The Audubon Room, rue Dauphine, French quarter, New Orleans © Tara Bradford. Click to view detail.
The architecture, the car, the history: echoes of another era...
"Really, each era has its own false nostalgia. We all put a picket fence up around something. For my generation it was the '50s and for other generations it will be something else. Change is scary for everyone, as is complexity, contradiction and an uncertain future." - Gary Ross, film director
Unlike the crazy snow last month, so far in February we've had only light dustings of snow.
It's been snowing all day, but not much is sticking.
A little snow doesn't slow the trains.
"Our" canal - viewed from my office balcony - is only partially frozen. All photographs © Tara Bradford.
Thinking of everyone living in the Northeastern United States, where heavy snow and blizzard conditions are presenting numerous challenges! Bundle up! Hope you're warm and safe.
Interesting reading - snowbound or not!:
How the Post Office made America
Guidelines for internships and volunteer work (written by my uncle!)
The Life and Afterlife of Aaron Schwartz
Five Broken Cameras
I hope you have the opportunity to see the Oscar-nominated documentary Five Broken Cameras. I've mentioned it before, but it bears repeating. Five Broken Cameras truly is an extraordinary account of peaceful resistance against Israeli settlements encroaching on Palestinian land. This is a story close to my heart as a journalist, having lived and worked in the region for years.
The film was made by Palestinian Emad Burnat and Israeli Guy Davidi. It won the World Cinema Directing Award: Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival. Five Broken Cameras is an unembellished chronicle of family life and how children are affected by conflict.
Vintage photographs
I collect black-and-white vintage photographs and am lucky to have an Henri Cartier-Bresson original, as well as original photographs by Christian Lemaire, Dorothea Lange, Samuel Gottscho and an Edward Curtis portrait (plus some more modern signed photographs by Peter Turnley). This site presents some fascinating images from the Indian Sub-Continent. And have you seen Photographium? I could spent hours looking at these historical photographs.
Image of silver screen icon Marilyn Monroe - who starred in the 1955 Billy Wilder film "The Seven Year Itch" - from fanpop.com.
No, it's not what you think. Today I'm celebrating seven years of blogging: 2,365 posts! That's a lot of words and images. Along the way I've made some wonderful friends. Blogging also reignited my work as a photographer, after years of focusing solely on writing.
Blogging has changed tremendously in the seven years since I began Paris Parfait. Within the past couple of years, I've noticed more and more "copycat" or sponsored articles and less original content - which defeats the whole purpose of blogging, in my view.
I am a rebel: I don't want to follow trends; host gimmicky giveaways or publish someone else's articles promoting a product or event. To me, that's advertising. And the only ads you'll see on my blog are restricted to the sidebar. Those few ads bring in just about enough revenue to cover annual blog-hosting fees.
Readers may come and go, but this space will remain my original work (with the rare exception, i.e. the photo above). I'll continue to tell stories, whether through words, images or both. I'll keep writing about people, places and things that interest me. I'll continue to post my own photographs and voice my opinions on issues that matter.
I'll continue to welcome your comments, exchanges of ideas and constructive criticism. But I won't try to be something I'm not, no matter how an increasingly profit-driven blogosphere may evolve. I believe that in the long run, individuality, creativity and critical thinking always triumph over flash-in-a-pan fads.
Thank you for your loyal readership and support these past seven years. You've made such a positive impact on my life, for which I will be forever grateful. I hope you'll continue to be entertained, informed and/or challenged when visiting here.
French glass negatives from 1910 and 1914 framed against the window in my home office. Light filters through, illuminating the images. One of the photos shows a French family in formal dress inside a Native American tepee - in France!
Today my favorite item in my typography-mad office - the alphabet chest - is featured in Where Women Create. I've been a fan since getting a signed copy of Where Women Create in Savannah, Ga. in 2005. It's still one of my go-to books for inspiration. So it's an honor to have my office featured on their website.
This weekend we're off to England to see family. Hope you have a wonderful weekend, filled with delights. And to all the moms out there - including my own amazing mother, Cherie - Happy Mother's Day!
An outdoor display at a store in Delft, Zuid-Holland.
At long last it's Friday! And here are some fun links found while browsing blogs and media:
Marrakesh by Design and a tiny little film
A short film featuring Dior at Versailles
Est magazine's first birthday issue
A Frenchwoman attempts to understand Brooklyn hipsters
Bon weekend, les tous!
The 10th-century St. Saulve Abbey in the charming medieval city of Montreuil-sur-Mer, France. Read some of my previous posts about this walled city that inspired Victor Hugo's book Les Miserables here, here, here, here and here.
Amidst seasonal decay...
...a sculptural beauty remains.
...while extravagant blooms hint of spring...
...heads bow, preparing to blossom...
...and trees awaken from their slumber.
The old and the new artfully co-exist, as seasons merge.
Photos taken Tuesday in our garden and a flowerbox on the deck, with the canal beyond. Click to enlarge.
This week I've been clearing post-winter storm debris from the canal. As homeowners living along a canal, we're tasked with keeping the canal clear (fish live in the canal and devour mosquito larvae), as well as looking after the lily pads! While the local council takes care of all major canal maintenance, we are responsible for looking after the section adjacent to our property.
Meanwhile, we're still busy with painters, electricians and a hundred small tasks involved in making the house a home. It is a modern house, so by the time I'm finished, it will have a cleaner, simpler look than our previous house in Holland or our Paris apartment.
This year I've been influenced by the Danish modern aesthetic of the television series Borgen. I'm particularly obsessed with Louis Poulsen lighting! Over the next couple of months, I'll be selling some lovely French furniture and collectibles to an antiques dealer in Amsterdam. I also plan to re-open my etsy shop to offer smaller items from my private collections. Stay tuned!
