January 10, 2016: Looking up at the Louvre
When you visit Paris' Louvre museum, don't forget to look up.
Paris
Dry Canals: Paris on purpose, Venice by low tides
Two European cities are facing dry seasons in their canals, with record low tides exposing long-unseen areas of Venice's waterways, and Paris draining its iconic Canal Saint-Martin for cleaning and repairs. In Venice, abnormal tides this year, combined with a so-far dry winter, have left water levels about 70cm (more than 2 feet) below normal. As a result, routes for the city's vaporetti, or water buses, have been curtailed because they are unable to navigate in some of the smaller canals.
Where they're going: NY, Paris top Airbnb New Year list
The recent terror attacks in Paris apparently haven't put off its lure for visitors; Airbnb reports it's the top New Year holiday booking in Europe, and second only to New York world-wide. The vacation rental company says it has 45,000 people booked in Paris for the holiday, and 47,000 in New York. The rest of the top 5 are London with 35,000, Sydney with 25,000 and Barcelona with 24,000. The figures indicate a quick and solid comeback for Paris's tourism industry; immediately after the...
Tasty lunch sets the table for climate conference
The world climate conference (COP21) opens today in Paris with 150 heads of state and government meeting to try for a world agreement on environmental issues. The outcome is still doubtful, but lunch will not be a problem. A team of French...
Gumbo's Pic of the Day, November 8, 2015: Seafood anyone?
While walking through the streets of Paris I noticed the abundance of fresh seafood available. All this photo does is make me hungry again.
Floating hotel set to anchor in Seine
Paris is about to get perhaps its most unusual hotel, floating in the Seine near the Quai d'Austerlitz in the eastern part of the city. Built in Normandy almost as if it were a ship, it will be towed into place within the next few weeks. The...
Palais Garnier: Opera House in Paris
Samantha shares her appreciation of the magnificent Palais Garnier, home of the Paris Opera.
France's new taxi app aims to out-Uber Uber
The French government is launching "Le Taxi," a new app that allows passengers to "e-hail" taxis from their computers or smartphones, and rate the service afterward, much like the private Uber service. Because there are 57,000 cabs in...
Paris mayor's plan: reclaim highway for park
Future and present in Paris plan to replace highway with pedestrians Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who has made reducing traffic and pollution key goals of her regime, has announced that the highway along the Right (north) Bank of the Seine will...
Paris Parade: 40 years of James Bond's cars
Paris had an unusual parade on Sunday, as 20 cars from the past 40 years of films featuring the fictional British spy were driven down the Champs Elysee and past the Eiffel Tower. It was a promotion for the next Bond film, Spectre, releasing in...
Paris approves 3 startling new towers
Paris is about to get a major facelift for its skyline with approval of plans for three unusual towers, but many are not happy with the decision. Mot of central Paris is limited to buildings of up to six stories, and no skyscrapers have been built in...
Paris to take a breath on 'Day Without Cars'
Paris, the city of light and sometimes bad air, will take a mini-break from traffic and air pollution this Sunday, when the capital celebrates its first "Journee sans Voiture," a project of Mayor Anne Hidalgo. Hidalgo first proposed the...
Chicken rustlers hit hip Paris recycling/dining spot
Six live chickens have been stolen from the mini-farm that's part of a hip bar/bistro/urban farm called Le Recyclerie. The owners and authorities suspect foul play (sorry...could not resist). Security cameras will now be installed to protect...
SHAKESPEARE & COMPANY TO OPEN A CAFÉ THIS FALL
Good news and it's been a long time coming - read the story here .
'Humans of Paris' website shows faces of city
Marco Hazan, the man behind Humans of Paris An 18-year-old law student has created a highly-popular Facebook site featuring the faces and stories of "real Parisians." Called "Humans of Paris," and modeled on the "Humans of New York" blog, it...