Paris1972-Versailles2003

In my new life as retiree my blog is my biggest entertainement and before anything else, I like to thank everyone of my readers and followers to stay with me over the years since November 26 2010 !!! Thank you !!! I decided to trim some of my older posts in my series Some news from France and condense them as not to lose the most important parts, me think, of them, Therefore, this is my new work, the condense news of my belle France, Hope you enjoy it as I.

Some news from France LXII March 7, 2012

Sting will be in concert in Paris from  March 13-14 at the Zenith, You can see Degas and the nude at Musée d’Orsay , And dont forget to visit the Marché des Enfants Rouge,the oldest Parisien market, the most chic/bobo at the heart of the 3éme arrondissement or neighborhood.  My next event in Paris will be by the Concorde Opera hotel next to Gare St lazare end of next month

The Musée Lambinet of Versailleswith all the history of Versailles in it, showcasing now until April 22 ,all the heritage sites of the Cité royale with an spectacular angle, sublime,and give rise to dreams and fantasy mixing with reality.

Some news from France LXIII  March 10, 2012

Versailles has a great perfums museum, with samples dating back to Napoleon, but can only see by previous appointment so its not well known, yes it is call the Osmothéque the Maison Fabre and the parfumeur Diptyque sign on to arrive at the Cour des Senteurs. The place is already full, and dedicated tot he art of perfurmerie ,will be open in the Spring of 2013. They will join Guerlain, and the sweet, food maker Lenôtre already there just about 100 meters from the entrance to the château de Versailles at rue de la Chancellerie.

And last but not least, until September 2012, Louis Vuitton is having a wonderful expo of its magnificent history of 158 years at the museum of decorative arts or Musée des Arts Decoratifs.107 rue de Rivoli at the Louvre complex. Last minute news, at last, the carriages and personal items left behind by Napoleon I in Waterloo, and after taken by the Prussians, it was taken by the Soviets upon entering Germany in WWII and took there, never return it. Now under an agreement of not claiming possession of it, the Russians are allowing these items to be shown in France for the first time since Waterloo lol!!! (not claiming is a compromise lol!) , It will be expose at the Musée de la Légion d’Honneur, parvis du Musée d’Orsay, Paris 7éme.

Some news from France LXIII  March 13, 2012

The wonderful musée national de la Marine present from March 7 to November 4 2012, an exposition on the lighthouses The exposition of Radio, come to open at the Musée des arts et métiers! until September 2nd 2012, the Festival Rock en Seine  will take place on August 24, 25 and 26. Already some names to be seen there are Placebo, The Black Keys, Foster the People, Noel Gallagher, Green Day, Mark Lanegan and Sigur Ros, all at the Domaine de Saint Cloud,  And dont forget to see that other castle of Paris, the Chateau de Vincennes, the fortress with its 1200 meters long wall, its nine tours,and its chapel of Sainte Chapelle, as well as its tower donjon 52 meters high the highest in Europe!!

Some news from France LXIV March 24, 2012

I am home, still can call it home at Versailles, we went by Saint Germain en Laye today, its great to see the neighborhood lol!!! I guess the spring weather took people out, it was full, we park at the chateau at level -4 today, lowest ever. At the Chateau de Versailles, the Portuguese artist born in Paris Joana Vasconcelos, will be the invited guest to show her sculptures ,some produce exclusively for the occasion.  Expo shown to public from June to September 2012. Then see the ladies that lived in the Trianons, from July 3 to October 7 2012 at the Grand Trianon. Lastly jog down the date not to missed the story of Madame ELizabeth (sister of king Louis XVI, also beheaded).  It will be at the maison de Madame Elizabeth and the Orangerie of the Domaine de Montreuil, showing the life styles of the Princess thru furnitures, and objects that accompany her during her time.  Also, her story from birth to death thur a selection of paintings, graphic arts, objects d’arts coming up in 2013 I have visited several times and I am an amateur of her life,and trials, very sad story of a revolution that was not fair to all.A must to see; in the meantime you can stop by her house or maison at 73 Avenue de Paris, about a km from the Chateau on foot. 

In the news from this weekend, the Tour Montparnasse in Paris will be in lights, a first. Each day at sunset, the tower of 210 meters high will be illuminated. With a system that will save energy when turn on,  972  leaded rulers will be put in each floor and 58 projectors at the last floor will cover the coverage of lights.

A great expo on Toulouse-Lautrec in Albi, where the family gave most of his work to a museum near the Cathedrale de Sainte Cecile, and it is now put together a great exhibition on him thanks to loans from the musée d’Orsay,

Some news from France LXV March 27, 2012

The Institut Franco-Americaine de Rennes, where they will have American artists in Pont-Aven then and now :: conférence Thursday April 12 at 18h30 in English.  The importance of Pont-Aven in the artistic development of Gauguin is well known.  Less known is the fact that this village in Brittany was an artist colony created by American artists 20  years before Gauguin arrived !  Who were these artists and what did they create there ?  When Americans returned to Pont-Aven as teachers and art students at the Pont-Aven School of Contemporary Art, they were now the avant-garde, while Gauguin’s work is accepted and revered.  How are these artists reacting today to the same history and beauty of Pont-Aven so admired for 150 years.

