Editor's Note: This article is based on the transcript of a talk on the reopening of Notre Dame de Paris given by Nicole Prévost Logan to the residents of Essex Meadows on Dec.10, 2024. The reopening of Notre Dame has been covered by the world media, including the New York Times, the Financial Times, National Geographic and many other publications. Striking images of the … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Global Delight Greets Reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral After Incredible Renovation
Letter from Paris
Letter From Paris: A European Comes to Paris
How the Youngest Ever French PM was Replaced by the Oldest As a rule, French politics are full of surprises but the summer of 2024 took the country into unchartered waters. For weeks the search was on to find a new Prime Minister. All attempts led to an impasse. People started getting really worried: was there even a pilot on the plane? And then, on … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: A European Comes to Paris
Letter From Paris: French Populists Surge in Euro Parliamentary Elections, But Are Unexpectedly Denied Victory in France
The elections to the European Parliament on June 9, 2024, raised more interest, but also more concern than ever because of the rise of the populist movement in the continent. Every five years, the 720 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are elected by universal suffrage in a number proportional to the size of the states' population, e.g., France is allotted 81 … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: French Populists Surge in Euro Parliamentary Elections, But Are Unexpectedly Denied Victory in France
Letter From Paris: Three Major Exhibits Dominate Parisian Art Scene This Winter
Tragic link between the featured artists is that they all committed suicide PARIS, FRANCE -- The art scene in Paris during the last month of 2023 was quite intense. Three major exhibits of artists—coming respectively from France, the US and the Netherlands—attracted a sophisticated, international public. These artists have nothing in common, except that all three of them … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Three Major Exhibits Dominate Parisian Art Scene This Winter
Letter From Paris … or, in this case, Saint-Émilion: A Day In Wine Country
Saint-Émilion is a small village perched on the hills overlooking the Dordogne river about 28 miles east of Bordeaux It is surrounded by some of the most prestigious vineyards in the world and in 1999, the "cultural village"of St. Emilion was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. In winter, the population of Saint-Émilion is not more than 200 but in summer … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris … or, in this case, Saint-Émilion: A Day In Wine Country
Letter From Paris: Let the Games Begin … in Paris … in 2024!
The countdown has started for the Summer Olympic Games 2024 (or J.O. [Jeux Olympiques] 2024 as the French say) and the excitement is growing. The dates are July 26 through Aug. 11, and Aug. 28 through Sept. 8 for the Special Olympics . Paris will be the host of the events. The interface of an historical city like Paris with venues for sporting events should be magical while … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Let the Games Begin … in Paris … in 2024!
Letter From Paris: For Five Days in June, France Burned
"You should not go to France. it is too dangerous." My American friends expressed their concern when I flew out to France for a summer vacation in early July. I must admit that the news coverage of what happened in that country in late June was pretty scary: riots for five days and nights, hundreds of burnt cars, carcasses of buses left on the streets, black … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: For Five Days in June, France Burned
Letter From Paris: Memories of Crimea … a Strategic Peninsula Steeped in History, Culture
Subsequent to the Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014, which took place 60 years after USSR First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev transferred it to Ukraine in 1944, the strategically-important peninsula has frequently made news headlines. I visited the region twice and have always been fascinated by the important events and famous people with which it is associated. In … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Memories of Crimea … a Strategic Peninsula Steeped in History, Culture
A Letter From Paris: Celebrating ‘Le Quatorze Juillet’ in Spectacular Style
Watching the 14th of July defilé [parade] is a well-anchored tradition for the French. This year, as always, it was a two-hour impeccably choreographed event. Each French president takes it very seriously since it is an opportunity to display the military profile of the country, the vision for its future, as well as the latest technology, and to reaffirm the fact that … [Read more...] about A Letter From Paris: Celebrating ‘Le Quatorze Juillet’ in Spectacular Style
Letter From Paris: A New Spire – and Rooster – Set to Rise Above Notre Dame Cathedral
The spire and the rooster of Notre Dame will soon be back in the sky of Paris. On April 15, 2019, the world watched in horror as the spire of Notre Dame was consumed by flames and finally crumbled down. It left a gaping hole in the cathedral at the center of its vault. Four years later, the installation of a tabouret -- (literally, a stool) -- which, … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: A New Spire – and Rooster – Set to Rise Above Notre Dame Cathedral
Letter From Paris: Anatomy of a Crisis — Retirement Reform in France
A crushing defeat for the French president, many angry people and a country convulsing into chaos. Let's rewind the video back to early 2023. There was a feeling of déjà vu when observing the political and social turmoil going on in France. Once more the "Street" is in an uproar and the deputies in the Assemblée Nationale are fighting like cats and dogs. This … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Anatomy of a Crisis — Retirement Reform in France
Letter From Paris: From Macron v1 to Macron v2: France Negotiates Turbulent Times
Editor's Note: We are delighted to welcome back Nicole Prévost Logan (no relation.) Today she offers a detailed analysis of happenings in the French political landscape, saying, "A lot has happened in France in the past two months and I felt important to write about what is not making the headlines." Surreal political developments are taking taken place in France. … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: From Macron v1 to Macron v2: France Negotiates Turbulent Times
Letter From Paris: Antony Blinken Has Major Advantage Being Bilingual at Helm of US Foreign Policy
Never before has a US Secretary of State been as utterly bilingual as Antony Blinken. Granted, two of the Founding Fathers of America also had special relationships with France. But Benjamin Franklin was 70 when he was appointed ambassador to Paris in 1776. For nine years, he resided in Passy and became a real Parisian. Thomas Jefferson was 41 when he planted his roots … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Antony Blinken Has Major Advantage Being Bilingual at Helm of US Foreign Policy
Letter From Paris: Restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral Symbolizes Hope for Both France, the World
April 15, 2021 was the second anniversary of the fire, which ravaged Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, and also the day when France reached 100,000 deaths from COVID-19. President Emmanuel Macron of France stressed that the reconstruction of the cathedral will be the symbol his country's rebound from the pandemic. Before giving the latest update of the most recent restoration … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral Symbolizes Hope for Both France, the World
Letter From Paris: After 47 Years, UK Leaves EU with ‘Thin’ Post-Brexit Deal
After 47 years of co-habitation, the UK has left the European Union (EU) with a "thin" post-Brexit deal. An end-of-year need for holiday food delicacies, such as caviar, lobster or foie gras, panic about running short of fresh produce -- such as lettuce, combined with the Covid-19 procedure slowing down the traffic, caused spectacular chaos with thousands of trucks lining up … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: After 47 Years, UK Leaves EU with ‘Thin’ Post-Brexit Deal