Tagged With "Paris"
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Controversy for New Concert Hall in Paris
Photo from Philharmonie of Paris / W. Beaucardet The €390 million Philharmonie of Paris opened in January of 2015, after delays and cost overruns with controversy. Its star...
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The Airport...and how it got that way
You've all probably got an airport you hate, and a favorite (or perhaps least-hated) one. And I'm sure you've often wondered why they put the baggage claim there, and why the food is over there, and why it just so often seems to be two miles to the...
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Musée d'Orsay, Paris. Where Gumbo was #108
Gumbo was visiting one of Paris' greatest museums, the Musee d'Orsay. Congratulations to TravelGirlJenn who recognized it, with minimal clues! If any one else figured it out, they did not let us know. (One of the...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, May 17, 2015: Love Locks, Pont des Arts, Paris
No one really knows where it started, but it's spread all over the world in the past few years—"Love Locks" snapped onto railings, especially on bridges. Some hate them and feel they disfigure spaces with other purposes (in Basel, we...
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Chicago set to open new rail-line park
Chicago will open its new Bloomingdale Trail, a park built on 2.7 miles of abandoned railway on June 6. That's 6/06 if you write it a different way, and 606 is both the root of Chicago area codes, and the name of an overall park project (the606) that...
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Europe set to OK SkyTeam hook-up for Paris
It looks like European regulators are set to approve a joint operation covering routes between the U.S., Paris, Rome and Amsterdam. The arrangement, under scrutiny for three years, would let the airlines, all SkyTeam members, plan schedules together...
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The Stravinsky Fountain, Paris
I have quite a few favorite places in Paris, but I think the Stravinsky Fountain is the only one I've gotten to on every visit. I never get tired of it, or of watching children marvel at it, or of the whole idea of this wonderful whimsical...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov 4, 2014: Empty Cafe, Paris
I'm not sure if we were too early or too late, but seeing all these empty chairs and tables lined up outside a cafe along the Champs Elysees in Paris was a most unusual sight I thought. Normally when you see pictures of cafes in Paris ...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 12, 2014: Paris Compressed
Taken with 18x telephoto lens from the top of the Arc de Triomphe, this shot squeezes in a lot of familiar Paris, with even more suggested here and there in the middle. There's a corner of the Louvre, the dome of Invalides, Notre Dame at...
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Sharing your photos of the Eiffel Tower might be illegal
Did you know those thousands of tourists in Paris who take photos of the Eiffel Tower illuminated at night and then share these images with their friends on social media are breaking the law? Hard to comprehend, but apparently that's the...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, August 12, 2015: Venus de Milo
While at the Louvre in Paris, I saw the Venus de Milo. This has become one of my favorite photos, showing how people still flock in numbers to view the graceful beauty.
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New London life for an old idea: floating baths
Recreation advocates have launched a well-publicized Kickstarter campaign to help fund construction of a floating freshwater swimming pool in the Thames, just off the Embankment. The project, called Thames Baths, whose full cost is estimated at...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Apr. 20, 2015: Les Canards en Seine
You often hear how important it is to "get all your ducks in a row." Well, here they are, lined up on a chilly December morning in Paris. These three were taking their chances (or their leisure...I'm not a duckologist) in turbulent water just...
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Where Was Gumbo? Paris. Where's the Statue? Everywhere!
Where in the World was TravelGumbo? If we simply said "At the Statue of Liberty," it wouldn't have been a very precise identification, because, as I found and you shall see, the iconic statue is everywhere and in so many forms! In today's blog, I'm...
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The 3 Best Markets in France
The city of fashion, Paris is the place where you can enjoy the real meaning of fashion. Not only fashion for which Paris is known for, its rich history, mesmerizing tourist spots and exotic heritage site make Paris a prominent tourist destination in the world which can be explored once you obtain your visa to france . Seeing the popularity of the place we have brought to you the list of best markets in Paris that will offer you best and ultimate things during your visit to Paris – 1. Food...
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Eiffel Tower closed Friday as Workers Protest Pickpockets
Strikes and walkouts by public employees are far from rare in Europe. Still, it came as a surprise to many people when the Eiffel Tower closed most of Friday because its employees walked off the job. It seems they are fed up with crime, specifically...
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Paris set to unlock the 'Love Locks' problem
'Love Locks,' those padlocks attached to bridges and monuments all over, with the key thrown away to symbolize unbreakable affection, have been the subject of a serious backlash in many cities, and now Paris is ready to move on demands by local...
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London claims honors for most-visited city...again!
MasterCard Global Destinations Index Based on projections for the rest of this year, London is again claiming victory over arch-rivals Paris and Bangkok for the title of most-visited city. It's held the honor 5 times in 7 years,...
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Paris to set flat-rate airport cab fares
A plan for fixed-rate taxi fares to and from Paris's two airports has been announced by the government, and it's already drawing cheers from travelers and big jeers from cabbies who believe the proposed rates are wrong and don't impose similar rules...
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Paris bus and taxi services disrupted
Shiny shelter, but no buses: Paris drivers on 3-day strike Photo: Coyau / Wikimedia Protests by taxi drivers over the illegal but continuing "Uberpop" service and a 3-day strike planned by city bus...
