Don't wear high heels!
by firechick
You will be walking around a lot - but also be sure to use the Metro if you don't have a lot of time to spare. It is fast and runs often. Trains are color coded and maps are available at the ticket booths. The views of the city from up high on various monuments.
France - new history
by Kuznetsov_Sergey
In 1328 Kapetings conceded the throne Valua who rulled the country till 1589. Last dynasty of the French kings - Burbons with breaks on the First Republic in 1792-1804 and the First Empire per 1804-1814, held on till 1848. Then it was very short in 1848-1852 the Second Republic existed which till 1870 was replaced with the Second Empire. Then followed the Third Republic till 1940, the Fourth Republic till 1958. Now in France - the Fifth Republic which lives under Charles de Gaulle's constitution .
Cycling in the bus lanes
by Nemorino
In places where it is not feasible to build or mark off separate bicycle lanes, a good compromise solution is to create bus lanes and make them wide enough so that cyclists can use them, too. Buses can then safely pass the cyclists, and cyclists can pass the buses when they have stopped for passengers.
Second photo: These painted checkerboard patterns show where the bus (and bike) lanes are when they have to cross large expanses of asphalt.
Third photo: The signs mean that on this bus lane bicycles are allowed but deliveries are forbidden. And there are low trees bending down over the roadway.
Fourth photo: Here on the upper part of Avenue Jean-Jaurès the bus lanes in both directions are in the middle of the street, but cycling is still allowed on them. These folks are cycling on a Sunday morning, in case you were wondering why there is so little traffic.
Fifth photo: Here on Boulevard Saint-Germain in the Latin Quarter the bus lane is protected by a raised divider, to prevent private motor vehicles from straying out of their lane.
V Arr: If you are a bad student . . .
by Elisabcn
Maybe she can help you!
And la voilà! this small statue of Our Lady (a mouldering of Louvre workshops) in Saint Severin Church recalls the devotion towards “Our Lady of Exams”, a familiar name given by the students to Our Lady of the Holy Hope (picture 1), which was fixed on this column until the 18th century. Even if she holds baby Jesus she does not forget her books! In the church, numerous ex-voto bear witness to the success of this intercession!
The Vth arrondissement has a long student tradition: the different University of Paris “schools” were in this area also known as “Quartier Latin" because people spoke in Latin. The most famous college is La Sorbonne founded by Robert de Sorbon in 1257. During medieval times this suburb was inhabited by drunken and aggressive students without money, nowadays it looks a little better eheh.
Apart from this madonna, Saint Severin is also known to have one of the best stained glass windows collections of Paris even if I don’t agree, just tell you what I read. Some of them are of the XVth century and are nice. Those behind the altar, from the XIXth century, are just awful. We can find the most beautiful one on the rose window on the west façade that represents Jessé Tree, a real masterwork also called “le trésor caché”(the hidden treasure) because it is almost covered by the organ! (picture 2). Apart from this the church itself did not impress me very much, its cloister looked much more interesting but closed to the public. Oooohhhh!!
Olympic Fever
by ExGuyParis
Paris is going whole hog in its effort to nab the 2012 Summer Olympics. A logo for the event has popped up all over the city, from the National Assembly building to the Big Metal Tower.
The plan would involve a lot of existing venues (such as the Stade de France, pictured here, which would be rechristened Olympic Statium) plus the construction of numerous others.
The Stade de France is huge, and hosts a variety of events, from Rugby to concerts. See the web site for some upcoming events.
I hope the recent "NON!" vote on the EU Constitution hasn't dimmed the city's chances.