Eclectic style
If you haven't seen my friend Maryam and her husband Chris's gorgeous home in the April issue of Elle Decor, check it out - so beautiful! It is bursting with personality and creativity, not to mention Maryam's exotic collections! You can also pre-order a copy of Maryam's book Marrakesh by Design here, here or here. And her new shop Red Thread Souk is online; you can get your own vintage rug or Moroccan wedding blanket. I have (ahem) a few of the latter and can attest that they are gorgeous, not to mention super-stylish!
Miniature garden gnomes at a brocante at Chatou, France.
IF there's no train strike tomorrow morning, I'm off to Paris. Don't these garden gnomes remind you of Amelie? That film makes me smile, no matter how many times I watch it.
Back later this week with photos. Au revoir!
A manmade salmon stream or "vispassage," Hagestein, Holland. Click photos to view detail.
Now-defunct flood gates and waterworks at Hagestein.
During the holidays, I watched a film my daughter and I saw in London when she was a child. "The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is based on the C.S. Lewis children's book. The story features various moral dilemmas, pitting hope against fear; light against dark; good against evil.
As in every such film, there is a moment when the music swells; when the hero and his friends are in great jeopardy and all appears lost. The hero looks around for a lifeline, but no help is forthcoming. So he summons his courage and rushes in anyway. He does the right thing.
Heros and villains
For a long time, I believed certain politicians would do the right thing; that the moral imperative of elected public office took precedence over greed and power. Lately I have accepted that this was a naive concept, based purely on optimism. Yes, a handful of good men and women remain in public office, determined to help their constituents. But their numbers are dwindling. In the United States (and Great Britain), politics has become a cynical game or blood sport, funded by self-interested corporations and unholy business alliances empowered by Citizens United. This winner-take-all approach benefits only the wealthy 1 percent of the population, while problems of the 99% fester, gathering pace.
It's no wonder the OccupyWallStreet movement has garnered enthusiasm and widespread participation from diverse coalitions and Americans of all ages and faiths. Despite the often-heroic ongoing efforts of protesters in cities and communities worldwide, politicians remain largely dismissive of the Occupy movement. They don't want to hear about issues affecting ordinary people's lives. No, career politicians are much more interested in 1) courting the wealthy to fund their re-election campaigns and 2) saying anything - even if this means completely reversing course from previous statements and policy positions - to satisfy right-wing voters.
With few exceptions, Republican "Party of No" politicians have gone out of their way to erode environmental and consumer protections; to undermine or strip women's reproductive rights and dismantle education and road-and-bridge maintenance programs. In Alabama, inhumane anti-immigrant legislation has directly impacted even foreign business owners responsible for hundreds of local jobs.
Politics over principle
Worst of all, the woefully-ineffective US Congress seeded a defense bill - the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) - with draconian measures that would remove our habeas corpus rights. In effect this bill would allow the military to arrest and detain anyone suspected of "terrorism" ties or links without charge, legal representation or trial. Even the Bush administration, with all its human rights abuses, never attempted such an outrageous civil liberties grab.
The NDAA makes a mockery of justice, abolishing due process rights in a manner previously unseen in American government. President Obama - who is a Constitutional lawyer - promised he would veto a NDAA bill including such extreme measures. But like so many other promises publicly made and broken, he chose politics over principle and signed it anyway - on New Year's Eve, while the nation and the media were distracted.
His "signing statement" is a litany of excuses, suggesting 'I'm a nice guy, so don't worry.' Even if the president's claim - that he personally won't apply the NDAA to American citizens - is genuine, the law is enshrined for another president to enforce and/or abuse.
The American Civil Liberties Union said President Obama "will forever be known as the president who signed indefinite detention without charge or trial into law. The statute is particularly dangerous because it has no temporal or geographic limitations and can be used by this and future presidents to militarily detain people captured far from any battlefield.” Amnesty International has joined other human rights groups in condemning the NDAA measures that "could spell indefinite detention without a hearing, keep Guantanamo open and hinder fair trials."
The hope and expectation is that the NDAA will be challenged before the US Supreme Court and struck down as unconstitutional. Meanwhile, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has introduced the Due Process Guarantee Act of 2011, legislation to undo the NDAA's extreme provisions. The act amends the Non-Detention Act of 1971, providing that Congressional authorization for the use of military force does not authorize indefinite detention—without charge or trial—of U.S. citizens who are apprehended domestically.
Please urge your Senators to remedy this wrong. Just click here -- it'll take only a few seconds.
"They don't make 'em like they used to..." Classic beauty, New Orleans. Click photo to enlarge.
The glitz, the glamour
and plush leather seats for you;
Hortensia blooms in muted colours.
On today's radar:
Putlizer Prize-winner Jhumpa Lahiri: Trading stories
Inside Libya's notorious Abu Salim prison. Two brave men I knew are believed to have been murdered in the prison massacre. They are mentioned in my 2006 poem Dead or disappeared.
Palestinians say they are victims of collective punishment, as the pro-Israeli US Congress withdraws aid to the West Bank and Gaza. The move follows the Palestinian's president's statehood request to the United Nations.
Labor unions plan to join Occupy Wall Street protests. And you can send pizza to protesters at Liberty Square!
If you're a fan of the late singer Ella Fitzgerald and the Paris-based Hermes, act fast to bid on Miss Fitzgerald's handbag at auction in New Orleans.
The contrarians: 18th-century furnishings in a Chicago apartment.
This video filmed in Paris is achingly beautiful in its wistfulness.
