Great view of the Eiffel Tower – Paris, France.

Some of my earliest memories of taking photographs at night where from cities; both growing up in Pittsburgh and while on vacation one summer in San Francisco. I experimented a lot with time exposures and different filters. I was a fascinated with light and the way you could manipulate it with a camera. Black and white photography, while not as flashy as color at night, still has a unique power and mood that I love. Paris, with it’s unique architecture and nightlife also lends itself to similar possibilities as those cities I explored as a kid. I can see a “Paris by Night” project in my future some day…

Busy P and the Ed Banger crew have been… busy… lately with their release of Ed Rec Vol X, which is a pretty good compilation album. Perhaps I’ll review it, who knows. But today’s focus is on none other than Xavier de Rosnay of Justice, who tests his out-of-control metal rock style on Busy P’s This Song. I have to admit, Justice’s sound has aged pretty well (have you heard All Access Arenas? Brilliant blend of Justice’s first and second album)

Busy P – This Song (Suicided by Xavier de Rosnay)

Today in history (June 17, 1885) – The 350 pieces making up the Statue of Liberty arrive in New York Harbor. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France commemorating the American Revolution as well as a century of friendship between the two countries. Read more about it here! http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/statue-of-liberty-arrives

Dusk, Trois Vallées, French Alps.

Waist (unstretched): 14″
Waist (stretched): 21″
Side Seam: 7″
Rise: 12″

By george schneider

• Water fountains – maybe this is because the French don’t really exercise as much, but there are very few public water fountains!!  The only ones I’ve been able to find are the ones at le Parc de la Tête d’Or.   Those ones there are actually more like public water stations, similar to the feet-washing mini-showers on the VB Oceanfront.  Except the refreshingly cool water comes out of an ornate lion’s head, and people use it to refill their water bottles, wash off their feet and shoes (from the dog poop that they step in – because remember that people don’t scoop here!), and splash some coldness on their faces. Tap water is safe to drink apparently, but the water in the hotel does have a particularly unpleasant aftertaste.  Plus, big bottles of Evian here can be found at 80 cents each!  Great in comparison to the US.  Do y’all remember this part in a movie?  I think of this everytime I buy an Evian.
• Driving.  Walking everywhere is great, except I miss the windows-down-loud-singing opportunities that driving gives me in the states.  It’s nice introverted time.
• Being able to smile at babies without getting weird looks.  No joke, I’ve made the claim that there are no French babies or infants that are not adorable!  Except I did meet an au pair the other day who begged to differ.  However, there are been a many moments where I catch a child doing something ridiculously cute or simply something that makes me smile.  And I usually proceed to try to make eye contact with the child’s mom/dad/whoever and smile, but that sentiment is never returned!  They are usually more sketched out.  I’m an American, not a kidnapper.
• Not being the sweatiest person, aka AC.  As I type this right now, it’s about midnight and a balmy and awful 70 degrees.  HELP.  Lyon can be HOT, especially when this hotel only has AC (or la climatisation) in the main areas and not in rooms.  Today, a bunch of us were in a room with the portable fan on, and it was like our version of the scene from The Great Gatsby where Daisy is all “Oh, it’s so hot.” and they have a guy at the Plaza take a pick to a huge block of ice.  Except we don’t have ice – we just laid around with the oscillating fan. (sorry, couldn’t find the clip on youtube!).  AC really only exists in certain stores or places.  Where we have classes is sans AC in the classroom, oh it is awful!  Also, the French people wear so many clothes!  It was 90 degrees today, and I did not think I could have possibly worn any less than I was.  Lo and behold, Lyon natives were walking around in jeans and long sleeves!  At a little soirée with another UVa in Lyon study abroad group, I heard from the TA that the French strategically wear black – they wash their clothes less and black shows sweat less!  UGH.  Well, they don’t seem to have that much of an issue, seeing as I feel like I’m the only person sweating bullets on the Metro, while the natives around me have more layers yet are perfectly content.
• A wifi-dependent society.  Wi-fi at the hotel is probably the worst thing ever.  Cafés and restaurants that say “Wi-fi gratuite“, or free wifi, sometimes don’t even work.  This is mostly just because this has gotten in the way of how I had planned to communicate with some people, especially people who don’t have iMessage!  This is me complaining about it, that is all!
• Regular coffee & my coffee creamer.  Coffee here is basically small espressos, and it’s gone after 2 gulps!  It’s stronger and more bitter, and I can’t really sit down with my big ole mug and enjoy it for a while.  Also, if you want creamers, you order a café au lait or a café crème.  I’m not quite sure what the difference is, but there aren’t ever little Coffeemate creamer shots or little silver creamer-servers here.  I miss you, International Delights Almond Joy Creamer!

• Netflix & American TV.  Turning on the TV to watch Sex & the City 2 with dubbed French isn’t exactly great.  It’s not the same without SJP’s voice.  Netflix doesn’t work here, and neither does Pandora.  And again with the wi-fi – you can’t exactly stream episodes that you missed unless you have a few hours to buffer an hour-long episode.  I know you’re thinking “Why would you want to do that?  You’re in France!”  Well when I study grammar and vocabulary for 4 hours on certain days, along with speaking solely in French except in my room, I kind of want to detox a little bit.
• Peanut butter.  But I’ll stop there because Nutella is really good.  I haven’t found peanut butter here though.
• Soup!  No one serves soup.  I’ve been under the weather recently, and I had to make chicken noodle soup from a powder mix from the local grocery store.  My recollection is that Subways in the US serve soup, but it’s just really small and minor on the menu.  I brought that up to the Subway “Sandwich Artist” (they’re called the same thing here, it’s not even “Artiste du Sandwiche” like I expected) and he looked at me with great confusion.  Also with chicken broth – there are no Swanson or College Inn packets of chicken broth – just the gross bouillon cubes .
• Being home to celebrate things, like birthdays and Father’s Day.  Love and miss you!

Song of the post is this, thanks to my prof who showed it to us.  Click it – it’s about as hilarious and disastrous as Rebecca Black’s Friday.

I’ll probably post another one of these as time goes on and I learn more about what it’s like to live here.  More posts to come – get ready to hear about a French church experience, a few learning moments, and a recent weekend away in Monaco!

xoxoxoxooxxo

Dear Paris,

I have spent the last few days trying to numb myself to the sad news of your extreme distress and your attempt to leave us. See, for those of us who love you for the beautiful young lady you have become, in addition to the love we have for you vicariously through your father, the reality of that close call is nearly unbearable. We have suffered endlessly since 1993 with allegations of deplorable acts which, though never ever corroborated with a single piece of physical evidence, set our lives on a collision course that would, ultimately, take him from us and bring you to this point.

Read Full Letter -“Behind The Mask”-An Open Letter And Essay To Paris Jackson.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/FRIENDSOFTHEEARTHLAV

Or click on the link below to take you directly to our lavender shop. Thank you and have a wonderful day. 

Today it is time to bring back some color!

Editors Note:  AP Correspondent John Flesher is embedded with members of the Great Lakes Exploration Group, which is searching for remains of the Griffin in northern Lake Michigan. He is filing periodic updates on the search progress.

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At long last, the saga may finally be over. Paris Saint-Germain has a man lined up to succeed Carlo Ancelotti in the form of another vastly experienced Italian, Fabio Capello.

SKY Sports Italia broke the news on Tuesday night that the current Russian national team coach will be named the new man at the helm of the French champions today. The Russian FA will receive €3m in compensation with Capello signing a one-year contract.

That one-year contract however is only going to intensify the speculation regarding QSI’s obsession at luring Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger at the end of his contract in the summer of 2014. In conjunction with that, it makes it even more surprising that a coach of the calibre of Capello would be happy to warm his seat for just one season then to be replaced no matter what he achieves at the club.

Carlo Ancelotti will complete his switch to Real Madrid imminently it seems with Los Blancos paying €7.5m in compensation.

All this is to be confirmed officially but it finally looks as if we can start to plan ahead and build for next season. Stay tuned to 1970 PSG for continuous coverage over the coming days.

Who never heard about Ladurée and those famous macaroons?
Today, this pastry house founded in 1862 by Louis Ernest Ladurée is known worldwide and tourists of all around the world comes to the Champs Elysées or the Rue Royale shops in Paris.

To introduce what Ladurée Macaroons represents, you can watch the Ladurée Dream movie which is magic and represent the luxury of having Ladurée macaroons on your table…

Ladurée is a dream that you eat and feel at the same time, an explosion of savors in your mouth. I invite you to try once or more…

Not only the Macaroons which is the most important part of Ladurée products, the Pastries are also excellent. From the Ispahan to the Paris-Brest, all tastes could find their happiness in a luxurious atmosphere.

If you also prefer to live like in a Ladurée dream, you can have a look to different luxury products like candles, bath salts, fragrances, and books that can be perfect gift for distinguish persons.

Go to a Ladurée boutique and take part to the French luxury way of life like!

Ladurée is not only present in our mind, we also find Laudrée pastries and macaroons in some movies and event like the fashion week events, many parties and the american movie “Marie Antoinette“.

