tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post8876455445218291997..comments2024-03-15T09:29:02.240-04:00Comments on Recollections of a Vagabonde: The weather, Paris, tourism ... and ChopinVagabondehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10774109692564954568noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-57253232770859283182014-02-04T13:09:11.860-05:002014-02-04T13:09:11.860-05:00An excellent in-depth view of Paris! And thank you...An excellent in-depth view of Paris! And thank you for your comments on my blog - I wondered if you could recommend any books in particular on Paris, apart from the ones you mentioned, Robert Sabatier and Stanley Karnow - in English or French? I've ordered Julian Green's book, recommended by the solitary walker, in a bi-langue edition.<br />Thanks!dritanjehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16025213970107184429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-14382053145730002852014-02-03T15:31:58.413-05:002014-02-03T15:31:58.413-05:00Hello dear Vagabonde , thank you so much for your ...Hello dear Vagabonde , thank you so much for your very honest comment on my blog. It was sad to think that this happened to your grandparents and that there were treated in this horrible manner, not respect and with the loss of their home too. I did not know the history and would not want to sadden anyone. Take Care AnneAnne in Oxfordshirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14479380647784781207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-86253528915869145632014-02-01T14:43:32.562-05:002014-02-01T14:43:32.562-05:00Hi this is such a poignant story about your family...Hi this is such a poignant story about your family and Paris. I have visitied it now 7 times , first time 2009 (all because of blogging) and then last July. I don not feel like a tourist anymore , I go and visit friends , I am in no rush to cram everything in , I adore it. Yes it is such a shame about pickpockets , some females tried to do that to me outside Gare du Nord , but they were being watched and got pulled up. I was well aware of what was going on. Luckily. <br /><br />I found your blog after reading Paulita's blog An Accidental blog :-) Anne in Oxfordshirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14479380647784781207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-30705429288620115672014-01-28T02:31:12.149-05:002014-01-28T02:31:12.149-05:00One thing I learned a long time ago is to visit my...One thing I learned a long time ago is to visit my hometown as a tourist. I do it all the time now because it's so much fun.Rick (Ratty)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04062449024949497557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-87048093677743312572014-01-27T22:12:28.023-05:002014-01-27T22:12:28.023-05:00❀✻❀*❀✻❀
Bonjour et merci pour ton passage sur mon...❀✻❀*❀✻❀ <br />Bonjour et merci pour ton passage sur mon petit blog chère Vagabonde.<br />ça m'a fait plaisir de te lire.<br />Je t'envoie de GROS BISOUS et je te souhaite une bonne continuation !!!!<br />❀✻❀*❀✻❀ Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-44986215318241699042014-01-21T03:38:19.040-05:002014-01-21T03:38:19.040-05:00Il va falloir qu'on m'explique pourquoi qu...Il va falloir qu'on m'explique pourquoi quand je viens une seconde fois sure ton blog le traducteur fonctionne et pas la première fois.<br />Suis bien contente qu'il marche ce matin<br />Comme tu parles bien de notre cher Paris, Vagabonde. Je me suis promenée un jour dans Paris avec Peter et nous sommes allés visiter l'Eglise de la Madeleine. Les escaliers devant étaient occupées par des gens qui mangeaient. Il y avait des barquettes vides partout ainsi que des canettes de toute sorte. Il y avait de tout sur les marches de la nourriture et des boissons renversées. Cela m'a mise très en colère. Je ne comprends pourquoi les touristes ne respectent pas plus cette ville.<br />Tu as raison, Paris est la plus belle ville du monde et on peut en être fières.<br />Bien sûr, il faut faire attention aux pickpockets. C'est un réel fléau.<br />Je compte aller à Paris bientôt.<br />Une petite cure parisienne me fait du bien.