Hi all, well, thanks for following this blog, hope it was interesting - was tons of fun to do!
With Spring (almost) here, and household tasks becoming unavoidable (painting, kitchen flooring, etc tec) - and - since I risk sounding too much like a history teacher if I continue...... it makes some sense to take a wee sabbatical.
The adventure continues in April.......................!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Going Underground!
When I was in London, I travelled everywhere I wished to go using the underground train system - the Underground, or also called the Tube! I loved the tube! Fast, efficient, and a good way to get around. I was doing a little research about it, and find that it is the worlds first underground rail transport!
So I include a little history here....
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and neighbouring areas of Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire in the UK. With its first section opening in 1863, it was the first underground railway system in the world. In 1890 it became the first to operate electric trains. Despite the name, about 55% of the network is above ground. It is usually referred to officially as 'the Underground' and colloquially as the Tube, although the latter term originally applied only to the deep-level bored lines, to distinguish them from the sub-surface "cut and cover" lines that were built first. More recently this distinction has been lost and the whole system is now referred to as 'the Tube', even in recent years by its operator in official publicity.
The earlier lines of the present London Underground network were built by various private companies. Apart from the main line railways, they became part of an integrated transport system in 1933 when the London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB) or London Transport was created. The underground network became a single entity in 1985, when the UK government created London Underground Limited (LUL). Since 2003 LUL has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London (TfL), the statutory corporation responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London, which is run by a board and a commissioner appointed by the Mayor of London.
The Underground has 270 stations and about 400 km (250 miles) of track, making it the longest metro system in the world by route length. It also has one of the highest number of stations. In 2007, more than one billion passenger journeys were recorded, making it the third busiest metro system in Europe after Paris and Moscow.
The tube map, with its schematic non-geographical layout and colour-coded lines, is considered a design classic, and many other transport maps worldwide have been influenced by it.
I saw some wrapping paper for sale with the 'tube' map on it....... wish I had purchased it, figured I would see it again in my travels.... but did not :(
Guess I will just have to head back over there and pick some up!!
So I include a little history here....
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and neighbouring areas of Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire in the UK. With its first section opening in 1863, it was the first underground railway system in the world. In 1890 it became the first to operate electric trains. Despite the name, about 55% of the network is above ground. It is usually referred to officially as 'the Underground' and colloquially as the Tube, although the latter term originally applied only to the deep-level bored lines, to distinguish them from the sub-surface "cut and cover" lines that were built first. More recently this distinction has been lost and the whole system is now referred to as 'the Tube', even in recent years by its operator in official publicity.
The earlier lines of the present London Underground network were built by various private companies. Apart from the main line railways, they became part of an integrated transport system in 1933 when the London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB) or London Transport was created. The underground network became a single entity in 1985, when the UK government created London Underground Limited (LUL). Since 2003 LUL has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London (TfL), the statutory corporation responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London, which is run by a board and a commissioner appointed by the Mayor of London.
The Underground has 270 stations and about 400 km (250 miles) of track, making it the longest metro system in the world by route length. It also has one of the highest number of stations. In 2007, more than one billion passenger journeys were recorded, making it the third busiest metro system in Europe after Paris and Moscow.
The tube map, with its schematic non-geographical layout and colour-coded lines, is considered a design classic, and many other transport maps worldwide have been influenced by it.
I saw some wrapping paper for sale with the 'tube' map on it....... wish I had purchased it, figured I would see it again in my travels.... but did not :(
Guess I will just have to head back over there and pick some up!!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Shepherd Huts!
My first little foray into the countryside took me to Dorchester, and Bere Regis..... looking for a very cool place called Dorset Reclamation, where all the bits and pieces from old buildings are saved when they are demolished or renovated. We enjoyed our afternoon of poking around this yard, with so many interesting treasures in in.... old mirrors, mantles, doors, windows, garden benches, old paving slates, roofing tiles - you name it, they have it!
On the back to Hythe from there, I stopped for gas, and across from the service station we spied a cool little green building, on iron wheels parked on the side of the road. I include pictures to the right.
An interesting website with lots of pics of 'upscale' shepherds huts - http://www.cotswoldshepherdshuts.co.uk/
Later when I got home, I looked shepherd huts up on the net, and here's what I found.
The first evidence of a wheeled Shepherd's hut is 1596 (!!!)
Whilst most think that the Shepherds hut is a relatively invention, maybe late 18th or early 19th Century, we were amazed to find out that these old beasts have been around a lot longer than that. Thanks to the presence of a few very early publications, we have traced a reference to a wheeled Shepherds hut from the 16th Century during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Leonard Mascal, reputed to have become Chief farrier to King I, produced a number of very early works regarding rural life. His titles covered such subjects as fishing, plants and one entitled 'Government of Cattel' published in 1596 was split into three sections. The third devoted to discoursing the order of sheep, goats, hogs, and dogs, with true remedies to help the infirmities that befall any of them : also perfect instructions for taking of moales, and likewise for the monthly husbanding of grounds.
The small yet important description appears in this book "in some place the Shepheard hath his cabbin going upon a wheele for to remove here and there at his pleasure". This is probably the very first mention of a shepherds hut in the form that we currently recognize. It is also the first glimpse that the Shepherds accommodation from as long ago as the late 1500's was in line with his status as a very important member of the farming community. Those in more rugged terrain such as Scotland, Wales and Moreland areas of England had to deal with the elements it seems, a hut on wheels needs a track suitable to take it. Boggy ground or hilly areas rule out ease of access for a portable hut. In these cases a more permanent building, sometimes referred to as a 'lookers hut' was built to protect the shepherd from his sometimes bleak environment.A shepherds hut was a big investment to a farm or Estate, costing the equivalent of up to 6 months of the Shepherd's salary. However it seems that ownership in most cases stayed with the Landowners rather than the Shepherd.
The decline of Large flocks
Before the advent of artificial fertilizers, on many mixed Farms distant pastures from the farm which were normal inaccessible to the large farm manure wagons would have had a visit from the Shepherd and his flock of Sheep. The Sheep were not allowed to wander freely but were kept enclosed behind wooden hurdles. This process was called 'folding'. Once the forage crop had been grazed, the Sheep, Shepherd, his dog and mobile home; his Shepherds Hut, would move to pastures new. The land would then be ploughed, returning the nutrients in the droppings to the land. The Hut contained a small stove, a straw bed over a cage where lambs could be kept (known as a Lamb rack) and a simple medicine cupboard containing various potions. This regularly included a bottle of to revive a sickly lamb (or Shepherd). However the First World war would see big changes in farming practices. Large scale production of Ammonium Nitrate used in the manufacturer of explosives provided for the first time a cost effective solution with regards to a concentrated feedstock for the land. Combined with the advent of the tractor at the same time, the need for large flocks to fold the land went into steep decline. Many fields normally used for grazing could for the first time be turned to the plough and more lucrative cereals replaced one time grazing meadows. The final straw was the rising importation of Lamb from abroad due to improved meat transportation, including early forms of refrigeration.
