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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 26, 2020 22:17:06 GMT
I've been to the Salon de l'Agriculture at least twice, maybe even three times (memory is failing). I always read and watched the rather strange new reports about it for probably 25 years before I ever considered setting foot there, and of course I found out that it is amazing. Nevertheless, if one is not in the industry or has small children (25% of the visitors are children), it is not that sort of place that you would go every year, even though it is the biggest event in France. I appear to have made a report about the event in 2015, but I'm sure it is extremely similar to this report, so you probably don't need to look for it. I had no intention of going this year except that the other day I got up and suddenly thought "I have to go." Go figure. I bought my ticket online, printed it up and jumped in the metro. I arrived around 9:10 and it opens at 9:00, which was excellent because it gets more and more crowded as the day progresses. One big difference from my other visits was that there was still a big crowd to get through the gates, and this time I went left instead of going right, since I obeyed the guy telling people "go left go left go left" because there was a big jam of people trying to go right. That's because everybody's favourite building is the one on the right -- the one full of bovines, ovines, caprines and pigs. I knew I would get there sooner or later, so it didn't matter where I started. So instead of building #1, I went into building #5. Building #5 turned out to be overseas France and the countries of the world. A lot of the stands were just setting up their displays, because they know there is not much action before 11 a.m. i.postimg.cc/Gm23sxQX/P1020471.jpgi.postimg.cc/HLdbxcGt/P1020441.jpgi.postimg.cc/HxPMB6rS/P1020442.jpgPeople would not be eating the exotic specialities for a few hours, but the tables were ready. I can assure you that there is not a single empty seat at meal time. i.postimg.cc/wB2LsqgY/P1020443.jpgThere is also plenty of French food. i.postimg.cc/wMymPDJ9/P1020444.jpg
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 26, 2020 22:32:41 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 26, 2020 22:40:02 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 27, 2020 1:33:30 GMT
You went to the animal fair! Great pictures & it looks like lots of fun. I love the third photo, where it's so obvious that guy is dragging his feet and wants to investigate the rum stand. Well, he can have the rhum, especially at that time of the morning. What I want are those olives! re: the docile animals ~ when I went to that farm thingy outside London, the prize sheep on display positively solicited attention and affection. Just looking at them pushes one towards vegetarianism. Can't wait for more fun at the fair.
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Post by bjd on Feb 27, 2020 7:04:27 GMT
That first white camel is a hoot! Good that you went early to avoid the worst of the crowds.
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 27, 2020 13:21:03 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 27, 2020 14:02:09 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 27, 2020 17:29:11 GMT
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Post by bjd on Feb 27, 2020 19:31:42 GMT
It looks as though there is more emphasis on things that are good for the health, like organic yogurts. Or is that just an impression?
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 27, 2020 19:41:49 GMT
No, absolutely everything was "green" this year, even McDonald's and Lidl.
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Post by mossie on Feb 27, 2020 19:50:05 GMT
I love the goat with the curled horns
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 27, 2020 23:03:01 GMT
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Post by mich64 on Feb 28, 2020 2:36:10 GMT
Some truly great photos! The expressions you captured are wonderful. The animals of the world were unexpected, I was expecting to just see the traditional cows, lambs and pigs. Also looked like a good selection of products and food to shop through, well for me anyway! A fun way to spend a morning out.
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Post by htmb on Feb 28, 2020 4:57:51 GMT
Super photos, Kerouac. It looks like a very interesting and entertaining exhibition.
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 28, 2020 5:04:13 GMT
Here's a little bit of action.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 28, 2020 5:47:23 GMT
Poor critters! Did you go home that night & dine on salad or ratatouille or beans and rice?
Excellent pictures & videos, though. Is all this right smack in Paris?
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 28, 2020 6:03:55 GMT
It's in Paris but on the edge of the city.
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 28, 2020 6:15:11 GMT
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Post by bjd on Feb 28, 2020 7:34:59 GMT
More people around the food than around the plants! Not surprising given that most Parisians don't even have a balcony, let alone a garden.
Since I don't know very much about wine, I tend to buy bottles with the sticker saying "gold medal Paris Agricultural Fair". I know the producers have to pay for the stickers, but I imagine it's a selling point for them.
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Post by mickthecactus on Feb 28, 2020 10:00:54 GMT
Great report! Love to be there. Just my sort of show.
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 28, 2020 15:45:34 GMT
More people around the food than around the plants! This was still very early in the day. If you ever attend, never go in mid-afternoon or on the weekend.
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 28, 2020 15:57:54 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 28, 2020 16:23:07 GMT
The media have provided a cautionary tale about overdoing it at the Salon. Yesterday, a group of friends were horsing around in the Porte de Versailles metro station, which is the location of the Salon de l'Agriculture. One of them started peeing on the tracks (pretty good proof of inebriation) while the others boisterously pushed each other back and forth. They bumped into the urinator, who fell on the tracks. Being drunk, he had difficulty crawling back up on the platform, and a metro train arrived then. The driver was unable to stop in time.
Half of the metro line was closed from 17:30 to 23:16 -- another good reason to go to the Salon earlier when people are still sober. The "friends" were taken to the hospital to sober up. They will be charged with manslaughter, but will probably get off easy. The metro driver was taken away by the special RATP trauma team which is always on standby for metro tragedies.
It validated my decision to never drink anything at the Salon.
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Post by mich64 on Feb 28, 2020 16:35:19 GMT
I consider it dishonest when I have no intention of buying any. Well if I had been there with you, I would have probably bought enough for the two of us so you would not have felt guilty! Is this conference centre near Porte Maillot?
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 28, 2020 18:22:35 GMT
No, the one at Porte Maillot is for "serious" restricted access conferences (dentists, surgeons, engineers…). The two huge convention centres are at Porte de Versailles (where this took place) and another one out by the airport.
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Post by lugg on Feb 28, 2020 18:48:27 GMT
Loved this report K2 - your photos are just outstanding. Considering where they were the animals look remarkably unfazed in the main. I did spot the Herefords of course I know that Herefords are bred and exported all over the world but it still astounds me how popular they are. My daughter has just come back from Copenhagen where there are several restaurants based/ named around the Hereford. Yes, like Mick, just the sort of place I would love to visit.
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 28, 2020 19:44:00 GMT
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Post by htmb on Feb 28, 2020 20:25:30 GMT
The media have provided a cautionary tale about overdoing it at the Salon. Yesterday, a group of friends were horsing around in the Porte de Versailles metro station, which is the location of the Salon de l'Agriculture. One of them started peeing on the tracks (pretty good proof of inebriation) while the others boisterously pushed each other back and forth. They bumped into the urinator, who fell on the tracks. Being drunk, he had difficulty crawling back up on the platform, and a metro train arrived then. The driver was unable to stop in time. Half of the metro line was closed from 17:30 to 23:16 -- another good reason to go to the Salon earlier when people are still sober. The "friends" were taken to the hospital to sober up. They will be charged with manslaughter, but will probably get off easy. The metro driver was taken away by the special RATP trauma team which is always on standby for metro tragedies. It validated my decision to never drink anything at the Salon. What a horrible thing to have happen. I’m not sure who had it worse, but I must say I feel really sorry for the driver.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 28, 2020 22:52:36 GMT
I am amused that the French packs of Tagetes (a new world plant), which are sometimes called French marigolds in the US, are labeled Rose d'Inde. Agree with Htmb about the poor driver, who must be sick over something that was not his fault. What color beret did you buy, Kerouac?
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Post by kerouac2 on Feb 29, 2020 5:46:45 GMT
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