Dear Beloved Reader: I have to apologize for being so lazy - the stories have been piling up and not getting into print, so now it's your turn to tell me about what you'd like to read first:
Here are some topics:
The Gala at the Garnier Opera House: Ballet Russes
Jazz near the Champs Elysees
A good Chinese restaurant in the 13th
Can bicycles turn right on red?
The Isadora Duncan exhibit at Musee Bourdelle
The Dutch Masters exhibit at the Musee Pinotheque
and beyond Paris:
Festival of Lights in Lyon
Friday, December 18, 2009
Snow in Paris
Yes, it does snow in Paris. There's no better time to be here - if you're a photographer, but don't even think about getting in or out of town - especially in a taxi. My heart really went out to whomever hired the cab that was just in front of us, stuck in traffic on the 'periphe'.
Normally it takes just under two hours to drive out to Normandy. Yesterday (Thursday, Dec 17th, it took us three hours to drive from Montparnasse to Vaucresson (which is almost at Versailles). If you can make it to Versailles, you're home free. From that point on, it was smooth sailing and bright sunshine as soon as we passed from Ile de France into Normandy - am I starting to sound 'chauvin'when it comes to La Belle Normandie?
The photo here was taken actually almost a year ago when it also snowed in Paris during the month of February (still in 2009). This was supposed to be my Christmas card this year, but procrastination won out. Merry Christmas to my beloved blogreader!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Trivia Question for the Day
Thinking about Sara Jeannette Duncan and the Honorable Sir Rash Behary Ghose.
Just what was "The Law of Mortgages in British India" all about?
And, does anyone have a copy of Sara Jeannette Duncan's books on Calcutta? Oh, and by the way, if you want to know where to listen to a Finnish female jazz saxophonist in Paris, I can tell you!
Just what was "The Law of Mortgages in British India" all about?
And, does anyone have a copy of Sara Jeannette Duncan's books on Calcutta? Oh, and by the way, if you want to know where to listen to a Finnish female jazz saxophonist in Paris, I can tell you!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
French Dinner Conversations
Receiving a dinner invitation in France is a wonderful thing. I may not remember EVERY dinner - but many of them -- going back to the 1970s remain vibrant partly for all the great food served - but primarily for the flow of conversation.
And as Christopher noted this past weekend, people love to talk here - so what do you do when your command of the French language is less than perfect? Take the roller coaster approach and enjoy the ride.
What I love about conversing in French is that - although conversations can be just as superficial - the boundaries appear to be wider. All the etiquette books tell you to avoid discussing religion, sex and politics, but in France, the only really taboo subject is money. (Probably a close second is work).
Be prepared to talk about your president. (and regardless of your politics, don't embarrass yourself by tearing him/or her to shreds). I'm always amazed at how people can discuss politics at great length here - and often - you may never really know how people actually would vote.
And I can guarantee you that you are bound to feel sheepish about how little you really know about your own country. A case in point: Which states border Lake Superior? Usually after a dinner out, I spend the next day googling on subjects ranging from the War of 1812 to the origins of May Day in Chicago.
Sometimes a simple question can create plenty of discussion.
Example: What's the difference between an onion and a shallot?
Although it may be more difficult to speak in French than in English (with plenty of pitfalls and gaffes for sure), sometimes I feel freer to speak my heart in a second language. And thanks to that, the words are getting easier to find - even in English.
And as Christopher noted this past weekend, people love to talk here - so what do you do when your command of the French language is less than perfect? Take the roller coaster approach and enjoy the ride.
What I love about conversing in French is that - although conversations can be just as superficial - the boundaries appear to be wider. All the etiquette books tell you to avoid discussing religion, sex and politics, but in France, the only really taboo subject is money. (Probably a close second is work).
Be prepared to talk about your president. (and regardless of your politics, don't embarrass yourself by tearing him/or her to shreds). I'm always amazed at how people can discuss politics at great length here - and often - you may never really know how people actually would vote.
And I can guarantee you that you are bound to feel sheepish about how little you really know about your own country. A case in point: Which states border Lake Superior? Usually after a dinner out, I spend the next day googling on subjects ranging from the War of 1812 to the origins of May Day in Chicago.
Sometimes a simple question can create plenty of discussion.
Example: What's the difference between an onion and a shallot?
Although it may be more difficult to speak in French than in English (with plenty of pitfalls and gaffes for sure), sometimes I feel freer to speak my heart in a second language. And thanks to that, the words are getting easier to find - even in English.
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