Monday, May 28, 2007

Outside the Modern Art Museum


I don't know if you remember this photo, that I took not long after the reopening of the Paris Modern Art Museum. At that time there was still work going on and there graffiti everywhere, but now it's almost over. That allowed me to take a much "cleaner" photo even though much less surprising. For the records, let me remind you the web address of the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris. Also, I'd like to wish my American and British visitors a peaceful Monday off.

31 comments:

  1. Great angle as usual Eric! You do like the ladies, don't you!!

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  2. Eric this this is a stunning photograph. I like the windows in the background; the black ironwork with the trees reflected in the window pane. It all enhances the sculpture and the ladies are enjoying their sunbathing.
    So, at last count 130 museums! Guess I will need to come back, not that it was a question.

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  3. Much better sans graffiti! I wonder how old the sculptures are of the ladies - looks like they've been lolling around for quite awhile!

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  4. Actually, I like the first one better. I like the play of the colors against the grey.

    Ah, well...

    Happy Memorial Day.

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  5. Europe hotels give 5 stars to Indian crudeness

    Sajeda Momin & Agencies



    Survey polling 15,000 hoteliers rates tidy Japanese as best tourists; French voted the worst tourists

    LONDON: The best tourists in the world are the Japanese, followed by Americans and the Swiss, a survey based on views from hoteliers across Europe said on Wednesday.

    Based on responses from 15,000 hoteliers, the survey, carried out on behalf of travel Web site Expedia, showed that the worst tourist nation is France, followed by India, China, and Russia.

    Respondents said they disliked Indian tourists for being loud, untidy, and poorly behaved. Americans were judged the most courteous and the British the rudest, alongside the Russians and Canadians.

    Japanese tourists stood out for being polite and tidy, securing 35 per cent more votes than the Americans, who came second. Swiss tourists were commended for being quiet and considerate, unlike the Britons, who were judged to be the fifth worst tourists because of their rude and noisy behaviour.

    But British travellers seemed to have ‘improved’ because five years ago, they were on top of the league of terrible tourists. Part of the Britons’ problem was explained by Simon Calder, travel editor of UK’s The Independent newspaper. He told Radio 4’s Today programme: “We put little value on learning languages and the British consequently are guilty of cultural and linguistic arrogance.”

    Calder said in Europe, “resorts [steel] themselves for another miserable summer when the British invasion begins in earnest”.

    Despite Britons’ faults, hoteliers, however, look favourably upon their spending habits, voting them the third biggest holiday spenders after Americans and Russians.

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  6. Somebody here is really worried about how tourists behave.

    It´s the second time in a few days that we see this poll here. I think we all got the point by now. Apparently brits and brazilians are terrible people when it comes to tourism.

    Isn´t anonyme or someone else here say "brazilians Ugghhh!" again?
    I´ve been feeling some hostility here lately. That´s sad.

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  7. These sculptures do not look 'modern' at first glance, but almost Renaissance in their soft depiction of feminine beauty. Upon closer examination, elements of modernity emerge.

    And speaking of modern beauty, don't fret Monica, we love you. There are poor guests and good guests, good tourists and bad. I've been ashamed of some American behaviour in Europe, but it just makes me aware.

    Yesterday I viewed and exhibit at the Walker Art Center here in Minneapolis: figure drawings with political and social messages. The interpretive introduction noted that unpleasant, disturbing statements often are made with art to get people thinking. I view the results of the tourist survey that way.

    Thank you for the Memorial Day wishes, all of you who sent them over the ocean. On the train to the Cote d'Azur, I met an elderly Nicoise couple. He was 18 when he met his first American: a soldier his age from New Jersey. Neither spoke the other's language, but the French youth took his new friend home and his family fed the lost soldier, made him welcome. They never saw him again.

    Memorial Day.

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  8. Jeff... very sweet of you thanks! What a true gentleman you are!!!
    BTW, happy belayed birthday, good to know you had a good time. Reading you comments about your trip to Nice, reminds me of mine! It´s a real dream, isn´t it?! I´m glad to know the info I gave you about the TGV was not incorrect!

    well, what can I say, I´m ashamed of the behaviour of some brazillians here in my own country... it´s like you say, there a good people and bad people everywhere. But what I love about the PDP community is that most everybody is great!

