The weekly 184
The Eiffel Tower...
The Eiffel Tower... It is said to be Parisian but it has long been French, simply!
And right now, O.J. time, it is permanently present on all screens, or almost, global televisions. A little bit Cocoricooo To please yourself!
We know his story. Quick reminder:
- 1889: Universal exhibition. Many projects – all of which must represent the industrial power of France – are presented, some of which are somewhat farfelus!
- This is Gustave Eiffel's project* which is retained. Work began in 1887; They will last two years. More than 300 workers are involved in the construction of this Giant mechanic, as the tower was sometimes qualified.
- The critics, the fears are not lacking! The inhabitants of the Champ de Mars, afraid of the idea that the tower might collapse, will sue the state.
In an open letter published in the newspaper Time, Huysmans, Maupassant, Alexandre Dumas Fils, Charles Garnier and a few others will write:
We come, writers, painters, sculptors, architects, lovers of beauty, hitherto intact, from Paris, protest with all our strength, with all our indignation, in the name of the unknown French taste, in the name of art and French history threatened, against the erection, in the heart of our capital, of the useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower, which public malignity, often imprinted with common sense and spirit of justice, has already baptized the name of « Tower of Babel ».
[...] Is the city of Paris going to associate itself longer with the baroque, the mercantile imaginations of a machine manufacturer, in order to irreparably clumsy and dishonor itself?
- Today, the Eiffel Tower is the most visited paying monument in the world.
Jeanne Monin
Research on several sites.
* Gustave Eiffel bought from his collaborators, also engineers, the rights they had on the patent.
André Abbe
[Ouverture of O.J.]
The party was successful, Finally, Celine Dion, sublime, sang on the Eiffel Tower, « I don't care if you like me. »... then commentators have « debriefed » in a very commendable way.
No one, to my knowledge, has pointed out that Paris is in France, that French is the official language of the Olympic Games and yet the names of the countries, on the boats, were written in English: Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany... I was surprised by this inconsistent choice.
The English name had been chosen for Chad and Cameroon, but the Ivory Coast had decided to retain its name in French.
It's wrong to accept the predominance of English
I have long noticed that the leaders of the French-speaking countries of Africa were defending French with more energy than those of Paris. Tony Estanguet, the boss of the Paris Olympics, split with a speech in English. We sang a lot in English (« Imagine »)
« The lengo ten la clau » (who holds the language holds the key) declared Frédéric Mistral. Our rulers threw the key into the Seine last night.
Photo : In Paris of course... But I don't remember where I was...
Sylvie Leleu
I liked the short passages in English in Tony Estanguet's speech: he sets aside chauvinism a little to bring a touch of universality that is of benefit to the O.J. Moreover the melody of each language is different, and it can happen to choose English rather than its native language. It happens to use English vocabulary that seems to me more « speaking ».
If I knew the Provencal, I might do the same.
Myrmyr de Comps
I find that Tony Estanguet made a beautiful speech full of joy and emotion and that the short passage in English was well felt considering that a billion and a half viewers were watching him, and that everyone who did not understand French must have felt considered.
- The Echoes of the Week
Barcelona
Catalonia
The witnesses of the passing of time
Little goat
Photographer's eye
Why this picture?
Barcelona
Catalonia
André Abbe
Visiting Barcelona, I discovered a seashore that became ultra chic with its aquarium. I remember a quarter a little abandoned.
On the other hand, the neighbouring column surmounted by the statue of Christopher Columbus did not change. Still so austere. The navigator lifts his arm in the direction of America.
Today, Barcelona is a tIt's a beautiful city.
I went there in 1979 and Barcelona seemed dirty and old.
The witness of the passing time...
Little goat
But... Where are the others? Feels a little lonely here...
Claude Boyer
In any case, it's not Blanchette, Mr. Seguin's goat who, had of « Long white hairs that made him a houppeland. »... and one « NCO barbiche » Hey!
Giselle Penat-Lorde
I don't know when this photo was taken. The flock had to be that of our shepherd of Roquebrune, Paul Goujon, and I wonder if it was not on our property of St Anne, are these the roofs of our sheds, which we see just in near foreground, behind the sheep, with the tree?
The photographer's eye
Door to... window of the present...
Claude Boyer
Cave des Cariatides, rue Sieyies, in Fréjus...
Jean-Philippe Tinois
Not very fresh this cellar. Despite an undeniable attraction because of its originality, the diversity of the wines, the gourd of the boss, it is not a place for the rest of the wine; it would take a huge flow to
whether it's a short stay in this place.
The cellar is open on the street it is as hot as outside, the heat makes the wine grow older faster and not in the best conditions in itself not very serious but the sudden variations, it is not good. No connoisseur but amateur!
Why this picture?
Because she's beautiful... Simply!
Cited in The Gazette : André Abbe – Claude Boyer – Myrmyr de Comps – Jeanne Monin – Giselle Penat-Lorde – Jean-Philippe Tinois – Jean-Pierre Violino.
Editor in Chief : Jeanne Monin.
