Van Gogh in Paris

This is something I could do all day...in Paris. 

Shoot photos of nothing but these. 

I could do an entire postcard collection of just Doors and Windows. 

One thing I love about travel is the amount of art one is exposed to.

And wish I was there now for the Van Gogh exhibition 

happening through March 17th

called Van Gogh: Reves de Japon

(Dreams of Japan)

at the Pinacotheque de Paris,

Gallery 2,

8, rue Vignon,

75009 Paris (in the 9th).

To avoid the crowds, open til 21:00 on Wed and Friday. 

If you're in Paris,

see Van Gogh's Japanese dreams 

before they vanish. 

(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Papal History~ Travelin' Tuesday

With the news of the first Pope to resign in 600 years,

and a very busy week ahead,

it seemed appropriate to take a very short trip to Rome,

specifically the Vatican, this Travelin' Tuesday. 

Here are just a few shots of the beauty of the place. 

So many saints, 

so little time. 

And a view from the top.

While not a Catholic or a Pope-follower,

it is always fascinating when history is made. 

And soon excitement will ensue while Rome and the world 

await smoke signals.

I promise to be back with more French news next week

but enjoy these travel photos until then. 

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Nouveaux Cloches for Notre Dame's 850th Anniversary

New bells will be ringing this Easter in Paris! 

Nine new bells, on display at Notre Dame,

will begin pealing in time for Palm Sunday.

While there is some controversy about what will happen to the old bells,

the one remaining Great Bell, Emmanuel, will stay. 

The others, replacing the old 'out of tune' bells,

are going in to celebrate the founding of the cathedral in 1163.

And according to the Seattle Times, each will have names: 

Jean-Marie, Maurice, Benoit-Joseph, Steven, Marcel, Dennis,

Anne-Genevieve, Gabriel and Mary will join Emmanuel,

the only original bell not taken down and broken in the French Revolution. 

And written on each bell, a Latin inscription:

Via viatores quaerit.

"I am the path looking for travelers." 

If you are in Paris on March 23rd,

listen for the sound of the medieval church bells of old

and follow the travelers path to the city's beloved

Our Lady of Paris.  

(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Pantalons allowed!

It's official! 

As of January 31st, it is now legal for women in Paris to wear pants! 

According to The Telegraph, last July, France's minister of women's rights, 

                  Ms. Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, was given a public request by

 Senator Alain Houpert to repeal the ancient, unenforced law

which stated that women must ask permission from the police to be 

dressed as men (in pants!) or be arrested. 

At certain points (1892 & 1909), an amendment to the law allowed women 

to wear trousers if they were "holding a bicycle handlebar or the reins of a horse." 

This repeal  may seem a tad late although, 

 Gail Collins writes in her new book 

"When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present,"

that in 1960, a young secretary was reprimanded by a traffic judge 

for wearing slacks in his courtroom and sent home to change into more appropriate attire...

and most women had to get their husband's permission to apply for a credit card. 

It's not so very far away, women needing permission 

to be even slightly equal to men. 

But at least, you can rest assured that as of this year, 2013,

you can now wear slacks in Paris without the least fear of being arrested. 

Who knew?!

(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen)