Day off

Guess what? Today is a holiday in France. We're celebrating the end of the first world war, and more precisely the armistice between the allies and Germany in 1918 (see more on good old Wikipedia if you're interested). Now that we're all united within the EU, It seems so odd to me that there were once wars between France and other European countries like Germany or England. Anyway the good news is that even though there are now no veterans left, we're still going to enjoy a nice day off! Time for me to catch up on my work though ;-) BTW, I took this photo in the 20th arrondissement, rue Fontarabie.

And now the garbage men...

In Paris, when a strike ends, a new one starts! OK, I'm exaggerating, but you've gotta say... This morning when I went out, I had to weave through piles of garbage to reach my scooter (OK, I'm exaggerating a little more...) The reason why? Because the garbage men are on strike... Nothing to do with the retirement law, they "just" want a raise. Now facts and figures... There are 4 000 applicants each year for this job in Paris and only 300 make it. They have to take a - simple - written test to pass and they make 1 200 €/month when they start.

Endangered spieces?

These two guys are "bouquinistes", that is shopkeepers that have been granted the right to own a little box by the Seine banks to store and sell old books to the passers-by. Problem: people buy less and less books from little shop owners, they prefer to go on line or to larger stores... Consequently the bouquinistes started selling other stuff than books, souvenirs for instance, to make the ends meet. The problem is that their contract specifies that they must sell books and nothing else and the Paris town hall has started chasing those who don't play by the rules. It is also trying to find a solution to boost their income, like a Fête des bouquinistes, for instance. I doubt this will be enough.... How about selling kindles?! Update: here is an interesting point of view by Nicholas Negroponte (not about Bouquinistes, but the book industry)

More Love locks!

Do you remember the photo of the "love locks" that I took on the Pont des Arts and that I posted last June. Well today I found more! On the Pont de l'Archevêché, behind Notre Dame. I waited for some time (in the rain and the cold, thank you very much!) to get a Péniche - a flat boat that runs on the Seine - in the background, so that it would complete the perfect romantic shot ;-) Cheesy? Well yes, a little bit!

Autumn leaves

Yes, I know, every year I post a photo that looks more or less like this one, around the same time of the year...But autum leaves make good photos and when they are taken in Paris, it makes a big difference ;-) I've taken this photo, in a little garden near the rue de la Madone, in the 18th arrondissement where I went shopping for Chinese food (there is a litlle Chinese quarter over there). That's all, have a nice fall/autumn Sunday everyone, except for those who live in the South hemisphere who are gently entering Spring...

Camping on the Pont des Arts

We were almost done with the retirement protests when a new one just started! This time on the Pont des Arts, where a bunch of associations installed tents, like they did by the Canal Saint Martin in 2006 (check this photo, if you don't remember). I went there last night around 7 pm and took this photo. Had I waited one more hour, I would have not been able to take the same shot...  I just read the Police kicked them out around 8 pm. I'm not surprised, it's one of the most touristy bridges in Paris and the government surely does not want a repeat of what happened at Canal Saint Martin in 2006, where they remained months...

Under the cobblestones...

So it was true... There is a beach underneath the cobblestones of Paris! Explanation: during the student riots in May 68,  several slogans were used by demonstrators (check them here - go to the Slogans and Graffiti topic in the middle of the page). A very famous one - that we still remember today was "under the cobblestones, there is a beach" (sous les pavés la plage). So you can imagine that when I saw this scene this morning near the Gare du nord, I immediately thought of this slogan and jumped on my camera ;-) I'm sure my French visitors will smile when they see it.

France: an aging country...

One of the reasons why the recent law about retirement age was so controversial is that the French are getting older and older and that our life expectancy is also increasing (which is a good news of course, except for our national debt!). The recent figures published by Insee (the French national statistics organization) are formal: by 2060 the French life expectancy will jump from 84 to 91,1 years for women and from 77 to 86 for men. More than that, there will be 200 000 100 year old people against 15 000 today (and 1 150 in the 60's). France is not on top of the world list though, Andorra is! (check this table). BTW, I chose an illustration by MBW, which I believe shows Leornard Nimoy who precisely was not exactly born yesterday ;-)

Inside Le Grand Colbert

If you're looking for a good, typical restaurant in Paris, I suggest you pay a visit to Le Grand Colbert; a typical brasserie that first opened in 1900 (during La Belle Epoque times). I went there last Sunday for lunch with friends and really enjoyed myself. Not only is the food excellent, but more than that, the decor is really worth the journey... (not to mention that after your meal you can wander in the neighborhood which is also worth the look!). Price-wise, let's say it's affordable but not cheap... Last time I mentioned Le Grand Colbert (2005) they did not have a website, but now, they do!