New rules for the train travelers in France by SNCF the French railroad company. For those traveling in TGV and InterCités trains, first change will allow the traveler which the departure is cancelled or delay by more than an hour to have a proposal given, or reimbourse in cash if so wishes ,this is including the tickets that were originally purchased non remboursable as the Prem’s.In addition, the guarantee will be given even if the delayed or cancellation is not the fault of the SNCF. The other novelty is the clients without a seat given for the trajects of more than 1h30  will be replace by the onboard chief inspector including those in first class and given a discount coupon for the next trip going from  10-30 euros. All these two innovation will take effect by the end of this month or first of April. 

My former train station of gare Saint Lazare is having  a new look!!! 10 000 square meters full of shops, with 80 boutiques and hours open until 21h even 22h In the old room the Salle des pas perdus, the new hall has a glass gallery of 200 meters long; the work allows for 3 addtional floors, at the metro level and two more of parking to welcome 250 cars !!!yes!!! and 50 motos. The passenger information will be provided with 300 tv screens. This train station welcome about 450 000 passengers per day and almost 1600 trains. This is the second highest frequency in Europe just behind the other Parisien station ,gare du Nord. I mentioned in previous post a Burger King will open there too ,a first in France and comeback of the chain to France.

Sad news need to post here asap, the poney club at the jardin d’acclimatation in Paris is going to close. My kids rode there when little, so sad to read in the Le Parisien newspaper that a company that runs it part of the group LMVH has decided to close the club. !!! It already had 600 members, 12 employees,45 poneys and 4 horses, there since 1997. Sad story….

Some news from France LXVI  April 5, 2012

The National Library of Paris is finally going to be open to the public online! Almost a million books on the 15 millions available that the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), all this thanks to a project in numeration done under the name of Dem@t-Factory and financially supported by the conseil régional d’Ile-de-France, and other general councils such as those of Seine-et-Marne as well as the region Cap Digital.

And last but not least,while in Paris see something unique, perhaps for those seeking something new, and magical and historical in Maxim’s by Pierre Cardin museum and cabaret, 3 Rue Royale, just of the place de la Concorde.

Some news from France LXVII April 11, 2012

The Galerie Lafayette again goes thru a renovation period to make them prettier, if like they are not already lol!! My favorite, I am a customer and online newsletter from them.  They are going to invest 800 millions Euros over five years. The objective is to give more space to the big brands on the lines of bags, shoes, watches and jewerly. The «shop in shop» Vuitton, Cartier , and Chanel  will be in two floors with each its own private stairs. The lines ready to wear or prêt-à-porter women, now on five levels will be regroup in three levels ,the lines of records cd will close and the spaces left for cosmetics and toys will be reduce. However, the fifth floor will be entirely dedicated to children clothing.  The tourist in force here, they account for  60 % of sales at the store at blvd Haussmann. The renovations will allow to double the area for welcoming tourists with three spaces dedicated to them. One for the Japanese, and Americans on the basement or sous-sol, another to the Chinese at street level or rez-de chaussée, and the last one especially for Brazilians that are up and coming force of tourism here

Dont forget the best market flea or no flea in the world ,the marchés aux puces de St Ouen with the renovated and vibrants Paul-Bert (founded in 1945, 250 stands, dedicated to a mixing of styles from the 19 and 20 centuries, and the  Serpette (open in 1977, 150 stands), occupied by the antiquearies or antique shops, with a new resto Ma Puce with deco by Philippe Starck , a cantine chic and branché with 300 seats, and half in the terrace.

Some news from France LXVIII April 21, 2012

The Désert de Retz, popular with artists for many years, then closed for several years,and now its officially open ( I told you was going to open on previous news)  238 years of history comes back, 20 hectares of land bordering the golf course of Joyenval,just by the town of Chambourcy (dept 78 Yvelines) . the visits will be until October with two Saturdays per month and only with reservation

Some ideas in Paris Matisse au Centre Pompidou , enjoy the night days from Thursdays to Mondays until 23h (closed Tuesdays, and at 21h Wednesdays). Place Georges-Pompidou “Degas et le nu ” at  Orsay . Edgar Degas  shows  nudity in paintings présenting  170 paintings, posters and designs as well as sculptures of the artist.  A new renovated Palais de Tokyo is open,  showing the work of contemporary artists with a huge opening exposition call « la Triennale ». Every day excepts Tuesdays from mid day to mid night hen to to the Grand Palais where Helmut Newton will show its big photos of mannequins ,erotism, and the violence in the fashion world. Especially see the photos on Isabelle Huppert, Catherine Deneuve and Jean-Marie Le Pen. Go to the Cité des sciences and see the latest discoveries by the inhabitant the Gaulois,and their  agriculture…

One in Amboise in the castle laden Loire, my favorite one and city, we do a promenade gourmande into the vinyards tasting local goodies and their wine including my house wine Domaine Dutertre. The proceeds go to the Lions International of the Loire, Amboise les 2 Vallées. Good food ,great wine, and a good cause in beautiful territory, it is one day on a Sunday July 1st

Closer to me now, the Tonnerre de Brest boat show:race is coming July 13-19 2012. More than 2500 boats from all over the world. Done every four years now its that time again at Brest . About 30 countries are invited to each festival and for one week Brest is transformed into the biggest port in the world. Over 7 kilometres, the quaysides roll out the red carpet to hundred-year-old sailing boats and other remarkable vessels. An invincible armada, with around 20,000 sailors parading their uniforms to the tune of dozens of musical performances and the backdrop of villages draped in the colours of the world.

There you go folks, a big task but a work of love to keep the best, me think of these wonderful older posts over the years, These are what I think worth keeping of my older Some news from France series, and I thank you, Again, hope you enjoy this post as I

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