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  9. I think I liked the composition of the original with the graffiti behind it! I liked the color etc...however the pic today is quite serene!!

    Monica..I hope you aren't feeling "hostility" from me! I don't know you at all, but I do know you love PDP as much as I do, and when I wrote the "Uggghhh" comment...I was quoting one of my employees. As I said...there are jackasses in all countries, venues, companies..no one country has a corner on the market. I certainly wasn't directing hostility at you or anyone else for that matter. The "anonyme" post wasn't mine, as I have a blogger sign in. I think someone is just trying to push somebody's buttons if you know what I mean. Brazil is a beautiful place and I have met many lovely Brazilians, again, I was recanting comments.

    Don't take offense so easily...it's only the internet! If I took offense every time I hear a nasty comment about an American or the French[as my father is French]I would be angry everyday!! Ca va?? Point Finale!!

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  10. All clean, not even a pigeon... almost surreal!

    Anonyme: have you thought about starting your own blog? Just curious. Sounds like you have a lot of material to share, maybe you should.

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  11. tonton-flaneur: very nice of you to take time to write these words. Don´t worry, I usually don´t get offended easily, I mean, I try to understand many points of view and besides that, I know my country and a big part of my people has so many problems that I wouldn´t know even where to start!
    I hope the tourists will behave better, I don´t wanna feel embaressed!

    Like you said, I like PDP so much I only wish everybody can express their opinion in a polite way, just like you did. Thanks!

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  12. Monica: that guy (?) is a troll, don't pay attention.

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  13. Such a lovely capture, Eric. I love these reclining figures and your perspective. Thanks for your wish for a peaceful Monday off. I've got a horrible cold and will miss the Folklife festival the rest of my family will attend this afternoon. . .sigh. So much for a holiday outing. But, at least I can catch up on my much missed CDP family photos!
    -Kim

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  14. Hey Monica, do not fret about that post - I love your posts. I also don't pay much attention to these so-called polls.

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  15. Monica - so you and i are the Terrible Tourist Twins!

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  16. Tomate, Pont Girl: see, that´s why I love PDP!!! I know you guys are all so sweet! You´re the best!

    Lynn, you see, we always take the blame he he!!! We´ve got to find a way to make Eric believe that we were only joking when we said we wouldn´t behave in Paris!!!
    ;-)

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  17. Monica,

    This one doesn't mention Brazil! You are very sweet but you need to be thicker skinned.

    If you were either French or American, I think you would really understand what it means to be constantly criticized. They take constant heat.

    And yes, peoples' opinons do matter. This poll is from 1,500 people in the hotel industry that meet tourists EVERY DAY! So, yes, their observations are noteworthy.

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  18. Is the reclining figure, which is further away from us responding to an order from someone off camera to "Put Some Clothes On", is she, in a mock innocent fashion replying "Who me?"

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  19. I have nothing against being critized, not at all!
    I'm from south america, so believe me, I know what it is to be constantly judged because I come from a "third world" country.

    I just don't appreciate rudeness and that other poll that tonton mentioned the other day expressed opinions in a rather unpolite way.

    That's all. I really think it's important to everyone to express their opinion, I really do. Sorry if it sounded the contrary!

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  20. "'m from south america, so believe me, I know what it is to be constantly judged because I come from a "third world" country."

    Monica it kills me to hear such a thing. From my perspective I really don't think any European would judge your country badly.

    As a matter of fact I don't think any European would judge your country, period!


    I'm going to bed now 1:52 am!! But I'd like to know why you say that and why you feel that way.

