Zosia comes to Paris

Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the best Segway photo op ... Zosia, you know what I'm talking about

 

   

Spent a day at the Palace of Versailles...

Hall of Mirrors

Contrast in red and white

There was an outdoor medical rally to promote research... everyone received white lab coats.  Zosia definitely stood out in this crowd.

Walking along the Seine

Outside the Louvre

Funky art in the Jardin des Tuileries

Smallest street in Paris (in the Latin Quarter)...

Can you make out the name of the street -

"rue du chat qui peche"

On the Champs Elysees.  Of course we made a stop at the Louis Vuitton flagship store.

One of many cathedrals in the city.

Having a drink at "Les Deux Magots"

"Whistler's Mother"

Musee d'Orsay

Fashion week on the Champs Elysees

Les jardins de Luxenbourg

Rodin museum

Our last night in Paris.

We had a great time...when are you coming back?

Signs

Posted October 24, 2009

As I travel about with my camera, I come across signs that amuse me, puzzle me, rouse my curiosity or are just interesting. In this blog I will share a collection of these signs. They are from China and France.

The first sign is actually  the subway stop near my current apartment. It is not that interesting, but I was wondering what does the name mean.  I have discovered that Wiki can give you the background of every Paris subway stop !  (It actually gets most of this from a book  that is dedicated to the subject) What did we do before Google and Wiki?

In Paris about half the stations seem to  indicate where you are, in the city, usually related to a street, a square or a building. The rest with some exceptions, generally refer to some famous person, or a place that once existed, but no longer does exist. My stop is named after two people. Breguet is a famous family of watchmakers, Sabin was an 18th Century Paris City counsellor.

The sign below came from Shanghai. Chinese men have a penchant for spitting.  Before the Beijing Olympics, and now in Shanghai leading up to Expo 2010 there are major campaigns to eradicate this habit.  In case people forget, especially indoors, some malls connecting subways have posted these signs.

Shanghai - I wondered a lot about this sign. I know in the past, "intellectuals" in China were usually opposed to the government.  Was this a law firm specializing in defence of these people ? Now that there is less of this persecution, business is slow, and that is why they are closed. Or is it just a bad translation?

Above Beijing Park  (if you cannot read, the sign indicates things you cannot do in the park, the last item is related to the ban agaianst raising of ducka in the park.

Right- Great shopping slogan in Shanghai.

Left - Perhaps too much information on this office sign.

Below - On every government building...

Below - In order to charge extravagant prices for an ice cream cone, it helps if you can convince the consumer that you are no mere purveyor of ice cream, but in fact an artisan of ice cream. It would seem that the "fabrication maison"  seems redundant ?

Below - Beijing hotel shower

This Paris street sign below is on the way from my place to the Seine.  As I went by the first few times I always thought it said "Rue du Petit Music", and I would say silently to myself, "there is no small music, just small musicians" LOL. When I decided to take my camera along one day I realized the sign said "Rue du Petit Musc" Street of the small musk. Strange name. Seems I am not the only one to query. It is a long story, but if you go to the web sight of "The Scented Salamander" or http://www.mimifroufrou.com/scentedsalamander/2007/07/rue_du_petit_musc_quid_scented.html you will get the entire fascinating story.

Below - Another Paris street sign, one of Genya's favorites. Apparently so named because it was where young men of the 16th century went to fight. A medieval "hood" I guess

Submissions welcome.

My Friend Lily

Posted October 18, 2009 Lily Jiang is the Director of HR for Kohler China. During the 3 and a half years I was in Shanghai I came to rely on her for advise and guidance as I attempted to work in a new culture. She was always very frank and forthright with me. While we did not always agree, we came to trust each other and cemented a strong friendship. Lily has been to my house in Kohler, and I have had the pleasure of visiting her home in Shanghai and met her wonderful husband and son.

Lily is an incredible example of the resilience and strength of China. As a teenager during the cultural revolution she was taken out of school and sent to work in a mill. (Her brother had already gone to the countryside to live with the peasants). At a young age Lily had to support her family. In addition to caring for her two parents and working full time, Lily, on the advise of her father, prepared herself for the time, as he said, "this will be over one day". She taught herself English, went on to work as the assistant of the mill manager, then when China opened up to new investment, she had English skills and office skills. She joined Coca Cola as a secretary. Since then she has finished college and her MBA and is Director of HR for one of Kohlers largest businesses.

This fall Lily took a three week trip in Europe with her son, and she stayed a weekend in Paris on her way to Rome. We enjoyed a lovely day together.

Before she left China for her vacation, Lily had done her homework. She had a list of 7 things she wanted to see. We managed to see 5. We could have done more, but Lily is a more introspective tourist than I am, so on occasion we went down unplanned streets and had diversions. We spent a whole hour sitting in the sun watching children sail boats in a pond near the Louvre.
In the lobby of her hotel before we start the day.

In Foshan China, November 2005

 Tea at Lily's, Spring 2008

Dinner in Shanghai - August 2006.

Morocco II

Posted by Stephen - September 28, 2009

Morocco Flowers, from the Beach in Tangier....

I visited Tangier again this month. A quick visit of one a day and half. What was different this time is I was there during Ramadan...the holy month for Muslims. During this month Muslims cannot eat during the day, from last prayer at sun-up until sundown. So, unlike last visits, when the restaurants were full all day, there was a strange sense of calmness, like everything was in a different state. I am told that by the end of the month (we were then near the end of Ramadan) many people are tired due to the different eating and sleeping habits they must follow. Energy wanes, people are grumpier.