The medieval woolen trade had long since declined in favor of cotton and although there was a peak during the two World wars, it was too little too late for an industry in decline. By 1939, many old huts found a new lease of life as home guard outposts, in fact in some parts of the country we have heard the term 'Home guard roofs' used when referring to a pitched roof on a hut. Many were also used at the end of the second World war to house prisoners of war in as temporary accommodation. Many farms being allocated one or two laborers from a large number of POW camps set up towards the end of the war.
A few huts carried on providing comfort and shelter to their Shepherd, but by around 1950, most were either pushed into a wood to provide somewhere for the gamekeeper to store his Pheasant feed, abandoned on the edge of a field or worse, being broken up and burnt as they had became redundant.
On the back to Hythe from there, I stopped for gas, and across from the service station we spied a cool little green building, on iron wheels parked on the side of the road. I include pictures to the right.
An interesting website with lots of pics of 'upscale' shepherds huts - http://www.cotswoldshepherdshuts.co.uk/
Later when I got home, I looked shepherd huts up on the net, and here's what I found.
The first evidence of a wheeled Shepherd's hut is 1596 (!!!)
Whilst most think that the Shepherds hut is a relatively invention, maybe late 18th or early 19th Century, we were amazed to find out that these old beasts have been around a lot longer than that. Thanks to the presence of a few very early publications, we have traced a reference to a wheeled Shepherds hut from the 16th Century during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Leonard Mascal, reputed to have become Chief farrier to King I, produced a number of very early works regarding rural life. His titles covered such subjects as fishing, plants and one entitled 'Government of Cattel' published in 1596 was split into three sections. The third devoted to discoursing the order of sheep, goats, hogs, and dogs, with true remedies to help the infirmities that befall any of them : also perfect instructions for taking of moales, and likewise for the monthly husbanding of grounds.
The small yet important description appears in this book "in some place the Shepheard hath his cabbin going upon a wheele for to remove here and there at his pleasure". This is probably the very first mention of a shepherds hut in the form that we currently recognize. It is also the first glimpse that the Shepherds accommodation from as long ago as the late 1500's was in line with his status as a very important member of the farming community. Those in more rugged terrain such as Scotland, Wales and Moreland areas of England had to deal with the elements it seems, a hut on wheels needs a track suitable to take it. Boggy ground or hilly areas rule out ease of access for a portable hut. In these cases a more permanent building, sometimes referred to as a 'lookers hut' was built to protect the shepherd from his sometimes bleak environment.A shepherds hut was a big investment to a farm or Estate, costing the equivalent of up to 6 months of the Shepherd's salary. However it seems that ownership in most cases stayed with the Landowners rather than the Shepherd.
The decline of Large flocks
Before the advent of artificial fertilizers, on many mixed Farms distant pastures from the farm which were normal inaccessible to the large farm manure wagons would have had a visit from the Shepherd and his flock of Sheep. The Sheep were not allowed to wander freely but were kept enclosed behind wooden hurdles. This process was called 'folding'. Once the forage crop had been grazed, the Sheep, Shepherd, his dog and mobile home; his Shepherds Hut, would move to pastures new. The land would then be ploughed, returning the nutrients in the droppings to the land. The Hut contained a small stove, a straw bed over a cage where lambs could be kept (known as a Lamb rack) and a simple medicine cupboard containing various potions. This regularly included a bottle of to revive a sickly lamb (or Shepherd). However the First World war would see big changes in farming practices. Large scale production of Ammonium Nitrate used in the manufacturer of explosives provided for the first time a cost effective solution with regards to a concentrated feedstock for the land. Combined with the advent of the tractor at the same time, the need for large flocks to fold the land went into steep decline. Many fields normally used for grazing could for the first time be turned to the plough and more lucrative cereals replaced one time grazing meadows. The final straw was the rising importation of Lamb from abroad due to improved meat transportation, including early forms of refrigeration.
The medieval woolen trade had long since declined in favor of cotton and although there was a peak during the two World wars, it was too little too late for an industry in decline. By 1939, many old huts found a new lease of life as home guard outposts, in fact in some parts of the country we have heard the term 'Home guard roofs' used when referring to a pitched roof on a hut. Many were also used at the end of the second World war to house prisoners of war in as temporary accommodation. Many farms being allocated one or two laborers from a large number of POW camps set up towards the end of the war.
A few huts carried on providing comfort and shelter to their Shepherd, but by around 1950, most were either pushed into a wood to provide somewhere for the gamekeeper to store his Pheasant feed, abandoned on the edge of a field or worse, being broken up and burnt as they had became redundant.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Southampton
The largest city close to my base, is Southampton. I visited Southampton a few times, and walked the old walls there. It has quite a history, and has been an important shipping port probable since people decided to take to the water! Here is a little history on Southampton
Southampton was once known as the gateway to the world and people have long traveled through the city on the way to distant and exotic locations. But as one of the country's foremost commercial ports, Southampton has a unique cultural heritage and a few treasures of its own to offer.
The Titanic
The 20th century put the town on the map, when the magnificent but ill-fated Titanic sailed from Southampton docks on 10th April 1912. Glamorized on both television and celluloid, most famously in James Cameron's lavish Hollywood blockbuster, the doomed maiden voyage and its victims have long been honored with the city's own monument. Located in East Park, the Titanic Engineer Officers Memorial is a true testament to those who died, particularly to the locals - in one school alone, 140 children lost a father, brother, cousin or uncle.
The Mayflower
But not all of Southampton's sea-faring past has been blighted by tragedy. The Mayflower, which proudly bore aloft America's founding Pilgrim Fathers, set sail from here in August 1620. The Mayflower Memorial, outside the Maritime Museum, and Southampton's premier theater The Mayflower commemorate this historic quest.
From Canute to Henry V
It was in Southampton, in 1014, where the Viking Canute defeated Ethelred The Redeless and was pronounced King of England. According to a famous tale, Canute commanded the mighty waves of the Solent to retreat and had an impromptu paddle.