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'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...
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France's next traffic nightmare: Tractors in Paris
As if last weekend's endless jams of vacationers returning home were not enough, new traffic chaos is headed for Paris as hundreds of angry French farmers are doing what they do when their frustration level with the government hits a peak: They're on...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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August in France: Not so dead after all!
With August and the traditional French exodus to the beach just ahead, visitors might wonder just what there is to do in Paris, or in France generally. The truth is that while many stores and restaurants take extended vacations, many are open, and...
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A playground on the Left Bank of the Seine
If you're heading to Paris with your family, or even if its just to appeal to the kid in you, be sure you stop by Les Berges, a mile-long play space on the Left Bank of the Seine River. The place is laid out with play in...
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Paris bridges language gap with new app
Paris is consistently the world's most-visited city, and while it's fairly easy for English-speakers to get what they need, it's harder for speakers of many other languages. Paris has just rolled out a new app called "Yes, I speak touriste?" to help...
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Paris parks go 24h in heat wave
In the face of an ongoing heat wave, Paris authorities are keeping five large parks open around the clock, Monday to Friday. 127 other smaller parks are already open full-time. The five parks added are Buttes-Chaumont, Martin-Luther-King, Mountsouris,...
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Inflight entertainment may soon watch you!
Thales' mock-up of what the system might look like. Just like Santa Claus, your seatback screen may soon "know when you are sleeping, and know when you're awake," according to Japanese inflight entertainment maker Thales. At the...
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Boeing: 38,000 new planes needed in next 20 years
Boeing's 7500th 737 leaves the assembly plant. Boeing expects many more. Boeing Corp. photo Boeing predicts the world's airliner fleet will double over the next 20 years, from about 21,600 now to 43,560—and between growth and...
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787's acrobatic take-off at Paris Air Show
The big airshows, and Paris is one of the biggest, are huge sales fares for the big manufacturers and usually feature announcements of new orders and "show-off" moments for new or improved planes. So the video above should be no surprise as...
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Paris mayor plans to liberate squares for pedestrians
Place Gambetta, February 2015, with cars replaced by Carnival celebrators Photo: Basili / Wikimedia Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is planning the next step in her war on congestion and pollution, announcing a plan to at...
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Where to find the Paris you've seen in the movies
Under the Pont de Bir-Hakeim, seen in Last Tango in Paris Photo: Bruxelles5 / Wikimedia Everyone (almost, anyway) has a favorite Paris movie scene—after all, so many movies have been shot there! ...
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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.
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January 10, 2016: Looking up at the Louvre
When you visit Paris' Louvre museum, don't forget to look up.
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Sweet victory for French chef in chocolate contest
A French chef, Vincent Vallee, has become the first French world champion of chocolate, taking the prize in Paris Friday after a three-day final at the Salon du Chocolat trade fair. Second place went to Japan's Hisashi Onobayashi, and...
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Paris mayor gets power to ban traffic when pollution peaks
A horrific spike in air pollution in Paris Monday has led to the national Ecology Minister, Segoline Royal, granting Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo the power to impose traffic bans when pollution is high. Royale had previously held on to that power,...
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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...
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New app makes Paris buses cheap tours
Soon to be your tour bus with new Visitobus app Photo: Simon_sees / Wikimedia RATP, the regional authority that runs Paris transit systems has just unveiled a new set of smartphone apps,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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The Eiffel Tower at Dusk
DrFumblefinger shares his experiences with the transformation of the Eiffel tower that occurs when day turns into night.
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Apr. 13, 2014: A Sleeper on the Street
I made this image of a man sleeping next to a side entrance of the National Assembly on my first trip to Paris, as a 16-year-old in 1960. I've always been pleased with it, but also had many questions, which I've explored here in a Gumbo's...
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Gustave Eiffel: Iron Man of Paris
''Swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, run 26.2 miles- BRAG FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. "- John Collins, IRONMAN Founder We're all familiar with the famous Ironman race, whose amazing challenges are outlined above in the quote by John Collins....
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Canal St-Martin in Paris/Where Locals and Travelers Mix
I've been to Paris quite a few times, but it was only my last trip this past June that I ran into Canal St-Martin , near the Gare de l'Est station. I liked it because it was a spot where you see locals and travelers enjoying a Friday night. The Canal...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Sept 2, 2014: Luxembourg Gardens, Paris
As I have mentioned in previous posts, whenever we visit a new city, town or village, we always seek out the nearest park or gardens in order to get our bearings and to just soak the atmosphere of the place. Paris was no exception...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct. 1, 2014: Canal Illusion
The Canal Saint-Denis, just a bit past its junction with the Canal Saint-Martin and the Canal de l'Ourcq in northeast Paris, appears to flow downhill to pass under a bridge. It so much appears to that I had to stand there for a few minutes to...
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Spotted on the Road: Paris
This veteran Citroen truck, probably early 1950s, sits daily on a small triangle off the Champs Elysees, near the Grand Palais, selling organic fruit ices. We've seen a few other older trucks here this week as well, but none so prominent as this.