Reflection in a traffic mirror at Montreuil-sur-Mer, France. Victor Hugo's novel Les Miserables is said to have been inspired by his September 1837 visit to Montreuil-sur-Mer.
Each year, Hugo's Les Miserables is performed in an outdoor son et lumière show at the end of July and beginning of August.
The distinctive late 18th-century and early 19th-century architecture and cobblestoned streets remain largely unchanged from Hugo's day.
The late-afternoon light highlights the brickwork and crooked shutters. Flower-filled window boxes are de rigueur in this "ville fleurie."
House numbers at the second-floor level.
One of Montreuil-sur-Mer's oldest hotels.
Photo taken from steps leading from the ramparts down to a main street.
The 11th-century St. Saulve Abbey, photographed in early morning light Sept. 2, 2011 from a window at L'Hermitage.
"I met in the street a very poor young man who was in love. His hat was old, his coat worn, his cloak was out at the elbows, the water passed through his shoes - and the stars through his soul." - Victor Hugo
In Delft, the Netherlands, the Nieuwe Kerk church tower is reflected in a large directional compass in the center of Market Square.
If you saw the film Girl with a Pearl Earring, you may remember that Griet - the character played by American actress Scarlett Johannson - paused for a moment on this spot, then walked in the direction of the Nieuwe Kerk. Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer's home was on the street opposite the church.
The church's tower was restored, after a lightning strike on May 3rd, 1536. The resulting blaze destroyed the tower, organ, bells and stained glass windows. Wind spread flames to hundreds of timber homes and businesses west of the church. On October 12th, 1654 a gunpowder explosion razed parts of the city.
The ornate Town Hall, also seen in Girl with a Pearl Earring's opening moments. The film was based on a book by Tracy Chevalier. The original Girl with a Pearl Earring painting (1665) is at Koninklijk Kabinet van Schilderijen Mauritshuis, The Hague.
The Town Hall at dusk.
This building is on the Oude Langedijk, directly across the street from the church. It stands on the site of Johannes Vermeer's home. Vermeer lived and worked in Delft all his life (1632 - 1675). His paintings often depicted people going about their daily lives. An image of one of my favourites, The Little Street, is part of the online Google Art Project.
The church tower is reflected in the windows of the same building.
The church tower at night.
Across the market square is Vermeer Centrum, a museum dedicated to Johannes Vermeer's life and work. The building is on the site of the Guild of Saint Luke, a trade association for painters, of which Vermeer was a member. Curiously, not a single original Vermeer painting remains in Delft, although several are displayed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
A stone plaque marking Johannes Vermeer's final resting place in the Protestant Oude Kerk. Built in 1240, it is the oldest church in Delft.
The church's design features raditional arches and 27 stained-glass windows, as well as the sculpted pulpit from 1548.
Detail of a 19th-century hand-carved walnut pulpit, featuring the acanthus leaf.
Joep Nicolas made 25 of the church's 27 historical windows. After his death, a relative completed the last two vitrines.
While many windows depict stories from the Bible, some show reflect Dutch history and key figures of the House of Orange.
The church's brick exterior.
An arched passage.
Oude Kerk's leaning bell tower.
The leaning tower long has been the subject of debate among Delft residents, concerned about its structural engineering and stability.
London skyline accented by construction cranes, as viewed from the South Bank. As always, click photos to view detail.
Last week I was in London for photo shoots and spent some time at the lively South Bank, as well as the Tate Modern. If you get a chance, go see Taryn Simon's intriguing exhibition "A Living Man Declared Dead and Other Chapters" at the Tate, as well as the documentary photography exhibit currently underway.
Lunch break.
Busy bridge at Embankment.
Pedestrian bridge leading from St. Paul's Cathedral to the Tate Modern.
Sprial metal staircase at shops near Blackfriars.
Office and residential buildings. A scene in the movie Love Actually was filmed in the courtyard.
Building sandcastles.
Gabriel's Wharf, with bespoke shops and fun restaurants. My friend Tracy and I had dinner here one evening. When I lived in London, Gabriel's Wharf was a favourite spot to meet for lunch.
A weathered boat is part of the Festival of Britain installation.
An appeal to save the albatross.
The ever-popular carousel.
Traditional fish and chips is still beloved by Brits and tourists alike.
As part of the Festival of Britain, a series of beach huts feature small exhibits about Britain's history.
This hut contains bottles of sand from various British beaches.
William Folkestone discovered that blood systematically circulates through the body.
A model ship and books about the sea are the focus of this beach hut.
A striped hut among a dozen or so lining the South Bank of the River Thames.
More stripes.
Experts provide advice on sailing to curious students.
Just in case...
Sign of the times.
Beneath the bridge.
The London Eye, viewed from Westminster Bridge.
The Eye viewed from South Bank later in the afternoon.
This guy and his partner in native costume danced for tourists.
He noticed me taking pictures and turned around and posed.
A Charlie Chaplin imitator.
Mickey Mouse lost his head.
Cultural contrasts: Spiderman and Arabic women and their children out for an afternoon stroll.
Hmm...he's not too sure about shaking hands.
A couple dressed in medieval costume.
The horizon's not crooked; the building is on an incline.
Parliament as seen from South Bank.
The spires of Westminster in silhouette behind scaffolding.
Big Ben's elegant clockface.
All photos taken with the Leica M9 and Summilux 50 mm f2 lens.
Sign on shop door, Delft, Holland, loosely translated to "But where is the sun?" That's certainly the question in Paris today, which is dark, rainy and cold.
17th-century buildings and trees reflected in a canal, Delft.
Swans seeking sustenance.
The same canal, a bridge and bikes.
Bikes lined up along another canal in Delft.
No matter the weather in your part of the world, hope your Sunday is lovely!
