David Jaggard
The Little-Known Wonders, and Horrors, of Paris (Part Two)
Portrait by Rubens of Anne of Austria, mother of Louis XIV and involuntary organ donor. This week, dear readers, I’m going to tell you a story. Possibly even a true story, although very difficult to verify at this remove. My … Read More
The Little-Known Wonders, and Horrors, of Paris (Part One)
Suddenly, the serene tranquility of Port Royal Cloister was shattered by an anguished scream… Photo © Jacques Lebar, www.parimages.com When I was 17 years old, the little Midwestern American town I grew up in celebrated its centennial. Perhaps because I … Read More
You Can’t Get That Here
The seeming similarity between “notaries” and “notaires” is only one of the traps awaiting the American resident of France. Above: the sign of a French notaire. If you’re a citizen of one country and live in another, sooner or later … Read More
A Slice of Parisian Life
You can¹t judge a book by its cover, or a man by his makeup. Paris has its share of drag divas to rival Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Some time ago, I lived in a part of … Read More
Shopping in France: Food for Thought
Next time you’re at the meat counter, see if your butcher knows how to count. Consider this conversation I had with the clerk at a lunch counter on Boulevard Malesherbes last week: “I’ll have the sandwich-soft drink-dessert menu, please.” “What … Read More
Conversion to the Euro: Reflections on a Shiny Coin
For the French Catholic church, these copper and nickel coins offered a golden opportunity. As we enter 2011, the euro is entering its 10th year as circulating currency. This doesn’t promise to be a good year for the euro, whose … Read More
Helping Others Help Me
A few minor changes are in order around here… Photo: Cam Eric Schiefer In keeping with my own, mostly sober, December 31st pledge to be more helpful to the people around me, I propose the following (strongly) suggested New Year’s … Read More
Technology in France
The Minitel and the Bi-Bop, the first “cellphone” in wide use in Paris: pull out the aerial and don’t move! The French can rightly be proud of their many contributions to technological progress, including the credit card with the embedded … Read More
Royalists in France
France’s monarchists are down for the count: Henri d’Orléans, Count of Paris. Photo from the cover of his 2003 book “L’Histoire en Héritage” (Tallendier). Believe it or not, there are still French people who would like to see a return … Read More
French Complaining
In Paris, “carpe diem” seems to mean “complain all day,” even in gorgeous weather. I think the French get an unfair rap in the national stereotypes department. They’re supposedly rude, snobbish, overdelicate, cowardly and indifferent to hygiene. Obviously, none of … Read More