The French Iron Lady – iron innovations revealed in the Notre Dame Cathedral. The renovations to the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after the April 2019 fire has revealed the architect’s innovative use of iron. It was ahead of its time – high tech and ultra modern – for Gothic architecture! This is a surprisingContinue reading “The French Iron Lady – iron innovations revealed in the Notre Dame Cathedral”
Author Archives: f&m
The Banquet of Bread – portraits of artisanal bakers in Paris
The Banquet of Bread – portraits of artisanal bakers in Paris. Bread is the ‘staff of life’ – or as some say, the ‘stuff of life’ – everywhere in the world. Bread and its bakers sustain life – le pain et ses boulangers soutiennent la vie. There are many references to bread in James Joyce’s novels onContinue reading “The Banquet of Bread – portraits of artisanal bakers in Paris “
Notre Dame Cathedral might re-open to visitors in December 2024
Notre Dame Cathedral might re-open to visitors in December 2024. Notre Dame Cathedral might re-open to visitors in December 2024 due to the ‘good pace’ of the renovations. This will be after the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and six and a half years after renovations first commenced, and almost four years after the fireContinue reading “Notre Dame Cathedral might re-open to visitors in December 2024”
The Grilles of the Luxembourg Garden: photography exhibitions
The Grilles of the Luxembourg Garden: photography exhibitions. On the perimeter of the Luxembourg Garden – Jardin du Luxembourg – is a large black iron fence – railings topped with gold-coloured arrows. It is called the Grilles du Jardin du Luxembourg – the Grilles of the Luxembourg Garden. In 1865, during Louis Napoleon’s reconstruction of Paris, theContinue reading “The Grilles of the Luxembourg Garden: photography exhibitions”
Power and flour – rising prices, but what about French bread?
Power and flour – rising prices, but what about French bread? Due to the energy crisis and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the cost of power and flour is rising across France and Europe. Electricity costs and the cost of flour is affecting local bread businesses – the local bakery, la boulangerie. The French government has recently announcedContinue reading “Power and flour – rising prices, but what about French bread?”
A view from above – Eiffel Tower from the 14th arrondissement, March 2022
A view from above – Eiffel Tower from the 14th arrondissement, March 2022.
Paris – City of Less Light for Christmas 2022, but it won’t dim the joy
Paris – City of Less Light for Christmas 2022, but it won’t dim the joy. Due to the energy crisis, the Paris 2022 festive season will have a little less illumination in the City of Light. Local authorities are reducing the amount of festive-lit decorations this year to save energy and cut costs. They sayContinue reading “Paris – City of Less Light for Christmas 2022, but it won’t dim the joy”
Paris festive lights: 2022
Paris festive lights: 2022.
The Crossed Bridge: from butcher to bookshop to café
The Crossed Bridge: from butcher to bookstore to café. At 62 Rue de Vaugirard in the 6th arrondissement of Paris is Le Pont Traversé: The Crossed Bridge. Once a bookstore, and now a café. Le Pont Traversé has a history. The writer and poet Marcel Béalu (1908-1993) founded the bookstore in 1949. He was born onContinue reading “The Crossed Bridge: from butcher to bookshop to café”
Rueil-Malmaison – home of Napoleon and Josephine and the Imperial Jubilee
Rueil-Malmaison – home of Napoleon and Josephine and the Imperial Jubilee. Commune Rueil-Malmaison is the hometown of General Napoleon Bonaparte before he became Emperor of France. He married his first wife Josephine de Beauharnais in 1796. She bought the Château de Malmaison in Rueil-Malmaison in 1799, a run-down manor house on 150 acres of woodsContinue reading “Rueil-Malmaison – home of Napoleon and Josephine and the Imperial Jubilee”