Saturday, July 14, 2012

Fete de la Federation

Photo by Cedric

A visual reminder of Bastille Prison remains on the streets of Paris, marked in the cobblestones of Place de le Bastille. The lighter stones show the outlines of the prison, the symbol of a despot's tyranny which was attacked on this date 1789, freeing its 7 prisoners and marking the beginning of the French Revolution.

I proudly admit to being a lifelong Francophile. While mutually wary of each other, our two countries have a long history of mutual dependence. Both the US and France are free nations due to the others intervention. The world however, owes a debt to France, for it is from the French, including her later kings that our notion of the good life, which includes fashion, fine food and wine, chic cafe society, style, sophistication and glamour descend. French style began to lead the world in the late 1600's and they have led the way since.

Happy Independence Day, friends, from a grateful nation.

Toad

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Typical minimalist French elegance to simply embed the outline within the cobblestones; given an open plaza like that the outline achieves a paradoxically monumental effect. Wow. I'd never seen that before, but then how many times have I come to your blog and said that same thing, time and time again.

Thank you, and here's a little gift in return, something for your files. I hadn't seen this company until yesterday while crusing a decorating blog, this might just be the linen fabric mother lode. I'm linking you to their mid-weight line, there are other weights available.

http://www.graylinelinen.com/index.php/catalog/product/gallery/id/445/image/935

/http://www.graylinelinen.com/index.php/linen/warsa-linen.html?limit=all

-F

Toad said...

Just when I thought..... Thank you for the tip. Now I know how to spend my afternoon.

BTW the curious may also find the Bastille outline on google maps.

Mikekmwz said...

Just when I thought..... Thank you for the tip. Now I know how to spend my afternoon. BTW the curious may also find the Bastille outline on google maps.