Paris or Broke

Friday, December 16, 2005

Les Lumieres de Noelle






These are all a little blurry coz I was playing with my night photography setting! The first is an art installation in the Place in front of the Mairie (town hall) of the 4th Arrondisement in Paris - the trees in the last shot are in the same Place.

The blue lights and carousel are in St. Maur des Fosses, on our main street leading to the Mairie - Avenue Charles de Gaulle (there are MANY Avenues Charles de Gaulle here in France).

The one with the market and the red and yellow sails, is a Christmas Market in Paris, in the 4th or 5th Arrondisement. Throughout Paris, there are markets set up with gourmet produce from all across France. This one had Foie Gras (very serious traditional food at Christmastime here) from the Perigord, Saussison from the Pyrenees, wine, wine, wine from all over, beer from Corsica, spice cake from ?? I can't remember. Yummy!

Sapin Time








We got our most beautiful Christmas tree (called Sapin, here in France) in a gorgeous medieval town about an hour and half away from Paris, called Provins. This tree is like a Noble Fir, but a deep green. The 'gentil' man who sold it to us (in the photo here with us), said it comes from the Alsace region of France. The French are smart. They use a log as the base for the tree. So, when you buy, you can buy tree plus a base, which is a slice of a larger tree with the bark still on -- its quite attractive.

Here you can see the still standing ramparts in Provins.

Below one of the squares in Provins, where we stumbled into a Marche Noelle (Christmas Market), where we got our tree, and almost bought a load of gorgeous pottery.

Parisien Snow

For you non-believers, here is photographic evidence of snow in Paris (this happened a few weeks ago). Gillian is ever fashionable and suitably warm in her lovely purple and grey wool hat knit for her by Jeannie.

These photos are taken outside our apartment building in St. Maur des Fosses.

Sunday, December 04, 2005

A 120 volt guy living in a 230 volt world

Everything was going so well when I began plugging things in, but when it came to the computer itself my luck took a turn for the worse.
I was lying at a very strange angle on the floor under our new computer table with my head very close to bundles of wires and electronics and such. Cross fingers, plug in printer, excellent - all of the correct lights and sounds came to life and our trusty HP 750 PSC was back in action.
Then came the monitor. I had to replace the electrical cord with a European one, but that was a very easy matter. Then I plugged it in and our beautiful flat panel screen came to life as easily as awaking to the smell of fresh coffee and a fry breakfast on sunny summer morning.
Finally came the main event. I firmly gripped the business end of the brand new power cord for the PC and with great confidence I shoved it into one of the many 230 volt outlets that our apartment in conveniently equipped with.

Without a moment of warning all hell broke loose. We'll maybe I exaggerate a bit. But there was a loud POP and a crackle and the smell of fried electronics. I don't mind telling you that since all of this action was inches from my head I actually screamed like a little girl. I know, it's hard to believe that "Electric Mike" screamed, but it was quite unsettling. When I looked up to Gillian for comfort and support from this very awkward position, expecting an empathetic response, I was met with a rolling of eyes. A look not unfamiliar to me.

We are indeed a misunderstood and under-appreciated breed, those of us that experiment with the electrons that power our lives.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Sunday in Paris





We've discovered that on the first Sunday of the month during winter, most of the museums have free admission. On the first Sunday of November we took the train downtown and made our way to the George Pompidou Center to visit the Musee national d'Art moderne. On our way there, on a cold and bright winter's day, we stopped at one of the several Starbucks (yes, Starbucks), and got ourselves lattes -- a treat indeed. While you can get cafe everywhere in Paris, not all of the cafe is good quality (i.e. tasty), and its unusual to be able to get a coffee to go.

Click here to get to the official site for the Musee d'Art moderne http://www.cnac-gp.fr/Pompidou/Accueil.nsf/tunnel?OpenForm- with a great photo of the very controversial Centre Pompidou at night -- its architecture still baffles and delights (I count myself among the baffled, in case you're interested!).

The Centre Pompidou is always a hustle bustle of people, no less so on this Winter's day. There are always hundreds of people watching various performance artists in the huge square, hundreds more in line for the Musee, and hundreds more milling around, eating crepes, or sitting at sidewalk cafes drinking a coffee or a beer. One of the lovely things in Paris is that many of the sidewalk cafes are still open in the chilly winter -- they use awnings and suspend heaters to keep the sidewalk-sitters warm. Keeps Paris bubbling with sidewalk life.

The Museum of Modern Art was amazing. My favorite part (pleb that I am) was the outdoor sculpture decks - amazing bronze works by the likes of Giacometti against a backdrop of pure blue sky and the whole of Paris at our feet like a carpet. The second photo from the top is taken from within the Musee, through one of the outdoor sculpture areas, and looks off toward Sacre Coeur, which you can see if you squint - or if you click on the photo - I believe the photo will enlarge . . .

This Sunday, we're off to the Musee d'Orsay to indulge in impressionist art.