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 CVI June 5, 2013
Cinéma Paradiso at the Grand Palais, a drive in cinema !!! June 10 to 21 2013. From 11h Every evening an actor of Paris nights will take orders for ‘Cinema Paradiso SuperClub’: Club, Sandwich, Kitsune, the Baron, O-Five, Wanderlust Finally the corridors of the Grand Palais will receive within the exhibition “the twilight series Belle”, a movement composed of designers, artists, thinkers and entrepreneurs who take the opposite of the American rating system ‘AAA’ . Culture, gastronomy, leisure, commitment and a few sleepless nights in perspective, it’s really the Parisian spring event.
And if the key to the origins of the city of Paris was hidden under the Police Headquarters? Since a few weeks, in the heart of the île de la Cité, archaeologists are conducting excavations which have already uncovered a medieval church!. church of St goval, founded by merovigian king Dagobert!!! wow!!! 10 tombs with human remains in the cloister section of the church wow!!! Paris is amazing!!!
Paris City Hall or Hôtel de Ville announced yesterday the establishment of new traffic rules which will force the road users to raise the foot. Dubbed ‘the street sharing’, the plan aims to restore the place to pedestrians and cyclists;of course. Protected tests will result in the creation of new zones 30 kph- and even areas 20 kph- in all of the districts… with the exception of the 8th, where the Mayor is not asking for them!!!Go the 8th and the Champs-Elysées. New speed reduction to 30 kph will be at avenues de Clichy and Saint-Ouen (XVIIe), and rue du Faubourg-du-Temple (Xe) as well as rue Oberkampf (XIe).
And at Chantilly, you will have the musical nights or Nuit Musicale with 80 concerts of classical music in open air, an equestrian show , fireworks all in one night. This is at the Domaine de Chantilly on June 22 2013. You will see presentations of La Truite from Schubert, Wedding Cake from Saint- Saëns or the Casse-Noisette from Tchaïkovsky, the best gastronomy brought in by the area best traiteur to help you along the musical notes!!!. The time 18h to 23h
Some news from France CVII June 11, 2013
We are having announce pre strike notice of the air traffic controllers for June 11 to 13 and the SNCF from June 12 to 14 all over France, so if coming over check before you leave home and seek alternatives.
In France the art of Flamenco is passionate since the 19th century , after travel of the romantics in Spain (Chateaubriand, Hugo, Musset…), Théophile Gautier and Prosper Mérimée, who found the inspiration for his “Carmen” there resumed subsequently for his opera by Bizet. Therefore, the first biennial of flamenco art at the Parisian Théâtre de Chaillot, in partnership with the regions of Andalusia. Among the ten given performances from 19 to 29 June at Chaillot, many come from Seville or international festival of music and dance of Granada, such “Federico según Lorca” of choreographer and dancer Eva Yerbabuena, children of the poet.
At Mont de Marsan, “Arte Flamenco“, the most important flamenco festival on this side of the Pyrenees, this year celebrates its 25 years with a galaxy of artists (Mercedes Ruiz, Diego del Morao, Tomatito, La Moneta…). Two great Flamenco pianists of the time, Diego Amador and David Dorantes, will give a concert in continuation of their cooperation on the latest film by Carlos Saura “Flamenco, Flamenco” (July 3)
Some news from France CVIII June 19, 2013
The first automobile in France was a peugeot in 1891! since then a lot asphalt has been done, today there are over 38 million of them with 31 million private cars. The average time to hold on to a car in France is 8,3 years, (me I am well under lol!) Cars with gasoline reach 38,7%, of the market while those with diesel or gazole reaches 61,3%. Here they tell us that if you use the car for under 15 000 kms it is better the gasoline and if over 15K then its diesel (good too I have diesel and go about 25K lol!!).
