Monday, February 11, 2008

The rat year


Will the rat bring more wealth and wisdom to this world? Yes, if we believe the Chinese who have been celebrating their new year throughout the world since last Thursday (why don't you check other Chinese new year posts on the brand new city daily photo portal on this occasion?). In Paris there has been several parades, including one in the Chinese quarter in the 13th arrondissement and one opened by the mayor of Paris and the Chinese ambassador. There are about 300 000 Chinese in the Paris area, most of them came in the 70's from the Wenzhou province and Indochina (the former French colony).

29 comments:

  1. O.K. I just came back from looking for Jeff in the cold harsh snow, I SWEAR I haven't been on this all day, REALLY!

    I love festivals and parades in foreign countries.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I just learned this is my decorative arts class. Only the Emperor, and special aristo's were allowed to wear or own any art work with a five-toed dragon. This one , if you do a closeup, has 4 toes. See...I'm not THAT shallow.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for your concern, PHX. I made it home last night, but it's even colder today! -30 C all day, and probably colder now (18:30). I've been researching hotels in Venice. I don't know if I'll make it Paris this year: even though I am a rat with much wisdom, my wealth is limited.

    I'm going out again, but I guarantee I won't be as colorful as the man parading in front of l'Hotel de Ville.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great shot, are you sure you don't use any photoshop...?
    It looks like a painting, amazing colours, shiny and dull at the same time...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Amazing colors Eric, even more beautiful than last year's photo for the Chinese new year with that "purple" man.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Jeff since you're looking for hotels in Venice, maybe you'd like to check this site:
    http://www.traveleurope.it/venice/venice_mestre.shtml

    I was told it's cheaper to stay in Mestre, but still is close to Venice. I endep up staying at Palazzo del Giglio in Venice because I got a discount. But I heard it's easy to go to Venice from Mestre.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beautiful colors, in sharp contrast with the gray building in the back. Well done! (By the way, from Nob Hill, San Francisco, we could hear fire cracker a good part of the day, Thursday a.m.)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful colors in this photo. We don't have any parades for the Chinese New Year here in Albuquerque. sounds like fun.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love the juxtaposition of the bright Chinese colors against the staid Parisian greys of the lovely building behind. Hotel de Ville, per Jeff. I'm not well-versed enough to have known that myself.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Monica: Thanks for the tip. The Palazzo del Giglio is on my list, based on my Fodor's guidebook. We'll see what happens. Molto costoso these days (tres cher). If I had a pretty Moni.., er, wife to travel with, well, two can live as cheap as one!

    I'm missing Paris so much, I have not given up yet. I can taste the magrette de canard at Marchon d'Henri or Taxi Jaune. I can hear the crowd at l'Hotel de Ville and the bateaux on the Seine.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Going to Venice Jeff?
    Whatever you do don't waste you money in Harris' Bar. A real rip off.
    The Hilton Molino Stucky has a terrace bar (opens at 7:30) from where you can see entire Venice. The prices are good too and there is a free taxi from St Marco or Zaccaro. It is an excellent place to stay to - a 5 star with a 3 1/2 price tag.

    Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  12. LOL Jeff

    When I was in Paris I wanted to go to Machon d´Henri, but then I didn´t..
    Isn´t it a lyonnaise food restaurant?

    ReplyDelete
  13. When I saw the title I was afraid to see a rat...ouf! Your pix is so colourful and bright. Without the Hotel de Ville, no chance to guess that we're in Paris.

    Jeff, your "magrette" de canard is cute. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jeff: If you would like to stay in Paris in a clean large modern apt.(like I do) for 50 or 60 dollars a day, ask Eric for my email address and I will give you the info on my flight attendant friend's place in the 10th. It is a rental and is unbelievable.Washer and dryer , too!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Or ask Monica for my email.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hey, where is Michael??

    Off to Bali already?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Gotta watch out for those rats....LOL!!

    Wonder what it means in regard to our election year in the US this 2008??!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love tonton's comment above. Getting back to the photo. You can count on the Chinese to have beautiful and colourful costumes and parades on Chinese New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Beautiful photo, Eric! Please add this one to the PDP Boutique!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Merci, PHX, I have asked Eric. This may be a possibility. Merci beaucoups.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I just sent you PHX email's address. Looks like PDP fans halp each others. I like that!

    Pont Girl I will, eventually.

    Monica, Michael is in Singapour right now. He'll go to Bali (lucky him!) next week if I remember well.

    ReplyDelete
  22. looking forward to hearing from you, Jeff.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Jeff I think this apt. offer in Paris is a great deal. Next time I make plans to go to Paris, I will take Phx's advice and stay there.

    Eric that's right. Singapore first and then Bali. His job really sucks.

    ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Errr Kung Hei Fat Choi to you too Chuck!

    Yeah, you're right Monica. Tough job LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  25. "RAT : Ambitieux et honnête mais a tendance à dépenser sans compter. Se met rapidement en colère."
    1924 1936 1948 1960 1972 1984 1996 2008
    L'année du Rat : bonne chance toute l'année pour eux!

    ReplyDelete