Сabaret “Moulin Rouge”

Tags

French cancan, Moulin Rouge, Paris, show

Famous Moulin-Rouge

Paris, Louvre, Versailles, Montparnasse, the Moulin Rouge… Even those who had never seen a city that is worth to “see and die”, these names evoke specific associations. And if the Louvre and Versailles are museums of “royal” history of Paris, then what is Moulin Rouge? The famous cabaret, where cancan is being danced and rivers of champagne are flowing? No. Moulin Rouge is also part of the history of Paris, is more than a melodramatic story told in the eponymous film, this – is a symbol. Symbol of the dreams came true and dashed hopes, broken and coupled hearts, creativity and vice, beauty and ugliness. Moulin Rouge – is not just a magical show, which is worth seeing and admiring, this – is part of life.

In October 6, 1889 the Music Hall welcomed its first visitors, the whole Paris had been speaking about how it is “to go to the Moulin Rouge”. The visitor was first of all stunned by an exciting interior – bizarre combination of old and antique with modernism and surrealism, eastern with the European. Moulin Rouge has embodied the credo that was hovering in the air of those days in Paris – “the right to be lazy”. Here could be done everything – to cry and laugh, to dance all night and sleep, lying on one of the sofas. Art and fraud were interweaved and had created an atmosphere of the Moulin Rouge: somewhere playing cards, somewhere were made plans to conquer the city, and in some of the halls a funny titch Lautrec immortalized this “carnival of life”.

Moulin Rouge was doing real things that seemingly can not exist, being a kind of apogee of the avant-garde and surrealism. What worth the monumental figure of the elephant, which is located in the garden of the music hall. Climbing the spiral staircase, located at the foot of the animal, the visitors got in the stomach, where was placed the Arabic Club.

Of course, now Moulin Rouge is not anymore a place where Paris bohemia met, where in the smoke-filled rooms was sipped banned everywhere absinthe, and where a ballet dancer liked could be invited to the home. The atmosphere of celebration and joy survived, but today’s Moulin Rouge is an elite cabaret, something between a fashionable night club and museum. It remains a place where the legendary French cancan is danced, and is learned what the real Paris is. Though there are other similar clubs in the city, where the program may be more vivid and pompous, but Paris visitors come namely here. Not because theu do not know about other music halls (in any guidebook can be found about a dozen addresses and details), but because the veil of secrecy, mystery and a kind of sadness wraps Moulin Rouge, where the “mill” of fun spins each evening for many, many years…

“The Iron Lady” of Paris – Eiffel Tower…

Tags

Eiffel Tower, Paris, tower

The 31 of March is the anniversary of the Eiffel Tower. “The Iron Lady” turns 120 years old. Over the years the tower had time to become a symbol of Paris, look at that every year millions of people come from all over the world.

Above the Field of Mars in Paris, stands the world-famous – Eiffel Tower, the symbol of the metal triumph in the late XIX century. The tower with amazing ease rises to more than 300 meters 7 thousand tons of metal structures, as if woven into a wonderful lace. Eiffel Tower is not only the decoration of Paris, but also is the television tower.
The tower was built for the Paris World Exhibition, celebrating the centenary of the French Revolution. The author of the project – a French engineer Alexander Eiffel. It was his work, performed in collaboration with engineers: Emil Nuzhe, Maurice Keklenom and architect Stephen Sovestrom, became the winner among 700 projects submitted for the contest.
In the process of being built were invented new items of construction machinery and equipment. One and a half years spent on laying the foundation, about 8 months mounted design itself. In general, the project coordinators, machinists Paris suburb of Levallois, built the tower a little over 2 years.
At the flagpole tower had a height of almost 313 meters and until 1931 was considered the tallest building in the world. In 1957 it set up a television tower center and its height reached 320 meters.

The tower was not appreciated immediately. Against it were many citizens who felt that the tower suppresses architecture of Paris. Guy de Maupassant called it “skeleton”. It is said that the writer, not wanting to look at “the monster”, dined at the restaurant most of the tower – the only place where it is not visible.
Each year, the tower is visited by more than 6 million people. By viewing platforms with telescopes, restaurants, souvenir shops and museum “Tour Eiffel” visitors are delivered by modern lifts. See this miracle of technology still remains the dream of many inhabitants of the planet.

Christmas in Paris…

Tags

Champs Elysées, Christmas, Paris, sales season

The season leading up to Christmas is a light-filled, festive time in Paris that can provide an ideal backdrop for a romantic vacation or an enchanting holiday season with the kids.

Each year, elegant holiday lights adorn several neighborhoods, shopping districts and historical sites in Paris, ushering the city out of its November gloom.

Christmas/holiday lights displays on the Champs Elysées
The majestic Avenue des Champs-Elysées is flooded with lights every winter, with light-drenched trees stretching all the way from the Place de l’Etoile and the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde. Don’t forget to visit the Christmas market in the area while you’re at it.
Christmas Light Displays at Paris Department Stores.

The classic Paris department stores district near the Opera Garnier is awash with lights and elaborate window decorations every holiday season, generally starting at the end of November and throughout the January sales season in Paris.
For those of you who’ll be in Paris on Christmas day, remember that all of the city’s major museums and galleries will be closed. Many shops, cafes and restaurants are also closed all day on the 25th or are open only until the early afternoon.

An ice-skating rink is set up on the plaza outside of Hôtel de Ville (Paris City Hall). Christmas markets spring up all around the city, with their warm wood-roofed booths, vin chaud (hot wine), enchanting decorations and gifts, and gourmet treats. Chanukah celebrations like menorah lightings add to Paris’ holiday-season charm. There are also plenty of ways to celebrate a memorable Christmas in Paris.

With all the good cheer, Paris in December is nonetheless fairly relaxed, making the month an ideal time to take advantage of the city’s many sights and attractions. Take your time exploring museums, sipping cinnamon-infused hot wine, or attending a special holiday concert. Have a real retreat from the holiday madness back home and try taking Paris in frame by frame, like a painter would.

Foodie Christmas in Paris

The French celebrate with their blow-out meal the day before Christmas. In Paris, fresh oysters and creamy foie gras are on the festive menu, with delicate smoked salmon and hearty chapon (roast chicken), turkey or goose. Leave room for some chocolatey Bûche de Noël washed down with champagne.
In need of a spiritual uplift after all that shopping over Christmas? In Paris, a midnight mass must is the Eglise de la Madeleine (finishing at 12.45, you can still catch the last metro home). Or see the Christmas crèche at the oldest church in Paris, the pretty Eglise St-Germain-des-Prés, dating from the 6th to the 11th century.