Adventures & disasters

the happily out-of-date adventures of Lesley

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

All Hallows Eve

Well, the French really have not embraced Hall-o-ween, though they have apparently been trying in the last 5 years or so. I counted seeing about 3 people dressed up, none of them were children. A couple of bars were trying to get into the spirit (hardy har har) but it was a pretty poor showing, I must say.

If you think about Hall-o-ween though, if you hadn't grown up with it, it is a pretty weird celebration to explain. I'm just glad I did grow up with it, so I know first hand of its AWESOMENESS!

I talked with my landlady, who I go to to answer all of my francophile questions.

She explained that many people may think that Hall-o-ween conflicts with a very religious time in France: November 1st is "All Saints' Day", a national holiday honoring the dead.(much like Dia de los Muertos in Mexico) The next day, November 2nd is "All Souls Day" and a day to go to the local cemetery to adorn graves with flowers. The choice of flowers is usually chrysanthemums or marigolds. I asked her if you would ever bring chrysanthemums to give to someone, at a dinner party or something, and she laughed!! Non, she said, in France they are strictly for graveyards.

Hmmm...well, now you know.

More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Souls_Day

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Monday, October 30, 2006

Le Grand Palace

The Grand Palais ("Grand Palace") is a large glass exhibition hall that was built for the Paris Exhibition of 1900. The Petit Palais (across the street) and the Pont Alexandre III bridge (the famous ornamental bridge you see in all "bridge" postcards of Paris) were also built at this time.

The inside of the Grand Palais is enormous, and the Art Nouveau iron framework and glass ceiling blows minds!

We happened to go there on a day where the huge FIAC exhibition was happening, so we caught a glimpse of many amazing collections from galleries all around the world.

For more pix & info on FIAC:
www.fiacparis.com



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Sunday, October 29, 2006

More chowin' down

What you are seeing, is the deliciousness of ice cream fondue!! Thx Haagendaz! Haagendaz is all over Paris, and some of them are more like bars than ice cream parlors.
Hmmmm.

Anywhoooo...the particular delicacy shown here is melted chocolate fondue in the center with different flavored ice cream balls, pieces of brownie, bananas, kiwi, chocolate chip cookie pieces, and crushed peanuts to dip in!!!

OMG!!!! Are you jealous?




Saturday, October 28, 2006

Cocktails and Dreams



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Thursday, October 26, 2006

Versailles

Versailles was the unofficial capital city of the kingdom of France on and off again from May 1682 until October 1789 (and only then because of the French Revolution.)

During the entire period, Paris remained the official capital city of France, (the official royal palace was the Louvre) but government affairs were conducted from Versailles, and Versailles was regarded as the real capital city.

Versailles is an amazing visit, and I highly recommend hoppin' on a train from Paris to go for a day visit. Recently made popular by Sofia Coppola's film "Marie Antoinette" (which I also highly recommend, I am "highly recommending" all over the place!) it is filled with interesting history, amazing art and beautiful garden and grounds.

* Here are some interesting links for you to check out if you're unclear about The Revolution (aka the "Reign of Terror", do you hear the swoosh of the guillotine?)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolution

* the tragic end of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI and the fates of their children:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XVI_of_France

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Antoinette

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie-Th%C3%A9r%C3%A8se-Charlotte_of_France

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XVII_of_Francewww.chateauversailles.fr/en/



Saturday, October 21, 2006

fresh Sushi en Paris!

HOORAY!

More friends to share Paris with. This week Atsushi (aka Sushi) made his way to France via Tokyo. Ofcourse, we showed him our usually favorite spots and Montemartre was right at the top of the list. Here you can see some nice shots of the only vineyard left inside of Paris, the cool cobblestone streets, the famous "Lapin Agile", and robbie's performance art piece entitled "wings of hope."



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Monday, October 16, 2006

Yes, on occasion I am productive

So, in addition to being a professional tourist, I am also working while dans Paris, sad, but true. I don't really blog about working, because I am way too excited to blog about the awesome adventures I am having in my spare time, but alas, me and the hubs do put in about 10 hours a day of hard labor, unfortunately. We gotz ta have the euros to buy all those baguettes, you know? Okay, enough of my trying to make you feel sorrow for me...poor baby, I know, I know.

So lately I have been finishing up the last bits and bobbles on Issue #2 of my comic book Screwtooth (published by www.Slavelabor.com - shameless advertising, thaz how I roll.) Anywhoooo...here is a picture of me in deadline madness. This happens frequently, and luckily, is usually not documented.

Also, I finished up my skull for:

***************
Top of the Dome III
@ crewest gallery
OPENING: nov. 4th
110 Winston St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 627-8272 ph
***************

If ya'll in LA, please check it out, should be awesome.

Also in awesomeness, someone personalized the "ON STRIKE" bulletin posted to the Pompidou Centre this week. HAH! Right on, sister.




Thursday, October 12, 2006

La Défense

La Défense is a major business district for the city of Paris which saw most of it's growth in the 80's. The area has some cool sculptures, but all in all I felt kind of "blah" about the whole area.

The highlight of the day was when we were walking through a park and this bulldog came up to us (there are no leash laws in Paris, so dogs just follow their owners.) Anyway, when "Juggernaut" (as we soon named him) approached us, we crouched down to pet him. And then, one after an other, he jumped up and pushed us on the ground! We would get up, laughing, and he would push us back down again. Soon we were covered in kisses and slobber.

Looking up, his "parents" were looking over at us, horrified. HAH!

One note about Parisians: Robbie and I will pet a dog, or any other animal that comes into our personal space, as well as have a friendly conversation with their owner. In Paris, this FREAKS people out. Chilly is not a strong enough word for how people react. It's just cultural, I guess, but it's kind of a bummer when you're jonesing to give some good scratches away.



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Wednesday, October 11, 2006

La Gourmande

Oh how I vill miss you, zee French cuisine. Zomeday ve vill part, but you vill always be wihz me.

Mostly on my thighs.




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Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Au revoir, mon cheries!

Hope you guys had a bon time - we did! Love ya.

Monday, October 09, 2006

Montmarte et Notre Dame revisited

Happened to go to Montmarte today while the annual wine festival was taking place. There was much merriment, food stands, a band, a parade, and a crowd. Everyone was celebrating and boozing it up, I even saw les enfants with wine in their plastic glasses! Um...it IS supposed to be good for the heart or something, right kids?

Here's us on the top of Notre Dame as well, with a nice view of the Seine.




Sunday, October 08, 2006

Feeding the Birds and the Mind

Having a good time with the fam.

Bird flu aside - feeding the lil' oiseau (birdies) in the park is magical.

and...you know everyone's had enough of the Louvre when climbing a stairway induces fits of crying and tantrums. Hey, the Louvre IS really tiring.



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