21 juin 2008
It's Summer- France celebrates it's 27th Music Fest.
Every year on 21st June, France celebrates "Fête de la Musique".
This Music festival was started in 1982 by Mr Jack Lang ( Minister of Culture).
There will be free concerts all over France.
It had great success in France.
Now 96 other Nations celebrates this music fest.
04 mai 2008
International Fair of Paris -2008
Foire De Paris 2008
Every year, in spring Paris hosts an International Fair .
The theme of this 104 eme edition is "Passion".
Exibition is divided in to three sections - House & Environment, Well being & Leisure, Cultures of the World .
Eco friendly home in the first section is most visited.
My passion is to wander around the stalls in "Cultures of the World".
Sweets of Egypt & Greece were excellent.
My native country was also present here with their Kashmir shawls, Carpets, statues, beauty accessories & restaurents.
24 mars 2008
Auteuil Steeplechase Racecourse.
Hippodrome d'Auteuil
For Easter, Hippodrome d'Auteuil was opened to public.They offered several activities for kids - Pony Riding, Egg hunt & Merry- Go-Ground.
Wow! I saw horse racing for the first time in my life.
At the final lap, crazy public were shouting "Allez -- Allez".
Funny indeed to see a man with an oxygen cylinder queuing up to bet.
Hippodrome d'Auteuil is the sole steeple-chase racecourse in Paris.
This 33 hectare racecourse is located in the XVI eme arrondisement of Paris, close to Bois de Boulogne.
23 mars 2008
Jardin d'Acclimatation, Paris.
Easter Egg Hunting in "Jardin d'Acclimatation"
Leonidas conducted Easter egg hunting for kids in a Parisienne garden - Jardin d'Acclimatation.This garden is situated in the XVI eme arrondisement of Paris.
To celebrate this event, Leonidas made a 1.80m chocolate sculpture.
Above all they distributed 20,000 chocolate eggs for kids.
09 mars 2008
Opéra de Paris
Palais Garnier
Palais Garnier - the world's largest theatre & opera house was inaugurated on Jan 5th 1875.This architectural masterpiece was designed by Charles Garnier on the request of Napoléon III.This is situated in the IX th arrondisement of Paris. Theatre's front façade is richly decorated & symmetrical.Opéra is 11000 m² & seats 2200.
01 décembre 2007
Champs Elysée
Champs Elysée
The Champs-Élysées were originally fields. In 1616 Marie de Médicis( second wife of Henri IV) decided to put a long tree lined pathway .In 1667, Le Notre extended it upto the Tuileries. In 1724, the avenue was extended up to Chaillot hill ( site of Arc de Triomph). Later Champs-Elysees became a very fashionable place where Queen Marie Antoinette ( Wife of Louis XVI ) used to stroll with her friends.Today Champs-Élysées( one mile by 235 feet wide stretch ) is one of the famous avenues in the world . The official residence of the French President (Palais de l'Elysée) is located here. Every year on the Bastille Day (July 14th), the military parade passes through this avenue.
23 septembre 2007
Breizh Parade Paris 2007
Breizh Parade Paris 2007 - Cercles
Vidéo envoyée par benporkofer
la "Breizh Touch" L'esprit breton lors de la grande parade sur les Champs Elysées avec ses cercles et gavotes...Bevet Breizh
Today it's "Breizh Parade" in Paris. The people in the Brittany region of France rocked Champs Elysées with their celtic music.There were 3000 musiciens & dancers.
31 août 2007
Princess Diana's memorial Flame of Liberty.
Princess Diana - Queen of Hearts
Princess Diana's memorial Flame of Liberty is situated near Pont d'Alma, Paris.
23 juillet 2007
Cathedrale -Notre-Dame de Paris
Notre Dame de Paris
Construction of this gothic masterpiece begins in 1163 by Maurice de Sully, bishop of Paris. This is the cathedrale that played a key role in Victor Hugo’s "Hunchback of Notre-Dame". Road distances in France are calculated on the basis of the "0 km" marked on the square in front of this cathedral.
14 juillet 2007
Arc de Triomphe
July 14th is the Bastille Day in France. It's a national holiday b'coz it's a birth of French Republic. Storming of Bastille (a prison) marked the begining of the French Revolution . It marked the end of Monarchy & the birth of a sovereign Nation(1792). Tricolor flag ( Blue-White-Red) represents Republic's three ideals - Liberty, Equality & Fraternity.
Napoleon Bonaparte decided to build a monument to glorify his Grand Army, just after his victory at Austerlitz. The construction of a triumphal arch was begun in 1806 by the architect Chalgrin & inaugurated in 1836. It's 50 meters tall and 45 meters wide. There are four releif sculptures at the bases of four pillars. These commemorate The Triumph of 1810 (Cortot), Resistance and Peace (Etex); and The Departure of the Volunteers in 1792 (Rude), also called La Marseillaise(French National Anthem). The names of major victories won during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods are engraved around the top of the Arch. Beneath the Arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and eternal flame commemorating the dead of the two world wars. Inside the Arch there is a small museum documenting its history and construction. From the roof of the Arch there are spectacular views of Paris.
