Culture

Culture, Museums and Monuments

France returns Matisse painting stolen by Nazis

November 28, 2008

200811280714.jpgPARIS (Reuters) - France returned to its rightful owners on Thursday a painting by French master Henri Matisse which was seized by the Nazis in 1941 after its Jewish owner fled anti-Semitic persecutions in Germany. ... In a story right out of the 2007 film, " The Rape of Europa ," the heirs and the painting were only paired after a German art historian made the connection using an internet database set up for this purpose. Anyone interested in the great art of Europe must see "The Rape of Europa" The film tells the story of the Nazi theft of thousands and thousands of artworks from private and museum collection before and during World War II, and details a lot of the destruction of priceless treasures due to the war.

Apartment neighborhood, Culture, Restaurants, Where to stay

A city’s best-kept secret by Conde Nast Traveler

August 5, 2008
Means that it's no longer a best-kept secret. Oh well! This particular secret has already been found as it is right next to our place on Rue Vaugirard. Sadaharu Aoki, the pastry wizard. The French are passionate connoisseurs of patisseries. Really, only in Paris, do people line up around the corner for gateaus. So, it's a testament to Japanese-born Sadaharu…read more
Blogroll, Books on France, Culture, General, Understand France and the French

My favorite Paris blogs

August 2, 2008

If you are following France and Paris, here are a few places I like to watch to get a feeling for the culture and social movements: Ô-Chateau, a Paris wine-tasting company (with champagne cruises on the Seine!) ... We've always loved following Kristin Espinasses continuing travails as she inserts herself deeper and deeper into provincial French life in her French-word-a-day blog . Using examples from her life with her husband and two kids, she tells funny and often poignant stories of her life in France, including things she loves, hates and is just plain confused by.

Culture

Adieu to the 35-hour workweek in France

July 28, 2008

Sarkozy came in promising to make changes and this one was a big one for many of our friends who came to see 35 hours as being symptomatic of a decreasing work ethic in France. ... Unfortunately, for many white collar workers, who were forced to be out on vacation enough to make the 35 hour math work out, they had to make up the time by increased output at other times, either by staying late or working more elsewhere. ... It was a well-intentioned blow for the worker to get back something from "the man," but ended up hurting French society and decreasing further a positive business environment that fosters the very productivity the workers want to have a share in, threatening the long-term French economy.

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