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 !!! Especially my first likes from former travel forum friend Jeannette 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 CLXXVIIII January 2, 2018
The service update of the now famous Vélib’, where one third is electric will be going further slowy from January to March 31st. There will be 1400 stations in Paris and in about 60 other towns in the metropolitan area . Oh the Vélib is a bike system to ride on the streets, Two new lanes dedicated to the bus in the interstate roads or autoroutes A3 and A12 will be installed with emergency spaces on the sides. The A3 for 1,3 km before the Porte de Bagnolet will be on this first semester and on the A12 between Saint-Cyr and Bailly,in the coming summer. A new transport card lol! the Navigo Jour will be on this month, and allows the users to travel freely in the interior of the chosen zones all day with a tariff of 7,50€ for two zones or 10€ for 3 zones. And of course, money money will cost you more parking in Paris. Where the money goes no one knows… The first 11 districts of Paris as well as Neuilly-sur-Seine will cost you 50€ or 35€ if paid within 3 days. Other towns follow suit with costs at around 30€ and even some decided to keep it at 17€ . Now this one tells you how and where to park, just be sure its legal and do not overstay. The best way to avoid these fines is to use an underground garage like I do; and cheaper online reservation. Due to storm Eleonor in France many things are happening ,hope is not affecting your travel plans.
You can dine in the museum or musée Baccarat. The restaurant of this chic mansion in the place des Etats-Unis (16éme), taken over by Olivier Maurey, and his groupe Ludévic. They have opened the Cristal room, the restaurant of the Baccarat house that served dishes by fame chef Guy Martin (around 169 €) in a décor created by Philippe Starck. This old mansion of Marie-Laure de Noailles, ancestor of the Marquis de Sade, that was from 1920 to 1950 the most extravagant feasts of the French artistic scene. The stunning yellow brick walls are kept as well as the crystal lustres of Baccarat. It had made partnership with Alain Ducasse that also took the Ami Louis, Aux Lyonnais or Benoit, restaurants that are part of the culinary heritage of Paris. With illustrious sites such as the Mini Palais at the Grand Palais 58éme) or Ralph’s at Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6éme); the Aux Halles, Champeaux or the future bar Le Jules soon to open in the spring. Cristal Room Baccarat, 11, place des Etats-Unis (16éme)
The Hôpital Foch at Suresnes. It opened in October 25 , 1936 on the hills of Mont-Valérien with the presence of the French president Albert Lebrun, the president of the council Léon Blum, and the USA Ambassador. It was operational the next year and now celebrating its 80th anniversary there is a book out on it. « 1937-2017, l’histoire d’un hôpital » all 130 pages of it.In 1929, saw the birth of the Franco American foundation of Mont Valerien. The American Bernard Flursheim , and the French minister Justin Godard starts the project of construction of a hospital with 350 beds (today 600) and obtained that the widow of Marshal Foch allows the use of his name on the year of his passing. The foundation acquired the terrain of the old castle or château Worth, demolished by the sons of the famous fashion designer. They sold the property with the condition that the Anglo-normand house is preserved ,which it has, housing the offices of the foundation and the hospital. Wealthy Americans Consuelo Balsan and the princess of Polignac, provided the funds.
