Sept. 26-27, 2015: Best of France in Times Square

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Can’t get to France this fall? France is coming to the U.S.!

Source: Cultural Extravaganza Best of France is Set to Take Over Times Square – French Morning

A Best of France extravaganza in New York, September 26-27, 2015!

A Best of France extravaganza in New York, September 26-27, 2015!

If you love France but can’t travel this fall, France is coming to New York! Meant to be ‘the biggest event in the world dedicated to France ever organized abroad,’ Best of France is coming to Times Square with over 200 exhibits, organized in small villages, such as “Rendez-vous en France” on tourism, beauty & fashion, food, and performing arts. There will even be Moulin Rouge dancers making their New York debut.

Read the French Morning link to learn about the event. By the way, they need hundreds of volunteers to help with the event. They are also looking for children ages 5-7 to model French fashions. Email casting@bestoffrance.org to get your child involved. Click on the links provided below for a little help making your travel arrangements.

See you in New York!

Hotels near Times Square

Flights to New York

 

Au Revoir!

 

 

“New York” by Nic Taylor, courtesy of Flickr, CCBY 2.0.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Going to Paris This Fall?

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Boulevard Beaumarchais offers new, hip, clothing and food shops.

Boulevard Beaumarchais offers new, hip, clothing and food shops.

Source: Paris: Fall 2015 – Indagare

Paris is the truest of cosmopolitan cities, for it blends the old with the new like no other. Of course you want to see the monuments and attractions that Paris is famous for. But let’s face it: Paris is also the fashion capital of the world, so new shops are popping up all the time. Indagare’s article offers information some of the newest, hippest shops (clothing, coffee, food) on Boulevard Beaumarcharis, which runs from the Bastille Monument to the Place de la Republique.  While the Maison Kitsune sounds oh-so-chic with their pret-a-porter fashions, Leon & Harper sounds like it is more for me these days, since they sell “flattering women’s wear.” Ha!

By the way, “pret-a-porter” means designer wear sold off the rack (in other words, not made-to-order). Your French lesson for the day!

Au revoir!

 

 

 

 

 

Treaty of Paris – Sept 3, 1783

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On this day in History, Treaty of Paris signed on Sep 03, 1783.

Source: Treaty of Paris signed – Sept 03, 1783 – HISTORY.com

While the United States had 6,824 troops killed in battle fighting the Revolutionary War, France had 10,000 casualties fighting with us against Britain.

While the United States had 6,824* troops killed in battle fighting the Revolutionary War, France had 10,000 casualties fighting with us against Britain.

I believe that cultural understanding goes hand-in-hand with good travel experiences. In the spirit of understanding how important France has been to history — even American history — read here how the Treaty of Paris signed in 1783 formally ended the American Revolution.

Salut!

 

 

*It is estimated that for every casualty due to fighting, 10 died from disease, www.revolutionarywararchives.org/warstats.html. Other statistics taken from “American Revolutionary War,” Wikipedia.

 

 

August 31: A Solemn Anniversary in Paris

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Princess Diana, the People's Princess, lives in our hearts forever.

Princess Diana, the People’s Princess, lives in our hearts forever.

August 31, 2015 – Today marks the 18th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. She, along with her boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, died as a result of injuries sustained after their driver, Henri Paul, slammed into the 13th pillar in the Pont de l’Alma road tunnel in Paris. Henri Paul also died. Trevor Rees-Jones, Diana’s and Dodi’s bodyguard, suffered permanent injury.

I previously wrote a tribute to Diana for The Washington Post Magazine, and I do not believe I can improve upon it. Since it is jumbled together with other letters to the editor if you view it here, the letter, printed on December 21, 1997, is reprinted below in its entirety.

I AM 36, THE SAME AGE DIANA WAS when she died. Although I was born six months earlier than she, it was I who looked up to her. She helped me find myself; I would not be the woman I am today without her influence. Contrary to what Richard Cohen would have you believe, a person need not negotiate a peace treaty or be elected prime minister to make a positive impact on the world. Princess Diana radiated love to the world around her. She touched the lives of two generations of women, and we will remember her grace, her style and her loving heart for the rest of our lives.

ELSA L. FRIDL

There will never be anyone like her. May she rest in peace.

Princess Diana's final resting place, an island on the Althorp Estate, which belongs to her brother, the Earl Spencer.

Princess Diana’s final resting place, an island on the Althorp Estate, which belongs to her brother, the Earl Spencer.

 

Salut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image of Princess Diana by Trish, courtesy of Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Image of Princess Diana’s island on Althorp by Jon Merler, courtesy of Flickr, CCBY 2.0.

August 28-30, 2015 — Rock-En-Seine Festival

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A scene from Rock-en-Seine 2010 by Sylvain Sechet.

A scene from Rock-en-Seine 2010 by Sylvain Sechet.

The Rock-en-Seine Festival is a 3-day rock music festival and starts today. It is held at Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, the Chateau de Saint-Cloud’s Park, west of Paris, inside the garden designed by Andre Le Notre. This year marks the 13th year for the festival.

Think of it as Woodstock with a French accent. Three days of music. Camping for 3-day package ticket holders (which, according to my information, are sold out). In 2014, the festival had 5 stages with 65 bands split among them; 110,000 spectators attended in 2013.

The closest subway station is Boulogne-Pont de Saint-Cloud, 5 minutes away from the venue. To get information about the festival, follow it on Twitter @rockenseine.

 

Salut!

 

 

Image of Rock-en-Seine Festival 2010 (“Foret humaine” “Human drill”) by Sylvain Sechet, courtesy of Flickr, CCBY 2.0. Source material from “Rock en Seine,” Wikipedia, CCBY 2.0.

August 25: Liberation Day in France

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General Charles de Gaulle and his entourage proudly stroll down the Champs-Elysees to Notre Dame Cathedral for a Te Deum ceremony following the city's liberation on August 25, 1944. (Photograph and caption from Wikimedia.)

General Charles de Gaulle and his entourage proudly stroll down the Champs-Elysees to Notre Dame Cathedral for a Te Deum ceremony following the city’s liberation on August 25, 1944. (Photograph and caption from Wikimedia.)

August 25, 2015 – Today marks the 71st anniversary of Paris being liberated from the German army during WWII. While it not a national holiday, it is still a day of remembrance.

In my experience, even though the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and therefore necessitated the U.S. going to war, many Americans view WWII as a war we fought to help other nations. Imagine if soldiers occupied your local hotels, ate and drank without paying at your local restaurants, and entered homes on your block at will. This is what Parisians faced – and probably only a fraction of the horror – until Paris was liberated. General Charles de Gaulle was integral in the fight to retake Paris. After the Vichy government (pro-Nazi) had fallen, de Gaulle, as the leader of the French Resistance, served as provisional head of government. He was subsequently voted in as French President. He is widely regarded in France as a hero of the highest caliber.

So, as you sit at Paris cafes, drink cappuccino, and enjoy the charms that Paris has to offer, take notice of the war monuments around you. Perhaps this is an insight into why French people believe in enjoying life to the fullest and in the moment: they don’t take their freedom for granted.

 

Salut.