<br />Bisesclaudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07356955828590617751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-34332921867098297732014-01-18T22:26:08.133-05:002014-01-18T22:26:08.133-05:00I did not mean ennui in the French sense of boredo...I did not mean ennui in the French sense of boredom, but more the sad rather depressed emotion that the word has come to represent over here. Suddenly realised that I was not expressing myself very well!! Yours was such a poignant post. swefflinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966574718104896830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-9108783896219239652014-01-18T19:42:35.086-05:002014-01-18T19:42:35.086-05:00Ah, I do empathize with this post but am sorry tha...Ah, I do empathize with this post but am sorry that you are feeling home/culture sick at the moment. As to Paris, I have never met with a rude or brusque response and I have found people to be unfailingly polite and helpful but I do always remember how I would hate to have to share my home with so many tourists for so much of the year. <br />When my mother died a distant cousin from Sweden came over to read at her funeral. I cried so much because I realised that this was probably the last time I would hear Swedish spoken to me in my own home. I will not continue more now, but having lived in France as a child and my parents speaking several languages to me, I often feel ennui for one or another country, and never feel totally whole in any. I hope you feel less sad soon:)swefflinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966574718104896830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-30683338726833702142014-01-17T21:35:15.294-05:002014-01-17T21:35:15.294-05:00It's been too many decades since I've been...It's been too many decades since I've been to Paris. And I do love Chopin's music, and listen to it regularly.Alhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07826369816985788575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-37805898335187265252014-01-16T21:45:12.976-05:002014-01-16T21:45:12.976-05:00I so appreciate you coming to my blog to share you...I so appreciate you coming to my blog to share your response; I wouldn't have seen it otherwise.<br /><br />As I noted, in reply to the further information about your father, I am glad you clarified. You might not know that my family and I lived in Turkey from 2010-2011, so I'm more aware than most Americans of the tensions and injustices the Turks have perpetrated on Armenians (and, by the way, Kurds). It's very important, indeed, to know your father was Armenian and not Turkish.<br /><br />Have you read the book by Louis des Bernieres called BIRDS WITHOUT WINGS?Jocelynhttp://omightycrisis.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-43507842549066032752014-01-16T19:48:31.848-05:002014-01-16T19:48:31.848-05:00Jocelyn – thank you for your comment. I am please...Jocelyn – thank you for your comment. I am pleased that you learned a bit from me, but because of your comment I went back and edited my post. You see my father was born in Turkey, but he was Armenian. When he was a child he was sent to his married older sister in Egypt because his parents feared for his safety in Constantinople (former name of Istanbul.) He did not have the Turkish nationality because he was Armenian – none of them did – he was accepted in France as a political refugee or as an “apatride” a man without a country (under a Swiss statute.) But he was born in Turkey anyhow and could not go back. He never saw his father again.Vagabondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774109692564954568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-23310460597113513992014-01-16T17:51:50.756-05:002014-01-16T17:51:50.756-05:00I hadn't realized your father was Turkish befo...I hadn't realized your father was Turkish before now!<br /><br />The numbers you give regarding population of France versus number of tourists were eye opening. I'd never thought of it that way before. <br /><br />See how much I learn here?Jocelynhttp://omightycrisis.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-69109561034846225892014-01-16T15:58:04.927-05:002014-01-16T15:58:04.927-05:00Lovely and interesting post. I love Chopin, and I&...Lovely and interesting post. I love Chopin, and I'm lsitening to the piece while commenting. I didn't grown up in Paris, so I can't really feel a difference, but I always have a weird feeling when visiting because of the number of people always around me. Blogging has allowed me to act like the "amazed tourist" again while I take pictures for my reader and for that I'm thankful, because yes, Paris is beautiful, even if it's evolving too fast according to me.Magali@TheLittleWhiteHousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13787605249681670341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-19315534690989164022014-01-16T15:07:27.807-05:002014-01-16T15:07:27.807-05:00As Thomas Wolfe said -- You can't go home agai...As Thomas Wolfe said -- You can't go home again. My hometown (Tampa, Florida) has changed so much in the past fifty years that I don't go back . . .<br /><br />As always, your eclectic posts are a delight. I HATE being a tourist and have always tried to avoid the crowds. Sometimes it's hopeless . . . We saw Stonehenge in '69 early one morning (back when you could walk among the stones) and it was deserted. Venice in June of '69 was busy but enjoyable. Venice, when we returned in June of '91 was PACKED. Back to belly, we shuffled through St. Marks ... a completely different experience.