Posted by admin on October 27, 2007 under One stop travel guide to Paris | 
When the light disappears, spirits fly … detail from the Holy Ghost Church, Ave Daumesnil
Photo by Chris Card Fuller
For five minutes last night, just before 8 pm, the Eiffel Tower as well as other major buildings in Paris - including the Elysee (France’s ‘White House’) shut off their lights in support for cutting back on our insatiable gluttony - when it comes to energy. Today (Wed, October 24th and tomorrow, Thurs, October 25th will be the final phase of the round table discussions about global warming, pollution, protection of natural resources. Guests expected to attend include Al Gore for the summit called Grenelle d’environment.
The symbolic 5 minute ‘blackout’ gave the Earth a ‘five minutes’ of silence
Ordinarily such black-outs are not voluntary in much of the world (including the US). It’s hard to imagine how the Paris nighttime landscape would look without lights to illuminate its famous landmarks.
When the light disappears, spirits fly … detail from the Holy Ghost Church, Ave Daumesnil
Photo by Chris Card Fuller
For five minutes last night, just before 8 pm, the Eiffel Tower as well as other major buildings in Paris - including the Elysee (France’s ‘White House’) shut off their lights in support for cutting back on our insatiable gluttony - when it comes to energy. Today (Wed, October 24th and tomorrow, Thurs, October 25th will be the final phase of the round table discussions about global warming, pollution, protection of natural resources. Guests expected to attend include Al Gore for the summit called Grenelle d’environment.
The symbolic 5 minute ‘blackout’ gave the Earth a ‘five minutes’ of silence
Ordinarily such black-outs are not voluntary in much of the world (including the US). It’s hard to imagine how the Paris nighttime landscape would look without lights to illuminate its famous landmarks.
Posted by admin on October 26, 2007 under One stop travel guide to Paris |
Perhaps one of the great unsung glories of Paris is its plethora of movie theaters. But it’s not the sheer number that overwhelms me as much as the vast choice of film titles. Picking out a movie in Paris is like going to the biggest candy shop in the world. I’d be willing to wager that Paris, if it doesn’t offer the most varied programming of international films (in their original version) on any given day of the week, compared to any city in the world you choose, it has to be one of the top cities when it comes to daily film screenings. Any international film buffs out there who would like to contest my guess, please do so!
Meanwhile here as an example of some of the choices available for big screen viewing this week in Paris: Battleship Potemkin (1925) Sergei Eisenstein; Alexander Nevski (1938) Eisenstein; Bicycle Thieves (1948) Vittoria de Sica; Russian Ark (2002)Alexandre Sokourov; Paris Qui Dort (1923)Rene Clair;
Pickpocket (1959) Robert Bresson; Blow Up (1967) Antonioni.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the myriad of festivals, hommages, and retrospectives that you may attend on any given day in Paris. In addition to the classics, you’ll find this week in Paris (October 24-30th, 2007) a film festival of Chinese animation at the Lincoln Theater, an hommage to Deborah Kerr at the Filmotheque Quarter Latin 18 bis, hommage to Gabriel Garcia Marquez at the Latina, Hats Off to Audrey Hepburn at the Cinema des Cineastes 99, hommage to Serge Reggiani at Le Champo 16, Festival Fassbinder at the Accattone, Festival Pasolini at the Accattone, Festival du Cinema Kurde at the Filmotheque. With such choices as this, one might choose to forego a trek to the Cinematheque Francaise to see ‘Hell in the Pacific’ (1968) John Booman or D.W. Griffith’s Battle of the Sexes (1928).
For foreigners visiting or living in Paris, going to the movies can be a respite from the daily language challenge. French cinema buffs understand the value of viewing films in the original language (listed in the Pariscope guide and on theater billboards as V.O. meaning ‘original version’).
VF or French version usually appears for recent films after the original version has been screened.
