At the foot of Mount Mithridates, in eastern Crimea, stood the ancient city of Pantikapeion founded in the 7th century BC by Greek colonists. It is where King Mithridates killed himself in 63 BC by the sword since his body was immune to poison. In 1992, I joined the archaeological expedition from the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts led by Dr. V. Tolstikov, head of the … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Mr. Putin, You Have Much To Lose
Letter from Paris
Letter From Paris: A Week Like No Other in French Politics
It has been a week out of the ordinary in French politics, to say the least. A summary of the sequence of events may help the foreign reader in deciphering the situation. It all started March 2 with a few revelations about the UMP (Union for Popular movement) right wing party. Jean François Copé, UMP president, was denounced in the weekly magazine "Le Point" of … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: A Week Like No Other in French Politics
Letter From Paris: US Academy Awards Spark Thoughts on ‘Le Cinéma Francais”
The ceremonies of the 86th "Oscars" and of the 39th "Césars" took place this week within two days of each other. In comparison with the glamorous and giant show of the American Academy Awards, the French Césars seemed almost like an intimate affair. But for the French it is very important as a way to evaluate the status of the film industry and for professionals in this field … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: US Academy Awards Spark Thoughts on ‘Le Cinéma Francais”
Letter From Paris: The Complex Conundrum of Ukraine
Editor's Note: This piece was written prior to the invasion of Crimea by the Russians, but is still nevertheless topical. The future of Ukraine remains uncertain and the problems multiple. After three months of violence opposing the people of Kiev and the government of Viktor Yanukovich, the situation culminated in a bloody clash on Feb. 19, leaving over 60 dead and … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: The Complex Conundrum of Ukraine
Letter From Paris: Monsieur (le President) Hollande Goes to Washington
For the first time in 20 years, a French President was invited for a State visit to the United States. François Hollande was greeted with the highest honors, including a colorful pageant on the White House Lawn. There was no better way to emphasize the historical ties between the two countries than a visit to Monticello, the plantation of Thomas Jefferson, third president of … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Monsieur (le President) Hollande Goes to Washington
Letter from Paris: There’s Something About Sochi
After a few weeks of a media coverage of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games saturated with predictions of terrorist attacks, confrontations and unpreparedness, it felt a relief to watch the opening ceremony on Feb. 6 proceed without any significant hitch. The smiling and happy faces of the athletes parading inside the stadium before the beginning of the show were the promise of two … [Read more...] about Letter from Paris: There’s Something About Sochi
Letter From Paris: All Things Braque and Beautiful
The Georges Braque retrospective in Paris - the first in 40 years - just closed its doors after four months at the Grand Palais. Braque is best known for being one of the creators of cubism. But it would be an error to overlook the rest of his creative life, which was in constant metamorphosis from "Fauvism" at age 24 to his art studio and magnificent birds series from the … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: All Things Braque and Beautiful
Letter From Paris: ‘French-Bashing’ Doesn’t Add Up If The Numbers Are Wrong
The latest round of "French bashing" has been circulating on the internet, touching a nerve among the French social networks . On January 3rd, Newsweek journalist Janine di Giovanni published on the magazine's website (Newsweek has ceased to appear on news stands for around a year) an article titled, "Fall of France." She is a successful correspondent covering the war scene … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: ‘French-Bashing’ Doesn’t Add Up If The Numbers Are Wrong
Letter From Paris: A Popular Pope with Great Influence, Greater Responsibilities
After nine months as the leader of the 1.2 billion Catholics, what changes has Pope Francis made in the people's lives? That question can be answered on different levels. On Christmas Eve, the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris was absolutely packed, with standing (and sitting-on-the-ground) room only. Believers and visitors from around the globe wanted to share the most … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: A Popular Pope with Great Influence, Greater Responsibilities
Letter from Paris: Germany’s Merkel Warms French Hearts
Revised: 01/01/14 (Corrected sentence in red) The integration of Europe moved forward this week following several important events. On Dec. 15, Angela Merkel was re-elected for the third time as German Chancellor. Her victory was made possible through the coalition of her Christian Democrat party (CDU) and the Social Democrats (SPD). The composition of her new … [Read more...] about Letter from Paris: Germany’s Merkel Warms French Hearts
Letter From Paris: Seasonal Signs in the City of Light … and Beyond
France is very festive at this pre-Christmas time. I just returned from a short visit to the village of Sanary Sur Mer on the Mediterranean. The grandiose gold and silver decorations contrasted with the bright colored "pointus" (small fishing boats) tossing about in the port. Our next stop was Aix-en-Provence, which was also getting ready for the holiday season. It is a … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Seasonal Signs in the City of Light … and Beyond
Letter from Paris: ‘La Conversation’
"La Conversation" is the kind of play Parisians love: a brilliant exercise of actors just talking and conversing on all the subjects of their time. The scene takes place in the Tuileries palace in 1802 between First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte and Second Consul Jean-Jacques-Régis de Cambacérès. Bonaparte is a young general of 34, impatient to acquire more power. Vladimir … [Read more...] about Letter from Paris: ‘La Conversation’
A Letter from Paris: Art Déco in the Air
"When Art Déco seduced the World" is one of the most popular exhibits of this season in Paris. It celebrates the artistic movement which bloomed in the 1920s and the 1930s. Monuments of that period can be seen around the world -- from Moscow to Shanghai or Brussels and particularly in New York City. What is Art Déco? In the lineage of late 19th century Art Nouveau and … [Read more...] about A Letter from Paris: Art Déco in the Air
Letter From Paris: Immigration Woes, Thanksgiving in France
The pressure of immigration into Europe is growing. Thousands of immigrants are seeking refugee status for economic or political reasons. The television showed an incredible scene of young men climbing over barbed wire like swarms of insects, falling down, being shot, to be followed by hundreds more. It was not a scene from the July 2013 Brad Pitt's science fiction film … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Immigration Woes, Thanksgiving in France
Letter From Paris: Taxing Times in France
In spite of lively street scenes in Paris, crowds strolling in the Tuileries gardens, restaurant terraces full of people enjoying a copious lunch and long lines at museums and movie theaters, the ongoing austerity measures imposed by the Socialist government contribute to a morose mood in France . In the past two years, new taxes have multiplied. More people have to file … [Read more...] about Letter From Paris: Taxing Times in France