A Beautiful Tackiness?

I was enthused (and thankful) when folks wrote to tell me that they were indeed reading my blog. Thanks so much! I didn’t know it, but I have a little “status” area where I can go and get the stats on my blog. Believe it or not, I have readers from Canada, the United States, France, Japan, South Africa, the Middle East… you name it! Hurrah! Hello to all of you no matter where you are and what time of day it is.

Today started off cool and grey, but by the afternoon all was well again.

We headed out to go to the Museé Maillot to see the Treasures of the Medici’s exhibit. It was a breathtaking collection of some of the finest possessions of this renowned family; DaVinci sculptures, Rubens paintings, magnificent objet d’art, tracing the 400 years of Medici’s, including 2 Queens of France and 2 Popes, amongst this most notable of families. I wish we were permitted to take photos L

Along the way we managed to see them shooting a film on the quay just below the end of our street. We also passed some fishermen trying their luck. They made for interesting photographs.

Now, on a more serious note, its time to ask… has Paris gone tacky?

I guess to ask such a question, one needs to define the parameters of what comprises such – and that on its own leaves so much room for argument that it’s not even funny. It just seems such a juxtaposition here where so much work goes into, say, designing a street light lamp post, that the same culture has created aprons that say “Paris” with tits poking out (admittedly, ample, firm ones), plastic statues of Degas sculptures and hookers on the rue St Dennis & Place Pigalle (would anyone actually buy one of those and take them home – and put it where?), and fluffy pink Eiffel Towers with faces on them – all purveyed next door to a tattoo parlour.

But then again, I suppose I have my own cross to bear, never mind the citizen of Paris!