Following the Norman Conquest, Southampton grew prosperous as the main port of transit between Winchester and Normandy. During this time the town walls began to take shape, the remains of which are some of the finest examples in the country. But this is largely due to the fortifications which took place after the devastating raid by the French in 1338. The town became one of the strongest fortresses in the land - its encompassing wall measured up to 30 feet high in places and had no less than 29 towers and seven gates.
In 1415, Henry V left with his troops for France and the Battle of Agincourt. Prior to their departure, however, the King had to deal with a plot for treason. The traitors were tried and executed outside the Bargate, the medieval entrance to the town, and their heads were gruesomely displayed on spikes for the delight of the public.
From the 1700s to the 20th Century
Southampton's seawater hasn't always been the reason behind its popularity. From the 1750s to the 1800s, Southampton enjoyed its heyday as a spa town. People flocked to drink from the mineral springs and enjoy sea-bathing. The original queen of the spa town, Jane Austen, is said to have visited in 1807 and danced the night away at the The Dolphin Hotel, which survives to this day. The patronage of George II's son, Frederick Prince of Wales, who bathed there in 1750, probably did nothing to harm Southampton's reputation either. Sadly the water does not seem to have returned the favor, as he died the following year.
The 20th century was a turbulent time for Southampton. For the first time since 1338 the town was devastated by enemy attack. The German bombers of the Third Reich reduced 630 buildings to rubble and damaged a further 3500. But Southampton was not defeated, for it was from its docks that more than three million troops left for Normandy in the D-Day landings of 1944.
Southampton Today
Alternative glories Southampton has since enjoyed include the football team's FA Cup win in 1976, a triumph yet to be repeated, but hopes have been lifted with a new state-of-the-art premiership stadium. A city facelift in general has enhanced a broad spectrum of facilities, including the Quays Swimming and Diving Complex and the country's seventh largest shopping mall – the enormous WestQuay shopping center.
So while travelers pass through Southampton's port on their way to distant cultural capitals, shoppers flock to the High Street, which is actually on the site of an old bull-ring and just around the corner from the site of a Norman Castle, which in its time was host to Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and Richard the Lion-Heart, who spent his only Christmas in England there. The parks, popular for picnics and walks, were once the town's arable land and main source of food. Their preservation makes Southampton unique among English towns.
And finally, whilst some visitors may stop to admire the QE2 harbored in Southampton's docks, it could possibly surprise them to know that Southampton is also the home of the fighter plane "Supermarine Spitfire" or "Spitfire" for short designed for use by the RAF in World War II.
Timeline of Southampton
c. 70 The Romans build a town on the site of Bitterne
407 The Roman army leaves Britain. Afterwards Roman towns are abandoned
690-700 The Saxon King Ine builds a new town on the site of St Marys Church
950 The town declines as the Itchen silts up and it is eventually abandoned. A much smaller town is built on south of Bargate
1066 After the Norman Conquest Normans settle in Southampton. The Normans build a castle in the town.
1217 A mayor of Southampton is first mentioned
1237 Friars arrive in Southampton
1250 A suburb grows up at Newtown
1260-1300 Stone walls are built around Southampton
1338 The French attack Southampton
1500 Southampton is in decline. The port is less and less busy.
1541 Despite the economic decline Southampton is described as 'handsome'.
1554 A grammar school opens
1563 Plague strikes
1567 Belgian Protestants settle in Southampton.
1581 Plague strikes again
1596 A survey shows Southampton has a population of 4,200.
1600 Southampton is described as a 'decayed' port.
1618 The king sells Southampton Castle, which is now in ruins
1700 Southampton has dwindled from being a major port and town to being a 'decayed' port
1750 Prince Frederick goes swimming in the sea at Southampton and the town starts to revive
1761 Assembly Rooms open
1770 Southampton grows north of Bargate. The street are paved and cleaned
1778 Southampton gains its first bank
1782 The streets are lit by oil lamps
1801 The population of Southampton is about 8,000.
1820 The port of Southampton is reviving strongly
1822 A paddle steamer begins running between Southampton and the Isle of Wight
1823 Paddle steamers begin running to France
1829 The streets of Southampton are lit by gas
1838 The Royal South Hants Hospital opens
1840 The railway reaches Southampton
1849 Cholera kills 240 people
1860 Many new houses are built in Shirley as Southampton grows
1865 The Cholera kills 151
1879 Horse drawn trams begin running
1889 The first public library opens. The first electric street lights are switched on
1900 The trams are electrified
1919 Cunard make Southampton the terminus of their Atlantic service. The first motor buses run.
1920 The boundaries of Southampton are extended
1923 A flying boat service to the Channel Islands begins
1919 The first motor buses begin running
1932-39 The Civic Centre is built
World War II 641 people are killed by bombs
1949 The last tram runs
1954 The boundaries of Southampton are extended again
1964 Southampton is made a city
1988 Merchants House Museum opens
1989 Bargate Shopping Centre opens
1991 Marlands Shopping Centre opens
1996 An Oceanography Centre opens
2010 Michelle walks the walls, enjoys the Titantic Museum, takes the ferry, and shops!
Southampton was once known as the gateway to the world and people have long traveled through the city on the way to distant and exotic locations. But as one of the country's foremost commercial ports, Southampton has a unique cultural heritage and a few treasures of its own to offer.
The Titanic
The 20th century put the town on the map, when the magnificent but ill-fated Titanic sailed from Southampton docks on 10th April 1912. Glamorized on both television and celluloid, most famously in James Cameron's lavish Hollywood blockbuster, the doomed maiden voyage and its victims have long been honored with the city's own monument. Located in East Park, the Titanic Engineer Officers Memorial is a true testament to those who died, particularly to the locals - in one school alone, 140 children lost a father, brother, cousin or uncle.
The Mayflower
But not all of Southampton's sea-faring past has been blighted by tragedy. The Mayflower, which proudly bore aloft America's founding Pilgrim Fathers, set sail from here in August 1620. The Mayflower Memorial, outside the Maritime Museum, and Southampton's premier theater The Mayflower commemorate this historic quest.
From Canute to Henry V
It was in Southampton, in 1014, where the Viking Canute defeated Ethelred The Redeless and was pronounced King of England. According to a famous tale, Canute commanded the mighty waves of the Solent to retreat and had an impromptu paddle.
Following the Norman Conquest, Southampton grew prosperous as the main port of transit between Winchester and Normandy. During this time the town walls began to take shape, the remains of which are some of the finest examples in the country. But this is largely due to the fortifications which took place after the devastating raid by the French in 1338. The town became one of the strongest fortresses in the land - its encompassing wall measured up to 30 feet high in places and had no less than 29 towers and seven gates.