So, if you’re Chinese, Korean, Kurdish, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, American, British, Hindi, etc, etc., there’s a good chance you can catch your favorite film director’s release in your mother tongue. Let’s face it. John Wayne speaking French would be hard to handle.
When you pick up your copy of Pariscope at any newspaper stand or kiosque, be sure to note the dates listed directly underneath the Pariscope headline. Pariscope is issued weekly, from Wednesday to Wednesday. Also, keep in mind that many ‘reprises’ i.e. ‘reruns’ may have a one-day, one-time screening. Once you’ve located the film you want to see, you can find the theater address by noting the number following the theater’s name. Example: L’Arlequin 25.
Flip over to the section ‘Cinema/Salles de Paris’ i.e. Cinema/Paris Theaters.
Theaters are divided according to arrondissement. Each theater is numbered. You’ll find that l’Arlequin is located in the 6th arrondissement at 76, rue de Rennes. Metro St. Sulpice. Here, you’ll find the film screening times and the cost. (I’ve noted this particular theater because it happens to be one of my favorites - although we don’t get there as often as I’d like - it’s not quite walking distance, but the ambiance and the theater design will get you in to the movie mood).
This week (and the week is not yet over, so I may still get to see the Battleship Potemkin), I saw a new release ‘Never Forever’ (2006) Directed by Gina Kim with Vera Farmiga, Ha Jung-woo and David McInnis.
If for no other reason you go to see this film, you need to see the very last frame. Vera Farmiga deserves an Oscar for that last shot - and maybe the person behind the camera deserves an Oscar also. Why am I currently rhapsodizing on all that is Korean (and particularly Korean cinema)? In the aftermath of a three day whirlwind tour of South Korea last month, I am still agog.
Those Parisians and expats who are constantly in search of secrets to the art of fine living NEED to become acquainted with this extraordinary country. Okay, my ‘raving’ is back under control. Never, Forever certainly won’t give you more than an inkling about the rich layers of Korean culture - but the filmmaker’s ability to capture the essence of love - speaks volumes.
See Never, Forever - and catch up on your film classics in Paris.
Posted by admin on under One stop travel guide to Paris |
Claude Nicolas LEDOUX park
Photo by Chris Card Fuller ©2007
Libraries are fine places for wifi connections if you plan on sitting quietly in a corner - and your battery is fully charged - and the library is open. I assumed there HAD to be a wi-fi cafe in the neighborhood where I might be able to chat over SKYPE without being banished.
Think again. The Indiana Cafe on Avenue du Maine seemed to be a likely spot for Wifi - it wasn’t. Finally I resorted to the France Telecom yellow pages which listed all of one cybercafe in the neighborhood: Au Rendez-vous Denfert, 2 Avenue General LeClerc, Metro: Denfert Rochereau.
The cafe looked promising with a little sign posted in the window saying that Wifi was available. When you access the Wifi provider, you are asked to sign up for Wifi service - for a fee. So, rather than wrestle with wifi, I decided to do the right thing under the circumstances - get a beer.
And this is how Looking for Mr. Wifi can be truly enriching experience. For the first time since I’ve been popping in and out of cafes, I have finally found a cafe where I can drink a beer for under 3 Euros. It may be small, but it’s beer. And at 2 Euros 40 centimes, how can you complain?
Here’s how you do it. Make your way to the bar and ask the barman for a ‘galopin’. We’re talking 25 centiliters of draft beer. I know for serious beer drinkers, this is comparable to getting splashed when the beer steins (or chopes as we call them here) are being slapped onto the table) but for 2.40 Euros, I can learn how to nurse this galopin while I’m trying to figure out where will be my next attempt for free wifi.
In case I haven’t mentioned, the temperature is dropping in Paris. The autumnal metal grey skies have afforded only a few glimmers of sunlight in the last two days - and although the cold isn’t yet ‘cold to the bone’, it is definitely not conducive to long strolls in the park.
