france – stephenlirakis.com

ROOSTERS IN PARIS

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Another day of sight seeing in Paris; from the Musee Camondo to the Marais.

EMPIRE OF THE DEAD

This is my second visit to the catacombs. It is gruesome, yet moving sight; millions of displaced dead.

BACCARAT AT THE PETIT PALAIS

Earlier in the day I went to La Defense. I will post photographs another day. It was an experience. Then, in the afternoon, the 250th anniversary of Baccarat.

The Baccarat exhibit at the Petit Palais. It is always a pleasure to go to the Petit Palais.

SEVEN DEADLY SINS

style

I cannot explain my affinity for chinese style and in particular, trellis of this style. It is a recurring theme. these photos span 30 years of my messing about with wood.

The Boxwood in the photo of the arbor came from cuttings from Mount Vernon.

Honfleur

The theme of my blog would appear to be focused on sailing. As I wrote earlier, I am pleased to from time to time diverge to another aspect of life. at least to a point. Leave it to me to find a thread tying life to the sea.

I recently visited Honfleur, in Normandy at the mouth of the Seine river, which as one may be aware winds it’s way to Paris.

Honfleur’s location made it pivotal to the history of France; both as a trading port and as a point of departure for the French navy, particularly with it’s attacks on England. Colbert, in 1684 directed the inner harbour be built.

The 15th century cathedral of St. Catherine built in wood by the same shipwrights who built the French navy, the largest wooden church in France. Striking by its difference from the usual stone edifices found in France.

Emile Moisson

I tale worth telling. Two men I know, of whom I am very fond, have a tale to tell. They are in their 90’s now. Their father from Pawtucket, RI. evidently was very talented at repairing textile looms. Before WWII he moved to France, to work in Lyon. His two sons attended public school. The war broke out. For those of you who are familiar with the history of that time in France, Phillippe Petain established the Vichy government, and fashioned an agreement with Germany. In exchange for two civilians, a prisoner of war would be released. The two boys were selected despite being american citizens. They were determined not to go. They enlisted in the french resistance, their american passports were destroyed, and they were given the identities of dead frenchmen, one being Emile Moisson.

When the war ended, they went to the American embassy wishing to return to Pawtucket. Naturally they were asked to produced proof of citizenship. It took another five years to get home.