In 1415, Henry V left with his troops for France and the Battle of Agincourt. Prior to their departure, however, the King had to deal with a plot for treason. The traitors were tried and executed outside the Bargate, the medieval entrance to the town, and their heads were gruesomely displayed on spikes for the delight of the public.
From the 1700s to the 20th Century
Southampton's seawater hasn't always been the reason behind its popularity. From the 1750s to the 1800s, Southampton enjoyed its heyday as a spa town. People flocked to drink from the mineral springs and enjoy sea-bathing. The original queen of the spa town, Jane Austen, is said to have visited in 1807 and danced the night away at the The Dolphin Hotel, which survives to this day. The patronage of George II's son, Frederick Prince of Wales, who bathed there in 1750, probably did nothing to harm Southampton's reputation either. Sadly the water does not seem to have returned the favor, as he died the following year.
The 20th century was a turbulent time for Southampton. For the first time since 1338 the town was devastated by enemy attack. The German bombers of the Third Reich reduced 630 buildings to rubble and damaged a further 3500. But Southampton was not defeated, for it was from its docks that more than three million troops left for Normandy in the D-Day landings of 1944.
Southampton Today
Alternative glories Southampton has since enjoyed include the football team's FA Cup win in 1976, a triumph yet to be repeated, but hopes have been lifted with a new state-of-the-art premiership stadium. A city facelift in general has enhanced a broad spectrum of facilities, including the Quays Swimming and Diving Complex and the country's seventh largest shopping mall – the enormous WestQuay shopping center.
So while travelers pass through Southampton's port on their way to distant cultural capitals, shoppers flock to the High Street, which is actually on the site of an old bull-ring and just around the corner from the site of a Norman Castle, which in its time was host to Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and Richard the Lion-Heart, who spent his only Christmas in England there. The parks, popular for picnics and walks, were once the town's arable land and main source of food. Their preservation makes Southampton unique among English towns.
And finally, whilst some visitors may stop to admire the QE2 harbored in Southampton's docks, it could possibly surprise them to know that Southampton is also the home of the fighter plane "Supermarine Spitfire" or "Spitfire" for short designed for use by the RAF in World War II.
Timeline of Southampton
c. 70 The Romans build a town on the site of Bitterne
407 The Roman army leaves Britain. Afterwards Roman towns are abandoned
690-700 The Saxon King Ine builds a new town on the site of St Marys Church
950 The town declines as the Itchen silts up and it is eventually abandoned. A much smaller town is built on south of Bargate
1066 After the Norman Conquest Normans settle in Southampton. The Normans build a castle in the town.
1217 A mayor of Southampton is first mentioned
1237 Friars arrive in Southampton
1250 A suburb grows up at Newtown
1260-1300 Stone walls are built around Southampton
1338 The French attack Southampton
1500 Southampton is in decline. The port is less and less busy.
1541 Despite the economic decline Southampton is described as 'handsome'.
1554 A grammar school opens
1563 Plague strikes
1567 Belgian Protestants settle in Southampton.
1581 Plague strikes again
1596 A survey shows Southampton has a population of 4,200.
1600 Southampton is described as a 'decayed' port.
1618 The king sells Southampton Castle, which is now in ruins
1700 Southampton has dwindled from being a major port and town to being a 'decayed' port
1750 Prince Frederick goes swimming in the sea at Southampton and the town starts to revive
1761 Assembly Rooms open
1770 Southampton grows north of Bargate. The street are paved and cleaned
1778 Southampton gains its first bank
1782 The streets are lit by oil lamps
1801 The population of Southampton is about 8,000.
1820 The port of Southampton is reviving strongly
1822 A paddle steamer begins running between Southampton and the Isle of Wight
1823 Paddle steamers begin running to France
1829 The streets of Southampton are lit by gas
1838 The Royal South Hants Hospital opens
1840 The railway reaches Southampton
1849 Cholera kills 240 people
1860 Many new houses are built in Shirley as Southampton grows
1865 The Cholera kills 151
1879 Horse drawn trams begin running
1889 The first public library opens. The first electric street lights are switched on
1900 The trams are electrified
1919 Cunard make Southampton the terminus of their Atlantic service. The first motor buses run.
1920 The boundaries of Southampton are extended
1923 A flying boat service to the Channel Islands begins
1919 The first motor buses begin running
1932-39 The Civic Centre is built
World War II 641 people are killed by bombs
1949 The last tram runs
1954 The boundaries of Southampton are extended again
1964 Southampton is made a city
1988 Merchants House Museum opens
1989 Bargate Shopping Centre opens
1991 Marlands Shopping Centre opens
1996 An Oceanography Centre opens
2010 Michelle walks the walls, enjoys the Titantic Museum, takes the ferry, and shops!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The Eiffel Tower
Of course, when visiting Paris, one must check out the Eiffel Tour. On the approaches through out the city, it looks quite large, but when coming close to is, one realizes its size only then. It is immense, and an interesting structure. At night it sparkles with 20,000 flash bulbs, and search lights at the top. Here is a little more on the Eiffel Tower.
The Eiffel Tower is a 19th century iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris that has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The Eiffel Tower, which is the tallest building in Paris, is the single most visited paid monument in the world; millions of people ascend it every year. Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built as the entrance arch for the 1889 World's Fair.
The tower stands at 324 m (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-story building. It was the tallest structure in the world from its completion until 1930, when it was eclipsed by the Chrysler Building in New York City. Not including broadcast antennas, it is the second-tallest structure in France, behind the Millau Viaduct, completed in 2004. And while the Eiffel Tower is an iron structure, and weighs approximately 10,000 tonnes, it actually has a relatively low density, weighing less than a cylinder of air occupying the same dimensions as the tower.
The tower has three levels for visitors. Tickets can be purchased to ascend either on stairs or lifts to the first and second levels. The walk to the first level is over 300 steps, as is the walk from the first to the second level. The third and highest level is accessible only by lift. Both the first and second levels feature restaurants.
The tower has become the most prominent symbol of both Paris and France, often in the establishing shot of movies set in the city.