Fortunately, the park Claude Nicolas LEDOUX located at the Denfert Rochereau Metro stop is not so big. It isn’t a famous park and apart from a couple in the process of recreating Rodin’s famous sculpture - The Kiss- I’m the only other park bench occupant.
To keep out the sound of street traffic from this famous circle where the Belfort lion reigns supreme and to keep the rattling bones of the millions of skeletons lying beneath this sedate park forever resting in peace, or at least in pieces, I will try to quietly tuck my head close enough to the computer microphone to place a Skype phone call back to Portland.
There is something innately absurd about using Skype in a Paris park. But if it weren’t for ‘Looking for Mr. Wifi, I wouldn’t be here at this particular moment. In fact, I may have never ventured into this small enclave - which I’ve always associated with street bums.
Likewise, the Jardin Atlantique, located directly above the Gare Montparnasse is a free wi-fi garden. Go there at this time of year and you might feel as if you’ve entered a peculiar time warp, a futuristic park of sharp angles interspersed with dangling willow.
The wooden planks twist between monoliths of glass and concrete.
A few birds find refuge here and the gurgle of angular fountains speak only of Zen austerity. It takes a little longer to find your Paris Wi-fi access here. You need to scroll past regine, freephonie, ali, detritus, the list goes on.
My fingers (as I’ve mentioned in yesterday’s post) will not allow me to overstay my visit to this park. No three or four hours stuck in front of a computer screen. Not in Paris.
I gallop toward the glass elevator that descends to street level of Gare Monparnasse.
An employee at the station holds the door for her colleagues.
“Only for you,” she says, “Anyone else and I would have tossed them over the top.”
Well, welcome to Paris.
Posted by admin on October 25, 2007 under One stop travel guide to Paris |
While Portland, Oregon in December might not be quite the same as Paris in December, we’re hoping that if you’re in the area you’ll help make our December here in Portland a little more fun and exciting by coming to the BootsnAll Holiday Party. Okay, we don’t have the Eiffel Tower, but we’ve got great beer!
WHAT: BootsnAll Holiday Party
WHEN: Saturday, December 1, 2007 from 7pm until 11pm
WHERE: Lucky Labrador Beer Hall, 1945 NW Quimby St., Portland OR 97209
Every December we celebrate another year of independent travel by getting together with independent travelers. We talk about the places we’ve been, the places we want to go, and what makes travel so incredible. It’s an excellent opportunity to surround yourself with other like-minded people to talk about Paris and anywhere else in the world! Plus, this year we’ve added to the sweetness because we’ll be giving away some cool prizes - including a $500 voucher for an airline ticket!
For more information, see our Holiday Party post. We hope to see you there!
Posted by admin on under One stop travel guide to Paris |
Back in the 1970s, a film called ‘Looking for Mr. Goodbar’ (1977)told the story of a girl looking for Mr. Right in all the wrong places. Flash forward to the year 2007 in Paris. Far from looking for a Mr. Goodbar, what I’m really looking for is a good (free) internet connection.
Back in the 1970s, a film called ‘Looking for Mr. Goodbar’ (1977)told the story of a girl looking for Mr. Right in all the wrong places. Flash forward to the year 2007 in Paris. Far from looking for a Mr. Goodbar, what I’m really looking for is a good (free) internet connection.
In Paris, you can get bits and pieces of good connections, but don’t always expect to land the Full Monty. As you may recall in past posts, the City of Paris has had the infinite wisdom and benevolence of spirit to come up with the concept Free Wi-Fi access in some of its parks, public libraries and local town halls. Shame on San Francisco for not following Paris and Reykjavik, Iceland’s lead in creating an umbrella of hot spots. San Francisco, how could you, of all cities, fall prey to the likes of commercial pressure from Earthlink? Shame on you!