In the Chateau de Versailles see the the magic of the Fêtes Galantes, you must come dressed in a quality baroque style costume and be wearing it when you arrive at the Palace (all guests must find their own costumes). No access will be granted to anyone not respecting the appropriate dress code. The dress packages will be the Marquis and Marchioness ticket (from 135€), Dukes and Duchesses ticket (from 260€), and Kings and Queens ticket (from 370€). In the Hall of Mirrors or galerie des glaces, Monday May 28, 19h30 or 7.30pm. The other event will be the The Grand Masked Ball at Château de Versailles, Sat June 23rd 11h30 in the Orangerie. Here Baroque costumes, wigs, champagne, club atmosphere…Wearing a baroque costume and a mask (compulsory) you are invited to attend the most original of parties in the magnificent Château de Versailles Orangerie and in its gardens specially staged for the event. The Masked Ball ticket gives complimentary access to the Fountains Night Shows on June 23rd. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult
Good to see near me Carnac, Le Musée de Préhistoire de Carnac in it you will see one of the most complete pre historical collections in the world retracing history from the evolution of men in Brittany to the Paléolitic era to the Middle Ages
Some news from France CLXXX January 4, 2018
The last two floors (French) of the men’s store Au Printemps de l’Homme will be dedicated to French gastronomy with groceries and restaurant area, with chef Akrame Benallal, pâtissier Christophe Michalak, boulanger Gontran Cherrier,the M.O.F fromager Laurent Dubois ,and the Torréfacteur Lomi. Le Printemps du Goût. 7th and 8th floor (FR)du Printemps de l’Homme. 64, bld Haussmann (9éme). Opens January 10th 2018
And Gerald Passedat,the 3 stars chef of the Petit Nice at Marseille is annoucing to be in charge of the brasserie of the Hôtel Lutetia,that is due to open in Spring after four years of renovations. The brasserie,completely redone will find its original 1910 look on two levels with terrace hosting up to 180 persons. Brasserie de l’hôtel Lutetia. 45, boulevard Raspail (6éme). OPening Spring of 2018, and gladly waiting for it, many nice memories at the bar here lol!! And now the Fauchon, the hotel. Expecting to open by the summer of 2018 on the place de la Madeleine, historical place of the brand, the very chic Hôtel Fauchon will have a Café Fauchon very artistic that will rend hommage to the French gastronomy in continuous service from breakfast to dinner. Café Fauchon in the Hôtel Fauchon. 11, place de la Madeleine (8éme). Again opening by Summer of 2018
It’s about time the car dealers are gone from the Avenue des Champs-Elysées as once was known as the avenue of the automobile. Mercedes Benz was the last one leaving during 2017. Toyota did it last October 8th, Citroën was out December 31st last; the site at no 42 opened by André Citroën in 1927. The 100 million persons that walk this avenue every year will dream no more of these cars. All because big increase in rents, fear of the automobile due to ecologists, and the pedestrian fancy of the city with airport boutiques all are good reason to make the auto makers leave. There are still some there such as Fiat, Abarth, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati there since 2010 at the rond-point des Champs-Élysées. Renault, the first one since 1910 and Peugeot have no intention of leaving. You can still come to DS World on the nearby avenue François 1er and reach the BMW by the avenue George V. Citroën, has chosen to create their concept store name the «La Maison Citroën» at 39 rue Saint-Didier.
Some news from France CLXXXI January 21, 2018
A bit on the market side we have amongst the specialise markets those from the fleas at Puces de Clignancourt (Saint-Ouen) or those in parc Georges-Brassens 15éme, reserves for old books; not too many have a fix site. However, at the Place d’Aligre (12éme)there is one of the few that are open every day except Mondays by about 40 stands selling all kinds of trinkets. Here you have the locals coming to do their groceries in the covered market Beauvau that is just next to the fleas. The OHVL, a leading French org that organizes some of the meetings by the boulevard Blanqui (13éme) on some weekends. Some others are held by the avenue Ledru-Rollin (13éme) or antiques on the street.
Le Pecq near St Germain en Laye, Yvelines 78) is the raising of the water levels in the Seine river. It reach 4,15 meters (about 14 feet) at Austerlitz according to DRIEE coming down to going up again to 3,50 meters or about 11.5 feet. The announce continuing rains will make matters worse with rising water levels. The estimates by Vigicrues tell us rising to 3,80 meters and even 3,92 meters by this weekend or even higher. At Chatou the impressionist island it was 3.29 meters .The mayor’s office of Paris has decided to closed the roads along the river and the tunnel of Tuileries There are so far 7 train station closed until at least January 26; Saint-Michel Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, Invalides, Champ-de-Mars, Avenue du Président Kennedy, Boulainvilliers, Pont de l’Alma (already closed for renovation). The vigicrues water organism and the city of Paris had decided to close the roads under the Pont National both ways to the A4 autoroute. The tunnel des Tuileries and the underground Henri-IV. The roads along the river on the left bank or Rive gauche (pont de l’Alma to pont Royal). The roads along the river on the right bank or Rive droite (Tuileries to Mazas) are closed as well. The tunnel des Tuileries and the road voie Georges-Pompidou between the pont de Garigliano and the pont de Bir-Hakeim are closed. They have made the avenue Kennedy into a two way road between the streets or rue du Ranelagh and rue de Beethoven. The road of Valhubert 13eme district was closed since Monday. There are several buildings where access is not allowed along the Seine river as well.