The structure was built between 1887 and 1889 as the entrance arch for the Exposition Universelle, a World's Fair marking the centennial celebration of the French Revolution. Eiffel originally planned to build the tower in Barcelona, for the Universal Exposition of 1888, but those responsible at the Barcelona city hall thought it was a strange and expensive construction, which did not fit into the design of the city. After the refusal of the Consistory of Barcelona, Eiffel submitted his draft to those responsible for the Universal Exhibition in Paris, where he would build his tower a year later, in 1889. The tower was inaugurated on 31 March 1889, and opened on 6 May. Three hundred workers joined together 18,038 pieces of puddled iron (a very pure form of structural iron), using two and a half million rivets, in a structural design by Maurice Koechlin. The risk of accident was great, for unlike modern skyscrapers the tower is an open frame without any intermediate floors except the two platforms. However, because Eiffel took safety precautions, including the use of movable stagings, guard-rails and screens, only one man died.
The tower was met with much criticism from the public when it was built, with many calling it an eyesore. Newspapers of the day were filled with angry letters from the arts community of Paris. One is quoted extensively in William Watson's US Government Printing Office publication of 1892 Paris Universal Exposition: Civil Engineering, Public Works, and Architecture. “And during twenty years we shall see, stretching over the entire city, still thrilling with the genius of so many centuries, we shall see stretching out like a black blot the odious shadow of the odious column built up of riveted iron plates.” Signers of this letter included Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier, Charles Gounod, Charles Garnier, Jean-Léon Gérôme, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, and Alexandre Dumas.
Novelist Guy de Maupassant—who claimed to hate the tower—supposedly ate lunch in the Tower's restaurant every day. When asked why, he answered that it was the one place in Paris where one could not see the structure. Today, the Tower is widely considered to be a striking piece of structural art.
One of the great Hollywood movie clichés is that the view from a Parisian window always includes the tower. In reality, since zoning restrictions limit the height of most buildings in Paris to 7 stories, only a very few of the taller buildings have a clear view of the tower.
Eiffel had a permit for the tower to stand for 20 years, meaning it would have had to be dismantled in 1909, when its ownership would revert to the City of Paris. The City had planned to tear it down (part of the original contest rules for designing a tower was that it could be easily demolished) but as the tower proved valuable for communication purposes, it was allowed to remain after the expiration of the permit. The military used it to dispatch Parisian taxis to the front line during the First Battle of the Marne, and it therefore became a victory statue of that battle.
Timeline of events
Thomas Edison visited the tower. He signed the guestbook with the following message—
To M Eiffel the Engineer the brave builder of so gigantic and original specimen of modern Engineering from one who has the greatest respect and admiration for all Engineers including the Great Engineer the Bon Dieu, Thomas Edison.
1910
Father Theodor Wulf took observations of radiant energy radiating at the top and bottom of the tower, discovering at the top more than was expected, and thereby detecting what are today known as cosmic rays.
4 February 1912
Austrian tailor Franz Reichelt died after jumping 60 metres from the first deck of Eiffel tower with his home-made parachute.
In 1925
The con artist Victor Lustig "sold" the tower for scrap metal on two separate, but related occasions.
1930
The tower lost the title of the world's tallest structure when the Chrysler Building was completed in New York City.
1925 to 1934
Illuminated signs for Citroën adorned three of the tower's four sides, making it the tallest advertising space in the world at the time.
1940-1944
Upon the German occupation of Paris in 1940, the lift cables were cut by the French so that Adolf Hitler would have to climb the steps to the summit. The parts to repair them were allegedly impossible to obtain because of the war. In 1940 German soldiers had to climb to the top to hoist the swastika, but the flag was so large it blew away just a few hours later, and it was replaced by a smaller one. When visiting Paris, Hitler chose to stay on the ground. It was said that Hitler conquered France, but did not conquer the Eiffel Tower. A Frenchman scaled the tower during the German occupation to hang the French flag. In August 1944, when the Allies were nearing Paris, Hitler ordered General Dietrich von Choltitz, the military governor of Paris, to demolish the tower along with the rest of the city. Von Choltitz disobeyed the order - it is rumored that Hitler was later persuaded to leave up the tower, as he could use it to his advantage for radio broadcasts. The lifts of the Tower were working normally within hours of the Liberation of Paris.
3 January 1956
A fire damaged the top of the tower.
1957
The present radio antenna was added to the top.
1980s
An old restaurant and its supporting iron scaffolding midway up the tower was dismantled; it was purchased and reconstructed on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana, by entrepreneurs John Onorio and Daniel Bonnot, originally as the Tour Eiffel Restaurant, known more recently as the Red Room. The restaurant was re-assembled from 11,000 pieces that crossed the Atlantic in a 40-foot (12 m) cargo container.
31 March 1984
Robert Moriarty flew a Beechcraft Bonanza through the arches of the tower.
1987
A.J. Hackett made one of his first bungee jumps from the top of the Eiffel Tower, using a special cord he had helped develop. Upon reaching the ground, Hackett was immediately arrested by the Paris police.
14 July 1995
Bastille Day, French synthesiser musician Jean Michel Jarre performed Concert For Tolerance at the tower in aid of UNESCO. The free concert was attended by an estimated 1.5 million people, filling the Champ de Mars. The concert featured lighting and projection effects on the tower, and a huge firework display throughout. Exactly three years later, he returned to the same spot for a more dance music orientated show, Electronic Night.
New Year's Eve 1999
The Eiffel Tower played host to Paris' Millennium Celebration. Fireworks exploded from the whole length of the tower in a spectacular display. An exhibition above a cafeteria on the first floor commemorates this event.
2000
Flashing lights and four high-power searchlights were installed on the tower. Since then the light show has become a nightly event. The searchlights on top of the tower make it a beacon in Paris' night sky.
2002
The tower received its 200,000,000th guest of all-time.
22 July 2003
At 19:20, a fire occurred at the top of the tower in the broadcasting equipment room. The entire tower was evacuated; the fire was extinguished after 40 minutes, and there were no reports of injuries.
Since 2004, the Eiffel Tower has hosted an ice skating rink on the first floor each winter.
2008
At the start of the French presidency of the European Union in the second half of 2008, the twelve golden stars of the European flag were mounted on the base, and whole tower bathed in blue light. In addition, every hour on the hour, 20,000 flash bulbs give the tower a sparkly appearance.
More detail than you ever wanated to know about the Eiffel Tower, I am sure!
The Eiffel Tower is a 19th century iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris that has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The Eiffel Tower, which is the tallest building in Paris, is the single most visited paid monument in the world; millions of people ascend it every year. Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built as the entrance arch for the 1889 World's Fair.
