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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2009 21:33:28 GMT
Does anybody remember Nino Quincampoix? He was the young man with whom Amélie Poulain fell in love in the film "Amélie." He worked in a sex shop most of the time, but he also had a part time job at the Foire du Trône, on one of the ghost trains. (Let's just ignore that fact that the film takes place in September, right after Diana Spencer's untimely death and that the Foire du Trône takes place in May. You are not supposed to know that sort of detail anyway.) Would you like to see the Foire du Trône? It was created in the year 957 and is still going strong, although a few modifications have been made in the last thousand years or so. Suburban gangs like to go there to fight and sometimes cut each other up, so visitors are greeted by men in uniform who verify their possessions before allowing them through the gates. At all times, in fact, more than 300 police officers patrol the grounds, creating a pleasant and relaxed ambience. There is something wrong with me. These people were patting down old ladies and looking into their purses, but they just waved me through without looking in my big bag containing my camera. It must be admitted that most people think that I look like a policeman for some reason. Back in the days when I was involved in a café, the local youth would suddenly go silent when I appeared on the premises. Oh well! People go to the Foire du Trône to have fun! Get ready! |
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Post by bixaorellana on May 26, 2009 23:40:35 GMT
*cleans glasses*
Okay ~~ I'm ready! Is it a fair with rides & stuff? (I've never seen Amelie)
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2009 9:41:46 GMT
Obviously the little kiddies are in seventh heaven in a place like this. Well, maybe not this little girl who was crying her eyes out the whole time. Those damned little ducks are just as hard to catch as ever! Some children understood that they didn’t really need to use the paddle and others paddled earnestly. Of course, in a place like this, adults need a little dose of excitement, too. Every now and then somebody dies. There was a death last year, and they had to reduce the speed of certain attractions. |
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2009 11:04:46 GMT
Is there really a death each year? I've heard that in Disneyland (California), there are some who have ended up with some kind of brain trauma.
I want to take my kids to Disneyland (Florida), but I think avoiding the really fast rides might be a good idea.
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Post by lagatta on May 27, 2009 11:08:32 GMT
There were many deaths and more brawls at fairs in medieval and early-modern times... I've never seen Amélie either, though I'd find the clichés annoying, though perhaps I will.
But I'm disappointed! I thought this would be a feature on CHEESES!
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2009 11:19:26 GMT
There's not a death every year, but there was one last year. It has nothing to do with the equipment, but instead with teenagers who think it would be cool to stand up when they should be strapped down and things like that.
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2009 12:07:08 GMT
French gastronomy is always a major part of such festivities. The sophisticated palate of the visitors ensures that only the finest treats will be offered. The French are often fond of ethnic treats as well. As many of you know, specials on a chalkboard are always helpful to direct you to the very finest items. |
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Post by imec on May 27, 2009 12:39:35 GMT
I LOVE this sort of place! The tackier the better! Thanks Kerouac.
Were they giving away goldfish as a prize for catching the ducks? I haven't seen that since I was a kid living in England. They used to give them to you in a little bag full of water - bizzare!
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2009 13:03:15 GMT
As you can see in the first photo, goldfish were indeed the prize. It looks like you get a whole crappy plastic aquarium if you are really lucky.  |
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Post by imec on May 27, 2009 13:12:30 GMT
;D Priceless! I told my kids this and they thought it was completely crazy - they're gonna' love it when I tell them it's still all the rage in Paris! Don't tell me they also have this thing where you throw something at hanging coconuts and get to keep one if you knock it down...
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Post by bixaorellana on May 27, 2009 15:49:39 GMT
This is great! You've really captured the tacky joys of this kind of fair. Is this open all year round?
Amazing to think it's been there in one form or another for over a thousand years. Did it start out as a market fair? Also, was it this elaborate when you first moved to Paris?
My teeth hurt looking at some of the food pictures, but the machines to make them are fascinating fun. I even spied a salt-water taffy puller and what could be more fun than watching churros being extruded?!
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Post by bjd on May 27, 2009 16:36:16 GMT
The fair lasts from April 4 to June 1 this year. It is annual. I'm not sure I would say it's "all the rage" in France though. It's mostly for teenagers and kids. There are fun fairs all over France in small towns, often coinciding with the town's "fête". The people running these things move around from one place to another, a bit like small circuses.
