Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Paris like in the middle ages


If cameras existed in the middle ages here is what they could have taken... At that time most people did not know how to read so all shops were identified by a sign like one of those: a little pig for a pork butcher, a pot of tea for a tearoom, etc. Well, as you can see, some things don't change in Paris for I did not take this photo in the middle ages(!), but recently in the Saint Sulpice area. There, Gilles (and Catherine) Vérot, a famous porc butcher, will sell you the best charcuterie you can ever dream of...

32 comments:

  1. I love these old signs, which are little works of art in themselves.

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  2. Awww... that's a very cute sign! Charming, and ... yes, so romantic! Great catch, Eric, thanks :)

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  3. These signs are very sympha! So cute and inviting. I'm thinking the façade of the shops must be very charming too.

    PHX-CDG: thanks for the little Eiffel Tower, I love it! The little lights are on right now!

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  4. That is such a cute sign - I love the little pig, and I like how the sausages are framing the sign. I also love the continuity of history. Since 1896 - wow!

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  5. I think those signs are one of my favorite things about Paris - I love this one! There are some great ones along the Seine in the 6th arr. too!

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  6. Very helpful to tourists who don't speak French as well!

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  7. Just beautiful Eric. Pork chops, fresh bread and a cup of tea! See, I can read!

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  8. I think you have just solved one of the biggest mysteries of life for me. I never knew what those signs were for... and now, I feel like a smarter person. Thanks Eric!

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  9. Thanks for this sign, Eric. I'm a BIG fan of pigs - I've collected them ever since my childhood.

    My grandmother died yesterday, peacefully, in her sleep. It was time for her to go - she was very old - over a 100, can you imagine? - and I've put an old poem, a kind of tribute, on my blog, if you have the time to have a look it would be nice, thanks.

    Thanks for your super blog and the effort you make to keep posting interesting photos every day - it's appreciated. - Sab

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  10. Japanese top good tourists' league


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


    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 rude behaviour, noise and a miserly attitude to tipping.


    But despite their faults, hoteliers do look favourably upon British spending habits voting them the third biggest holiday spenders after Americans and Russians.


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


    Britain was second in the worst-dressed tourist table which was headed by the Americans, and fifth in the least-generous table which was headed by the Germans.


    Brought to you by REUTERS

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  11. mmmm delicious. Love these signs.... Eric you and i have not fared very well today. In a recent poll, the British were voted No. 1 the Worst Holidaymaker Abroad and the French No. 1 the Worst Tourist. Pah! What do they know? I can't recall the name of the poll, if i hear it again i'll tell you. It's rubbish anyway of course..... ;)

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  12. Ah there we are. Anonyme seems to have filled in the gaps.

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  13. Did they have TV antennas on roofs as well in the middle age ?

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  14. That's the charm of Paris, to be seen in so many places.

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  15. These signs can be small works of art.

    http://lightandshadow.my-expressions.com/

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  16. They can be works of art, indeed...

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  17. As much time as I spent walking around the St. Sulpice area, I confess I don't remember these signs. What street?

    Another small yet definitive detail of a city with a history.

    The British and the French as bad tourists, eh? I'd need to see the actual poll, but maybe that explains all those wars! I certainly agree that we Yanks typically dress like bums over there. Football jerseys and shorts sagging down the butt. What an awful look. My primary rule of dress is: if you look like you smell bad, that's bad fashion.

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  18. Well..did the mortician have a Coffin hanging over the front door??

    I deal with hundreds of International travelers everyday here in SF and the "Most Improved" travelers are the Germans and the French...If they start to act rudely I just ask them..."Are you English"??? They immediately "change their tune"!!

    The English are the most ill mannered travelers I deal with[they haven't ANY respect for local customs or traditions, and think they know everything...So.."Why did you ask Sir"???]they are followed by Australians, Americans, Canadians and almost all South Americans[especially Brazilians..Uggghhh!!]..I base this on 38 years in the Hospitality/hotel-restaurant consulting business and listen to the complaints of frustrated employees everyday. Ohhh, also the Brits should learn that "TIPPING"..[le pourboire]is not a city in CHINA!!! Americans know they don't tip and are cheap, so they automatically give only "necessary" service when they hear the English accent, and won't do any special favors!! ;-) Like it or not this is all reality and the truth!!

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  19. Interesting history, and a beautifully balanced photo!

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  20. I am in Paris from the afternoon of Monday, May 28 to the early morning of Wednesday, May 30. Michael, I know you read PDP daily. Send me an e-mail, you still have my address. Eric, if you can meet, let me know too, just leave a message on my blog.

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  21. Worst dressed tourists? Are these people for real? Does anybody really care what a tourist is wearing?!!!

    This is how I feel about it: A tourist should be wearing comfortable shoes [especially in Paris!!!] and easy to care for articles of clothing adapted to the climate and that's pretty much all that's required, especially if all you do is walk around town, visit monuments, or perhaps museums.

    Of course, there is a dress code in some places, if you want to go out in the evenings, for instance, but generally, who cares what a tourist is wearing?!! [rolling eyes]

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  22. Hmm, Tonton-Flaneur. "Brazilians, ugghhh"?? Well, I'm certain Mme. Monica et son mari are wonderfully polite guests in other countries, n'est ce pas?

    I understand the rolling of eyes, Tomate. I'm not much of a snob and can't afford to be. (Just ask those who've met me, am I a clothes horse?) Nonetheless, if I visit somebody's home as a guest, I don't dress to mow the lawn or play rugby. Comfortable shoes and climate-appropriate clothing is wise and sane. This does not imply anything goes. If somebody sitting at Les Deux Magots looks like they just came off the basketball court, they're probably an American tourist. It's bit embarrassing for we colonists to observe, say what?

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  23. Beautiful, what else I can say...

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  24. OK, Jeff, just for you :-)

    (find the tourist)

    http://www.kimrichter.com/Blog/uploaded_images/tourists-772108.jpg

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  25. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  26. Jeff, thanks for the nice words!

    You're right, I try to be very polite just like my parents taught me!!! No matter where I am, in the corner of my street, another city in Brazil, or Paris, Italy, San Francisco, NY...
    I WANT to believe that most everybody is nice, wherever they come from. Of course I know there are some people who will give you a hard time... but I don't know.. I'd never point fingers like that and say "Uggghhh!!" to anyone. That is definetely not polite.

    But that's just me.

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  27. Monica et al...These are not my formulated "opinions"...as I said these are the complaints I listen to from Hotel and Restaurant staff personnel. I know many people dislike Americans when traveling and have preconceived ideas about their behavior as well, but I always try to act as a guest in a lovely home when traveling and act accordingly. I don't "demand" things, and I don't expect things to be "done as we do at home...", which unfortunately is the feedback I hear daily...especially regarding the English. The comments about the Brazilians I hear is that they are rude to service people...snap fingers, talk down to them, and shout...sorry, but as I said I am just giving feedback, as I would like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, and Jackasses can be found in every corner of the globe, not just one particular spot!! Desole'....!!! ;-)

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  28. Don't worry Tonton...candor has never been popular here!

    Unless your responses are fawning over the pictures as if they are the most brilliant, you may be in trouble!

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  29. Can you take it: when tonton-flaneur said "Brazilians..Uggghhh!!" I don´t think he/she was worried about being popular. And he/she doesn´t have to be.
    But don´t mix a candid opinion with rudeness. That was my point.

    After all, he/she was pointing out how unpolite other people from other countries are. There ARE polite ways to express your opinion.

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