The tower stands at 324 m (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-story building. It was the tallest structure in the world from its completion until 1930, when it was eclipsed by the Chrysler Building in New York City. Not including broadcast antennas, it is the second-tallest structure in France, behind the Millau Viaduct, completed in 2004. And while the Eiffel Tower is an iron structure, and weighs approximately 10,000 tonnes, it actually has a relatively low density, weighing less than a cylinder of air occupying the same dimensions as the tower.
The tower has three levels for visitors. Tickets can be purchased to ascend either on stairs or lifts to the first and second levels. The walk to the first level is over 300 steps, as is the walk from the first to the second level. The third and highest level is accessible only by lift. Both the first and second levels feature restaurants.
The tower has become the most prominent symbol of both Paris and France, often in the establishing shot of movies set in the city.
The structure was built between 1887 and 1889 as the entrance arch for the Exposition Universelle, a World's Fair marking the centennial celebration of the French Revolution. Eiffel originally planned to build the tower in Barcelona, for the Universal Exposition of 1888, but those responsible at the Barcelona city hall thought it was a strange and expensive construction, which did not fit into the design of the city. After the refusal of the Consistory of Barcelona, Eiffel submitted his draft to those responsible for the Universal Exhibition in Paris, where he would build his tower a year later, in 1889. The tower was inaugurated on 31 March 1889, and opened on 6 May. Three hundred workers joined together 18,038 pieces of puddled iron (a very pure form of structural iron), using two and a half million rivets, in a structural design by Maurice Koechlin. The risk of accident was great, for unlike modern skyscrapers the tower is an open frame without any intermediate floors except the two platforms. However, because Eiffel took safety precautions, including the use of movable stagings, guard-rails and screens, only one man died.
The tower was met with much criticism from the public when it was built, with many calling it an eyesore. Newspapers of the day were filled with angry letters from the arts community of Paris. One is quoted extensively in William Watson's US Government Printing Office publication of 1892 Paris Universal Exposition: Civil Engineering, Public Works, and Architecture. “And during twenty years we shall see, stretching over the entire city, still thrilling with the genius of so many centuries, we shall see stretching out like a black blot the odious shadow of the odious column built up of riveted iron plates.” Signers of this letter included Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier, Charles Gounod, Charles Garnier, Jean-Léon Gérôme, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, and Alexandre Dumas.
Novelist Guy de Maupassant—who claimed to hate the tower—supposedly ate lunch in the Tower's restaurant every day. When asked why, he answered that it was the one place in Paris where one could not see the structure. Today, the Tower is widely considered to be a striking piece of structural art.
One of the great Hollywood movie clichés is that the view from a Parisian window always includes the tower. In reality, since zoning restrictions limit the height of most buildings in Paris to 7 stories, only a very few of the taller buildings have a clear view of the tower.
Eiffel had a permit for the tower to stand for 20 years, meaning it would have had to be dismantled in 1909, when its ownership would revert to the City of Paris. The City had planned to tear it down (part of the original contest rules for designing a tower was that it could be easily demolished) but as the tower proved valuable for communication purposes, it was allowed to remain after the expiration of the permit. The military used it to dispatch Parisian taxis to the front line during the First Battle of the Marne, and it therefore became a victory statue of that battle.
Timeline of events
Thomas Edison visited the tower. He signed the guestbook with the following message—
To M Eiffel the Engineer the brave builder of so gigantic and original specimen of modern Engineering from one who has the greatest respect and admiration for all Engineers including the Great Engineer the Bon Dieu, Thomas Edison.
1910
Father Theodor Wulf took observations of radiant energy radiating at the top and bottom of the tower, discovering at the top more than was expected, and thereby detecting what are today known as cosmic rays.
4 February 1912
Austrian tailor Franz Reichelt died after jumping 60 metres from the first deck of Eiffel tower with his home-made parachute.
In 1925
The con artist Victor Lustig "sold" the tower for scrap metal on two separate, but related occasions.
1930
The tower lost the title of the world's tallest structure when the Chrysler Building was completed in New York City.
1925 to 1934
Illuminated signs for Citroën adorned three of the tower's four sides, making it the tallest advertising space in the world at the time.
1940-1944
Upon the German occupation of Paris in 1940, the lift cables were cut by the French so that Adolf Hitler would have to climb the steps to the summit. The parts to repair them were allegedly impossible to obtain because of the war. In 1940 German soldiers had to climb to the top to hoist the swastika, but the flag was so large it blew away just a few hours later, and it was replaced by a smaller one. When visiting Paris, Hitler chose to stay on the ground. It was said that Hitler conquered France, but did not conquer the Eiffel Tower. A Frenchman scaled the tower during the German occupation to hang the French flag. In August 1944, when the Allies were nearing Paris, Hitler ordered General Dietrich von Choltitz, the military governor of Paris, to demolish the tower along with the rest of the city. Von Choltitz disobeyed the order - it is rumored that Hitler was later persuaded to leave up the tower, as he could use it to his advantage for radio broadcasts. The lifts of the Tower were working normally within hours of the Liberation of Paris.
3 January 1956
A fire damaged the top of the tower.
1957
The present radio antenna was added to the top.
1980s
An old restaurant and its supporting iron scaffolding midway up the tower was dismantled; it was purchased and reconstructed on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana, by entrepreneurs John Onorio and Daniel Bonnot, originally as the Tour Eiffel Restaurant, known more recently as the Red Room. The restaurant was re-assembled from 11,000 pieces that crossed the Atlantic in a 40-foot (12 m) cargo container.
31 March 1984
Robert Moriarty flew a Beechcraft Bonanza through the arches of the tower.
1987
A.J. Hackett made one of his first bungee jumps from the top of the Eiffel Tower, using a special cord he had helped develop. Upon reaching the ground, Hackett was immediately arrested by the Paris police.
14 July 1995
Bastille Day, French synthesiser musician Jean Michel Jarre performed Concert For Tolerance at the tower in aid of UNESCO. The free concert was attended by an estimated 1.5 million people, filling the Champ de Mars. The concert featured lighting and projection effects on the tower, and a huge firework display throughout. Exactly three years later, he returned to the same spot for a more dance music orientated show, Electronic Night.
New Year's Eve 1999
The Eiffel Tower played host to Paris' Millennium Celebration. Fireworks exploded from the whole length of the tower in a spectacular display. An exhibition above a cafeteria on the first floor commemorates this event.
2000
Flashing lights and four high-power searchlights were installed on the tower. Since then the light show has become a nightly event. The searchlights on top of the tower make it a beacon in Paris' night sky.
2002
The tower received its 200,000,000th guest of all-time.