<br /><br />Sometimes memories and books are the best refuge.<br />Vicki Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08114677510459055768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-28921881111225967002014-01-15T12:55:49.849-05:002014-01-15T12:55:49.849-05:00Dear Vagabonde, this posting of yours lodges withi...Dear Vagabonde, this posting of yours lodges within me the grief you are feeling for your home and the longing you have to be there and to know that others see her beauty. I was reminded of that song from World War II--"The Last Time I Saw Paris."<br /><br />And as I listened to the Chopin etude--played so feelingly and intuitively by the pianist--I thought of what it must be like to be an ocean away from your home. I feel that Minnesota--where I lived for 38 years--is my home and yet here I am in Missouri, which feels so different from what I knew. And I can truly appreciate your longing to speak your first language because I felt that when I visited Greece in 1993 and no one spoke English to me for many days. I wanted to wrap myself in the cloak of familiar.<br /><br />When I visited Paris in 1976, I went to Sacre-Coeur and was dismayed by the sight of children missing toes on ulcerated feet. They begged for money and so I gave them what I had. But at that time, no children came and surrounded me. <br /><br />Your love for France is quite beautiful. Thank you for sharing it. You often leave me speechless with your breadth of understanding of humanity. Peace.Deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00612299013780771262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-37937940134700138492014-01-15T10:48:40.236-05:002014-01-15T10:48:40.236-05:00Je ne peux pas dire que je connais bien le 9ème ma...Je ne peux pas dire que je connais bien le 9ème mais mon fils a habité rue Henner quelques temps. Dans son immeuble avait habité Apollinaire. Et puis le Sacré-Coeur je le vois si je veux en descendant de la station rue de Rome... La tour Eiffel on l'aperçoit de partout, même de Belleville. Mais c'est vrai que Paris change mais je crois que le monde change et s'uniformise. Des cadenas il y en a en Italie, en Chine, en Allemagne et pas seulement à Paris. Je me souviens ne pas avoir été dépaysée à Soho il y a deux ans alors qu'il y a 15 beaucoup : les même enseignes partout à présent... Par contre l'arrivée à St Pancrace, c'est un sacré must ! J'ai adoré ! Quelle belle gare ! Cergiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14623905868861239570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-65802216454239040112014-01-15T10:41:31.756-05:002014-01-15T10:41:31.756-05:00Un message très nostalgique, il est difficile d...Un message très nostalgique, il est difficile d'être d'ici ou de là on finit pas n'être de nul part...<br />Savais tu que le père de Chopin était vosgien ? Son village Marainville-sur-Madon est situé à quelques kms d'Epinal où se dresse notre maison familiale... Cergiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14623905868861239570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-21010856857163302472014-01-15T08:59:35.267-05:002014-01-15T08:59:35.267-05:00I so enjoyed this post..
I have never been to Pari...I so enjoyed this post..<br />I have never been to Paris.. and love the country..I am hoping I will not be disappointed when and if I get there.<br />Crowds are not my comfort zone..<br />Love the parts about your dad..<br />and I love how kind you were to visit your mom so often..<br />Parkinson's is unforgivable..<br />La Table De Nanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04358539954508050792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-33066170297293387672014-01-15T03:30:22.539-05:002014-01-15T03:30:22.539-05:00Pas de chance, le traducteur ne fonctionne encore ...Pas de chance, le traducteur ne fonctionne encore pas.<br />Je vois que comme moi tu es une amoureuse de Paris. J'attends que les affaires de ma Maman soient classées pour aller y faire un tour.<br />Paris me manque.<br />Je repasserai.