You all welcome to bring your folding chairs around the lake of Corot in Ville d’Avray. From the scene of the « Au bord des bois… l’étang », or along the forest, the lake there will be solo singers, piano voices, musicians playing different pieces on a floating scene in the middle of the lake. The first edition of the Musicales de Corot. Jean-Baptiste Corot had done more than 250 paintings in the lake on this beautiful site right next to Versailles and Paris. They are hoping to make an annual event do come just the site is gorgeous Saturday September 15 2018
The wonderful museum or Musée de Bayeux (Calvados dept 14), will go thru a renovation period estimates to be finishe by 2023,and will lend the famous tapistry of bayeux to probably the Britih Museum . The so called Telle du Conquest as it was called in the past recalling the invasion of England by William the Conqueror. So doing the lending what others such as French, Spanish, Germans and Scandinavians institutions had not done.
And for last, back to Paris to understand French architecture. What was the date of the profession of Architecture in France? .The elegant hotel de Soubise that houses the national archives will try to respond to this question. Until March 12 2018 the exposition design to build or « Dessiner pour bâtir » rends honor to the transformation of the Great Century that gave the masters of these works to us. The French architects of the 17C needed to wait until the middle of the 20C to received credit that first came to them by the anglo Saxons countries. Then, architects such as Claude Perrault (1613-1688), Louis Le Vau (1612-1670), Augustin-Charles d’Aviler (1653-1701), Jacques Lemercier (1585-1654), François Blondel (1618-1686), Jules Hardouin-Mansart (1646-1708), and his uncle François Mansart benefitted from documented publications in the French language.
Some news from France CLXXXII January 22, 2018
The national museum of the Château de Malmaison has an exceptional collection of souvenirs of exile from Napoléon on the island of Sainte Héléne from 1815 to his death in 1821. This has not been shown to the public in more than 20 years! And they are open for viewing now! Such as the bed where his body was exposed when he died, and some portraits such as the one of its the end of Napoléon Ist à Sainte Hélene by Oscar Rex in 1799. The year 1799 the castle was acquired by Napoleon and first wife Josephine and became a museum in 1905 with one of the rare places in France to see furniture and coherent decor of the Napoleonic times.
The heads in the stars, the cité de l’Espace of Toulouse opens its doors to the infinite and extraordinary with space vehicules on 2500 m2 of space including interactive expositions with 5 ha of gardens, and a IMAX cinema, planetarium and simulators; take a ride on Astronuates, much more great for the entire family and very educational located at avenue Jean-Gonord, You should come see an aviation and space museum and site of the Paris Air Show (next 2019), this is Le Bourget at the musée de l’Air et de l’Espace. Opened in 1917 and was Paris main airport until 1961. since 1975 it has hosted the museum.
A temple of outsider arts in Paris, the Halles Saint Pierre in the 18éme arrondissement at 2 rue Ronsard. The show is Caro and Jeunet (who did the film Amélie) will be back . The place will be full of marionettes ,maquetes , moving creatures, storyboards, costume rendering and more. Showing the recently release Delicatessen and The City of Lost Children. running until July 31 A bible for arts lovers is the book , Degas Danse Dessin done with the collaboration of Edgar Degas and Paul Valéry on dancers and now exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay, 1 rue de la legion d”honneur 7éme And the famous post office of the louvre (1850) is going thru renovations. Magnificent arcades and Haussmannian facades sheltered by the rue du louvre. The renovations will be done by February 2019 and will house only a third of the building for the new post office and in addition; a police station,day care center,social housing, commerces, co working spaces, and shops in the inner courtyard. Plans call for the top floor to house an 80 rooms luxury hotel from the Elegancia group and a panoramic restaurant.
And the wonderful presidential Chateau de Rambouillet after restoration is back; home of French kings and Presidents since the 19C. The grand dining room has been restored and set up as it was during the G6 meeting of 1975. Set up with Sévres porcelain, Christofle cutlery, and sterling silver centerpiece
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 