22 July 2003
At 19:20, a fire occurred at the top of the tower in the broadcasting equipment room. The entire tower was evacuated; the fire was extinguished after 40 minutes, and there were no reports of injuries.
Since 2004, the Eiffel Tower has hosted an ice skating rink on the first floor each winter.
2008
At the start of the French presidency of the European Union in the second half of 2008, the twelve golden stars of the European flag were mounted on the base, and whole tower bathed in blue light. In addition, every hour on the hour, 20,000 flash bulbs give the tower a sparkly appearance.
More detail than you ever wanated to know about the Eiffel Tower, I am sure!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Louvre - a palace? a fortress? a musem? YES!
I spent a couple hours walking around the Louvre Museum in Paris. Hear somewhere that the Louvre has 16 kilometers of exhibits.... and it is the most magnificent building to walk around it.....
Here the works of priceless art ar not jammed all into little spaces, it is vast, and each important piece has equally important space around it...... neat to see the Venus de Milo in a domed rotunda of its own, not crowded by other things. I did not take many pics inside the Louvre, was trying to respect the "no photograph" rule, but was difficult when everyone else was!! I did take a pic of the Mona Lisa, which is posted here. She is protected by special glass, and so the pictures do show up with a bit of a glare. Will also post pics of the Last Supper, was astonished at the beauty of this work, and by its sheer size. The painting itself was almost the size of an old time drive in movie theatre screen!!! And so much going on in the painting, one could stand and look at bit for a very long time, and constantly see new things!
I surfed on the Louvre website, which I will put on here, and I hope you will check it out. There are some very cool interactive things on their site, and they also have pictures of some items in the big collections, for example the Egyptian collection. Well worth a visit, this website!!
http://www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home.jsp?bmLocale=en (This is the official site)
Th History of the Louvre
The Louvre is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited museum in the world, and a historic monument. It is a central landmark of Paris, France and is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement (district). Nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 19th century are exhibited over an area of 60,600 square metres (652,300 square feet).
The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace (Palais du Louvre) which began as a fortress built in the late 12th century under Philip II. Remnants of the fortress are still visible. The building was extended many times to form the present Louvre Palace. In 1672, Louis XIV chose the Palace of Versailles for his household, leaving the Louvre primarily as a place to display the royal collection, including, from 1692, a collection of antique sculpture. In 1692, the building was occupied by the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres and the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture, which in 1699 held the first of a series of salons. The Académie remained at the Louvre for 100 years. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum, to display the nation's masterpieces.
The museum opened on 10 August 1793 with an exhibition of 537 paintings, the majority of the works being confiscated church and royal property. Because of structural problems with the building, the museum was closed in 1796 until 1801. The size of the collection increased under Napoleon when the museum was renamed the Musée Napoléon. After his defeat at Waterloo, many works seized by Napoleon's armies were returned to their original owners. The collection was further increased during the reigns of Louis XVIII and Charles X, and during the Second French Empire the museum gained 20,000 pieces. Holdings have grown steadily through donations and gifts since the Third Republic, except during the two World Wars. As of 2008, the collection is divided among eight curatorial departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings.
The Louvre Palace (Palais du Louvre) which houses the museum was begun as a fortress by Philip II in the 12th century, with remnants of this building still visible in the crypt. It is not known if this was the first building on that spot, but it is possible that Philip modified an existing tower. The etymology of the name Louvre is also uncertain: it may refer to the structure's status as the largest in late 12th century Paris (from the French L'Œuvre, masterpiece), its location in a forest (from the French rouvre, oak), or, according to Larousse, a wolf-hunting den (via Latin: lupus, lower Empire: lupara).
The Louvre Palace was altered frequently throughout the Middle Ages. In the 14th century, Charles V converted the building into a residence and in 1546, Francis I renovated the site in French Renaissance style. Francis acquired what would become the nucleus of the Louvre's holdings, his acquisitions including Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. After Louis XIV chose Versailles as his residence in 1682, constructions slowed; however, the move permitted the Louvre to be used as a residence for artists.
By the mid-18th century there were an increasing number of proposals to create a public gallery with Lafont Saint-Yenne publishing, in 1747, a call for the royal collection's display. In 1750, Louis XV agreed and sanctioned the display of some of the royal collection in the Louvre. A hall was opened for public viewing on Wednesdays and Saturdays and contained Andrea del Sarto's Charity and works by Raphael. Under Louis XVI, the royal museum idea became policy. The comte d'Angiviller broadened the collection and in 1776 proposed conversion of the Grande Galerie—which contained maps—into the "French Museum". Many proposals were offered for the Louvre's renovation into a museum, however none was agreed on. Hence the museum remained incomplete until the French Revolution.
During the French Revolution the Louvre was transformed into a public museum. In May 1791, the Assembly declared that the Louvre would be "a place for bringing together monuments of all the sciences and arts". On 10 August 1792, Louis XVI was imprisoned and the royal collection in the Louvre became national property. Because of fear of vandalism or theft, on 19 August, the National Assembly pronounced the museum's preparation as urgent. In October, a committee to "preserve the national memory" began assembling the collection for display.
Here the works of priceless art ar not jammed all into little spaces, it is vast, and each important piece has equally important space around it...... neat to see the Venus de Milo in a domed rotunda of its own, not crowded by other things. I did not take many pics inside the Louvre, was trying to respect the "no photograph" rule, but was difficult when everyone else was!! I did take a pic of the Mona Lisa, which is posted here. She is protected by special glass, and so the pictures do show up with a bit of a glare. Will also post pics of the Last Supper, was astonished at the beauty of this work, and by its sheer size. The painting itself was almost the size of an old time drive in movie theatre screen!!! And so much going on in the painting, one could stand and look at bit for a very long time, and constantly see new things!
I surfed on the Louvre website, which I will put on here, and I hope you will check it out. There are some very cool interactive things on their site, and they also have pictures of some items in the big collections, for example the Egyptian collection. Well worth a visit, this website!!
http://www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home.jsp?bmLocale=en (This is the official site)
Th History of the Louvre
The Louvre is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited museum in the world, and a historic monument. It is a central landmark of Paris, France and is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement (district). Nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 19th century are exhibited over an area of 60,600 square metres (652,300 square feet).
The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace (Palais du Louvre) which began as a fortress built in the late 12th century under Philip II. Remnants of the fortress are still visible. The building was extended many times to form the present Louvre Palace. In 1672, Louis XIV chose the Palace of Versailles for his household, leaving the Louvre primarily as a place to display the royal collection, including, from 1692, a collection of antique sculpture. In 1692, the building was occupied by the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres and the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture, which in 1699 held the first of a series of salons. The Académie remained at the Louvre for 100 years. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum, to display the nation's masterpieces.