Hurrah!

Those who already have been to Paris, will probably have guessed right away where I took this shot, but those who did not may wonder... Hint: the victorious guy is holding a... Lute. So yes, there is music involved... Bingo! It's the top of the opera house (the old one, the one called Palais Garnier, after the name of it's architect). As you can see, the weather is pretty good in Paris at the moment. And since yesterday (Monday November 1st) was a holiday in France, I kinda took advantage of it ;-)

Public Transportation

First of the month=theme day! You must know that by now! And this month, I paid attention and did not forget about it, like last month ;-) This November theme day is "Public Transportation" and God knows that when it comes to underground transportation, buses and even funiculars we have the choice in Paris. I chose a rather futuristic view of the Metro; the brand new turnstiles. Now have a look what public transportation looks like throughout the world.

Another classic view

Here is what you can see if you walk down the street from Metro station Richelieu Drouot to the Galeries Lafayette or Printemps department stores - Precisely at rue Laffitte, a little narrow street in the 9th arrondisemment. You will have recognized the Sacré Coeur of course, in the background, but that is not the only church in this photo. You can also see Notre Dame de Lorette in the foreground. I already posted the same view a few years ago, but I passed by it again today and I did not resist taking another shot.

A window to the past

I'm a big fan of Mad Men, the television series that depict the life in an advertising agency in the 60's. And today, when I passed by this open door, I immediately thought of this because of the "Dactylo" sign at the end or this entrance corridor. Dactylos means typist in French, in other words people (well mostly women...) who used to type on a typewriter what their male boss used to dictate them... Now everyone has computers, blackberries and so on, so everyone knows how to type ;-)

The end of "la grève"?

There was another demonstration today in Paris - still against the new age of retirement. It took place just outside my door, between Republique and Opera, but I was busy working so I only saw the remains tonight, on the way back home... One of them being this sticker on a street sign saying Grève générale (General strike), that can also be read as Rêve général (General dream...) ;-) Anyway, I watched the news last night and there were much less people in the streets than before. Not to mention that gas/petrol stations have reopened. I think the age of retirement is now officially 62 (or 67 for those who started working late)...

Underground Heating

Is that a scary photo or what? I took it last evening on the way back home at rue de Chateaudun, where they are installing underground heating. Yes, Paris has one of the largest underground heating networks in the world, but I don't think anyone knows that. It's actually hard to imagine that huge pipes run underneath the city and heat up several buildings throughout Paris, isn't it? (check this little flash animation) And though the CPCU (Compagnie parisienne de chauffage urbain), the company that operated this heating in Paris, claims that it's highly eco-friendly and very efficient. FYI one part of their energy sources come from... our garbage!

Paris, capital of modern art?

Last weekend the Fiac (Foire internationale d'art contemporain) took place at Le Grand Palais. It's probably the largest modern art fair in Europe, a place to see and... a place to be seen. There were plenty of other events around modern art in Paris at the same time including this Art Elysées exhibit, where 67 galleries could show and sell their artists. I know you would have rather seen a piece of art, but that is all I have to offer for today. Besides, you have been spoiled these past 2 days LOL!

By the pale moonlight

I was gas/petrol hunting last night and while looking for an open service station, I stopped by the Kennedy metro station. I then looked though this bridge and saw this beautiful moon next to the Eiffel Tower... I then crossed the road (and believe me, it's pretty daring over there because of the traffic) and took this photo. I really like it even though the Eiffel Tower can barely be seen.

Winter is on its way...

Could that look more like winter colors? I don't think so! I took this photo on the Ile des Signes Cygnes, the little island located between the 15th and the 16th arrondissement, I already mentioned when I posted the Statue of Liberty photo. The bridge you can see is only used by metros. Temperature in Paris for tomorrow Monday : 1 to 4 (34 to 39 Farenheit and 0 to 4 (32 to 39 Farenheit) on Tuesday. Brrrrr...

Fire!

No this is not a fire set by demonstrators, but flames coming out of a "tool" (I don't know what it's called!) that workers use to stick horizontal street signs to the pavement. I just thought it would make a funny photo.  FYI, the Paris street signs are fully monitored through a very sophisticated computerized system so that it's really well maintained

Playing Football

I took this photo at the Reuilly gardens in the 12th arrondissement. They have a little field in which young - and less young! - people can play football and ball games in general. There is not much to say about it, I just like the color effect behind the grid. Have a good weekend everyone. Mine will be "connected" as I'll be attending the Webdeux Connect gathering (a geeky meet up!).