Paris in July - Week 2 wrap up

View from Mt Ventoux

Paris in July is a joy to host and an honour to be involved in - I'm always amazed at how diverse our posts can be, yet we're all heading in the same direction - towards Paris and all things French.  Tonight I'm reviewing the weeks activities - from July 8 - 14th. I've flicked through all the posts I could find (I'm sorry we've had issues with Mr Linky over at Karen's Blog, and my own blog presence has been lacking this week), but here's a quick look what's been happening.

Book Posts

• Slaying the Badger - about the Tour de France
• Paris in Color
• The Sweet Life of Paris
• Paris by Edward Rutherfurd
• Letters from Sky (WWII)
• Footprints in Paris
• Paris in Love
• Cross and the Dragon
• A Movable Feast
• Scarlet Pimpernel
• The Paris we Love * recommended post
• Les Enfants Terribles
• Paris to the past
• Short stories of Guy du Maupassant
• A town like paris
• a collection of book reviews - Flappers, The Great Gatsby and A Terribly Strange Bed
• Treachery in Bordeaux

Film and Music Posts

• Chocolate
• Jardin d'hiver * recommended post
• Romantics Anonymous
• Les  Miserables

Photo Posts

• All-through my eyes - Daryl posts photo's each day
• texting priest - a photo posted by Esme  * my favourite... it's just so everyday!
• Paris and beyond - Genie posts beautiful Parisian photos each day
• Paris & the Eiffel Tower - photo's from Mae
• La Piscine Molitol - Vagabonde posts about a famous swimming pool - history and photos
• Villandry - gardens in France - post 1 and post 2
• La Chatonnier
• Snapshots of Paris
• Snapshots of Lyon
• Summer & Jasmin
• Window shopping in Place de Veledrome
• Bastille Day

Recipe & Food Posts

•  Creme brulee
• chicken and onions
• Pistachio Paste 

History Posts

• 14 July - Bastille Day - Vagabond provides some history
• Nari at The Novel World is posting the A - Z of Paris, France - check out some of these...
• Arrondissements
• Bastille
• Cafe
• Degas
• Eiffel Tower
• Fromage
• Godard
• Haussman

It's difficult for me to summarise in detail each post, but I've made a recommendation of my favourite posts for your ready reference.

I wanted to award a gift to one blogger for this week and also a gift to a Bastille Day post - I've decided to wait til Wednesday to identify the Bastille Day winner, but for this week I've selected Vagabondes' post on La Piscine Molitol as very interesting, engaging and informative. Vagabonde, if you can email me (see my about me page for email) your address I'll send you a small gift.

Also, I wanted to bring everyones attention to Vagabondes' comments on my Bastille Day post - I've found this very helpful information

I wrote a comment earlier and deleted it because it only talked about the name of our national holiday “le quatorze Juillet” which is called Bastille’s Day in the Anglophone world. The storming of the Bastille in Paris was a symbolic gesture as there were only 7 common criminals in the prison then. The people were revolting against two inequalities and privileges held by the aristocracy and the clergy - this is why after the revolution so many churches were burnt and destroyed – then later on of course they were repaired by the government as they had been seized from the Church and made into national monuments. What people celebrate really is not the Bastille but what were the ramifications from this people revolution – more solidarity, more social equality – for example there is universal health care and free education starting at 3 years old, five weeks of vacation is mandatory (by law) in comparison to the country where I live, the USA, vacations are not guaranteed by law. So people keep celebrating their freedom from the aristocracy and the clergy and the laws which help them have a happy life. Thank you for taking an interest in my country, this is very kind.

Check out Paris and Beyond for the photo of the day - 14 July.