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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 6, 2019 10:12:05 GMT
I have to admit that I had one of my laziest Nuits Blanches ever because it just keeps getting bigger and more spread out. And since there is no way to see very much, I just concentrated on two things this time even though my official book listed more than 100 things to see. On top of that, the evening was freakishly warm, which is never good for me. Give me a crisp cold Nuit Blanche, and I am all over the place.
Now that the Nuit Blanche has spread around much of the world, it was interesting to see what other cities were having it the same night: Brussels, Kosice (Slovakia), Valetta (Malta), Oran (Algeria), Toronto and Kyoto. Two cities having their first event this year (albeit not last night) are Doula (Cameroon) and Prizren (Kosovo).
Anyway, I wanted to see the big central event, the parade from Concorde to Bastille. I took the metro to Concorde to see the preparations a half hour before the starting time.
i.postimg.cc/nhCHrQss/NB_2019_007.jpg
i.postimg.cc/NfGGhnBk/NB_2019_008.jpg
Part of the fun is not having the slightest idea what some of this stuff represents.
i.postimg.cc/gkMzGK0F/NB_2019_009.jpg
Of course, I saw this guy earlier in the year in Lille.
i.postimg.cc/XYmnC7Fs/NB_2019_011.jpg
There were numerous French and foreign marching bands warming up.
i.postimg.cc/SK9k7Ffk/NB_2019_012.jpg
i.postimg.cc/G21rX7XY/NB_2019_014.jpg
Place de la Concorde looks like shit at the moment due to the large advertising panels that now systematically cover buildings being renovated. At least the revenue goes toward the renovation.
i.postimg.cc/MTDkdWM2/NB_2019_015.jpg
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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 6, 2019 10:22:53 GMT
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Post by mossie on Oct 6, 2019 15:20:02 GMT
I am amazed that people welcome the cat stranglers (sorry, bag pipers) to Paris
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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 6, 2019 17:17:21 GMT
We have plenty of them in Brittany, too, so our ears are attuned already.
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 6, 2019 17:22:55 GMT
Mossie, parts of northern Spain traditionally have bagpipes as well -- the parts that were Celtic. France has Celtic heritage as well, with the attendant types of bagpipes. Even so, Kerouac's pipers are obviously of the Scottish variety.
This is exciting, Kerouac, and I'm looking forward to more. Was it raining, or are those simply precautionary ponchos we see?
The flying horses are awfully impressive in the dusk pictures, but fabulous in the night ones. You really got some great night pictures all around.
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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 6, 2019 17:28:46 GMT
There was a tiny bit of rain just before the event started, and then it was completely dry after that. Lucky!
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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 6, 2019 17:43:35 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 6, 2019 17:50:37 GMT
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Post by mossie on Oct 6, 2019 18:07:17 GMT
Quite some event, and well recorded, can't wait for the video. Loved the tattoos, some f which are quite beautiful. There is a spreading craze for this and to see people with strange patterns on their faces can be weird. Not for a coward like me, just imagine the thousands of needle jabs required. Ouch.
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Post by htmb on Oct 6, 2019 18:18:02 GMT
Super pictures, Kerouac. I’m looking forward to seeing more!
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Post by bjd on Oct 6, 2019 18:43:05 GMT
I'm waiting for the video with the bagpipers. I must admit I hate the tattoos but they were lucky it was warm outside.
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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 6, 2019 18:52:14 GMT
Oh the video is coming, don't worry. I just posted it this morning and it already has 500 views. I'm sure a lot of participants are looking to see if they appear or not.
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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 6, 2019 19:17:10 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 6, 2019 19:42:07 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 7, 2019 4:31:35 GMT
Super ~ standing ovation! You caught hours and hours of the event, and caught it so well. I really liked seeing the photos and then seeing how they played out in the excellent video. The horses bucking in the air to the strains of bagpipes -- just great. And I love how you switched from that thing with the pulsating red rays to the pipers in their orange ponchos. Loved the woman on the tattoo float who obviously said the hell with it and put her coat on. The snake is wonderful -- one of my favorite parts, but I also really like the strange black & white mini world created by the ephemeral ribbons floating up in their squiggly way. I guess many heard the call for coming out in flamenco dress and decided walking miles in bare shoulders in the cool night air with rain threatening just wasn't their thing. I did see one guy in the classic flouncy flamenco dress, though. I was particularly amused to see the large number of food trucks along the way. They should put these in place during the large number of major traffic jams. As a helpful hint to you, in case you ever find yourself disoriented and wondering where you are. If it's a traffic jam or other situation with lots of people and no food service, you are in France. Traffic jam or other situation with lots of people and food carts and vendors appear out of nowhere? You are in Mexico.
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Post by mossie on Oct 7, 2019 7:12:31 GMT
Yes, many thanks for the video, it must have taken much work to put it together.
I was particularly amused early on by the drummer pushing his drum on a pram
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Post by questa on Oct 9, 2019 4:18:57 GMT
Brilliant! Bizarre! Random! Psychedelic! Out-of-this-world colours and things that wafted around. Kerouac you have excelled yourself. The photos are marvelous using grainy and focus effects. The black and white scene of the people coming down in a zig-zag pattern in the video is mind blowing.
I caught sight of a Balinese Gamelan at 3.47, and I love the 3 people gobbling their goodies...very Rembrandt-ish
What a night you had, thanks for giving us this glimpse of it.
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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 9, 2019 4:42:59 GMT
I knew you would recognise the gamelan.
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