P.S. If you're a fan of photography and film, you might like The new golden age of documentary. And if you're American - or just interested in the nation's trajectory - this is a sobering read.
Vintage movie camera at a brocante in Chatou, France.
Today I have been too busy having fun and creating memories to take a single photo. And now I'm too exhausted to write! Hope you've been making some lovely memories of your own during this once-in-a-century day.
Horse sculpture near The Sculpture Park, Churt, England.
Europe's biggest horseracing event begins Saturday, Oct. 2 at Longchamp. The Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 2010 features some of the world's top thoroughbreds competing in races beginning Saturday and culminating Sunday afternoon with the thrilling Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
The pre-race favourite is the three-year-old Behkabad, owned by the Aga Khan, trained by Jean-Claude Roget and ridden by French jockey Christophe Lemaire.
Another strong contender for the Arc title is Fame and Glory, trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Irish jockey Johnny Murtagh. Workforce, trained by Sir Michael Stoute is also expected to do well Sunday.
Tickets are available at the gate at Hippodrome de Longchamp in the Bois de Boulogne, Paris. Entry to Saturday's events is 4 euros per person. Tickets for Sunday's races are 8 euros each. Admission is free for ladies wearing a hat and students under 18 and children.
For more information, visit France Galop's website, featuring a short film capturing the exciting atmosphere of the 2009 Arc. For my photos from the previous Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, go here.
Geraniums in window boxes reflected through frosted glass, Delft, Holland.
Have you seen the new shelter magazine Rue? Check it out for Jamie Beck's beautiful photographs of an eventful day with interior designer Vicente Wolf. Photos of Victoria of the blog SFGirlbyBay in her charming abode are also featured in Rue's premier issue.
I had planned to be in London this week, with an afternoon at Liberty fawning over Manolo Blanik's new collection and visiting the V&A's special installations for London Fashion Week. Instead, I've been home fighting a bug/virus David brought home from China.
I've seen two unusual DVDs: the British film Fleur du Desert about the extraordinary journey of Waris Dirie and the Danish film After the wedding. Both are well worth your time. Besides processing hundreds of photos, I've been reading books at lightning speed, so there are fewer books to move. With every item that goes out of the apartment, I feel the burden of SO MUCH STUFF ease.
Speaking of possessions, Danielle La Porte tackles this loaded topic in a guest post today at Bindu Wiles.
Back soon with a special post about Patti Digh's new book Four World Self Help.
Wrought-iron patio entrance with Islamic symbols, Alcazar de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
The tragedy of September 11th haunts many of us, as evidenced in various memorial ceremonies and reams of copy in publications around the world. But watching media reports of hysterical - and ill-informed - anti-mosque protests in New York; Newt Gingrich's release of a shockingly paranoid, fear-mongering and fact-challenged film and Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck's cynical money-making appearance at a "patriot" meeting Saturday, I was reminded of the poet Khalil Gibran's philosophy:
"The true wealth of a nation lies not in its gold or silver but in its learning, wisdom and in the uprightness of its sons."
Either our coffers are running low or the crazy fringe elements of our society are too noisily promoting intolerance, trying to drown out voices of reason. These increasingly unhinged people do not speak for us. In the United States, our Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and justice for all, not just for special interest groups trying to line their pockets by manipulating emotions and inciting violence and hate.
It is my hope and prayer that we make a sincere effort to listen and learn from one another, no matter our faith, creed or country of origin. For all our sakes, cooler heads must prevail.
"May the Force be with you."
Sword play with "Darth Vader," South Bank, London.
"Donald Duck" taking a break in the heat.
Moving statue.
A bow from a gentleman.
A child's curiosity: is he real?
Hope your weekend has been filled with curiosity and adventure!
Behind the scenes at the Tour de France festivities today on the Champs Elysees. All photos by David Holmes.
Contrasts.
Colourful fun in advertising.
Dapper dresser.
Charmed.
Spanish supporters discuss the Tour.
Draped in the Spanish flag in honour of Tour de France winner Alberto Contador.
Avoiding the sun, with a smile.
En famille.
A child's bicycle.
Flags and banners.
Pre-race caravan of Tour de France sponsors.
Caravan participants.
Having fun while working.
Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz took advantage of publicity surrounding the Tour de France to promote their new film, Night and Day. The American actors posed with Alberto Contador on the winner's podium Saturday at Bordeaux.
Merchandising is a big part of the Tour de France hullabaloo. More photos to follow in another post.
Remember the film Elephant Walk, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Finch and Dana Andrews? It was filmed in Colombo, Sri Lanka and featured footage of elephants stampeding. This leafy artist's beauty is part of the Elephant Parade London 2010.
Children play on a white elephant's platform at Southbank, London.
Pyramids.
An Egyptian mummy stands nearby.
This little girl's limbo skills earned the admiration of her friends.
And she wowed them again!
Whatever your sport of the moment, hope you enjoy your weekend.
Bonjour les tous! You may have noticed a lack of regular blogging lately at Paris Parfait. That's because May is a popular month for visitors to Paris. I've been a mad social butterfly, flitting from one rendezvous to another with blogging friends. Within the last ten days, have hosted three small dinner parties and been all over town for lunches, walks, brocantes, shopping and tea(s). What a treat it has been!
I've been spending lots of time with my dear friends Lee Renninger, Susan Gardner Creamer and Di Overton (all have been to Paris several times). I also had the good fortune to meet the fabulous Claudia Strasser - and her lovely friend, also named Claudia - for the first time.
In 1997, I was living in San Francisco, when I picked up a copy of Claudia's book The Paris Apartment at a bookstore in Monterey. Never did I dream I'd someday live in my own Paris apartment - and meet Claudia in Paris! On Tuesday, Di and I had a couple of hours of non-stop conversation with the two Claudias at Merci's cozy book-lined cafe. Such fun!