From the net http://www.holidays.net/ramadan/ramadan.htm

The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is Ramadan, a time for Muslims to focus on purifying their soul through prayer and self-sacrifice. During Ramadan, more than a billion Muslims around the world observe one of the Five Pillars (duties) of Islam: Fasting.
Each day of Ramadan, from sunrise to sunset, Muslims aged twelve and older traditionally practice fasting. The Arabic word for fasting literally means to "refrain," which is what is religiously proscribed - not just abstaining from eating and drinking, but also restraining every part of one's physical body.
The mouth, for example, is restrained from idle talk and gossip, while the ears are restrained from listening to obscenities. In this way, a Muslim engages his or her entire body in the physical observance of the Ramadan fast.

In addition to the fast, Ramadan is also a time to re-evaluate one's convictions and deeds. It is a time to mend troubled relationships, give charity, find forgiveness for others, and refocus on worshipping Allah (God).
According to Islamic tradition, the month of Ramadan is when Allah revealed the first verses of the Qur'an, the holy book, to the prophet Muhammad. In honor of this revelation, one thirtieth of the Qur'an is read each night of Ramadan during the evening prayer. By the end of the month, the whole Qur'an has been recited.
During Ramadan, Muslims rise before sunrise to partake in a pre-fast meal, called suhoor. Each night after sunset, they break their fast with the iftar meal. The end of the month of Ramadan is marked with the joyous festival of Eid al-Fitr, which literally means the "Festival of Breaking the Fast." During Eid al-Fitr, families celebrate with elaborate feasts and dress in their finest clothes. At the same time, they increase their efforts to give charity to the poor and make contributions to their mosques.

These pictures are along the beach in Tangier. I was out one morning and caught the sun coming up over some storm clouds to the west.

This is me in the market in Tangier, near a place called the Medina. I mentioned this in my first Morocco blog.

England

Stephen - Posted September 26, 2008

I have to admit I like England. I enjoy the scale of the country. There is a sense of size that resonates with me. In North America we seem to worship "big". Europe finds beauty in smaller dimensions. This weekend I got to experience again the joys of motoring in England...the narrow twisting country lanes with overhanging trees and stone fences three feet away from the edge of the tarmac.. In the US we would bulldoze a 100 yard wide space and put in a safe, barren and boring freeway. In England, the road twists, turns, has signs that give all kinds of warnings to motorists...but in reality are saying: "Hey, slow down, take a look at the scenery" The house pictured above is by the entrance to Susie's neighbourhood.

If I won the lottery, one of the places I would seriously consider living would be rural England.

Last week I spent a couple of days working at our UK subsidiary, and also had the joy of two relaxing days over a weekend with Susie and Mike.

Susie and Mike live in an area called the Cotswolds. It has the classic roads, beautiful vistas, lovely pubs (all our family has visited one spectacular pub, the Falkland Arms. . http://www.falklandarms.org.uk/

I arrived at Susie's after a very hectic two weeks, of travel and US visitors. I was tired. Very tired. We had a lovely lamb dinner (Susie ALWAYS has lamb for me..I love lamb) and about 9:30pm I said I was tired and went to bed. I made Susie tell me where the keys were as I always wake early and I wanted a run.... Well, at 9:50 AM Saturday I finally tumbled out of bed. Must be the air. I think I slept 30 hours the three nights I was there...

I mentioned above I drove..yes, I had a car. The drive from Cheltenham to Bloxom is about 40 miles. Google maps says it is a one hour drive! I managed it in about 90 minutes. On the way to Susie's I stalled the car three times and missed two turns. (not counting the fair in Chipping Norton that required a diversion) Pictured below is my car for the weekend . Volkswagen, stick shift, right hand drive. OK, now I know how to do it. Next time with Genya navigating, will do better.

I also did a laundry at Susie's.

Some more pictures:

My favorite Bloxom pub- The Red Lion

My friend Phil Davis bringing (and buying) the beer.

Typical Bloxom lane.

I have gone to Bloxom with my mother, Genya, all three kids and Diane. Plus many times alone. It feels like a 2nd home. Thanks Susie.

For more about the lovely Cotswold's go to :

http://www.cotswolds.info/

Labour Day Weekend

Labour Day weekend is not a very good title for this posting. First of all, I am including a picture from the weekend before Labour Day. And secondly, the posting is really all about Addy.



Geoff, Nicole and Addy on their way to Mel's wedding on August 28th.

Addy and Daddy. Would you believe that this is a baby about to go upstairs to bed?

Ryan and Steph were home for the weekend to attend a wedding.

Note Addy's favourite toy for the day - an empty paper towel roll.

Addy got to meet her "doggy cousin" this weekend. She and Charlie got along just fine. Note the paper towel roll.

Still checking out each other. Actually, Charlie was a little afraid of Addy for awhile.

"Won't you play with me?" Note the paper towel roll still in her hand.


If you won't come to me, I'll come to you.


Finally, Charlie settled in next to Addy, as if he was there to protect her. Very gentle.

No fear about reaching out to the dog.

Charilie wasn't going to let Addy get all the attention.

Look at me ... I know how to sit for photos. (this is the dog talking).

Until I took this picture, Addy and Charlie were both eyeing Stephen's toast.
Addy and Gigi.

Again, would you believe that this is a baby about to go to bed?