Does anyone else....

What are you guys complaining about.

This is what we have :

http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/

 

Do you remember the Eiffel Tower's Millennium countdown? Now that was crass.

(I had a great year in Paris - 6 months in the 16th, 6 months in the 3rd).

 

Moving from the 16th to the 3rd is not really an upgrade ...

But I think I'd rather be in the 3rd.

 

I lived for 6 years in the 4th...on Quai d'Orleans overlooking the Seine :MILD: . I should add that by "lived" I mean my parents lived there and I was only there during school holidays (which amounted to about half the year). There's nothing I wouldn't do to own that flat now

Meanwhile in Lisbon we've apparently got the biggest xmas tree in Europe



If your definition of "tree" extends to a wire frame with lights over some scaffolding then I guess they're right...

Michael.

 

I can see why. I hate to think what the price per sq. meter would be now. Still cheaper than London though.

As for the Xmas tree in Lisbon, if the structure is steel, then the Eiffel tower qualifies, doesn't it?

 

Those were our thoughts precisely.

Mind you, The Toyota showroom on the Champs Elysee used to have a 'World Music' night each Friday where you could listen to the band (free), look at some of the exotic prototype Toyotas that they brought in from time to time and chat up the beautiful sales girls. Sigh.

 

Only tourists or young men would have time for that sort of thing

 

That's sad. You have to make time, Sir G.

 

Maybe I should add an item to my NY resolutions ...

Hold on, I ask my wife

 

Où est passé Paris la grise

I've lived in Belleville (Jourdain, so closer to Place des Fetes), 17eme near Batignolles (close, but no banania, which is a shame, as back then Batignolles was a superb area), and the 16eme - just over the road from la Maison de Radio France in the only non-Guimard appartment block on our street .
Great times and I still love Paris (and its inhabitants), but I live in a real city now and have to work for a crust.

Madame Nostalgie
Tu pleures sur un nom de ville
Et tu confonds, pauvre imbécile
L'amour et la géographie

 

tat

While I agree that these "displays" are the most obvious indicator of poor taste, I would have to say that what annoys me even more are the bloody lazy chav bastards who then dont bother to take them down again, and leave them there all year round -truly sad.

aquapiranha

 

Hi Joel, where have you been?

Well as you know we do have our metro and traffic jams too, but I'm a luck bastward, I work at home ...

Happy Xmas

 

I'm here and there on the net. You can always find me if you need to

That sounds good, especially around where you are. I don't have the self-discipline to do that. I would be off walking, hanging out in cafes and visiting museums and galleries far too much to get anything like work done.
Last night we had a nice Cahors for the poulet roti (not a perfect match I think, but I am a northern barbarian after all), and a Manzanilla for the fois gras (de Canard - which I prefer to Goose ). Oh yes, and a nice platter of Moustaki a la Reggiani
Merry Xmas

 

Well, business has been getting worse these last three years, so that gives me time for the occasional exhibition or a leasurely cup of coffee "en terrasse" in season.

Sounds like you had a nice evening, with the Cahors and Reggiani. We too like canard better.

We had homemade foie gras with (part of a) bottle of Coteaux du Layon 95, then a roasted pigeon with pineapple and pepperoni chutney, with (part of a) bottle of Tokay Pinot Gris 2000, and dessert was candied fennel with green apple sorbet.

Music was some Handel by Renée Fleming.

Happy Xmas

 

hmmmm. I will remember to invite myself round next time I'm in Paris
We'll invite you for a nice bowl of ramen if you come to Tokyo
How are the speakers coming along BTW?

 

Do that. PM me next time around, I'll give you phone number and directions.

And you never know, Tokyo is on our list ...

As for the speakers, I'm giving myself 6 months, so there's no rush.