Claudia now lives in sunny Miami, writes the eye-candy-packed blog The Paris Apartment and often brings clients to Paris to shop for their apartments, whether a holiday home in Paris or elsewhere. Her friend Claudia Tessler is up to all sorts of philanthropic and green projects in New York. Both women are formidable (in the best, French sense).
Earlier that morning, Di and I had tea at Merci, before heading to the Antiquites Brocante at Place de la Bastille. It was rainy and cold and I was wearing a thin top and lightweight coat, which wasn't helped by a partially-collapsed umbrella. We didn't last long at the outdoor venue, before heading to lunch. I did manage to find a rare and beautiful Tibetan book of prayers at Bastille, but the grey miserable weather dampened the urge to browse (probably a good thing).
After meeting the Claudias, Di and I went shopping for dinner ingredients. Later we were joined by Di's partner Harvey and their daughter Charlotte for lemon chicken, whipped up by the resident chef. Before and after dinner, we were riveted to BBC coverage of events related to the UK election: Prime Minister Gordon Brown resigning and David Cameron taking office, after agreeing to a full coalition with Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats. It's the first time the UK has had a coalition government since World War II! Interesting times, indeed.
These weeks of socialising have come at a price: I have numerous projects piled up, vying for attention. Am working on those now, as this weekend we head to Amsterdam to see friends and explore areas in which to live. Consequently, blogging again will be sporadic for a few days. But I expect to have lots of news and photos to share upon my return late next week. And two more blogging buddies will arrive!
Meanwhile, the brocante at Bastille continues from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Sunday. Stalls are lined up on both sides of the Canal St. Martin. If you're lucky enough to be in Paris, don't miss the chance for incredible antiques and vintage collectibles! Tickets are available at the door.
Photos at Merci, Paris, 2009.
P.S. El Secreto de sus Ojos - The Secret in their Eyes - is a must-see! After reading reviews for the award-winning film (including a 2010 Oscar for Best Foreign Film), I discovered it hadn't yet been released in Europe. So I ordered the DVD from Argentina, in Spanish (with English subtitles). It's brilliant - interweaving a dark mystery and a poignant story of love too long delayed.
Bridge of Aspiration, Royal Ballet, Covent Garden, London.
Have you seen the delightful film Man on Wire? It is the thrilling tale of Frenchman Phillipe Petit's 1974 stunning wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. The story is fascinating, not only because Petit made history, but because he took a huge goal that seemed impossible and step-by-step - and with the help of his friends - made it happen. By sheer will, determination, courage and imagination, he spun his gossamer dreams into reality.
Each of us has a dream that we actively pursue or one hovering at the edge of our subconscious; perhaps we try to suppress it, concerned about what others may think. Maybe we worry that we're too old; too tired; too unprepared. Negative thoughts that we're not "good enough" are always ready to undermine any tentative progress. But the dream stubbornly persists, nevertheless. It tugs at our heartstrings and infiltrates our thoughts. We have flashes of wistfulness, wondering, "what if?" We have triumphant moments that seem to move us closer to our desire; at other times, setbacks - no matter how minor - leave us feeling confused and disoriented. And we wonder if the outcome is worth the effort.
Well I suggest to you, any obstacles that may appear are temporary. We are powerful. We have capabilities and strengths far beyond our imagination. We are blessed with magic and possibility. We may try to suppress the light we carry within us - for fear of outshining others - but that does no one any favors. Each of us has a purpose on this earth; a unique talent; a special gift.
"If you bring forth what is within you,
What you bring forth will save you.
If you do not bring forth what is within you,
What you do not bring forth will destroy you." —Jesus, from The Gospel According to Thomas
In the early years of my childhood, my family attended a Southern Baptist Church. The minister shouted terrifying hellfire and brimstone sermons, in contrast to the soothing songs we sang. One that lingers in my memory is This Little Light of Mine. An excerpt:
"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine...
...Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm going to let it shine. Let it shine, all the time, let it shine..." In case you haven't guessed, my theme word for the year is "light." Light as bright as the eyes can stand: sparkling, dazzling, intense light, sometimes filtered in shadow or softened to a candle's glow. Through writing and photography, I plan to shine the spotlight on people, places and issues of interest in Paris, as well as in my travels. Won't you join me?
The Treasury became world-famous after its role in the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
While I have visited Petra many times over the years, I always feel overwhelmed by its magnificent beauty and stunning light. On this visit, we arrived just after 6 a.m. and stayed until noon. The previous evening, we witnessed the sun setting over the mountains.
Shades of brown, peach and cream appear on the ceilings and columns of deep caves in Petra.
Gorgeous swirls of colour in natural rock formations.
My daughter Jordana is a blur of motion while climbing ancient steps in this vast former Nabatean city. Join us on a Journey to Jordan March 1 -8 and you can see the stunning Petra valley for yourself. Plus, you'll have the benefit of landscape photography instruction from Zohrab, Jordan's premier photographer. Zohrab is the author of ten photography books. He also was the personal photographer for the late King Hussein of Jordan.
Check back later for many more photos of Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Petra is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Iconic portrait and mannequin, Merci, Paris.
Paris Photo 2009 begins Thursday at Carrousel du Louvre. Photographic work from Arab countries and Iran will be in the spotlight. The event continues through Nov. 22nd. For more information, go here.
Fall's changing leaves, Oxford, England.