The flea market of Porte de Vanves, avenue Georges Lafenestre. Métro Porte de Vanves, open Saturday all day and Sunday from 7h to 13h, avenue M Sangnier 7h to 15h and to 17h by avenue G Lafenestre. The story: for hygiene and taxes the market were done outside the city, then in 1920 this one was done after been moved twice; first for the low income rising buildings or HBM and then when the beltway périphérique was done the famous BP in 1965. Now under the trees you have 350 vendors of second hand items, objects of the arts of the table, glassware and silverware, ceramics and pottery, but also furniture and objects of 18th, 19th, 20C , various vintage furniture from classical to the sharp vintage lace
A destination from Paris Gare du Nord, in about 45 minutes you arrive at L’isle Adam in the dept 95 Val d’Oise. Balzac said of l’Isle-Adam that she was ‘the earthly paradise ‘… Even today this metaphor has its meaning… Located 32 km from Paris, in a green setting, l’Isle-Adam is a haven of peace and tranquility. A beautiful forest ideal for hiking, a verdant Park of 6 hectares in the city centre, a guided path for peaceful walks on the seafront of the river Oise, la Garenne that host swans, ducks and other coots, a fragrant rose garden and ponds of many gardens and alleys flower according to the seasons, are what makes the Isle-Adam deserves of its epithet “City Park”. L’Isle-Adam is also its rich heritage: it is the bridge of the Cabouillet dating from the 17C, it is the Church Saint-Martin that the Constable Anne de Montmorency was completed in 1567, L’Isle-Adam also allows boaters from all over Europe to dock on the banks of the Oise thanks to its pontoon equipped with a hydrant water supply and electricity. A heaven to be discovered and now you know,
Some news from France CVIIII June 26, 2013
The big news is the Summer sales begins today all over with few exceptions in FRance!! Soldes d’éte. They began wednesday June 26 at 8H and will finish on Tuesday July 30. see more of it here, you know 64% of French people do their shopping during this period! according to an article in L’Express of today.
You can have a nice dinner at the Comptoir du Relais and then ask for room n° 56, attached to resto, and available for the night. The room is next to a wonderful nid nest of swallows on the roofstops of Paris. They will leave in the morning. Hotel Relais Saint-Germain 6, carrefour de l’Odéon
In the Jardin des Plantes we have the bats night event coming back and ever so popular, a film by 19h30 and the see the bats by 21h;this is for August 24 Paris to the conquest of the Seine is ready since June 19 ,the Bergers du Seine, and many innovations along the mythical river of Paris. Among the facilities already in place, a climbing wall, a space picnic, teepees for kids, containers housing games. The restaurants have more difficult to finalize their project, including Faust and Rosa Bonheur. It also expected with curiosity the garden floating and the five islands moored near the pont de L’alma, forming five different atmospheres, illustrating biodiversity. Some more traffic congestions but the city is not for the car anyway, we just try harder ::)
The Château de Champs sur Marne is finally open after restorations. 31 Rue de Paris 77420 Champs-sur-Marne, this is just outside Paris(18 kms on RER A) and on the Seine-et-Marne dept where my wife is from. Built in the 18C , it had many famous tenants from the Duke of Valliére, Duke de Lévis, and Marquise de Pompadour. In 1895, Louis Cahen d’Anvers, a great collectionist in love with the 18C ask architect Destailleur to restore it and call upon Henri Duchêne for the park/gardens
Some news from France CX July 5, 2013
New Palais de Tokyo is having an international extravaganza; After “Soleil Froid”, the Palais de Tokyo experimented again and coached 30 galleries and art venues throughout Paris to make manifest the emergence of the figure of the curator. At the Palais de Tokyo, ‘New waves’ (nouvelles vagues) is a large demonstration composed by 21 curators or groups of international curators (13 nationalities), selected by a jury from among more than 500 applications. running thru Sept 9 2013
Scénes d’été now until August 25 at Parc de la Villette (75019) , world music for six week ends; free, music from Italy to South Africa ,from hip to tango.
Some news from France CXI July 10, 2013
The sad news is the beautiful Hôtel Lambert, worked of great architect of France, Louis Le Vau at the point of the île Saint-Louis in Paris, has burned down on the night of tuesday to wednesday ,today. The fire cause no casualties after starting out in the roof of the mansion. It was purchased in 2007 for 60M € by the family of the Emir of Qatar.
At the Pinacothèque de Paris, in parallel with the New Evolution current at public exposure “Art nouveau”, the Pinacothèque of Paris present art to the Art deco movement. This shift is traced through an emblematic figure of its kind: Tamara de Lempicka, a strong performer in the roaring twenties. Will be to September 8 2013
The biggest national party is coming up what most of the world knows as Bastille day and in France it is National Day; 14 July. Leading the military parade on the Champs Elysées, and activities from 12h30 at the esplanade des Invalides, and also, place de la Nation, Place Saint Sulpice,Place de l’Opéra, Parc Montsouris, Place Péclet (15éme),and Place Armand Carrel (19éme). of course, the fireworks at the Champ de Mars, follow it from 23h with more than 25000 firecrakers togo off.
