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{{pet}} I had a very mild version of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_syndrome Paris syndrome] ([http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6197921.stm see here] for a better description). Interestingly, not the very first time that I went there—this was with my father—but I believe on the third visit. The city suddenly appeared gross to me, dirty, full of obnoxious and arrogant people. A deep, complete, total disappointment of this place and its people. I can certainly understand it reaches traumatic proportions for delicate foreign visitors.
 
{{pet}} I had a very mild version of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_syndrome Paris syndrome] ([http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6197921.stm see here] for a better description). Interestingly, not the very first time that I went there—this was with my father—but I believe on the third visit. The city suddenly appeared gross to me, dirty, full of obnoxious and arrogant people. A deep, complete, total disappointment of this place and its people. I can certainly understand it reaches traumatic proportions for delicate foreign visitors.
 
On the good side of it, I had opposite reactions with other cities. [[Madrid]], for instance, appeared much more friendly and clean and, overall, civilized, against my expectations, so I came to grow uncannily fond of this city which, at the same time, has to be the less culturally and architecturally endowed capital of Europe. My wife is from there which probably accounts a lot for the magic it exerts on me.
 
  
 
The most beautiful tribute to Paris that I know is [[Brel]]'s [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESGRh9HnMTo les prénoms de Paris]:
 
The most beautiful tribute to Paris that I know is [[Brel]]'s [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESGRh9HnMTo les prénoms de Paris]:
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All tributes to Paris are tributes to love [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0do-UYWZKoY].
 
All tributes to Paris are tributes to love [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0do-UYWZKoY].
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== Sacré-Cœur ==
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A rather odd-looking church to crown Paris, it was built under Mac-Mahon following the popular uprising of ''la commune'' to reestablish moral order and monarchy. It is difficult to put it one side or the other: Kitsch or architectural masterpiece, perpetual adoration or touristic trap, national penance or national sin.
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We went there on {{thisday|2|August|2006}} and then again on {{thisday|16|February|2013}}.
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<gallery perrow=3 widths=200px>
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Image:SacreCoeur-feb2013-3.jpg|Le Sacré-Cœur (and [[Fabrice]])
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Image:SacreCoeur-feb2013-1.jpg|Closer view (with [[Elena]])
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Image:SacreCoeur-feb2013-2.jpg|The people up there.
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Image:SacreCoeur-feb2013-6.jpg|From below.
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Image:SacreCoeur-feb2013-4.jpg|Paris as seen by the Sacré-Cœur. On the right, hiding in the shadows of light, the Tour Montparnasse...
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Image:SacreCoeur-feb2013-5.jpg|that you see again here.
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</gallery>

Revision as of 23:08, 15 March 2013

Paris

Paris, the capital of France.

Fp.laussy.jpg I had a very mild version of Paris syndrome (see here for a better description). Interestingly, not the very first time that I went there—this was with my father—but I believe on the third visit. The city suddenly appeared gross to me, dirty, full of obnoxious and arrogant people. A deep, complete, total disappointment of this place and its people. I can certainly understand it reaches traumatic proportions for delicate foreign visitors.

The most beautiful tribute to Paris that I know is Brel's les prénoms de Paris:

Et savoir que demain
Sera comme aujourd'hui
C'est Paris merveilleux

All tributes to Paris are tributes to love [1].

Sacré-Cœur

A rather odd-looking church to crown Paris, it was built under Mac-Mahon following the popular uprising of la commune to reestablish moral order and monarchy. It is difficult to put it one side or the other: Kitsch or architectural masterpiece, perpetual adoration or touristic trap, national penance or national sin.

We went there on 2 August (2006) and then again on 16 February (2013).