Category Archives: france

the french connection.

Standard

Washington and Lafayette at Mt. Vernon

 

In honor of the anniversary of Bastille Day-

 The Marquis de Lafayette, 19, arrived in the new world to join America’s revolutionary cause in 1777. Right off the bat, he made a powerful friend: George Washington instantly took a liking to the Frenchman and within a month, Lafayette had effectively become the general’s adopted son. Their affection was mutual; when the younger man had a son of his own in 1779, he named him Georges Washington de Lafayette.

The day after the storming of the Bastille, the Marquis de Lafayette became the commander of the Paris National Guard. In the aftermath of the Bastille siege, he was given the key to the building. As a thank-you—and to symbolize the new revolution—Lafayette sent it to Washington’s Mount Vernon home, where the relic still resides today.

“Rien.”

(nothing)

-Diary entry of Louis XVI on Bastille Day

 

Bonne fête nationale! 

 

 

Source credits: Mark Mancini, Mental Floss, Google Images

oui, s’il vous plaît.

Standard

new french patisserie in town

 seems an impossible challenge

to make the right choice

yet an impossible challenge

to choose wrong.

 

“but compared with the task of selecting a piece of french pastry held by an impatient waiter,

a move in chess is like reaching for a salary check in its demand on the contemplative faculties.”

-robert benchley

la fete nationale. (posted a day late, and a euro short)

Standard

Rue Montorgueil in Paris

 

“An enormous fortress of prejudices, privileges, superstitions, lies, exactions, abuses, violences, iniquities, and darkness still stands erect in this world, with its towers of hatred. It must be cast down. This monstrous mass must be made to crumble. To conquer at Austerlitz is grand; to take the Bastille is immense.”

Victor Hugo, Les Miserables

 

on bastille day, all these years later, let history remind us that change is always possible. 

 

art credit: Claude Monet, The Rue Montorgueil in Paris 1878