.

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

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