The museum opened on 10 August 1793 with an exhibition of 537 paintings, the majority of the works being confiscated church and royal property. Because of structural problems with the building, the museum was closed in 1796 until 1801. The size of the collection increased under Napoleon when the museum was renamed the Musée Napoléon. After his defeat at Waterloo, many works seized by Napoleon's armies were returned to their original owners. The collection was further increased during the reigns of Louis XVIII and Charles X, and during the Second French Empire the museum gained 20,000 pieces. Holdings have grown steadily through donations and gifts since the Third Republic, except during the two World Wars. As of 2008, the collection is divided among eight curatorial departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings.
The Louvre Palace (Palais du Louvre) which houses the museum was begun as a fortress by Philip II in the 12th century, with remnants of this building still visible in the crypt. It is not known if this was the first building on that spot, but it is possible that Philip modified an existing tower. The etymology of the name Louvre is also uncertain: it may refer to the structure's status as the largest in late 12th century Paris (from the French L'Œuvre, masterpiece), its location in a forest (from the French rouvre, oak), or, according to Larousse, a wolf-hunting den (via Latin: lupus, lower Empire: lupara).
The Louvre Palace was altered frequently throughout the Middle Ages. In the 14th century, Charles V converted the building into a residence and in 1546, Francis I renovated the site in French Renaissance style. Francis acquired what would become the nucleus of the Louvre's holdings, his acquisitions including Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. After Louis XIV chose Versailles as his residence in 1682, constructions slowed; however, the move permitted the Louvre to be used as a residence for artists.
By the mid-18th century there were an increasing number of proposals to create a public gallery with Lafont Saint-Yenne publishing, in 1747, a call for the royal collection's display. In 1750, Louis XV agreed and sanctioned the display of some of the royal collection in the Louvre. A hall was opened for public viewing on Wednesdays and Saturdays and contained Andrea del Sarto's Charity and works by Raphael. Under Louis XVI, the royal museum idea became policy. The comte d'Angiviller broadened the collection and in 1776 proposed conversion of the Grande Galerie—which contained maps—into the "French Museum". Many proposals were offered for the Louvre's renovation into a museum, however none was agreed on. Hence the museum remained incomplete until the French Revolution.
During the French Revolution the Louvre was transformed into a public museum. In May 1791, the Assembly declared that the Louvre would be "a place for bringing together monuments of all the sciences and arts". On 10 August 1792, Louis XVI was imprisoned and the royal collection in the Louvre became national property. Because of fear of vandalism or theft, on 19 August, the National Assembly pronounced the museum's preparation as urgent. In October, a committee to "preserve the national memory" began assembling the collection for display.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Paris!!
Ah, am up to early this morning (0600) and it looks like it will be a nice day here! Temperature already 5 degc, and a forecast of up to 9!! That's the same temperature as the South coast of England today!! I sae my first motorcycle of the season on the road last night coming home from work, and the snow appears to be, well, disappearing some! Another Canadian victory - another winter into the books. Hopefully the old saying about March coming in like a lamb.... and going out like a lion will prove not to be true this year!!! Cross your fingers!!
The 2010 Olympics, now in the history books as the best one ever, especially for Canada as well. Hopefully the hangover pain won't be too brutal, not just from yesterday, but from the entire games themselves. So many people working for such a long time to make it happen. Thank you from all of us, and we hope transition back to 'normal life' will go well.
I entitled this post "Paris" and so it shall be...... what made me think to do more on Paris this morning was reading the world new blurbs that come on my Yahoo mail..... while we have been partying it up here in BC, Europe has received a beating by a very bad winter storm. Many folk dead in France, and some in Spain and Portugal as well. And millions without power. Hoping for a speedy recovery of power for all those affected!! Sad end to a bad winter for that part of the world.
Paris is such a neat place..... it really should be on everyone's "Bucket List" of things to do - you just have to go - so save up your pop cans, and scrape together the "Air Miles" and GO.
I have posted quite a few pics of Paris, and will see if there are a few more which you haven't yet seen..... but in the meantime, I will share with you two websites written about France, and one specifically about Paris. Brilliant reading, beautiful photography, and even recipes!
This one is called "Stuff Parisiens Like" and is written by someone connected with the O Chateau Wine Tasting group - and its not just about wine - it is about everything, and there are recipes on here as well. Worth adding to your daily reading!!
http://www.parisiensalon.com/2009/12/stuff-parisians-like-baguettes-tradition/
And this one, called "Letters from a French Village" is a blog written by autho Zalin Grant, an American journalist living in a 15th century farmhouse in a small village in France. Brilliantly written of course, funny, and also has recipes!!
http://pythiapress.com/letters/letters.htm
Enjoy!!!!
The 2010 Olympics, now in the history books as the best one ever, especially for Canada as well. Hopefully the hangover pain won't be too brutal, not just from yesterday, but from the entire games themselves. So many people working for such a long time to make it happen. Thank you from all of us, and we hope transition back to 'normal life' will go well.
I entitled this post "Paris" and so it shall be...... what made me think to do more on Paris this morning was reading the world new blurbs that come on my Yahoo mail..... while we have been partying it up here in BC, Europe has received a beating by a very bad winter storm. Many folk dead in France, and some in Spain and Portugal as well. And millions without power. Hoping for a speedy recovery of power for all those affected!! Sad end to a bad winter for that part of the world.
Paris is such a neat place..... it really should be on everyone's "Bucket List" of things to do - you just have to go - so save up your pop cans, and scrape together the "Air Miles" and GO.
I have posted quite a few pics of Paris, and will see if there are a few more which you haven't yet seen..... but in the meantime, I will share with you two websites written about France, and one specifically about Paris. Brilliant reading, beautiful photography, and even recipes!
This one is called "Stuff Parisiens Like" and is written by someone connected with the O Chateau Wine Tasting group - and its not just about wine - it is about everything, and there are recipes on here as well. Worth adding to your daily reading!!
http://www.parisiensalon.com/2009/12/stuff-parisians-like-baguettes-tradition/
And this one, called "Letters from a French Village" is a blog written by autho Zalin Grant, an American journalist living in a 15th century farmhouse in a small village in France. Brilliantly written of course, funny, and also has recipes!!
http://pythiapress.com/letters/letters.htm
Enjoy!!!!
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