Category: Photos

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A brilliant movie … even if the simple is complex here … or vice versa. Or the original is a copy of an original.

If you don’t like mental gymnastics, this is definitely NOT for you. BUT if you enjoy incredibly good acting as well as the charm, wit and emotional soul of Juliette Binoche speaking English, French and Italian fluently … you can’t possibly be disappointed.

((**** Congratulations, Ms. Binoche! Just heard the news! Palme d’Or for Best Actress in Copie Conforme. You deserve it!! ***** Brava!!))

Set in an authentic Tuscan setting, you feel there. It makes you want to be there. Beautifully filmed.

This may appear to be on the fringe of our reality. But it is someone’s reality. And movingly so. Even if … it is a fictional reality. Get it? You don’t? Don’t worry. Art can take time to get to you. The difference between “The” and “A” …

Here’s a posting in English from THE NYT . If you look at the right side of the screen, there is an audio of Juliette Binoche talking about this incredible film experience. She lets you in on the secrets of this masterpiece.

a double bill with kiarostami.

At the Balzac.

on rue Balzac (as in Honoré de ) just off the …

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While A. was walking down to the river from the Mirabeau bridge on this cool May day,

there were a few people getting their morning air

together or alone

Admittedly, there’s less traffic down here … than up there …

but as this one was heading under one of the 22 bridges crossing the Seine, Arnoul was focusing on detail

and shapes and textures

here’s a still life

or perspectives … as he patiently waited for the metro to cross the Bir Hakeim Bridge

which it finally did

sometimes I imagined we were far away

but then, if you  walked just a little further and raised your eyes, you’d see what some architects imagined long before we were born

You know what happened on this bridge? It’s written right here

The links of friendship and solidarity and shared values persist- they were cast in bronze and shared

so that we could walk along the Seine on a Sunday morning and then share these pictures !

PS.

Once we’re walked up the stairs

and had a marvelous view from that bridge

Once he got to the other side of the bridge,  Arnoul shot this one

I think he likes this place where cats probably hang out at night.

Then as we walked, we talked about where we were November 22nd, 1963

The Kennedys loved France and France loved the Kennedys.

This is the story of our Sunday morning “Photo Hunt”

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You see how obedient Parisians can be? It must be forbidden to park on the cobblestones.

The English word  “bicycle”  has two current translations in French: bicyclette and vélo.

Bi-cycle or bi-cyclette comes from “two” + “circle” or “wheels.”

“Vélo” is the root of speed … as in velocity.

Not far from where this photo was taken was a place called the Vélodrome. Or more precisely the “Vél’ d’Hiv,” the Vélodrome d’Hiver.  Built on the concept of an ice-skating rink, the Vel d’Hiv (Winter Bicycling Rink) was a place where people could ride their bikes (i) in the city (ii) on a smooth surface-rather than over cobblestones and (iii) in inclement weather.

The Vél d’Hiv no longer exists.  As history illustrates time and again,  what was built out of a good intention can be usurped by those of ill will …  If you want to know the whole story … I suggest you read Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.

When you start out on a photo hunt … you never know where you’re going to end up!

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If you’re driving across the bridge,  you won’t see her. You won’t see her if you’re ecologically bicycling across either.

If you look straight ahead, you won’t see her … and if you look up, you’ll only see the sky. To the left, to the right: cars & buildings.

However,  if you’re boating on the Seine, you’d see her back  … but …  looking down from the bridge as a pedestrian … you see this bronze decorating the Pont Mirabeau.

Tomorrow there’ll be more. I suspect that Arnoul took some good ones.

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Across the street from the Petit Palais, the Grand Palais was built for the World Exhibition of 1900 as was the Eiffel Tower. For years, the extraordinary glass dome roof  of the Grand Palais was broken and leaking so much, the space inside could no longer be used for exhibitions. Heating costs, too, were prohibitive. The glass roof is now repaired and there was a music and light show inside last night.

At the Petit Palais, there was an exhibition of fashion in hommage to the late YSL … until late last night.

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This click will take you there … back in time …to another place … to another language … (to another economy?)

Enjoy and don’t worry about a little rain!

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Paris 14th Arrondissement

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This sign has intrigued me for quite a while. It’s posted, as you can see, in the middle of the Boulevard Montparnasse.  Not exactly in the midde. A third of the way across.  What’s curious is that there are several but none are “signed” so we don’t know who put them there. The city? The police? The RATP? An NGO? A neighborhood association?

Here’s a close-up. As it isn’t legible at a distance equal to the width of the two traffic lanes separating the pedestrian on the sidewalk from the sign, I had to stand in the middle of the street to read it.

It could be translated into English as “Careful Pedestrians.” Though, I suspect it’s to be interpreted as : “Pedestrians: Be Careful!” Or maybe it’s to warn pedestrians to be wary of other pedestrians. The small print explains it clearly. If you turn your head to a 90° angle, you can read “BUS.” Then you’d have to do another 180° from there to read the other side … Anyway, the idea comes across that a bus lane (singular) runs in dual directions on either side … of a thin black line. …  Or does “double sens” really mean “double meaning” ? I had to stop reading because the 91 was approaching. Too bad, because I was just about to decipher what the other arrows meant…

It was driving slowly in case there were bicycles. Bikes have the right of way in bus lanes. We encourage ecological solutions to the world’s problems. That’s why we group bus transportation and no-pollution bicycling in the same lane.

It was following the rules.. The arrow was pointing the direction in case the driver was distracted

and though I didn’t realize it at the time, bus drivers are multi-tasking folk.

Once the bus had passed … this couple decided to cross … They must have read the sign because they are looking out for buses.  Even if they are looking in the wrong direction. Fortunately, there were none. What they missed were the red lights.

But they weren’t the only ones …

people of all ages cross at the crossings …

and most manage to get to the other side.

It must be thanks to “Maréchal Ney” who directs traffic at the intersection.

He cautiously stands in a safe, protected place.

Understandably.

You’d think that all of this might be a little risky. In fact, if you do successfully cross, there is a reward.  Because if you do, you can just sit back and relax in one of the most beautiful places man has created: Le Jardin de Luxembourg … or “Le Luco” as it’s known in the neighborhood …

(post dedicated to Henrik, Anne, Rasmus and Johann)

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As the prices indicated are in USD, I think this must only apply to American women living within driving distance of a mall … I was about to say that French women have other preoccupations … until I thought about how many pairs of shoes my daughters have … and the rue St. Placide …

A word to the wise:  Note the pronunciation of “women.” The plural of woman. Listen:  

NB. Why do malls work? Precisely because … women are known to go to the major department stores to compare … Malls are designed so that there are competing department stores at opposite ends or multi-polar points  … so the shoppers MUST walk in front of all the other shops as they go back and forth from one to the other … Those mall planners are pretty tricky folk.

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