Have just spent two lovely weeks in the UK, visiting Oxford, Guildford, Chichester and various points along the South Coast. Went antiquing (didn't buy a thing, although sorely tempted by an Italian gilt sofa); shopping (coats, clothes, boots and books and an extra bag to get it all home) and visited family. At a cozy little inn in Rigby (believe it or not!) where Lord Nelson stayed en route to the Naval fleet at Portsmouth, David and I ran into an old (French) friend from Paris.
We saw a colourful circus (sadly, rain prevented photographs) and stunning Roman mosaics - the Fishbourne Roman Palace - unearthed in an archelogical dig in the 1960s. We visited the historic Arundel Castle, climbing dozens of narrow, steep stone steps through winding passages to the Castle Keep. It was well worth the trek for sweeping views of the surrounding town and countryside. We toured the castle's interior rooms (where The Young Victoria was filmed earlier this year), visited two chapels and walked in the landscaped Collector Earl's Garden.
We spent a week at a charming slope-roofed cottage near Merston, with the bonus of a flock of nearly 100 sheep in a pasture just ten feet away. I read books, watched documentaries and snapped photos of the sheep and resident roosters, while David went bird-watching. We visited an ancient graveyard and walked along the rocky seashore. It was peaceful and beautiful - but it took only two days back in Paris for me to become stressed, with computer issues, deadlines galore and some long-distance family drama.
I have hundreds of photos still to process (to resize, to discourage theft). Have decided to stop watermarking my images, after reading a Wired article ridiculing this practice. I also have email to answer and your blogs to read. Back soon with more photos and stories.
Red leaf-covered building, Oxford.
Flame-coloured trees on the grounds surrounding Arundel Castle.
Remnants of stone building near Arundel Castle.
Painful shoes at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp, Paris.
Time to leave the glamour of Longchamp and come back down to earth. Tyler Perry's personal story brought tears to my eyes. I'm looking forward to seeing Precious, although I expect it will be difficult to watch the abuse. But perhaps this movie - based on Sapphire's book Push - will make people pay attention to nearly-invisible or overlooked people in society, who all too often suffer in silence.
War photography and ethics
I've been reading The Bang-Bang Club written by the acclaimed conflict photographers Greg Marinovich and Jaoa Silva. The book talks about their harrowing experiences, as well as those of their friends and colleagues Ken Oosterbroek, killed by a stay bullet while working and Kevin Carter, who committed suicide weeks after winning a Putlizer Prize for his powerful photograph of a starving child in the Sudan.
"...The picture had caused a sensation. It was being used in posters for raising funds for aid organizations. Papers and magazines around the world had published it and the immediate public reaction was to send money to any humanitarian organization that had an operation in Sudan. The heart-wrenching image of a starving, helpless infant being scrutinized by a vulture had inevitably raised the question, "What happened to the little girl?" and, followed close on that, "What did the photographer do to help her?"
"The barrage of questions had begun to get to Kevin. He could not answer that he had simply left the child there; that the child was not in any direct danger from the vulture, since it is a fact that vultures will never attack anything still showing signs of life. Nor was the child likely to die of starvation, as the feeding-centre, with its ability to administer emergency nutrition, was barely 100 metres away. Kevin at first had told people that he had chased the vulture away and that he had then gone and sat under a tree to cry. He did not know what happened to the child. But the questions kept coming..."
Parts of the book's raw honesty are painful to read. But it's absolutely fascinating to learn more about the dilemmas photojournalists (and print journalists) often face: to engage and try to help in a dire situation or to take the photo, get the story and walk away?
At a photography class in London last month, we discussed this predicament. All of us agreed we'd find it nearly impossible to walk away during a situation in which someone was suffering, without doing what we could to help. Of course there are times when one's own life is in danger and a choice may not be possible.
Recently I was at the French hairdresser, anxious about the way one can never quite pass muster in the intense scrutiny of certain impossibly thin, chic French women. Reading The Bang-Bang Club put it all in perspective, as the women around me chattered and gossiped about trivial things.
Open Shutters: Iraq
Seems silly to be concerned about the opinion of strangers, when far more important things are going on all around us. Open Shutters: Iraq is a new documentary by filmmaker Maysoon Pachachi. It traces the stories of 12 Iraqi women who meet in Damascus to learn photography. They then take their newfound skills and return to Iraq, telling stories with their photographs. Later, they return to Syria to edit their photos and write their stories.
One child even participated in the project, taking photos of her friends. Learn more here and here. The film begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 at the Opera Plaza Cinema in San Francisco.
A book featuring the Open Shutters: Iraq photographs will be released soon.
Poverty and human rights
A new book stresses the link between economic rights and human rights. The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights is written by Irene Khan, the outgoing secretary-general of Amnesty International. In a profile in The Independent, Khan talks about her disillusion with Amnesty's current role in human rights work.
Statue, Westerstraat Market, Amsterdam.
"In our struggle for freedom, truth is the only weapon we possess." - The Dalai Lama.
I've been watching documentaries about Tibet, hoping to travel to the region (Nepal and Dharamsala, India). If you haven't seen Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion, I highly recommend it. Until I saw this film, I had only a vague general knowledge of the Tibet-China conflict. I knew about the thousands of Tibetans who had been killed and the temples, religious shrines and buildings that had been destroyed, but hadn't seen actual footage of the aftermath.
The film features heart-wrenching interviews with monks and nuns who were imprisoned and tortured by the Chinese. It talks about Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger abandoning US funding, support and training of the Tibetan resistance for commerce with China. Basically these men traded human rights and justice for money.
Of the litany of injustices, what struck me most was that the Chinese government - after kidnapping the child the Dalai Lama had identified as his successor - had the audacity to name a surrogate child for the role - this from a Chinese leadership that doesn't even respect Tibetan traditions, religion and freedom. The Dalai Lama responded by calling for a referendum to name his successor, breaking 600 years of religious tradition.
