Yesterday was the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille -- what the French consider the official start of the French Revolution. They call it Fete Nationale (or National Holiday).
The day started with President Sarkozy leading off a military parade.
We decided to stay home and watch it on TV. We were really glad that we did, since we could see all the overhead formations. If we'd been there, Ella and I wouldn't have even been able to see over anyone's head!
That video clip only shows a band doing formations, but the horses that ushered in Sarkozy actually had a whole routine, too! It was really amazing. They trotted by our apartment on the way to the parade with a street cleaner behind to clean up the droppings.
Once Sarkozy was seated and the horses did their thing, they brought in the jets. Shortly after seeing them on TV, they flew right in front of our window. AWESOME!
Many Parisians go directly from the parade to the Champs de Mars near the Eiffel Tower. They pick a spot to view the fireworks and picnic all day. We contemplated doing this, but really, we don't like big crowds that much (we're talking 700,000 people). Plus we didn't have supplies ... no blanket and no cooler. And a whole day in the sun isn't really high on our list either. Oh, and did I mention that after the fireworks very few Metros are running, and those that are running are a mob scene?
So instead, we took a little 20-minute walk at 10:15 p.m. We went to the Pantheon which is on a hill with a direct view of the Eiffel Tower. The only thing is that it's about 3 miles from the Eiffel Tower, so no music and no big booms.
We stood with maybe 150 people and watched the show from our hilltop perch. We were home within 1/2 hour of the ending. This is what the finale looked like, and it didn't really look any different from 3 miles away!
So it was a very successful holiday for our family ... minimal crowds, no fuss and still lots of fun! This is how we do it!!
15 July 2009
13 July 2009
How the wishy, washy, washer woman washes her clothes in Paris
If you're waiting for a blog about Nice, it's not happening here. Eric has all the photos on his camera. Instead, I'm going to thrill you with my tales of clothes washing!
I miss, miss, miss my Kenmore laundry appliances. Here in Paris we have a Candy all-in-one machine. That means you wash and dry your clothes in the same machine. They aren't stacked one on top of the other; it's just one unit.
I think I've already talked about the confusion of figuring out how the thing works. I've got that mastered now, but the problem is that the machine just stinks.
However, instead of wasting all that time and energy on drying, I choose to hang most of the clothes to dry. By the looks of many windows, a lot of Parisians choose to do the same!
We don't have a clothes line or drying rack, so I use the
towel rack in the bathroom for shirts and dresses.
Jeans and shorts get draped over some very expensive Kartell chairs.
The clothes eventually dry sometime the next day. That's when I pull out the iron, because air-dried clothes have a lot of wrinkles. In May, I spent some time with a friend in Colorado. After I unpacked, she asked me if I needed the iron, and I laughed.
"What's an iron?" I joked.
I seriously NEVER use one at home ... maybe once per year tops. Well, I have intimate knowledge of one now -- I just put on some You Tubes and iron away!
I did learn, however, that you can't iron nylon/spandex active wear.
That stuff melts on contact (sorry again about your shorts, Eric)!
Did I mention that I REALLY miss my Kenmore?
I miss, miss, miss my Kenmore laundry appliances. Here in Paris we have a Candy all-in-one machine. That means you wash and dry your clothes in the same machine. They aren't stacked one on top of the other; it's just one unit.
The Candy CDB134 is very small, so it fits well into a small Parisian apartment.
Ours is in our bathroom, tucked away behind a cabinet door.
It has a very small capacity.
Ours is in our bathroom, tucked away behind a cabinet door.
It has a very small capacity.
I think I've already talked about the confusion of figuring out how the thing works. I've got that mastered now, but the problem is that the machine just stinks.
The washing process takes 3-1/2 hours to complete. This does NOT include drying. Drying takes another 2-3 hours if you want your clothes (almost) completely dry. Do the math and you'll find that you can do one small load in one day. This means that for three people I'm doing laundry
almost every day.
almost every day.
However, instead of wasting all that time and energy on drying, I choose to hang most of the clothes to dry. By the looks of many windows, a lot of Parisians choose to do the same!
We don't have a clothes line or drying rack, so I use thetowel rack in the bathroom for shirts and dresses.
Jeans and shorts get draped over some very expensive Kartell chairs. These babies cost between $300-500 each, and the rounded edge
really works well for draping clothes without getting creases.
really works well for draping clothes without getting creases.
The clothes eventually dry sometime the next day. That's when I pull out the iron, because air-dried clothes have a lot of wrinkles. In May, I spent some time with a friend in Colorado. After I unpacked, she asked me if I needed the iron, and I laughed.
"What's an iron?" I joked.
I seriously NEVER use one at home ... maybe once per year tops. Well, I have intimate knowledge of one now -- I just put on some You Tubes and iron away!
I did learn, however, that you can't iron nylon/spandex active wear. That stuff melts on contact (sorry again about your shorts, Eric)!
Did I mention that I REALLY miss my Kenmore?
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