A magic carpet

A new addition to the Louvre is a "magic carpet" under which the department of Islamic Art has two floors of exhibition space.   The Court Visconti behind the Denon wing was transformed by the architects Rudy Ricciotti and Mario Bellini with a glass building over which roof hovers a 'carpet' of undulating metal mesh, filtering the damaging natural light.  A magical space with multiple objects exhibited and several videos explaining the history of Islam to the curious visitors.

Corridors connect this new building with the collections of the Louvre's late antique art from the Eastern Mediterranean and the art from pre-classic Greece, Coptic Egypt, Syria and Phoenicia in a relevant way.

Therefore, not ON but UNDER a magic carpet we can in 'the blink of an eye'  be transferred to another world.

Exhibition closed

From September 25 to January 20 this interesting exhibition showed Impressionist paintings and the  new fashion of that time.  It juxtaposed the paintings with original dresses and sometimes even the actual dress next to the painted dress. Not only women's dresses but mens wear and the influence of department stores and 'ready wear'  which was new at that time.

I had a chance to visit this show in November - now it was too late. Then I enjoyed to see the dresses so well preserved.  Tiny stitches by the seamstresses who created these works of art one can see and they give the same immediate timeless connection as the visible brushstrokes by the painters. Their names - Manet, Renoir, Degas, Monet etc. - are well known, the names of the seamstresses - who knows?

You will be able to see this exhibition in the Metropolitan Museum in New York from February 26 to May 27 and then in Chicago at the Art Institute from June 25 to September 22, 2013.  Worth a trip!

Back in France

"How is the weather in Paris in January?" -  Normally  it is just rainy and cold.

This time, I was lucky to arrive before they canceled most flights because of  SNOW.  To see
three inches of snow covering everything was confusing.  Am I still in Boston?

Today - three days later - both the jet lag is better and the grass is back with just tiny specks of snow
which will be gone in a minute.

And the Holidays are definitely over when one can find Christmas trees at the curb waiting for the garbage men to be picked up. Yes, there was a real fire tree under the decoration!

"O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, wie gruen sind deine Blaetter......"

One month later

No, this is not New York, but Boston's skyline seen from East Boston.  We live in a suburb West of Boston.  Walking on the piers, we wonder if we should move to East Boston to have this spectacular view and the smell of the harbor which reminds us of dear Seattle.  Something to think about.
In the meantime we start our move back to France and Paris.

We will not be snowbirds this time, just ducks flying away when it's time for migration.

Berlin and Paris

On this grey and rainy Sunday in Paris we were lucky to go to the Eiffel tower with visiting friends to walk along the colorful parade of 140 Berliner bears.  No ordinary brown bears  but dressed up in the costumes symbolizing the 140 nations of the UN.

To talk about the artistic value is not the right moment. The excitement and positive surprise of tourists from all over the world visiting the Eiffel tower was palpable and infectious. Nice to notice that the US bear was by far the most popular to pose with for the camera.

The message of tolerance and living together in peace warmed everybody's heart and soul. We all felt positive and a little sad that this parade will leave tomorrow.  Will they parade perhaps in Jerusalem? 

http://www.buddy-baer.com/en/united-buddy-bears/world-tour/paris-2012.html

Veterans Day in France

This week we remember World War I and World War II which destroyed so many young lives.  Which left so many grieving mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children.  The impact of the millions who died can never be measured.

The American Military Cemetery in Suresnes is small with 'only' 1565 graves.  Just outside of Paris at Mount Valerien and the view from there over the Bois de Boulogne to the Eiffel tower and

Montparnasse tower is impressive.  

The European Union has to stay strong and work out all the difficulties to keep the peace!

http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/su.php

"The Hippie airline" - my favorite then and now

There are still some people who remember when Icelandair went under the name Loftleidir .

At that time the Luxembourg airport in the 'heart of Europe' was the only place one could check in to fly to New York.  Always with a stop over in Keflavik on Iceland, a former US military airport. 

One had to leave the plane and walk in the fresh and cold air to the waiting hall.  There rows and rows of Iceland sweaters could be bought in the Duty free store. 

Now, Keflavik International Airport is a large modern building which can accomodate numerous arriving and departing planes with direct access gate to plane.  Alas, no fresh arctic air to inhale when changing planes.  One can still walk along the long corridor to the Duty free stores and there in a corner of a fleece sporting and outdoor clothing store are the well known hand-knitted sweaters like in the 70's.

http://www.loftleidir.com/our-history/