“Noise is to sound what weeds are to flowers,” said Des from the Soundlandscapes blog when we were working together on a project earlier this year. I had made the mistake of saying that we needed to record some ‘noises’ rather than ‘sounds,’ and he quickly put me in my place. However, as we began [...]
Winter blues have set in over Paris. But try to look on the bright side! The cold months bring their own visual charm to the City of Light. Have a look at the amazing photo essay at Secrets of Paris for a reminder of the the stark beauty of l’hiver.
It’s always a bit depressing taking down the Christmas tree and packing away holiday decorations, but it’s even sadder when you have to plop your tree by the garbage bin and wait for it to be carted off to the landfill, droopy branches and all. But, just like last year, the city of Paris can [...]
The noted “monotony of a Haussmannian street” is illustrated here in this famous painting by Gustave Caillebotte. Why are the streets of Paris created under Georges-Eugène Haussmann’s direction considered monotonous? In 1853, during the period known as the Second Empire, Napoleon III gave him the job of modernizing Paris. Haussmann carved out wide boulevards in the heart [...]
article contributed by Chris Reynolds of casinoguide.com For those of you who have never been Paris, there is so much more to the city than the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, and playing blackjack or poker at the Aviation Club. The following are a few suggestions for those that like to go off the beaten track. [...]
Most fatal fires are caused by cigarettes, when people fall asleep holding them. A new European-wide regulation requires all cigarettes sold to be self-extinguishing. It went into effect last week. Usually the firemen don’t have much firefighting to do in Paris. The buildings are fronted in stone and there are not nearly as many fires [...]
GPS has replaced maps for tourists visiting Paris. I’m nostalgic for the old days, but I have to say, I love my Paris apps. They make my life easier and enrich my adventures. Here are the Paris apps I download for my guests before they head out the door. RATP The official app of the [...]
These caryatids—sculpted female figures serving as architectural support —are high above the street level on Rue de Provence and support the balcony of the second floor. Although this building does not have the architect’s name or date of construction, one would guess that this building was designed late 19th or early 20th century. You can [...]
This year the French government released the official list of French palaces. The “Palace” label, one step higher than the five-star rating, denotes excellence among the most prestigious French hotels. Out of the 7 historical Parisian palaces, only 2 made the new list : the Plaza Athénée (right) and the Meurice. Since the results were [...]
I have already taken you to the eccentric home of François Hennebique, France’s first king of concrete, but the Paris offices of his company on the Rue Danton are equally deserving of investigation. Built by the architect Emile Arnaud in 1901, it was one of the first buildings in Paris to use only concrete in [...]
