The upside down paddles on the sidewalks around Paris are history markers of the city. The Philippe Starck-designed paddles are in French. When walking and not speaking French you can read them. Shocking? No. Simply install the Google Translate application…
Getting around Paris is improving in French and English is getting easier. The RATP application has been updated and the Paris bus network has also updated many routes. The benefits of the application updates? After choosing the route to your destination, the metro lines the application propose include exit tips: which car and which exit number.
Was there a single event that led to Romanticism? Where did it begin? You could say the era Enlightenment and war brought on Romanticism. It started in Germany. The Petit Palais’s latest exhibition, Paris Romantique (1815-1848) until September 15, is one of a two-part exhibition. The second part takes place at the Musée de la Vie Romantique. Initially, I went to the exhibition out of curiosity; drawn to this period of emotional art. I found Romantic stylings of the Gothic, Middle Ages and Renaissance decor, women artists, writers, composers, sculptors, elements of the medieval and the erotic, theatre and fashion. I left Googling the whole story, its influences, philosophical connections and realised that between wars, there is always a period experimentation (think 1920s and 1930s).
Eiffel Tower, Quai Branley, Iena Bridge, Trocadero, Place Varsovie, Ecole militaries will be joined by one big green space and pedestrian zone between 2021-2024. Around 2024 the area of the Eiffel Tower, including Trocadéro and l’Ecole militaire will add clean air to your lungs according to the Paris Mayor’s office. The area around the Eiffel Tower is going green. Vehicles of any kind will no longer circulate around either the Tower or across the Iena bridge. From the Place Varsovie on the right bank across from Chatillot to the left bank’s Quai Branly, all will be classified for pedestrians only. Work begins 2021 and continues until 2024.
Until July 21, Versailles currently has two exhibitions about Queens of France. The one, Madame de Maintenon, was never declared queen; the other Marie Leszczynska, reigned for 42 years and is little known. The anonymous illustrator of “Le Camp de Compiègne” places Madame de Maintenon sitting in the center of the illustration. As the center of attention, viewed by the nobles and soldiers, she is treated as a queen. Madame de Maintenon was the secret wife of Louis XIV. The announcement of her official marriage to Louis XIV is still only a whisper at court. This scene is part of the exhibition “Madame de Maintenon, In the Corridors of Power”.
When asked, a Versailles guard standing at the front gate, responded, “Tuesday is the worst day; all the museums in Paris are closed. The tourists all come to Versailles instead.”While exiting Versailles after a 15-minute visit, I asked the guard a question, “When is the best day to visit Versailles to avoid the crowds?”. I had thought for sure Wednesday would be the worst day since many school children are off half the day.
Sometimes a photo can make us curious, inspire us or wish we could find something…. By the time my sister saw the photos of my vintage chinaware, it was too late. I had already donated the set to Emmaus. I needed it back for her! The trek to one of the Emmaus stores (Goodwill-style shops founded in 1954 by Abbé Pierre) took me to the north of Paris and the Porte de Menilmontant in the 20th arrondissement. “If I am going to the 20th”, I pondered, “why not check out local art exhibits in the area?” That thought and a quick look at l’Official des spectacles, took me to the Le Pavillon Carré de Baudouin and the photo exhibit “Willy Ronis par Willy Ronis (until January 2, 2019)”.
You know the typical vacation questions “Got the tee-shirt” or “Got the postcard”!? Well I can say, “Got the Brie (de Meaux)”! Brie de Meaux cheese that is. Meaux is a a 25-minute train ride from Paris.Meaux, A brie(f) half hour from Paris.
One hot August mid-afternoon I took a direct “P” train from Gare de l’Est to Meaux. Many of the Meldois (local residents) within the Gallo-Roman walls had left on vacation. I followed Annabel Simms‘s exact directions ….
Margot presented a fascinating workshop on Molière the other day. We learned facts, chronological dates, the synopsis of a play and outtakes from the script. She was preparing us for one of the nine Molière plays currently running in Paris.…
