Post by jo on Nov 13, 2015 19:08:24 GMT -5
I have just come back from a two-week holiday mainly in Paris and it is heartbreaking to watch BREAKING NEWS and hear about what is happening to this beautiful and vibrant city! People fall in love with this city not only because of its incredible beauty but also for its sense of history, art and culture... as well as the uniquely individualistic character of its people! It is the city which gave us the famous declaration of " Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite!"...and inspired the writing of a novel called LES MISERABLES! One leaves the city with a sense of hope that one can back to it sometime in the future.
I did note the extra precautions by the city ( such as bag inspection if you enter Galeries Lafayette and Printemps) and there is a security machine check of bags before you can get to the elevator at Tour Eiffel. But the city seemed back to its brisk and lively metropolitan atmosphere. Airport security was tight ( we stayed to wait for a travelling companion on the other side after we cleared security...and we saw how their screening procedures would point out maybe 3-4 out of 10 people for patdowns , including an old woman) but everything flowed smoothly.
I do remember passing the Stade de France in St. Denis from Charles de Gaulle to the city as well as the streets near Les Halles and Marais ( on the way back from Gare Bercy) and noted how busy the place seems to be. I do remember passing by the statue commemorating Place de la Republique where people congregated to show support after the Hebdo attack; it was still plastered with stickers of support/graffiti for the fallen victims and the freedom of the press... Now there are even rumors of possible attacks near the Louvre and the Pompidou ( centers of culture). So, it seemed most of the violence is centered on the supposedly more staid right bank?
Also, it seemed that the attacks happened on a Friday evening ( and is it a coincidence that it was on a Friday the 13th?) , when many streets would be filled with young people having a lively time in this very cosmopolitan city. We stayed in the boundary between 8th and 9th arrondisements ( the 8th is actually next to the 1st arrondisement where the Louvre is) and we thought that people from Paris loved their street café culture as most of them would be outside basking in the early evening light. Sometimes we would be the only ones eating inside a bistro or brasserie. Everyone would be out with a coffee watching other people walk by! This is the only city I know where dessert can be "coffee ( a small espresso) and a few cakes ( meaning 4-5 small desserts)". Even when they were just drinking their coffee, they are still enjoying the best of their cuisine
I hope things settle down peacefully soon. But how sad that such a beautiful city as Paris is going through this again!
On a related note -- in the incoming week, our country is hosting an economic forum for countries on the rim of the Pacific ( APEC) and world leaders are coming here for the event, including Pres. Obama. Russia's PM Putin has begged off but will send President Medvedev instead. China's president will also be here.
We have been doing all we can to ensure a successful event. We hope what's happening in Paris will not mar the yearlong preparations we have been undergoing to play host to this event and welcome a great part of the world to our shores! Yesterday we were informed that some 3500 journalists are coming over for the event...as well as the names of some known world-renowned activists who might be protesting the event. Hope the objectives of the forum can be met...and the bystanders ( journalist, activist, or our people) can watch a successful and peaceful event!
Jo
I did note the extra precautions by the city ( such as bag inspection if you enter Galeries Lafayette and Printemps) and there is a security machine check of bags before you can get to the elevator at Tour Eiffel. But the city seemed back to its brisk and lively metropolitan atmosphere. Airport security was tight ( we stayed to wait for a travelling companion on the other side after we cleared security...and we saw how their screening procedures would point out maybe 3-4 out of 10 people for patdowns , including an old woman) but everything flowed smoothly.
I do remember passing the Stade de France in St. Denis from Charles de Gaulle to the city as well as the streets near Les Halles and Marais ( on the way back from Gare Bercy) and noted how busy the place seems to be. I do remember passing by the statue commemorating Place de la Republique where people congregated to show support after the Hebdo attack; it was still plastered with stickers of support/graffiti for the fallen victims and the freedom of the press... Now there are even rumors of possible attacks near the Louvre and the Pompidou ( centers of culture). So, it seemed most of the violence is centered on the supposedly more staid right bank?
Also, it seemed that the attacks happened on a Friday evening ( and is it a coincidence that it was on a Friday the 13th?) , when many streets would be filled with young people having a lively time in this very cosmopolitan city. We stayed in the boundary between 8th and 9th arrondisements ( the 8th is actually next to the 1st arrondisement where the Louvre is) and we thought that people from Paris loved their street café culture as most of them would be outside basking in the early evening light. Sometimes we would be the only ones eating inside a bistro or brasserie. Everyone would be out with a coffee watching other people walk by! This is the only city I know where dessert can be "coffee ( a small espresso) and a few cakes ( meaning 4-5 small desserts)". Even when they were just drinking their coffee, they are still enjoying the best of their cuisine
I hope things settle down peacefully soon. But how sad that such a beautiful city as Paris is going through this again!
On a related note -- in the incoming week, our country is hosting an economic forum for countries on the rim of the Pacific ( APEC) and world leaders are coming here for the event, including Pres. Obama. Russia's PM Putin has begged off but will send President Medvedev instead. China's president will also be here.
We have been doing all we can to ensure a successful event. We hope what's happening in Paris will not mar the yearlong preparations we have been undergoing to play host to this event and welcome a great part of the world to our shores! Yesterday we were informed that some 3500 journalists are coming over for the event...as well as the names of some known world-renowned activists who might be protesting the event. Hope the objectives of the forum can be met...and the bystanders ( journalist, activist, or our people) can watch a successful and peaceful event!
Jo