Enjoy the delicious, luxurious Ladurée way of life, a pleasure for your eyes and your mouth as well as your nose !

http://www.laduree.fr/en/

(pic from  fanpop.com)

I instantly fell in love with this Azzedine Alaia dress (below) Rihanna wore at the 2013 Grammy Awards. Although Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Jennifer Lopez did their thing, Rihanna had me captivated.

Who can forget this stunning Armani dress (below) Rihanna wore at the 2012 Grammy Award show. She definitely channeled Michelle Pfeiffer’s look from the movie “Scarface”.

What’s your favorite Rihanna look? Be sure to check out other “Style Picks” here.

Related articles

• Rihanna’s Paris Azzedine Alaïa Burgundy Jumpsuit, black suede sandals, and Celine Snakeskin Clutch (Photos) (dailygistxtra.com)
• Gig guide: Rihanna at Manchester Arena (manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
• Rihanna hangs out in Coco Chanel’s apartment (contactmusic.com)
• Rihanna’s UK style diary (style.uk.msn.com)

We got back really late, so we only had time to quickly freshen up, before it was time to hit up a fabulous super fancy restaurant in the heart of Nantes city, La Cigale, where we celebrated Taylor’s birthday with some fine dine& wine. We tried a little of every french gourmet dish possible: l’escargots (snails), duck, créme brûle, macarons etc…. A very pleasant evening! And the snails were actually delicious!

Bonne nuit,

E

That was the beginning. That was my moment when Hans Gruber and his gang came in, hijacked my building and held me hostage. McClane is still out there, fighting the bad guys, trying to free me. I suppose it’s fitting that they keep making more Die Hard films.

However, as powerless as my migraines make me feel when I am in the throes of agonizing pain, you never know what a hostage is capable of. Don’t count me out yet. Yippee-ki-yay or something.

June, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is issued by FightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

See our post from last week for the first five things you’ll likely learn during a semester abroad! Here are five more important lessons:

6. You’ll learn what’s truly important to you. Living out of one or two suitcases, backpacking trips, drying laundry in your window, only having four pairs of shoes—you’ll probably be living a very different lifestyle than the one you’re used to, and it’ll stretch you in ways you never anticipated.

7. Whether or not you can actually speak another language

We all did two years of Spanish or French or Italian in high school—but when you get to Spain or France or Italy, will you actually be able to get around? Living in a country where another language is spoken is a true test of your linguistic abilities. It’s likely that you’ll learn more in a few months of study abroad than you did all throughout school thus far.

8. On a related note, you’ll learn how to communicate without using words. It’s amazing how far hand gestures will get you and how much you’ll pick up in the short time you’re there! Just be sure to learn basic phrases before you leave, so that you can make your best effort to fit into the local culture. Trust me: the most basic effort to use the native language will be appreciated, and locals will be more likely to help you when you exhaust your supply of words and need to point or use English.

9. What culture looks like from the outside

Sometimes it’s hard to recognize what is cultural when you’re surrounded by one culture your whole life. Even if it’s the culture of the United States, which is rich and varied, you might be surprised at how much is the same across the country as opposed to across the world. Experiencing a new culture is something that makes a powerful impression.

10. Trust

Throughout your time abroad, you’ll learn to trust others, as well as to trust yourself more fully. Study abroad is a challenging experience, a changing experience, and a time that is sure to be full of growth.

Written By: Olivia Cunningham

The day starts nicely enough and we head over another gorgeous and open pass called the Col d’Izoard, 2360m. A great drive. The strange thing about this day is that all the passes are open and it goes smoothly enough. We roll into a tiny town at lunch time and have a fabulous lunch at Cafe where the waiter tells us he wants to move to Australia and never come back, he just needs a job and a girl. Simples!

Then the day turns to shite. Mrs Bitchface Beckham takes us the scenic route to Nice even though we have clearly programmed in the fastest route. My poor brother, who is doing all the driving has the drive in hell in ahead. Upwards, downwards, upwards, downwards, upwards, downwards, upwards, downwards, upwards, around the most unbelievable death defying curves for about 4 hours. It’s exhausting and I’m just a passenger.

Confession time. I’m meant to be sharing the driving and I’m too chicken. That is lily livered, coward, big girls blouse scared. The car we’ve hired is a big heavy thing with no turning circle. Coupling that with driving on the wrong side of the road on the wrong side of the car in a manual I’ve completely chickened out and left my brother in the hot seat. Pathetic! I know I know I know!!!

