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03.11.2019
We went to the Museum of Brittany today to see the photographs by the brothers Charles and Paul Géniaux
who were some of the first photographers in this region.
The images told a history of daily life in Brittany circa 1900 as well as some images of Northern Africa. The work was much like
viewing an annotated history picture book. Fascinating stuff. The work of these brothers is a precursor to photojournalism.
The exhibit is available from 18 October 2019 to 26 April 2020. Our friend Kathleen is a photographer so we sent her some cards and pamphlets
we picked up at the exhibit. Sort of an enticement to get her and Dave to return to Rennes soon.
The brothers left an important photographic collection, partly preserved by their family, but also by the museum of Brittany , the MuCEM , the museum of Orsay , the Carnavalet museum and the museum of the decorative arts . For the first time, their production will be brought together for this exhibition, which will also present unpublished images. The captioned images below provide a good representation of the exhibit.
Yellow Vests return
Today the Yellow Vests and others demonstrated against unemployment, conspicuous consumption and precariousness of worker
lives at at the most prominent shopping mall in Rennes, the Alma center.
VIDEO. Rennes : un centre commercial évacué en raison d'une manifestation de Gilets jaunes
Later this month will be the one year anniversary of the origin of the Yellow Vests.
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| Charles and Paul Géniaux | Little Girls at the Beach (1900) | An example of an early French magazine where the Géniaux brothers published their photographs. |
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| Plowing in Brittany (1898) | Going to the Fountain (1898) | Knitting (1898) |
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| A Team of Oxen (1898) | The Sailor (1900) | Union Square in Ploërmel (1895) |
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| Family Portrait (1905) | Port of Douarnenez (1900) | Self Portrait of Paul Géniaux (1898) |
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| Slate worker of Rochefort-de-Terre (1898) | The Stones of Carnac (1902) | The Market Place (1900) |
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| The Wedding Meal (1904) | Rag-and-bone man (Chiffonnier) (1895) | Rue Saint-Paul (1905) |
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| A Street in Tunis (1900) | An Arab grocery in Djerba (1906) | Géniaux Brothers log of their photographs. |
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| A street in a Moroccan Village (1910) | Reading on the Wall (1898) | A magazine from 1910 with the Géniaux photographs of Morocco. |
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| A letter from the sculptor Antoine Bourdelle to Charles Géniaux. |
04.11.2019
Today at the vet Danny had his stitches removed. The vet gave instructions to feel for lump/growth in the area where the tumor was
removed and to go deep. When the vet pushed his fingers deep into the area forward of Danny's thighs our kitty didn't make a sound and did
not seem at all uncomfortable. I was nervous but I tried it and at first Danny was wriggling around but after a few times he settled into the routine.
16.11.2019
Happy Birthday Yellow Vest movement
"Scuffles mar anniversary of birth of yellow vest movement"
Some info about American food in France.
Fromage blanc (translated white cheese) made by Jockey was supposed to be cottage cheese but what I found is like a sour cream but not sour.
The other thing that passes for sour cream here is frais crême but it is not as sour or as thick as sour cream. However, they sell fraise cream and
fromage blanc épaisse (thick) and if you add a small amount of lemon juice then you pretty much have American style sour cream.
If anyone reading this knows what I should buy that will be the same as cottage cheese I would greatly appreciate a heads up.
I found a British brand (I forgot which one) of cottage cheese at the large Carrefour here for about 4 months but they don't sell it anymore.
The tribulations of being an American ex-pat. Sigh.
While on the subject of American foodstuff - I learned that they don't use cornstarch here - they use potato starch instead. In the stores it's just called
starch (fécule in French).
19.11.2019
It was announced that early December will bring massive strikes related to pension reforms proposed by President Macron.
Transportation will be most heavily impacted.
The strike, which has the support of leading gilets jaunes members, is set to start with a day of mass protest on December 5 - but railway workers have warned of
ongoing, indefinite action in the run-up to Christmas.
Rail disruptions will begin at 22h on Wednesday, December 4, when workers with SNCF and RATP - the Paris regional transport authority - officially walk out.
The effects on rail travel is expected to be widespread, particularly in Paris, with TGV, Transilien, Ouigo, TER, Intercités, Lyria, Thalys, Eurostar, RER
A, B, C, D and T4 of the tramway all expected to be hit.
France's Secretary of State for Transport Jean-Baptiste Djebbari warned this week of "a very well attended strike", adding
"we must take preventive measures upstream."
Of the main railway unions, only the moderate CFDT has yet to formally call for a strike as it waits to see government proposals, while the
RATP has moved to ameliorate the disruption by offering alternative transport methods in the capital, while the President of the Île-de-France Region,
Valérie Pécresse, said in an interview on Franceinfo: "I told SNCF and RATP: 'Ensure the minimum service otherwise, we will have to reimburse passengers'.
The continuity of public services must be ensured."
Air travelers have been warned that they could experience delays or canceled flights at numerous airports across the country on December 5,
as Air France air and ground crews join the strike.
It is not just transport that is affected. The CGT's public service arm has called on its members to use the December 5 protest as a building block 'to construct'
an indefinite rolling protest against the reforms.
