Queen Catherine de Medici paced nervously back and forth along the majestic eastern gallery of the Louvre palace trying to keep her wits about her. She had a hard time thinking of anything else but what Cosme Ruggieri, her favorite astrologist had just told her. As her eyes nervously scanned the outlines of the church …
Catherine de Medici, Her Obsession With Astrologers And The Occult Read More »
It is so ironic that la Conciergerie, the medieval prison where Marie Antoinette, spent her final days being insulted, taunted, humiliated, and hated has been the star draw for this haunting yet stunning edifice! Advertised as Marie Antoinette’s prison, I decided to go back again after several years. The first time, years ago, I felt too …
La Conciergerie Where Marie Antoinette Spent Her Final Days Read More »
Pierre Gassendi was the first to observe and describe the transit of Mercury across the sun in 1631, a rare occurrence that was repeated this past Monday. In the early seventeenth century, he was seen as one of the most gifted scientists, astronomers and philosophers of his time, yet he was also a Catholic priest. …
Pierre Gassendi Built Bridges Between God And Science Read More »
The Moulin Rouge just celebrated their 130 year anniversary of the French Cancan! It was October 6, 1889, when they first opened their doors in Montmartre. To celebrate this anniversary, the Moulin Rouge put on a spectacular Sound and Light show Sunday, complete with their famous Cancan dancers where I braved the crowds in front …
Moulin Rouge Paris 130 Year Anniversary Of French Cancan Read More »
If you have ever taken in a walk in the lovely Luxembourg gardens, you have probably seen Marie de Medici’s palace. This stately former royal palace became home to the French Senate. The palace is not open to the general public except by invitation from a senator, or on Jours de Patrimoine( Heritage Days). Not …
Marie de Medici, The Queen Behind Luxembourg Palace And Gardens Read More »
Paris owes a lot to Gustave Eiffel, the mastermind behind the Eiffel Tower! He risked everything, his personal and professional reputation, and his financial welfare to build La Dame Eiffel! What is now the most beloved and globally recognizable symbol of Paris and France almost never saw the light of day. It was the outright …
Eiffel Tower Celebrates 130 Years, Thanks To Gustave Eiffel Read More »
I can just see Gustave Le Bon peering out his apartment window at the angry violent crowds below. It was 1871 and the terrifying loud crowds of the Paris Commune were storming the streets of Paris like stark raving savages, ravaging hell-bent destruction. If alive today, he would definitely experience a Deja Vue witnessing the …
Internet Fueled Racism And Violence Through The Eyes Of Gustave Le Bon Read More »
You can never get enough joy, nor love, nor beauty in life! Unfortunately, these exquisite moments that brings sweetness to living rarely just fly into your lap, so we have to seek them out. Paris offers such an abundance of beautiful art that it can be hard to choose which place to go to next, …
Basking In Beauty Of Impressionists At Musée d’Orsay Read More »
The father of modern surgery, Ambroise Paré, was an astonishing and awe-inspiring physician. He treated paupers as kings, yet was the surgeon of four kings of France. He challenged the medical community of his day and paved the way for surgeons to be finally recognized. He was born in 1510 to a family of modest …
You might wonder what Sainte Geneviève has to do with the swollen Seine that fortunately has started to recede. Well, to some of us, a lot. Let me explain that it wouldn’t be the first time Sainte Genevieve pulled some celestial strings to save her beloved Paris from disaster. Three weeks ago, I went back …
Jules Verne, dreamer and visionary is a perfect example of how we should all value and launch our dreams into the cosmos! It is totally mind blowing how his visions have become our present day reality! The seeds of great adventures, our personal goals and futuristic ideas are all within us, waiting to be played …
Jules Verne, Dreamer And Visionary Extraordinaire! Read More »
Frankly, I hadn’t planned at all to write much about Granville and Christian Dior’s boyhood home. Why? I had other grand plans for even going to Granville on the Normandy coast, and they had nothing to do with this very famous couturier. I had this great idea of doing the “traversée” of bay Mont Saint Michel …
My Trip To Granville And Christian Dior’s Boyhood Home Read More »