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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2013 18:48:35 GMT
This gentleman set up residence at the foot of my building for 48 hours before moving on and he was a joy to watch. He seems to have more possessions than a lot of people living in a traditional dwelling -- and on top of that, he has great hair!
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Post by htmb on Apr 18, 2013 19:22:55 GMT
Oh, dear. He does have great hair. Did you talk with him, Kerouac? I'd like to know how long he's been out on the streets. Is he French? Was he in a shelter during the winter? How on earth does he transport all his possessions? That's a lot of stuff.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2013 20:05:00 GMT
I didn't talk to him, but I saw that a lot of people did. I think there was a shopping cart beneath all of those bags.
Actually, I was hoping to have a chance to say hello to him today. I wheeled my mother to the hairdresser on the opposite sidewalk, but I was hoping to pass right next to him on the way back 90 minutes later (today was the permanent) -- I try to use any unusual sight that I think might stimulate my mother. Unfortunately, he had unexpectedly moved elsewhere during that time. I will be on the lookout for him in the coming days.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 18, 2013 23:10:28 GMT
You could make a rhyming poem about him, as not only does he have great hair, he's also got a lovely chair.
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Post by mossie on Apr 19, 2013 18:34:10 GMT
And his heart shaped bowl is quite something. But needs a good scrub
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2013 21:02:59 GMT
The lower areas of Paris prepare to be submerged...
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 4, 2013 6:26:03 GMT
We haven't had any local color for a while. Here's a little something from a few days ago ~~ I took my dogs to Llano Park so they could run around. At the northern fountain we ran into this group or groups -- some of them in red & some in blue ~ The red people were a band ~ After a few minutes we continued on our way. A while later, as we were leaving the park, the two groups were coming south on Avenida Juárez, with the band in full swing. I clicked at them, only to find that the battery was dead. I always carry a spare, but by the time I switched to it, they'd moved on down the street. We crossed the avenue on Berriozabal & proceeded back to Alcalá. When we got to the corner of Alcalá, we ran smack into the band again. (Look closely at the trees. They're full of ripe mangoes and the street there is littered with smushed fallen fruit.) Here's the band & their motley crew marching south on Alcalá to Santo Domingo church ~ Here they are in front of Sto. Domingo, with a shaky panoramic sweep at the end, so you can see the whole area ~
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2013 16:58:37 GMT
I saw firemen downstairs selling raffle tickets to help finance the upcoming firemen's balls in July, so I went and invested 6€ for three tickets. Unfortunately there aren't even really raffles anymore -- they are scratch-off instant winner tickets. I was a three-time instant loser.
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Post by htmb on Jun 8, 2013 17:13:26 GMT
But, more importantly, were the firemen interestingly handsome? Many of the ladies (and some of the men) would want to know.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2013 6:44:41 GMT
Okay, just for you, htmb, here are the firemen. Nothing special but apparently physically fit.
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Post by htmb on Jun 9, 2013 11:11:41 GMT
Thank you, Kerouac.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2013 17:09:39 GMT
This morning around 7 a.m. I was walking along the Canal Saint Denis in the 19th arrondissement, which gave me the opportunity to admire one of the picturesque Roma hamlets. I was impressed that the hovels houses are now numbered. There is a lovely idea on how to spend their days on billboards just above their dwellings. Sadly, this community will have to disappear before long because the city has projects.
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Post by htmb on Jun 9, 2013 18:19:53 GMT
Any idea what the procedure will be for removing those homes and people from the area?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2013 18:28:37 GMT
It is never a nice thing to see. It is along the lines of "pick up your stuff and leave right now: the bulldozers are going into action in 27 minutes."
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Post by fumobici on Jun 10, 2013 0:10:28 GMT
Would I rather live in one of those shacks in Paris or a McMansion in Waco TX? I think I'd opt for the shack. Really.
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Post by htmb on Jul 2, 2013 21:08:56 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2013 21:31:25 GMT
That looks refreshing, htmb! I live on a main intersection between the city hall of the 18th arrondissement and numerous destinations for local wedding celebrations. Often on a Saturday afternoon -- particularly at this time of year -- the place is chosen for a spontaneous festive uproar... until the police arrive.
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Post by htmb on Jul 3, 2013 2:23:04 GMT
It appears you could spend a lot of time being entertained by just sitting and looking out your window to the street below. You don't really need to go out, and might not even need to watch TV.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 3, 2013 4:30:32 GMT
Magnificent photos in your local color, Htmb.
Lots of "Arrangement in Grey and Black" in yours, Kerouac!
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 3, 2013 5:13:54 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jul 3, 2013 9:16:12 GMT
Is he wearing that cage?
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Post by bjd on Jul 3, 2013 11:19:53 GMT
Don't the "spontaneous festive celebrations" in the 18th include any women?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2013 11:55:33 GMT
Haven't you heard? We have same sex marriages in France now. ;D
Actually, in this kind of Maghrebi group, the boys have to show off while the girls are still pretending not to be wild in front of their mothers and fathers. I'm sure it all degenerates by nightfall. (Of course, I have seen this sort of thing with wild girls in the street, too.)
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 3, 2013 15:24:29 GMT
Htmb, yes. Those bird sellers are pretty common, but I don't know how they keep those towers balanced. He appears to only have a strap casually slung over one shoulder. However it seems to be tied rather cleverly up and down the bunch of cages.
Poor little birds!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2013 18:53:02 GMT
While strolling around Toulouse this afternoon, I heard a ruckus up ahead, so of course I was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. A small group was shouting "Libérez Amina! Libérez Amina!" Amina is the 19 year old Tunisian 'femen' who has been put in prison for posting topless photos on her Facebook page. Since President Hollande began a state visit to Tunisia today, I suppose that's why the demonstration was held today. There were a few policemen with pepper gas spray. Yes, I got a little of it, so now I know what it feels like. Not pleasant.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2013 22:21:42 GMT
Shorts are shorter in the south of France.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2013 14:14:37 GMT
In my early days in Paris, just like hundreds if not thousands of other people, I would sit on the steps of Sacré Cœur in Montmartre in the evening and watch the night slowly settle over the city. This was not done empty-handed but generally with a bottle of wine or some beer, a baguette and a few other items. Nobody ever worried about the mess because every day the steps were as good as new. Well, now that my habits have changed and I am more likely to be up at the crack of dawn rather than out late, I have seen what a job it is early every morning to get rid of the unspeakable mess that is abandoned there every night. It's not for lack of trash bags that are provided for the users. But those bags fill up very fast. Faster than you can imagine! I had not seen an authentic Parisian twig broom in years! Normally you just see the plastic version these days. It appears that the cleaning company has given the employees the option of which they prefer.
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Post by tod2 on Jul 25, 2013 14:41:26 GMT
I'd vote for the twig broom every time! Those plastic things look to weak.
In the photo of the Le 3975 truck, is the usual green plastic trash bag attached to a pole. Would you believe this instrument of refuse collection would entertain two old travelers from South Africa every morning from the window of our apartment. We would gaze down and time the individual who changed the bag from a full one to a new one. The system is genius and who would think an elastic band could be snapped off and back on, and take as little as 4 seconds!
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Post by mossie on Jul 25, 2013 19:40:21 GMT
The correct name for your twig broom is a besom. This was what witches traditionally flew on
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Post by htmb on Jul 25, 2013 19:50:57 GMT
I've upgraded to a newer model
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