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  21. Eric - thank you for your Memorial Day wishes and exquisite photos . . . I have many pictures of these fine ladies and others taken at sunrise on a quiet Sunday morning.. . Graffiti and the detritus of the night before's spontaneous festivities everywhere . . .and an outside exhibit consisting of many clothes lines full of all sorts of pieces of everyone's wardrobe, hung out as if to dry...and the homeless men with their tents and sleeping bags occupying all the nooks and unused doorways. The tired, bedraggled men juxtaposed with the fine, formal, elegant ladies made quite a statement. When I returned a few months ago, it was all fresh and clean and new. I, too, am not sure which scenario I like better...and wonder where the homeless went when their temporary shelters were refurbished...

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  22. Brazil is not a third world country.

    And honestly, Brazil is rarely discussed one way or the other unless someone is planning to travel there.

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  23. Anonyme. Check out the GDP of Brazil. I think you would agree that it certainly is not a Developed nation whose GDP equals that of the U.S. or European countries or China.

    Polls are fine to quote but please keep in mind that it all depends on how you phrase the question regarding the subject being polled.

    Monica and Lynn you remain Aubergine's friendliest tourists. If all tourists were like you, we would have happier season year round.

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  24. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  25. Eric one of the reasons I say that is because there are certain "privileges" (for lack of a better word) that people from other countries have (when traveling abroad, for instance) that people from Brazil don't have.

    I didn't mean Europe. Although Spain and amazingly Portugal does not look with very good eyes our visit to these countries. I'm not sure how it works for european citizens, but for us it's so very difficult to get a visa for an innocent holiday in the US, for example. And even if you get a visa and your passaport is in order and you have a round trip ticket and a pre-paid hotel, once you get to the airport there, the immigration officers can simply deny your entry because of your brazilian passport.

    I know they act like this for security reasons.

    When I say I'm used to being judged is because for many years I've heard people from other countries expressing their surprise when they realize we have access to education and culture and globalization.. this kind of thing. It doesn't happen to me only and I believe other people from south america goes through the same. But I can't speak for them.

    I know usually we're seen as a friendly people - soccer and samba, always - and I know Brazil is rarely discussed. Many people know nothing about it and even think Buenos Aires is our capital.

    Eric, you're probably right, I think Europeans knows a lot more about Brazil than others and don't judge us. But trust me, many people from other countries have asked us if there are monkeys and snakes running in the middle of the streets in Rio or Sao Paulo. They think the whole country is a jungle and that we're pretty primitive!

    Aubergine, thanks!

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  26. Anonymes: come out of the freaking e-closet already!! How hard is it to make up a fake name and stick to it, uh? At least we'd know if you're a bot of a person and we'd also know who is talking to whom! How about it, uh?

    And tell me (I guess I'm talking to the first Anon, now) why would you post an "inflammatory" comment anonymously - and completeley unrelated to the picture, I might add - knowing damn well that posting such a bunch of generalizations in a forum visited by people from all over the word is bound to irritate or offend somebody. Jeez!

    By the way, since we're on the subject, Brazil to me means simply some of the best music in the World... Who in the world hasn't heard of João Gilberto, in the last 50 years (sigh)... Ah, yes...

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  27. grr... typos!!!

    I meant "at least we'd know if you're a bot OR a person."

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  28. Tomate, João Gilberto is a good reference!

    Like we've been saying there are good things/people and bad things everywhere. Call me an optimistic but I prefer to look at the good things always!

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  29. Sorry you think Anonyme and Aubergine are the same. Please read my note again.

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  30. Good for you Tomate and Monica! How about Antonio Carlos Jobim? Ipanema Beach? And, by the way, Anon. - OUR Monica is a DP treasure.

    Eric - this is one of your finest photos. I love the reclining ladies and the beautiful stonework and the fact that Paris has so many stunning museums.

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  31. Anonyme,
    You have definitely chosen the WRONG forum to vent your spleen.
    Folks who visit Paris DP are those who who chose to validate and encourage their friends and colleagues. We are not here to piss on others and find out what tourists do what, where.
    We do not necessarily give a rat's flying finger if folk from Finland fart, in the Falklands. So forget it.
    You obviously would have observed that Daily Photo Bloggers are positive minded and positive spirited people. Come back, and see what positive contribution you can make to endear people; And heed Tomate's advice.

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