Observations · Pop Culture · Humour
I swear I had never heard the word VVIP, but such things do happen now
Very-very important persons I am sure that many would be prepared to pay a serious sum for such a designation
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NB!
Bilingual plaque marking a monument's inauguration on 21 June 2011
Architecture · Heritage · Society · Paris
Monument to the Soldiers of the Russian Expeditionary Corps in Paris, on the Place du Canada, in the 8th Arrondissement, Dedicated to the Russian Soldiers Who Fought in France as Part of the Expeditionary Corps during the First World War, from 1916 to 191
The monument was unveiled by Vladimir Putin in 2010, when he was Prime Minister of Russia. At the opening ceremony Putin and François Fillon called the monument a sign of the restoration of historical memory and a symbol of the brotherhood in arms of Russia and France.
NB! · Museums · Heritage · Paris · Humour
Gendarmes Guard the Galerie d'Apollon, but It Is Rather Late for Borjomi
Art · Books · People
Gennady Shpalikov's poem on the impossibility of return and the wish to go back to 1945
Whether by misfortune or by luck, The truth is simple: Never return To the former places. Even if the burnt-out site Looks quite decent, What we are looking for cannot be found, Neither by you nor by me. A journey backwards I would forbid, I ask you as a
Museums · Observations · Heritage · Humour
Coins from a hoard found in 2011 stolen from the Diderot museum in Langres
I can hardly believe my eyes, but France has suffered yet another high-profile museum robbery. It would seem that the criminal world has announced some sort of tour of the cultural heritage. Right after the Louvre, on Monday, the Maison des Lumières Denis Diderot in Langres, Haute-Marne, was
NB! · Museums · Observations · Paris · Humour
Doing the one thing forbidden on the premises of the Louvre
Museums · Observations · Heritage · Paris · Humour
It turns out that the rococo-style display cases for the royal jewels installed in the Galerie d'Apollon at the Louvre until 2019 were fitted with armoured glass, and that if the integrity of the outer casing was breached, their contents would automatical
It turns out that the rococo-style display cases for the royal jewels installed in the Galerie d'Apollon at the Louvre until 2019 were fitted with armoured glass, and that if the integrity of the outer casing was breached, their contents would automatically drop into a safe. The
Faith · Art
Angels with orbs in Guariento di Arpo's cycle for the chapel of the Carrara residence
Angels by Guariento di Arpo (1310-1370) from the cycle of angelic hierarchies for the chapel in the da Carrara residence. In the angels' hands are spheres known as the orb, the globe, the mirror or the sovereign's apple. As a rule, these are large spheres bearing
Museums · Society · Paris
Louvre director met discontented staff, museum not expected to open before Wednesday
The Louvre is not expected to reopen before Wednesday. The museum's director, Laurence des Cars, has met the staff. According to The Times, the director's address was greeted with disapproving shouts from the hall. The staff's discontent began long before the incident. As early
Observations · Nature · Humour
Hannibal's War Elephants in the Crossing of the Alps, Their Supply, Losses and Role
Pity the Poor Beasts, Eh! Hannibal took some 37 war elephants with him across the Alps. Roughly as many as it takes to fill the runway at a Marina Rinaldi show. The elephants were most probably of the North African subspecies. An elephant requires an enormous quantity of fodder, some
Architecture · Observations · Society · Paris
Graffiti on Paris buildings, the cost of removing it and the question of fines
Graffiti in Paris has climbed far above the ground floors, and it is becoming a real calamity. All the more so given what it costs to paint it over or wash it off. And it spoils the view considerably. But perhaps, if one were to fine people for daubing residential