So four hours of driving constant hair pin bends in a tank with no turning circle was a tough day for my bro. Too stressed to even take photos which was a shame because the scenery was as usual spectacular. The flowers I did spot (when my eyes weren’t glued to the road in abject terror) reminded me of how clever mother nature is. For the most part the roadsides are red poppies, yellow cytisus, pink somethings and occasionally blue somethings else. In the world of design contrast is the key. Using colours from the opposite spectrum of the colour wheel brings striking results. Most of the winding road was yellow and pink. Two colours you wouldn’t be caught dead wearing together as an outfit BUT fabulous as a plant combo. Sorry no photographic evidence to prove my point, too stressed. Mother knows best as usual.

The good news is we finally saw a Marmot. Actually we saw a whole bunch. From the outset of this drive from Zurich two weeks ago we have been seeing postcards about marmots and I was beginning to believe they were just a marketing ploy. A mythical cute furry animal to bring the people that never delivered. I’ve seen a million signs telling us to watch out for deer too and I’m convinced they don’t exist either. I’m pretty sure they’ve eaten them all. But the marmots are real. I haven’t seen marmot on the menu as the little guys are too fast to even photograph. These cute furries have burrows right next to the road and on this day we frequently spotted them ducking for cover. They look a bit like a cross between a badger, a beaver and meerkat. Pretty damn cute.

NICE
Nice, to be somewhat redundant is really not that nice. Actually it is a bit of a hole. The traffic getting in to town when we finally get off what I now think of as the devil’s road is bumper to bumper. Double parking is rife holding up the traffic flow even more. It’s also a bit dirty and grotty. Not matching up to my visions of the posh French Riviera. Every car is dinged and scratched.The Car Insurance must be hell.

When is a beach not a beach? When it’s Nice.

I don’t know about you but my definition of a beach includes SAND. They don’t have that here. A walk on the beach is more like a bush walk. Rocks, pebbles and stones. I thought of it like a foot massage. Masseur sandals au natural. I hobbled on the cobbles down to the sea and put my feet in the Mediterranean water. Still a bit chilly.

No sand castles here. Just some creative writing instead

How I hope Byron Bay doesn’t end up like this. It’s noisy and soulless.

Our super apartment is a block from the beach which is awesome and across the road from the local drug dealers which is not. Young and loud, they hang on the corner directly opposite my room all day and all night. Completely indiscreet, they have music blaring, yell at each other and have a noisy motor bike coming and going making deliveries and pick ups. I spent the sleepless hours fantasising about different ways to sabotage their motorbike.

Nice tour
To give my brother break a from driving we take the day long hop on hop off bus tour. The Barcelona one was a fantastic way to see that big city and seeing as this is posh Nice in the French Riviera I was expecting more. Not. It was still a great day but it is hard to believe that the Spanish version was way better. The buses are a bit tired and filthy. The Audio guide was broken in no less than five of the seats I sat in. The languages were on random channels on every bus which meant scrolling through until hitting the English jackpot. They were a bit light on with the stops information too making it easy to miss things. Despite that, still worth it. Spectacular views and better than attempting to negotiate the crazy Nice traffic.

Highlights
Olive Tree Park
A city park full of trees that must be more than a hundred years old. They are just an everyday part of life here. It is a busy Sunday and it is full of people picnicking, playing and sport and even a wedding. The trees are so old I just want to scream at them to back away and show some respect for their elders.

Of course I had to hug one

Cemetery – creepy creep
I never want to be buried. This tiny cemetery has some extravagant graves with grieving angels that really gave me the creeps. Mr Garibaldi, the hero of Nice is buried here in one of the least ostentatious graves.

Roman ruins – Ho hum, more exceedingly old roman ruins looking over the city.

Garibaldi plaza
The plaza is lovely but the restaurants are stupidly expensive. We found a cute little thriving alleyway just off the plaza and had lunch under a giant linden tree to the sounds of an accordion. Perfect!

Russian cathedral.
This little piece of Russia is very sparkly indeed. After the Crimean war Russia was banned from the Black Sea and so they negotiated some sort of deal (bribe?) with the leaders of Nice and now there is a large Russian population here and therefore this church. Gold and jewel encrusted wall to wall inside.

ABC Gardens
Not much to say, unremarkable church but great location high above the city and pretty gardens.

Missed
Matisse & Chagall.
Nice is a city of many museums, a week could be spent just artsy fartsing around. In our one day here I only had time to wistfully stand outside the Matisse museum and wave at Chagall’s as we bussed by. But never mind, there was plenty of other beauties to see.

And I can always find something to hug

NEXT STOP AVIGNON FRANCE