Postal workers, are also expected to add their weight to the protests. La Poste is going through a reorganization process and has been
affected by strikes for several weeks. "Working conditions and the protection of public service are subjects that are part of the debate,"
said a representative of the CGT-Fapt.
Unsa-Éducation has also called on its members to strike, but the Ministry of Education has said that it has not received notice of strike action.
The union is critical of a future pension system that penalizes "teachers who receive few allowances and bonuses".
21.11.2019
Thanksgiving isn't celebrated here as in the states so, although we like practicing some holiday traditions here, we don't have the holiday cues
we had in the U.S. except (to everyone's chagrin) they started observing Black Friday 2 or 3 years ago. John thought today was Thanksgiving Day.
We went to a Mediterranean restaurant in the city center to enjoy our Frenchie Thanksgiving dinner today. John had lamb. I had gambas. The food was
very good of course. Best "Thanksgiving dinner" ever.
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| We returned to this Mediterranean restaurant for our "Thanksgiving" meal. | I don't see turkey on the menu. | John had grilled lamb. |
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| Ruth had giant shrimp. |
Rue du Chapitre leading deeper into the historic quarter. |
Some of the decoration of the 14th Century building that houses the restaurant. |
22.11.2019
The plans for the December 5 strike grows as Macron warns against unrest.
The CFDT-Cheminot union has also announced plans to join the strike. ... Paris transport company RATP (buses) has also confirmed it will join on December 5.
28.11.2019
Today we celebrated Thanksgiving on the correct date with a quiet day at home.
I miss turkey legs. I am looking forward to the upcoming Renaissance Fairs but I don't know yet if turkey legs are a staple at Renaissance Fairs
here as they are in the U.S.
Also, I found this app that locates indigenous tribes in the U.S.
In honor of Thanksgiving with native Americans we should read about and experience the history and traditions of native Americans.
29.11.2019
Feminists
A Chilean protest song about rape culture and victim shaming has become an anthem for feminists around the world.
Un Violador en Tu Camino (A Rapist in Your Path) was first performed in late November as Chile's nationwide uprising against social
inequality entered its second month. Here's a look at how the song, and its accompanying dance moves, have spread across Latin America and the world.
It was recently performed in Paris in solidarity with the Chilean women: Feminist Protesters Performance In Paris Against Chilean Government.
Feminists in France have fairly high visibility. Some of their goals seem to me to push boundaries in unimportant
ways but much of their work is needed and effective.
Speaking of feminist goals I just learned about a song on John Legend's Christmas album. It's an update of "Baby it's Cold Outside"
It has new lyrics. I love it. John Legend is cool in many ways. He created a couple of organizations with goals of prison reform:
Unlocked Futures
and Free America.
His mom spent time in jail for drug addiction. No therapy, just being caged. He understands the impact of laws designed to control classes of people
(particularly minorities and the poor) and punishments designed to disempower those caught up in the cruel, unfair and psychopathic criminal punishment system.
Upcoming strikes
Sometimes I think the French can't breathe without going on strike. But, of course, that's from the perspective of 60+ years in the U.S. where unions are extremely weak. There are so many strikes and they are so well publicized here.
The public whole-heartedly supports most of them (by far).
French say strike is 'justified' and make other plans.
"More than 66% of French people said that they believe strike action to be 'justified', but the exact same percentage (66%) also said that they would welcome
a uniform pension system, and an end to special pension arrangements in some professions.
Yet, 65% of respondents also believe that the government will stand firm in its reform plans, despite the strike, the poll from Odoxa-Dentsu Consulting for news source FranceInfo and newspaper Le Figaro said. The poll was conducted online with a representative sample of 1,005 people, on November 27 and 28."
"Initially, five unions in Paris mass transit had called for a strike on December 5
to postpone calls for further action, after a widely-followed September 16 strike and wildcat strikes in the National Railways (SNCF).
Now, fearing growing social anger among broad layers of workers, the unions are reluctantly calling for broader strikes.
There are signs that the mobilization could be large and could paralyze the French economy.
Beyond the maneuvers of the union bureaucracies, anger at Macron's austerity and police repression is spreading among broad layers of workers.
Calls for strike action are widely popular. According to various polls, 70 percent of the population expects strikes will continue after December 5
and 69 percent support the strike."
John and I hope to travel by train in December and in January (tickets have already been purchased) so it will be interesting to see how we are impacted by the strikes.
BTW the word strike is "la grève" in French.
30.11.2019
Christmas lights are being strung across streets now and during these last 2 weeks. Usually cities here turn on the public's Christmas
lights on December 1. The Ferris wheels (a big time Christmas tradition here) are being assembled now and Christmas market stalls are being built.
In other words, It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
I can't resist sending this link just for fun. Some of you have seen it but for those who have not, it is precious. It's anti-Trump, of course, but very well written and executed.
Pompe-O Wants To Go Home To Kansas
If you'd like some great old Frenchie music to mix in with your Christmas music here's a treat for you:
La Vie Parisienne: French Chansons From the 1930s & 40s Edith Piaf, Reinhardt & Grappelli
Happy Holidays! We miss you!