Archive for the ‘History’ Category
Paris connections, revealed
From its doorknobs to its house numbers, Paris is rich in architectural details. But it was the city’s iconic pavers that led me on my most recent historical adventure. In some streets the pavers are still arranged in beautiful fan-like patterns. The rue de l’Abreuvoir offers a nice view of the Sacré Coeur in Montmartre, […]
Filed under: History, Paris, Photography, Travel | 70 Comments
Tags: Conciergerie, Dr. Guillotin, French Revolution, Marie Antoinette, Paris, Paris pavers, Paris photography, Paris riots, Pavé de Paris
Paris connections, part 5
The Cour du Commerce Saint-André in Paris’ sixth arrondissement is little more than a cobbled alley. Open only to pedestrians, it connects the tony and traffic-choked Boulevard Saint-Germain with the bustling little rue de Buci. But when you step onto its uneven paving stones, you’re stepping onto a spot where centuries of history converge. (Full […]
Filed under: History, Paris, Photography | 23 Comments
Tags: Boulevard Saint-Germain, Cour du Commerce Saint-André, Paris, rue de Buci
Paris connections, part 1
One of my favorite things about Paris is that everything is somehow connected. Over the next week I’ll show you seven photos that at first glance may seem unrelated — and next Sunday I’ll reveal what they share in common. The Place du Trocadéro offers a great view of the Eiffel Tower, but it had […]
Filed under: History, Paris, Photography | 27 Comments
Tags: Eiffel Tower, Paris photography, Place du Trocadéro
Remembering Douglas Albert Munro
Today is Memorial Day in the U.S. — a day to remember and honor those we’ve lost to the senseless tragedy that is war. Here’s one story, about a distant relative, I first published in 2014. May Doug and his sacrifice never be forgotten. On September 27 1942, Douglas Albert Munro sacrificed his life in […]
Filed under: Friends and family, History, On this day in history | 23 Comments
Tags: Battle of Matanikau, Douglas Albert Munro, Douglas Munro, Guadalcanal, Medal of Honor
Goodnight, sweet Prince
My only personal connection to Prince Rogers Nelson is that I once saw him walking across the street. is presence belied his tiny stature, and I thought him one of the most elegant, regal, and — yes — beautiful men I’d ever seen. He made such an impression in that fleeting moment, in fact, that […]
Filed under: History, Music, On being creative | 37 Comments
Tags: Prince, Prince Rogers Nelson
Remember that day I walked 25.9 miles (41km)? Here’s one-third of the story. I first heard of the Petite Ceinture a couple of years ago through MessyNessy Chic, where one photo in particular captured my imagination. Could this really exist in the heart of Paris? Photo via MessyNessy Chic During my next trip I vowed […]
Filed under: Friends and family, History, Paris, Photography, Travel | 29 Comments
Tags: Fitbit, Gilles Thomas, Paris, Paris abandoned railway, Paris Little Beltway, Petite Ceinture, urban exploration, urbex
Honoring the man who saved Paris
This post is dedicated to my friend Gilles Thomas, for his tireless devotion to preserving the work — and honoring the memory — of Charles-Axel Guillaumot. Suppose you’ve been hired to oversee a vast and vital railroad network. Now imagine that, on the very first day of your new job, one of the trains on […]
Filed under: History, On this day in history, Paris, Travel | 9 Comments
Tags: Carrière Cochin, catacombes de Paris, cataphiles, Charles-Axel Guillaumot, Cochin quarry, Gilles Thomas, Graham Robb, La sauveur de Paris, Paris catacombs, rue d'Enfer
“Have you read How Paris Became Paris?” my new blog-friend Nomad Woman asked recently. I had indeed — and I loved Joan DeJean’s approach of (re)telling the city’s history through architectural and technological innovations. I especially appreciated DeJean’s characterization of Henry IV (1554 – 1610) as a visionary. I had never before regarded his urban […]
Filed under: History, Paris, Photography | 20 Comments
Tags: Henri IV, Henry IV, Musée Carnavalet, Paris history, Place Dauphine, Place des Vosges, Pont Neuf, Square de Vert Galant, Vedettes du Pont Neuf, Victor Hugo
Roaming through Roman Paris
I’m always happy to offer Paris travel tips (check out a first-timer’s guide to Paris, a walking/photography tour, and my list of 10 small museums.) But I was truly intrigued when a blogfriend asked me recently about sightseeing in Roman Paris. Here are my top picks — and a quick history lesson to give them […]
Filed under: History, Paris, Travel | 15 Comments
Tags: Arènes de Lutèce, Cluny Museum, Crypte Archeologique, Lutetia, Lutetia Parisiorum, Musée Cluny, Roman Paris