Versailles wont be behind with 50 000 persons expected on Saturday July 13 night with the Talon Sauvages and the zumba, by the place Notre Dame (the markets), and by 23h at the place d’Armes. There will be fireworks for the Grand finale with the title « Côté jardins, côté lumières » rending hommage to the great gardener André Le Nôtre. It will be follow by paintings of many variations and fairy tales with a live band… Enjoy it.
Some news from France CXII July 17, 2013
At the Musée des Lettres et de Manuscripts, 222 blvd Saint-Germain ,75007. the Museum of letters and manuscripts, has on display the original of the declaration of rights of men or the déclaration des Droits de l’Homme dating from 1793. Next to it you will see the original of the testament or will of king Louis XVI Get a guided visit to the Republican Guard or the Garde Républicaine at the hq at 18 bd Henri IV, 75004 Push the door of the quarteir or district of Célestins and discover the place of training of the horsemen of the Republican Guard. Built in 1895, the district houses since that date headquarters the cavalry regiment of the Republican Guard. The stables today welcome 140 horses 1 Squadron, and the brass band of cavalry.
And Until September 29 at my beloved Chateau de Versailles, the expo “Fleurs du Roi, Peintures, Vélins et Parterres” the gardens of the domaine de Trianon, and the paintings of flowers that were gifts to Louis XIV on minituare paintings that lasted to Louis XVI. The gardeners have done the gardens in the style of the 17C!!! Sublime my gardens ; go see it pleaseeee!! Versailles again, always Versailles, Les Grandes Eaux Musicales,2013 ;in the gardens of the castle museum; still until October 27 2013. In the 400th anniversary of the birth of gardener André Le Nôtre, see it this year is glorious
Some news from France CXIII July 27, 2013
The Chateau de Malmaison at Rueil Malmaison just outside Paris, that was the private residence of Napoléon I and Joséphine is a place to see often overlook but a wonderful property indeed ,and full of history of France! The current expo is on the travels of Joséphine and her daughter Horténse.
See the over 20 statues in the Jardin des Tuileries of Maillol, or the moon bird or L’Oiseau lunaire of Joan Miro in square Blomet 15éme, the epic Zadkine sculpture Birth of Forms on boulevard Edgar Quinet, 14éme, or that of Antoine Bourdelle showcasing at the Théatre des Champs Elysées 8éme. Go see at the Jardin des Plantes until September 15 amphibius photographer Cyril Ruoso, from salamanders of Japan to Oregon spotted frog , on 57 rue Cuvier 5éme,Th nuits des étoiles or night of stars at tour Montparnasse will be held august 9,10,and 11 from 21h at the terrace of the highest building in Paris (210 meters), it will a telescopic observatory of the stars and heaven, see it The Fête Foraine aux tuileries is a must while in Paris, attractions for all kinds of fair fun, from thrilling rides to the legendary ferris wheel, the carnival is on now to August 25th, Place de la Concorde 1éme inside the Jardin des Tuileries; see it
The wonderful magnificent Potager du Roi at Versailles. My beautiful vegetable garden of the kings and now of the people 3 times per week there is a sale to the public. It was thought of in 1678 by gardener Jean-Baptiste de La Quintinie upon a request of king Louis XIV, and still going strong!!! Go there at 10 rue du Maréchal Joffre, open April to October and the market days are Tuesdays,Thursdays and Saturdays starting at 10H!
Paris plage is on until August 18 summer residency at the Voie Georges Pompidou .On the bassin de la Villette ,19éme you will be able to do pedal boats as well My dear friend Olivier Giraud is doing great from a one day a week performance in an obscure small theater to now doing his fourth season at the Théatre des Nouveautés, at 24 blvd Poissonniére, 9éme. the show, “how to become Parisian in one hour”
Part of Marseille been the European Cultural Capital this year, there are many activities, I would recommend, Chateau Borély the musée des Arts Décoratifs de la Faience et de la mode
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 !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 