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Post by kerouac2 on Mar 29, 2021 8:52:30 GMT
Going back 150 years...
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Post by lagatta on Apr 1, 2021 15:28:15 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 1, 2021 17:01:26 GMT
Most of the information is accurate. It will only make former vistors who plan to return drool.
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Post by fumobici on Apr 2, 2021 3:51:11 GMT
Most of that looks like improvements from my personal perspective. Can't wait to return to see first-hand.
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 2, 2021 6:12:07 GMT
I checked out the ephemeral Grand Palais a couple of weeks ago as it near completion. It was supposed to be ready in January, but covid delayed just about everything everywhere, and of course there was no longer any rush for it to open since nothing like that can open until the end of lockdown. One of the reasons (but probably not the only reason) for keeping exactly the same shape and size of the 'grand nef' of the Grand Palais is because the Grand Palais is an Olympic venue for 2024 -- fencing and taekwondo event will take place there. If they had changed the place after being awarded the Olympics, they could have been accused of "bait and switch." This building is designed to be dismantled when the original Grand Palais reopens and can be reassembled elsewhere. Any takers.
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Post by tod2 on Apr 2, 2021 10:57:44 GMT
Gosh that has come a long way and I could never have guessed this shape! It does remind me of a Poly-tunnel though. Too big for my garden!
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Post by kerouac2 on May 13, 2021 9:58:05 GMT
When the weather is nice, people just can't seem to keep their masks on anymore, especially in parks.
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Post by lagatta on May 13, 2021 19:22:55 GMT
What happened to the original Grand Palais?
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Post by kerouac2 on May 13, 2021 19:47:54 GMT
It is still there but it will be closed for total renovation until 2024.
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Post by lagatta on May 13, 2021 20:07:26 GMT
Yes, I remember going to an art exhibition there, but it was years ago.
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Post by htmb on May 13, 2021 21:13:26 GMT
Nice video, Kerouac. Makes me wish I was there.
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Post by lagatta on May 15, 2021 18:16:54 GMT
I certainly want to return to Paris, but not yet. At this stage it is more to see and touch longterm friends than anything else, but it remains an extraordinary city.
I love your little video - despite generally following the sanitary rules, there are a lot more Parisians in the spring sunshine.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 12, 2021 15:04:12 GMT
The Grand Palais Ephémère is now open after a construction time of seven months and a cost of only 40 million euros. I wanted to go to the event this weekend, but it was totally sold out, probably all the more so because it is free. It looks like any of us could get the same result if we had enough plastic wrap. They haven't announced where it will be rebuilt after being dismantled here, but they have 4 years to think of something. As for the original Grand Palais, they're spending 500 million euros to fix it.
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 3, 2021 5:38:22 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 8, 2021 7:32:55 GMT
Turn off the sound on this video! The only reason I'm posting it is because it shows how grimy and sooty all of the buildings were when I was little -- with the exception of Sacré Coeur.
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Post by bjd on Aug 8, 2021 7:56:28 GMT
I remember seeing an old National Geographic with pictures showing the old blackened buildings compared to their shiny clean facades once Malraux had them cleaned.
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 20, 2021 21:04:21 GMT
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Post by htmb on Aug 21, 2021 0:06:58 GMT
Lovely. I could watch that over and over again.
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 5, 2021 9:27:12 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 8, 2021 9:50:26 GMT
It is very definitely the trend in French business right now. Everybody is outdoing themselves proposing used and recycled items.
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Post by tod2 on Sept 30, 2021 11:03:37 GMT
Kerouac - Is it a fact that there was no Mayor of Paris during WWII ?
Jules Ferry: 15 November 1870–5 June 1871 Office of Mayor abolished. There was no mayor of Paris until 1977 Jacques Chirac (RPR): 20 March 1977–16 May 1995
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 30, 2021 12:25:34 GMT
Yes, the city was run by the Préfecture for 100 years. Parisians had practically no control over their own affairs because they were considered to be bloodthirsty communists after the Commune.
Actually, the city authorities still have no control over certain strategic boulevards for military reasons.
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Post by patricklondon on Sept 30, 2021 13:39:34 GMT
Yes, the city was run by the Préfecture for 100 years. Parisians had practically no control over their own affairs because they were considered to be bloodthirsty communists after the Commune. Actually, the city authorities still have no control over certain strategic boulevards for military reasons. It occurred to me that that might be one (unspoken) reason why de Gaulle and his regular army were keen to get to Paris after the uprising in August 1944 - just in case the Communists on the liberation committee had any ideas of reviving the Commune.
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Post by tod2 on Sept 30, 2021 17:10:38 GMT
Kerouac - The reason I asked was because my mother-in-laws second husband was an American Colonel during WWII and in conversation I was told he held the position of mayor in Paris during the war. Now do you think this could be a suburb of Paris,,,,I mean in one of the Arrondissements not the actual Mayor of Hotel de Ville.? Just curious as to what I was told. I remember seeing a very large round engraved object like something you would wear around your neck. Don't know what happened to it. His family did come out from the USA to meet with her after he died so might have taken it with them.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jan 28, 2022 13:12:48 GMT
Sorry, tod2, I just saw this question.
The United Stetes did indeed try to take over France After the liberation of Paris (where they arrived one day after the French army had already done it), and they even wanted to establish the US dollar as the currency of France. Such nice people! But for some reason, the French did not go for this. Obviously, as long as the American army was present, it controlled certain aspects of life (food distribution, for example), but I don't think that any American could have been called a mayor. The Americans wanted to send some of the French for training in the United States so that they could adopt "proper" business administration and other methods, but the French declined. If France had had a weaker leader than General de Gaulle, the US probably would have had its way.
Naturally, the French accepted the Marshall Plan for reconstruction with open arms. They would have been stupid not to, considering which country had bombed so much of France to rubble.
Oddly enough, this is not the way history was taught to me in school in the United States.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jan 28, 2022 13:15:01 GMT
Meanwhile, my street continues to welcome new changes. Here are two places that have arrived in the last month. There are a number of other places in the surrounding streets.
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Post by tod2 on Jan 28, 2022 13:42:07 GMT
What was there before ? Do you have any photos? Just nosey thats all.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jan 28, 2022 14:13:03 GMT
There was a cheap bazaar where the Kaboul Market is. They definitely upgraded, because they tore the guts out of the old place and completely refitted it. But these places love to show as many "exotic" products as possible in the front window, so it ends up looking a bit crappy. As for Kabul Mobile, I'm sure it is the same mobile store that was there before with a different name.
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Post by lagatta on Jan 29, 2022 2:14:04 GMT
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Post by tod2 on Jan 29, 2022 8:48:23 GMT
That is terribly sad story Lagatta. I have seen many "Clochards" (tramps) lying on the sidewalk due to inebriation. Now this gentleman was clearly no drunk. Makes me wonder about the way he was dressed. I think if he had been wearing an expensive smart jacket and nice shoes with maybe a nice scarf and hat & a visible walking stick, he would have been assisted. Even perhaps checked over for a wallet by a pickpocket. It's a shame nobody from his neighborhood spotted him as a resident of the area. Even so, surely some person - like a policeman wouldn't or shouldn't let a human being lie exposed to the cold temperatures no matter who they are or sober or drunk. Anyone can report to a 911 number for assistance.
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