Bastille Day
Update: the official video of the fireworks is up now (note: reload page if the video doesn't play).
Feu d'artifice du 14 juillet 2011 : l'intégrale par mairiedeparis
This year's Bastille Day fireworks show just ended. I remembered the crowds from last year and how you had to get there hours ahead to get a decent place, so I decided to watch the show from home this time around.
Disclaimer: my dinky camera doesn't like the night so, out of 50+ shots, I only got 4 decent ones.
The show lasted a good half hour. Here's a clip of the last minute of the show:
Call me a nerd but I thought the most interesting part of the whole thing was the very end where you can really notice how it takes at least a good 3 or 4 seconds for the sound to get to you. By the way, the people hollering are my French neighbors on my street, who are normally very quiet.
Feu d'artifice du 14 juillet 2011 : l'intégrale par mairiedeparis
This year's Bastille Day fireworks show just ended. I remembered the crowds from last year and how you had to get there hours ahead to get a decent place, so I decided to watch the show from home this time around.
Disclaimer: my dinky camera doesn't like the night so, out of 50+ shots, I only got 4 decent ones.
The show lasted a good half hour. Here's a clip of the last minute of the show:
Call me a nerd but I thought the most interesting part of the whole thing was the very end where you can really notice how it takes at least a good 3 or 4 seconds for the sound to get to you. By the way, the people hollering are my French neighbors on my street, who are normally very quiet.
There goes the neighborhood...
New Starbucks in the neighborhood. As if Paris doesn't already have enough cafés. Well, at least it wasn't a McDonald's...
Springtime in Saint Denis
Tomorrow's summer, so here's some pics to remember this spring by. No exotic locations this time. These were all taken within a mile from the office during my daily post-lunch stroll. Maybe that does make them unusual since Saint Denis isn't exactly the pretty of cities...
Complete album:
Complete album:
London
Finally visited London. It was only a day trip, but I still managed to visit most of the major landmarks.
St Paul's Cathedral
Big Ben
Buckingham Palace (rather bland-looking considering it's the queen's home - no match for Versailles)
Piccadilly Circus (not nearly as big as I imagined - it's no Times Square)
London Eye (tempting but not worth the money according to some sources)
Tower of London (Beheadings "R" Us)
Tower Bridge (which I had always thought to be London Bridge)
Trafalgar Square (that place with the big lions)
The Globe Theatre (not the original one built by Shakespeare - that one burned down)
Westminster Abbey (where William and Kate will have their lovely wedding)
Covent Garden (old marketplace turned into a shopping district)
The Gherkin (my favorite building since I saw it once on an issue of Architectural Record)
By the way, my definition of visited is "stopped for a second outside to take a picture." I actually didn't have time to go into any of them.
Lovely city, but extremely confusing. Its layout is a mess and the fact that they drive on the wrong side of the road doesn't help at all.
Handy tip for the tourist: "Look Right" "Look Left"
Amazing city overall with tons of stuff to do. Very different from Paris (and much bigger too). I will definitely have to make another trip since one day isn't nearly enough to see everything. Besides, I was sore for days after busting myself biking around the city all day. But if you're crazy like me, you can still have a go at it: Frommer's One Day in London (note: 10 Downing Street is kind of a letdown since they don't let you get close and you can't really see anything from the gates).
Album:
Winter in Paris - Champs Élysées
The city dresses up Champs Élysées every winter. I didn't get to see it last year, so I made sure to check it out this time around. It feels so different from LA this time of the year.
A Christmas market was set up along the boulevard as well. It happens every year but somehow I didn't find out until recently. I was captivated by the Russian nesting dolls...
...as well as the abundant food.
Another novelty item: hot wine...
...I didn't dare to try it though. I chickened out and went with vodka instead.
The highlight of the evening was when I came home and discovered this gem:
Isn't she giving me some major evil eye?
Link to the album:
A Christmas market was set up along the boulevard as well. It happens every year but somehow I didn't find out until recently. I was captivated by the Russian nesting dolls...
...as well as the abundant food.
Another novelty item: hot wine...
...I didn't dare to try it though. I chickened out and went with vodka instead.
The highlight of the evening was when I came home and discovered this gem:
Isn't she giving me some major evil eye?
Link to the album:
Leonardo da Vinci in Venice
I was roaming the streets of Venice and somehow found myself in Campo San Barnaba, where the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit was happening.
A lot of his inventions were about flying, like this giant glider and helicopter.
But it turns out that da Vinci came out with a lot of other stuff too, from weapons like machine guns and warships...
...to musical instruments like this dragonhead citar.
Link to the album:
Weekend in Venice
Just came back from a 3 day weekend in Venice. It took six hours door-to-door each way, but it was well worth the trouble. This was actually the first time I've been out of the country since I landed in France two years ago. Here are some of my best shots from the trip. Blogger can't handle all my pictures, so I put links to each of the albums below.
My favorite part of Venice were the masks. There are Chinese copies everywhere, so it was real tough to find authentic ones at first. But after looking at a dozen or more stores, I got to the point that I could tell them apart. Take these gold leaf plated ones for instance. The big one at the top goes for over 500€.
Link to the album:
Venice is, of course, best known for its canals. You literally can't take a bad picture in Venice. Just point anywhere, shoot, and Presto! There's your desktop background.
Link to the album:
Next are probably Venice's gondolas. They're about as romantic as things get (right after proposing at the Eiffel Tower). Great way to light up your romance, if you can afford it (they're like a hundred bucks a ride).
Link to the album:
Venice was apparently and empire that ruled the seas once upon a time, and Piazza San Marco was the heart of it. The whole place just reeks of power and money.
The Piazza was kind of a bummer since they were doing renovations and there was scaffolding all over the place. Completely ruined the view. I might have to go back just so I can get a decent shot.
Link to the album:
Other than the boats on the canals, Venetians get around the city entirely on foot. I thought living in Paris would have trained me for all that walking, but I was so wrong. My feet still hurt.
The city is truly a labyrinth of tiny passages. Some streets are barely wide enough for a person to pass thru. You could probably shake hands with your neighbor across the street from your window. There are some parks here and there that are a bit bigger and give you some much needed breathing room.
A fair was going on in one of the neighborhoods when I was in town. I tried a Fritelle for the first time (it's like a churro, but round). Delicious, but I had to skip lunch to compensate.
Link to the album:
Venice has been known for its glass for centuries. The guidebook said that a long time ago they moved all the factories and the glass blowers to the island of Murano to keep their trade secrets safe. Authentic Venetian glass still comes from this island (and it's super expensive).
One of the glass factories was open even though it was Sunday, so I had a chance to see their work. The glass blower took a glob of molten glass at almost 3000°F and made a little vase out of it. No PPE like gloves or goggles or anything by the way. Safety Violation! Where's my SOR form?
Link to the album:
My last stop was the island of Burano, which is known for its lace making and its colorful houses. It reminded me of La Boca in Buenos Aires (but way classier).
Here's another famous site of Burano: its leaning bell tower. Google says it leans 5 degrees, just like the world renowned tower of Pisa.
Link to the album:
It was a great trip overall. Venice is one of the most beautiful cities I've seen so far (although I still think Paris is better).
Here's a link to all of the pictures:
My favorite part of Venice were the masks. There are Chinese copies everywhere, so it was real tough to find authentic ones at first. But after looking at a dozen or more stores, I got to the point that I could tell them apart. Take these gold leaf plated ones for instance. The big one at the top goes for over 500€.
After combing through the entire city, I finally found this little store in Dorsoduro that had exactly what I was looking for. All the masks were hand made right on site out the workshop across the backyard. Take a look at the showroom:
Link to the album:
Venice is, of course, best known for its canals. You literally can't take a bad picture in Venice. Just point anywhere, shoot, and Presto! There's your desktop background.
Link to the album:
Next are probably Venice's gondolas. They're about as romantic as things get (right after proposing at the Eiffel Tower). Great way to light up your romance, if you can afford it (they're like a hundred bucks a ride).
Link to the album:
Venice was apparently and empire that ruled the seas once upon a time, and Piazza San Marco was the heart of it. The whole place just reeks of power and money.
The Piazza was kind of a bummer since they were doing renovations and there was scaffolding all over the place. Completely ruined the view. I might have to go back just so I can get a decent shot.
Link to the album:
Other than the boats on the canals, Venetians get around the city entirely on foot. I thought living in Paris would have trained me for all that walking, but I was so wrong. My feet still hurt.
The city is truly a labyrinth of tiny passages. Some streets are barely wide enough for a person to pass thru. You could probably shake hands with your neighbor across the street from your window. There are some parks here and there that are a bit bigger and give you some much needed breathing room.
A fair was going on in one of the neighborhoods when I was in town. I tried a Fritelle for the first time (it's like a churro, but round). Delicious, but I had to skip lunch to compensate.
Link to the album:
Venice has been known for its glass for centuries. The guidebook said that a long time ago they moved all the factories and the glass blowers to the island of Murano to keep their trade secrets safe. Authentic Venetian glass still comes from this island (and it's super expensive).
One of the glass factories was open even though it was Sunday, so I had a chance to see their work. The glass blower took a glob of molten glass at almost 3000°F and made a little vase out of it. No PPE like gloves or goggles or anything by the way. Safety Violation! Where's my SOR form?
Link to the album:
My last stop was the island of Burano, which is known for its lace making and its colorful houses. It reminded me of La Boca in Buenos Aires (but way classier).
Here's another famous site of Burano: its leaning bell tower. Google says it leans 5 degrees, just like the world renowned tower of Pisa.
Link to the album:
It was a great trip overall. Venice is one of the most beautiful cities I've seen so far (although I still think Paris is better).
Here's a link to all of the pictures:
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