A provocation
by solopes
Standing below the arch I was reading the many names of the battles won by Napoleon's soldiers when I had a surprise: OPORTO.
This means our Porto, a city that calls herself "invicta" and that means never defeated. Where is the truth? I must go back to history and read it more carefully!
I did it:
In 1809, March 29th, the army of General Soult entered Porto without any significant military opposition, and attacked the civil population. Trying to escape to the southern bank of Douro river, people used a precarious bridge made by boats that collapsed, killing more than 4000 civilians.
Less than one month later, Portuguese and English armies fought back the French, that where obliged to live Porto forever.
Everything gets explained: in Paris it's celebrated March 1809. In Porto they celebrate from April till now. Everybody gets happy, and I celebrate the pretexts to build monuments like this one.
(I think that there's an arch missing in Porto)
Getting calling cards/stamps
by joiwatani
Most telephones in Europe don't take coins but rather telephone cards. There was a change of my hotel and definitely, I had to get in touch with some members of VT because we had a VT meeting over there. I was not able to call them because I don't have an international cell phone that uses SIMS card. It was very frustrating because I cannot find any telephone booths that uses coins to make a phone call.
I asked one of the vendors along the Arc de Triophe and he told me that I have to purchase a telephone card at the Post Office. Voila! I was able to buy not only a calling card but also postage stamps so I can mail my postcards in time!
The Post Office is about two blocks away where I was. When you are walking at the Champs Elysees, look for the street sign Rue Balzac. Go up the street passing a small theater, called Cinema Balzac on the left side and a hotel on the right side. The Post Office is to the right side with a flag in front of it.
The calling card is about 7.50 euros and there is an instruction how to use it. The stamps for other countries is about .65 euros. My fondest memory is seeing the Eiffel Tower flicker at night. I always dreamed of getting to Paris and seeing the famous landmark. I finally made my dream come true! Also, seeing the famous painting of Leonardo Davinci, Monalisa.
MUSÉE DU LOUVRE>BR>
An...
by SirRichard
MUSÉE DU LOUVRE>BR>
An absolute MUST when in Paris. You won't be able to see it all even in one entire week, but take a look at several masterpieces you can't miss:
the Winged Victory of Samothrace
the Venus de Milo
the Mona Lisa
the pyramis at the entrance
The souvenir shop, where you can find wonderful copies of the wonders you've seen inside
The Louvre houses one of the most important art collections in the Western world, spanning the period from remotest antiquity (beginning with the Sumerians, the Egyptians, and continuing on through the glories of the Greeks and Romans), through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and ending at about 1850. Awe-inspiring are the 25-ton Assyrian alabaster bulls (five of them) in the reconstruction of Sargon II's palace in the Cour de Zhorsabad (formerly the Cour du Louvre). The collection of Italian Renaissance paintings is one of the best outside Florence; Flemish and northern European masterworks, by van Dyke, Holbein, Rembrandt, and Bosch, are also abundant. Another mandatory stop is the French crown jewels; you have to see the Regent Diamond, which weighs in at 186 carats, to believe it.
How to go?: Metro: Palais-Royal / musée du Louvre. / Bus: 21, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81, 95.
More info: www.louvre.fr
Dry rude way of speaking but don't worry
by vivacolombia
At the begining, I always felt agressed by French people even though I'm a french native speaker.
After being here for more than a year now, I've come to the conclusion that it's just their way of talking...I just had to get used to it.
I won't even mention the awful customer service you will get in most places... you just have to accept it.
Sunday in another park without George
by shrimp56
La Grande Jatte it isn't, but on a sunny Sunday the St. Eustache/Les Halles area is abuzz with church-goers, strollers, a Sunday market along the side of the church and cafes full of people relaxing and enjoying the scene.
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Grand basin, Jardin du Luxembourg
The Conciergerie, Paris
Mural on the Dome
St. Gervaise, Paris
