Sunday, November 25, 2012

The long road to learning French...


You may wonder why I gave this title to this photo, but, even though it's a little far fetched, you're going to understand why! Last Thursday I went to the launch of Frantastique a new online service to learn French, hoping to take a photo (the invitation said there was going to be a "happening" during the evening!). Unfortunately, I had my Thanksgiving dinner that night and had to leave before the happening took place. On the way back, however, I passed by the Boulevard de Bercy and saw these sidewalks (the blue light is real) that run underneath the train tracks of Gare de Lyon. Now, you know the story! 

18 comments:

  1. That is very cool to stumble upon this uniquely lighted way. Made for a fun picture. You were very busy that night!
    -Kim

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  2. It just occurred to me that today's shot is a night version of yesterday's shot, only this passageway has no pavés and there is an artistic cover above, and it's a woman walking away from you. We've got to do something to get you up off of the wet pavement, though! :-)
    -Kim

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  3. Love the colors -- a cobalt blue road to learning French....

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  4. The title is well chosen and true!! Learning French is interesting but this language is not really motivating for people nowadays. The English language is so much worldwide spoken.
    Learning French is good for fun, just for the pleasure of saying some new words and be proud of! Maybe I'm wrong but your photo may suggest a bit of fear in learning French ... Though the presence of the lady on the right part is a sign this seems to be still a practicable road! Plus you were not far ;)

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  5. Clearly, you ran from the event because of your fear of learning French, not to meet les 'Caines for diner!

    (In other words, Cathy: huh?)

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  6. My neighbor is French-Canadian. His baby boy is beginning to learn to speak. They sit on the front porch together and the father reads stories to his son in French. I'm going to invite myself over.

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  7. That's a truly amazing sight that you experienced; plus took a photo of it to share with your friends and family. Merci Eric Tenin. Sapphire blue and gold are a timeless color match.

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  8. The color here is gorgeous. No wonder you snapped a photo! That website sounds very interesting. Despite living with two people whose first language is French, I don't get to hear it a lot. I am fluent in English with an eastern French accent though!

    Love you Eric!

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  9. The light is terrific So blue. Well captured. Bravo!

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  10. It looks like a place that Andy Warhol could turn into party central.

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  11. Love these colours Eric, this shot reminds me of the new Perth Arena that I posted a while back oui!

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  12. What a strangly vivid blue light that is.

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  13. Wonderful shot - thank you.

    But you made the right decision in leaving early.

    I teach French and am always looking out for new ways of motivating my students. Frantastique is not one of them. In fact it is embarrassingly bad.

    Oh dear.

    Cathy - you are overlooking the fact the French is a major world language, not an obscure hobby. Get out there and enjoy it!

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  14. @Kim "It just occurred to me that today's shot is a night version of yesterday's shot, " Yes, I thought of that to ;-)

    @Cathy " Learning French is interesting but this language is not really motivating for people nowadays." Unfortunately true I'm afraid...

    @Jeff "(In other words, Cathy: huh?)" LOL. I knew you would not agree!

    @Petrea There are two things that don't match in your comment "My neighbor is French-Canadian." and "he reads stories to his son in French."! LOL Ohhhhh just kidding... The French Canadians speak much better French than we do.

    @Lois ". Merci Eric Tenin. Sapphire blue and gold are a timeless color match." ;-))

    @ET Suzy ". I am fluent in English with an eastern French accent though!" Really? Suzy you're French?!

    @PHX "It looks like a place that Andy Warhol could turn into party central" True!

    @PDP (PerthDailyPhoto...) "reminds me of the new Perth Arena that I posted a while back" I have to check that.

    @CF "Frantastique is not one of them. In fact it is embarrassingly bad." Really. Why is that?
    I love the " you are overlooking the fact the French is a major world language, not an obscure hobby."! Yes, it is still a widely spoken language, only the French speaking countries have less and less influence on the world I reckon.

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  15. Eric, I don't know if it's better French but it's definitely different! I understand it, though--at least as well as I understand French French.

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  16. This place is amazing, and really freaks me out. I've heard it said that the blue is so that drug addicts can't see their veins - have you heard that too..?

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  17. @Sab Really?? That is VERY interesting, because precisely, when I saw it, I thought to myself: "this is the perfect drug addicts hang out" I must say!

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