Meanwhile, back in Paris, looking for Mr. Wifibar, has introduced me to two libraries (Bibliotheque Vandamme and Bibliotheque Georges Brassens) in the 14th arrondissement, each with its own brand of idiosyncracies. To get to the Bibliotheque/Discotheque Vandamme at 80 Avenue du Maine, exit the Metro: Gaite. On the west side of Avenue du Maine, you’ll be standing directly in front of the Centre Commerciale Gaite. a little to the right of the big ‘G’ which designates the Centre Gaite, you’ll find yourself standing in the middle of a triangular esplanade adorned with half a dozen pawlonia trees. (The wood of the pawlonia trees is used in some countries to construct coffins). Be advised that the library doesn’t normally open before 12 pm - so save yourself the trouble of being an early bird and opting for the park (Jardin Atlantique) located above Gare Montparnasse (where I ‘m currently typing until my fingers freeze off!). Atlantique was the perfect name for this park.
Alert viewers will spot the sign that says Bibliotheque/Discotheque Van Damme pointing to concrete steps descending into the seven circles of the Inferno. To be perfectly honest, for years, I assumed that this was a ‘Discotheque’ for dancing. And seeing as it was never open at night, I assumed that the ‘Discotheque’ had closed and reopened as the ‘Red Light’(aka Tropicana) just down the street, closer to Gare Montparnasse.
The good news is that Bibliotheque/Discotheque Van Damme is open, alive and well, and totally free. If you present your passport and provide a local address, you can also borrow books from the library - in addition to using the City of Paris’s free wifi access.
The bad news is that you CANNOT use the library’s electrical outlet. Yes, I’m serious. I was granted one-time, exceptional use of the electrical outlet to recharge my laptop. As the library attendant explained, “the wi-fi is free - the electricity isn’t.” Although this seemed to be an edict verging on the absurd, I didn’t know at this specific point in time that the Grenelle d’Environnement round table talks on global warming, protection of natural resources and the energy crisis were very much on the minds of the French republic and the City of Paris. Mea culpa. If the lights of Eiffel Tower and Elysee can be turned off for a five minute salute to Mother Earth, I should be able to live with the fact that I will only be able to blog for as long as the Apple battery survives.
Is there life after batteries run dry? If you have any question about this, check out the Korean masterpiece film “The Way Home” and you will see that in some cases, life only begins when all the batteries die. Looking for a connection in Paris? You’ve already found it. Parislogue.
More on Free Wifi spots tomorrow.
Posted by admin on October 23, 2007 under One stop travel guide to Paris |
It’s a Monday night in Paris, but it could just as well be a Saturday night. Le Plomb du Cantal, 3 Rue de la Gaite is jampacked at 9 pm.
This restaurant named after the Auvergne region of France knows what hungry Parisians want: Steak and potatoes served up in super size portions.
So, you can throw out another cliche that you thought - French cooking is not only about rich buttery sauces served in miniscule portions. Leave that for the ‘frimeurs’ or the ’show offs’.
There is nothing more down-home and ‘comfort food’ than the Plomb du Cantal and the ‘truffade’ is a type of cheese and garlic au gratin potatoes which you will receive heaped on your plate in a veritable mountain. The Worldwide gourmet recipe includes tomatoes rather than cheese but I think this is the easy way out - if you want to get the total ‘comfort factor’ you need to tie into this dish - with gobs of cheese and garlic’ This is a total impact dish. You have to see and experience it - to believe it.
Do not go to this restaurant unless you are REALLY hungry.
Le Plomb du Cantal
3 Rue de la Gaite
Metro: Gaite
Approximately 18 Euros (not including wine) per plate.
Posted by admin on under One stop travel guide to Paris |
Some people are thrilled to spot movie stars. I like meeting writers - especially in difficult circumstances - like waiting in an excruciatingly long baggage check-in ’service’ at the Moscow airport. Although I haven’t yet delved into Les Champs d’Honneur (which won a Goncourt prize in 1990, my first plan of action is to pick up a copy of this novel which promises already (just by reading the Amazon description to be absorbing).