<br />Bises<br />claudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07356955828590617751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-70967085605609011452014-01-15T03:23:33.424-05:002014-01-15T03:23:33.424-05:00vagabonde bonjour je viens de perdre mon commentai...vagabonde bonjour je viens de perdre mon commentaire et je n'ai pas la force de le refaire je suis désolée<br />mais je disais que le portrait de ton papa est si beau<br />je garde celui de mon papa dans mon coeur et il me manque tant tu sais<br />je t'embrasse mais je repasserai en prenant mon temps<br />car des articles ne sont pas courts et tu en as des choses à dire et à nous apprendre<br />bise✿France✿ https://www.blogger.com/profile/16622952880244716996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-66408183502871187342014-01-15T00:08:36.472-05:002014-01-15T00:08:36.472-05:00This is just lovely, and gives a sense of melancho...This is just lovely, and gives a sense of melancholy as well. Alas, the days that have gone by will never come again. Things will always be changing. I know what you mean as you long for a quieter Paris of your childhood, not the Paris over-saturated with tourists. And that Chopin Etude brings back memories for me too, as my son used to play it. But, no more. He had even gone to Vaison la Romaine for a summer music program and played a Chopin Ballade in a 12 C. Chapel when he was a teenager. But no more. He's not playing piano anymore and that I feel is a great loss. Thanks for sharing your precious memories with us. As for the cold, I feel for you... ;)Artihttp://rippleeffects.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-90470424788849347332014-01-14T12:40:21.706-05:002014-01-14T12:40:21.706-05:00A première lecture, très rapide, et au vu des phot...A première lecture, très rapide, et au vu des photos et documents iconographiques (superbes, surtout les 2, 12, 13, 16, 18!) ce billet"souffle le chaud et le froid", non seulement du point de vue climatique, mais quant au mode de vie (Passé/présent, beauté/laideur, sublime/sordide)<br />J'y reviendrai.Miss_Yveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11558587966129386283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-91428722663096070522014-01-14T05:19:40.225-05:002014-01-14T05:19:40.225-05:00I can only imagine how difficult it would be to li...I can only imagine how difficult it would be to live in a foreign country, but I can understand how at times homesickness for the world you grew up in can overwhelm you. Even in the US there have been tremendous changes since I grew up, and i sometimes feel nostalgia for what was. Living in a tourist destination I can understand your mixed feelings about tourists. Here at least we don't get many in the winter, although it is a favorite winter destination for the Japanese. But all those people who are making the trip of a lifetime help to fuel our economy, so we are happy to have them visit. Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01801967071649685995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-24498633374433570882014-01-13T21:42:47.076-05:002014-01-13T21:42:47.076-05:00What an interesting and thoughtful post. Your fath...What an interesting and thoughtful post. Your father was a handsome fellow and the thought of him playing Chopin for his family to enjoy is a wonderful one. <br /><br />In regards to Paris...while living in London, I made a pact with myself to visit every season via the Eurostar and I did. My favourite...was a trip at the end of January. It was cold..it was beautiful. When I returned in the high season I felt fortunate for having the Pairs I visited in January...albeit within the well travelled areas of Paris.<br /><br />Living in Japan..without hearing English must have been difficult. I am fortunate that English is easily found in Saigon, at least in the cities. It would be another matter if I lived in the rural areas. <br /><br />The life you live, the tales you can tell..you are so fortunate to have them tucked in your memoirs. Always a pleasure to read...<br /><br />Very best wishes...<br /><br />Jeanne xxJeanne Henriqueshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07986759909478180763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8796960161183320830.post-2853817238947996792014-01-13T19:47:02.591-05:002014-01-13T19:47:02.591-05:00Your post was poignant that I nearly cried when I ...Your post was poignant that I nearly cried when I read some parts of it. I agree with Friko. I think you are suffering from some homesickness. <br /><br />You gave us a very interesting view of your beloved city. I learned so much about Paris by reading this. I've only spent a few days there as a tourist a few years ago. My husband I were determined to go to the Louvre even though we were told the lines were horrendous. We managed to get there by ourselves on the bus. We then walked right in the door. There were no lines to buy tickets. We had a hard time finding the Mona Lisa and nearly gave up. We then found it. This tiny painting, I was surprised at its size, was surrounded by hoards of people. My husband took my shoulders and pushed me forward and held me in place in front of it while I savored the moment of seeing this masterpiece.<br /><br />There are so many other masterpieces in Paris. I loved the masterpiece you shared with us by Chopin. I can only imagine how listening to this must give you great joy.Sally Wesselyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06470453773515491625noreply@blogger.com