It's not "in Paris" any more either. It used to take place on the Place de la Nation in eastern Paris, but in 1998 they were told they had to move, so it takes place just on the other side of the ring road in the south-eastern suburbs.
Bixa, I only noticed the taffy puller when you mentioned it. In Ecuador, we saw guys pulling it by hand around hooks in the doorways of the shops where it's sold -- called "melcoche".
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Post by imec on May 27, 2009 16:50:52 GMT
what could be more fun than watching churros being extruded?! Ha! I used to be hypnotized by the machine that spit out those Tom Thumb donuts like it was blowing little smoke rings. |
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2009 16:54:36 GMT
Actually, the Foire du Trône moved to its current location in 1965. It is still in Paris in the Bois de Vincennes, actually on top of the ring road which goes through a tunnel there. There is a threat to move it to the suburbs some day, which has led to demonstrations by the carnies, each time the possibility has been mentioned. Quite a few of the attractions move to Saint Germain-en-Laye, a suburb about 20 km from Paris, for the Fête des Loges which runs from the end of June to mid-August -- but it is less than half as big as the Foire du Trône. The other attractions roam across France and Europe all summer for the little carnivals that almost every town has. Taffy pulling machine  |
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2009 17:25:27 GMT
After filling up on the gourmet goodies, it's time to have some more fun. |
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2009 17:55:16 GMT
Ghost trains are a major part of fun fairs all over Europe. Most of them are designed by the Germans, an apparently cruel people who live somewhere east of France. Some of the outdoor decoration would not necessarily be considered appropriate for small children in certain countries. Even though I have not been inside one of these attractions for many years, I can assure you that there are some pretty shocking surprises inside. |
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2009 10:01:34 GMT
The Anderlecht fair starts in Brussels this weekend but only two weeks long.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2009 10:53:02 GMT
You mustn't leave the Foire du Trône without some wonderful prizes. Can this tout convince you to play his game? |
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2009 4:56:05 GMT
Maybe it's time for a little more taffy? Or maybe it's time to cool off with a granita, so much better than all that nasty wine people used to drink. There are some new flavors now. But wait! Here comes a parade! I knew there would finally be something on a higher cultural level here! Brazilians! Mexicans! We've had too much excitement. Time to think about leaving... Here's a game that was probably here 1000 years ago when the fair began. One last session on the bumper cars near the exit. Goodbye, Foire du Trône! |
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Post by bixaorellana on May 29, 2009 5:37:07 GMT
I hope you're appreciative of the huge debt France owes the US for giving them the art of baton twirling.
What was the occasion for the parade, any idea?
And I guess it's true that everything sounds more elegant in French: granita = slushee ;D
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2009 9:18:28 GMT
As I have noted elsewhere a certain number of complaints about this story not actually being about cheese, I am hereby making amends. |
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Post by lola on Jun 16, 2009 14:56:27 GMT
These are great, kerouac. Paris vividly home-delivered, with nary an Eiffel Tower in sight.
What's in a Sandwich Americain? Something ghastly, no doubt.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2009 17:01:20 GMT
I was able to determine that "un américain" (extremely popular in the east of France, by the way) is basically a hamburger with fried onions added.
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Post by lola on Jun 16, 2009 20:46:57 GMT
Un américain, s'il vous plaît. Hold the burger.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2009 17:27:31 GMT
A sandwich américain, in all the places I know, is a hamburger with baguette topped with French fries. I remember reading about a Belgian friture* that renamed its "sanwiches américains" to "sandwiches irakiens" in response to the freedom fries offensive of March 2003.  *Friture in Belgian French translates as friterie in French from France |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2009 22:51:58 GMT
It is true that it is not served in an American style bun. But in Metz-Nancy-Strasbourg, it definitely contains fried onions.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2010 7:56:47 GMT
I want everybody to know that I did not go to the Foire du Trône this year! It ended on May 30th. However, I might do a report on the Fête des Loges, because it will give me an excuse to go back to Saint Germain-en-Laye after being inspired by FMT's report on the western suburbs.
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