The setting is post-World War I- a family indelibly changed - I won’t say any more until I’ve had a chance to read it.
Posted by admin on under One stop travel guide to Paris |
Maybe it’s just dumb luck, but we flew into Paris this time just in between a wave of train strikes which have managed to disrupt plenty of travelers and commuters’ schedules for the final days of the Rugby World Cup. As I mentioned to you in a past post, the official strike date for the Metro or RATP had been the 18th of October, but the prolonged strike, included Friday the 19th of October which created miles of traffic jams in the Paris metropolitan area.
And guess what? It’s not over.
Mark November 20th on your calendar as a day NOT to arrive in Paris. The SNCF plans to strike again - and you as you can well imagine, choosing a specific day, doesn’t necessarily mean that the strike will last only a day. We hope for the sake of commuters that issues will be resolved in a speedy fashion so that those that need to go to work will not receive more aggravation in their efforts to put food on the table.
Meanwhile for any of you planning on arriving in Paris from the new St. Pancras station using the Eurostar, one wonders, one has to wonder if the date of the 20 November had to coincide so closely with the opening of this new route for the Eurostar. The inaugural date for the St. Pancras/Gare du Nord route is November 14th. Therefore if you’re arriving on the 14th, you might want to consider, scooting back to London by the 19th.
Posted by admin on under One stop travel guide to Paris |
Keep in mind that rather than paying for Wi-fi access in train stations such as Montparnasse, you can walk next door to the Bibliotheque Van Damme at 80, Avenue du Maine for free Wi-fi access. Very handy. Check out the Mairie de Paris’s listing for free wi-fi access throughout Paris at various locales (primarily gardens and libraries or local town halls).
www.paris.fr
Posted by admin on October 21, 2007 under Prague's Travel and Accommodation News |
The 13th, the President of the Czech Republic and Pavel Bém, the Lord Mayor of Prague.
Dan Materna, reporter of the Czech daily MF Dnes, won this year’s Crystal Eye”Distraint of a Child” photograph…
The , the main prize of the Czech Press PhotoCrystal Eye sculpture.
Statement by the International Jury: “The winning photograph embodies the ultimate private drama of human life - a family war. It is the essential problem of today’s civilization that shows the crisis of values - in the end everyone looses: mother, father, child, society, as well as the authorities. This emotionally charged picture functions as a mirror and asks questions.”
Total number of 228 photographers, with permanent residency in either the Czech or Slovak Republics, participated in the competition by submitting total number of 3104 photographs. The International Jury worked from 13th to 16th October, 2007.
This year, already for the 6th time, the Children’s Jury organized by the Czech Committee for UNICEF accompanied the International Jury. It consisted of 9 children coming from various minorities living in the Czech Republic.
The International Jury awarded the main prize, the , and within the competition’s 8 categories awarded total of 8 first, second, and third prizes carrying a financial reward, together with 8 Honorary Mentions. The Jury also awarded the UNHCR Prize.
During the exhibition opening, the President of the Czech Republic will personally present the main prize, the Crystal Eye to the winner. The Lord Mayor of Prague awarded the Czech Press Photo 2007 Grant of the City of Prague, which he will personally present to the winner during the exhibition opening. The Children’s Jury awarded the UNICEF Children’s Prize. The Audience Prize will be awarded based on the popular vote by those visiting the exhibition as well as the Internet.
The Czech Press Photo 2007 exhibition will take place from 16th November, 2007 till 31st January, 2008 in the Cross Gallery and the Knight Hall of the Old Town Hall in Prague. The prize giving ceremony and the exhibition opening will take place on 15th November, 2007 at 4 PM in the Bro¾ík’s Hall of the Old Town Hall. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic organizes traveling of the exhibition abroad.
The winning photographs are presented on
www.czechpressphoto.cz