Werner Herzog's film Wheel of Time is another must-see. And BBC's The Lost World of Tibet contains rare archival footage before China's invasion and subsequent attempts to destroy the heart and soul of Tibet, turning it into a psuedo-Chinese state.
Watch Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion on Google video here.
Bride on a bridge, Paris.
If you're a film buff who loves Paris, then you'll appreciate Paris Movie Walks, a new book by Michael Schurmann. The book guides you on ten tours through the city, featuring famous movie locations.
Paris Movie Walks describes filming at Le Grand Colbert for the American film Something's Gotta Give:
"In the restaurant Le Grand Colbert at 2-4 rue Vivienne, Jack Nicholson 'gate-crashes' Diane Keaton's diner-a-deux with Keanu Reeves in one of the key scenes in the Oscar-nominated Something's Gotta Give. The restaurant displays the movie poster alongside its menu in the window and a 2004 newspaper article tells you what life was like for the restaurant's staff during the nine days of shooting and for a time after the movie became such a big success.
"The table where the couple dined - at the wall opposite the entrance - was apparently booked solid for months. What's more, the clients all ordered the same dish. "We serve nothing but chicken, chicken, chicken," the maitre d' complains in the article. He goes on to describe Keanu Reeves as "polite, but distant," while adding rather icily that Diane Keaton "mainly ate in her trailer."
"Jack Nicholson, on the other hand, apparently ordered copious amounts of brandy and was soon best friends with everyone. We also learn that Le Grand Colbert had to increase its portions for the film. Apparently, they were afraid that the American public would question the main characters' wisdom in travelling halfway around the world for a kid's portion of roast chicken."
(Ed. note: Europeans, when traveling to America, are shocked by the huge amounts of food served at restaurants, with a single portion enough for three French people.)
Paris Movie Walks guides you to locations for An American in Paris, Amelie (Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie Poulain), French Kiss, Funny Face, Gigi, The Last Metro, The Bourne Identity, The Devil Wears Prada, La vie en Rose, Marie Antoinette, Moulin Rouge, A Man and a Woman, The Pink Panther, Paris, je t'aime, Sabrina, The Sun Also Rises and many other well-known films.
All 260 pages of Paris Movie Walks are packed with photos, maps and interesting facts about movie-making in France. The book is published by The Intrepid Traveler.
Notre Dame de Grace, Montreuil-sur-Mer, France.
"Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die." - Dwight D. Eisenhower
Today we honour the memory of all those servicemen and women who fought - many sacrificing their lives - in the name of freedom. In practically every town and village in Northern France, the town square is centered by a memorial honouring those soldiers who helped liberate France in World War II, as well as those in fought in WWI and other wars.
While this memorial is religious, thanking "Notre Dame de Grace" for protecting the city in 1939-45, another memorial to soldiers who lost their lives is in the town square (below). Alas, I couldn't get a better angle of the memorial, as cars were parked directly in front of it.
As Western leaders continue to try to justify infringing on our civil liberties "to protect us from terrorists," let us remember Benjamin Franklin's words in 1759 in Philadelphia: "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Taking liberties
If you are interested in law and human rights, you might find the film Taking Liberties well worth your time. It's about events in Great Britain, but the same principles apply around the world.
Bouquet of roses, Merci, Paris.
Piviones and assorted flowers, Merci.
A single blossom, Merci.
Flower boxes in a courtyard, Merci.
Lavender allium, Hotel de Ville, Boulogne-Billancourt.
Window boxes for Claudia's Flowerbox Faceoff, 3rd arrondissement, Paris.
Peony in a teacup, my apartment.
Today the Cannes Film Festival will announce its 2009 prize winners. And the French Open tennis championship begins at Roland Garros, Paris.
Louis-Phillipe scales with the original weights used to measure gold (more weights are in a small compartment beneath the wood piece on the right). I purchased this rare example from Gunnar Pettersson at the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille, as an anniversary present for my husband. Visit Monsieur Pettersson at Stand 514 for many intriguing finds, daily through Sunday, May 17th at Place de la Bastille.
Since returning to Paris, I've been trying to catch up with deadlines and email. Am still feeling very much in the breakdown/breakthrough mode I wrote about recently. So please bear with me, as I try to get back on track. I'm also bothered by a carpal tunnel issue in my left hand, so any posts will be brief.
Meanwhile, some news of note:
The bright and light
The Cannes Film Festival opened and French television has full-blown coverage, with virtually non-stop interviews and photo ops.
Is the "French Elvis" really bidding adieu to his fans?
The dark
Blame the victim. This is just wrong, on so many levels.
A humanitarian disaster is brewing in Sri Lanka.
President Obama, what are you thinking??!! Surely you learned what NOT to do from your predecessor's bad judgment!!
And why is anybody listening to that torture-loving and fear-mongering former vice-president Dick Cheney? Seriously: enough is enough!
Tulip in full bloom, Paris.
"...Take this sinking boat
and ford it home,
we've still got time.
Raise your hopeful voice,
you have a choice;
you make it now..." - Glen Hansard, Falling Slowly
A few weeks ago I was watching Evening, the last film in which Vanessa Redgrave and her daughter Natasha Richardson appeared together. Before the film began, a trailer from Once played, along with Glen Hansard's Oscar-winning song Falling Slowly. The moment I heard the chorus, I burst into tears. You see, for months I've felt I was drifting so far off course, I wasn't sure how to find landfall again.
I've been overwhelmed with myriad expectations and writing deadlines. Even worse, while grappling with two stressful family issues, I have cast my own health and peace of mind aside. As a result, I've become physically - and emotionally - exhausted: barely sleeping, not exercising enough, not eating properly. With rare exception, I've been unable to quiet the thoughts and concerns constantly racing through my head.
Under the best of circumstances, I am hard on myself. While tolerant and forgiving of other's imperfections, I don't always allow myself the same leeway. I'm a perfectionist and that is trying. I always think I can improve on whatever I've created and keep working on it until I exhaust myself and finally just stop - stop writing; stop agonising that whatever I've created isn't perfect. Sometimes I set impossibly high standards for myself that require super-human effort, as well as cooperation from others (which isn't always forthcoming).
Certainly I have been aware that radical change was necessary: signs and portents along the way increasingly have demanded I pay attention. But even contemplating the actions required seemed too difficult, like hands against stone.
This weekend, I remembered vital advice, courtesy of Jen Lee and Jen Lemen: "What you think is a breakdown is really a breakthrough. So push through the hard parts."
On Sunday I took a long walk and thought about the seismic shifts needed to return to my own path - not the one criss-crossed with diversions that others mapped out for me. I remembered the timely message from the Adventurers' Club: "You do realize, Tara, that your batting average is 100% when it comes to prevailing in adversity, setbacks, challenges and recessions?" Happily, that's true.
In the process of reclaiming my life, I will focus more on work-in-progress and less on others' demands and expectations. I shall take steps to ensure that certain dream projects take flight. Crucially, I shall start saying no to requests by those who rarely reciprocate. I will stop giving time and energy to people who don't really appreciate the effort. I will take a step back from "negative nellies" who are quick to criticise, but disappear when praise is warranted.
And I'm going to stop blogging every single day. Some days I might post more than one piece; others - especially weekends, when it seems fewer people are reading - I may skip altogether. Watch for some new features and guest writers at Paris Parfait. Time to shake things up!
The lush green valley spreads beyond the medieval walled city of Montreuil-sur-Mer in Northern France. The cobbled-street city was the setting for much of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. Click photos to enlarge.
Ancient ramparts surround much of the city, once a thriving river port. Because of the River Canche's silt build-up, Montreuil-sur-Mer is now about 13 miles from the sea.
The photos in my banner (above) are from a previous trip to Montreuil-sur-Mer. Check back later for more photos of this beautiful city.
*With a nod to Richard Llewelleyn's 1939 novel How Green Was My Valley and John Ford's 1941 film of the same name.
The small neighborhood park next to an eglise has been under construction since 2006. It was uprooted - along with a memorial to Gen. Charles de Gaulle - to create an underground parking garage. While this children's playground appears finished, the photo below indicates construction is still underway. Completion is expected by June.
What a wonderful thing to see Europe embracing America again, first at the G20 in London; now at the NATO summit in Strasbourg! But it made me smile to read that New York bankers were less enthusiastic after their meeting with President Obama.
Time to travel
Anyone who lives in a big city knows that no matter how beautiful or exciting the city, every three months or so, you need a break. After being home nearly four months without travel - even missing my usual side trips to London - it is time to get out of town.
So I'm off for some peace and sunshine elsewhere in France. Back soon, with photos and perhaps an adventure or two to report. Hope you're enjoying your own sunshine-filled weekend, wherever you are!
P.S. If you haven't seen the film Once, rent it! It's very sweet, not least because of this song.
Scroll down the page for an additional post today.
18th-century Italian angel in my cabinet d' curiosities, Paris.
"As a tale, so is life; not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters." - Seneca.
Remembering Natasha Richardson, 1963-2009.
On Wednesday afernoon, the rain stopped and my friend Di Mackey and I watched a French crew filming scenes at a hotel/restaurant on a side street near Notre Dame. The footage will be part of an upcoming movie. Note the vintage clothing, newspaper and stacked wooden crates of mid-20th-century liquor and seltzer bottles.
The film crew discussing an upcoming scene. The vintage car and bicycles are props for the production. Alas, I had only my little pocket camera with me!
Taking a break to smoke. A few minutes later, the girl wearing white pumps crossed the street towards Notre Dame. Her pumps appeared too large and probably rubbed blisters on her heels, as she was walking with difficulty. Of course women in the '40s would have been wearing stockings, except when they were difficult to find during World War II.
A "Big Ben" British bicycle, leaned against a hitching post.
A vintage French bicycle used in the film's production.
A vignette of 19th-century ivory opera glasses, an ivory notebook,lined with aqua silk moire - a gift from my friend Gabrielle - and sea shells on a French creamware platter.
Now, voyager is one of my favourite films. An early 19th-century pocket-sized bibliotheque du voyageur or "library" of essays that a French explorer read on his travels in Africa.
My Banana Republic Correspondent's Bag from San Francisco has accompanied me on most of my journeys as a journalist for more than 20 years. I also have a Banana Republic leather passport case that holds travel documents and several currencies. The latter is looking rather the worse for wear, so I no longer carry it on assignments. Still, I can't bring myself to part with it!
Recently I was looking at camera bags and discovered that Billingham in England manufactures beautiful, yet functional camera bags remarkably similar to my correspondent's bag. Since that bag was made in England, perhaps Billingham produced it for Banana Republic.
The Banana Republic logo. These days Banana Republic sadly has abandoned its travel and safari-styled gear for more pedestrian fare.
And I've linked this award-winning video before, but can't resist doing it again. This short film artfully expresses so much about journeys and their impact on our lives.
What's your most memorable journey? Do tell!
Don't forget to go here to enter the giveaway celebrating three years of blogging at Paris Parfait. Three winners will be drawn on Tuesday, Feb. 3rd.
P.S. It snowed again. Here's the melting remnants from a rather bedraggled palm on my balcony:
