Farniente over the Lagoon

Position: [ 17°48S, 149°77W ]

Sunrise over the Sofitel

When i was little, we liked to think of Moorea as a convenient leasure destination with hôtels and a rural life just a ferry ride away. In Tahiti, this island is mainly known for the pineapples that grow there, reknowned to be the sweetest pineapples in the region, as well as for tourism. The island is the second largest tourist destination in French Polynesia after Bora Bora.

View from our room

At that time, we rarely went there and all I remembered was the island’s silhouette as seen from Tahiti.
So it was quiet a feat when, with a friend, I took advantage, this week end, of a promotion price at one of the resort hotels located on this island.

No comment is further needed.

Soccer… Tahitian style!!!

Position: [ 17°31S, 149°34W ]

When I was little, I remember my father taking me to a football game. For me it was a good opportunity to eat junk food and mix with a cheerful crowd.
However, until yesterday, Tahiti’s football was known only to Tahitian people…
Until yesterday…

Yesterday, for the first time, a little island country from the Pacific made it to a soccer world cup. Alright it’s only the under 20 world cup, which will take place in Egypt in september 2009. But for Tahiti, a French overseas territory of 260,000 people, this is MEGA HUGE!!!

To qualify, Tahiti went to beat New Zeland on Monday and the Fiji on Wednesday. In both cases, the match took place in a small stadium 100 metres away from my home! It was absolutely phenomenal!

I’ll probably need to plan a trip to Egypt next year…
GO TAHITI GO!!!

Christmas in the air… or not

Position: [ 48°49N, 2°19E ]

That one isn’t a very happy post.
Obviously, the world has been seriously shaken recently with the financial crisis hitting the world stock markets in October. Since then it has been a series of bad or worse news on TV.

Paris street with Christmas decoration

Okay, I’m usually not gloomy but in this context, and with many many things adding up in my life, making it very busy, it kind of surprised me when I came back late from work one day and noticed the decorations in a street near home.

It was how I realised that we were getting closer to Christmas… That struck me because, in some ways, I had forgotten about it.

Well, I knew the days were getting closer, of course, and I was expecting my vacations to come ASAP. But the Christmas spirit hit me only when I saw the decorations. In fact, this year, there aren’t so many decorations in Paris, except of course at the usual places like the Champs-Elysées or Notre-Dame. I suspect the street near my place to have been decorated by a union of shop owners to attract shoppers.
Just that nobody has shopping in mind these days.

Of course, Christmas is not a consumer celebration in France, but in our consumerist society shopping is crucial…
In any case, please rejoice and give yourself and your joy to those close to you

Demonstrations: Another French Tradition

Position: [ 48°49N, 2°19E ]

I remember once hearing a comment about what makes Europe so different from any other places in the world: Gastronomy and Unions.

PCF demonstration in front of the MEDEF

Actually, one of the French claims of fame, is the annual series of demonstrations that can immobilise the country.

Today, the French Communist Party (PCF) and associated unions to protest organised a demonstration against the increase in the cost of living and against the evil consequences of capitalism, as can be experienced through the financial and economic crisis these days.

It was again confrontation between workers and leaders.
The demonstration went from the employer’s union (MEDEF) to the presidential palace.

Catholic Paris

Position: [ 48°49N, 2°19E ]

Two hundred years ago, France was the theatre of a pretty violent Revolution which ended the rule of the monarchy as well as the rule of the clergy. The result is that, nowadays, France stands as a secular state with most French valuing laïcité as a very important part of society.

Waiting for the Pope in a parisian avenue

However, it doesn’t really indicate the extend to which French people feel strongly about religions. Catholicism to be more precise. France has a history of extremely pious kings and rulers to the extent of being the birthplace of cruisades and hosting a religious civil war.

These days, despite being a secular state, France still has one of the highest rates of church attendance in Europe.

The Pope traveling

So it was no surprise that parisians greeted today’s visit from the Pope with an important display of popular faith. 200 000 people came to listen to his mass. Some spent the night out to have the best view.

And later, as his car travelled the streets of Paris toward Notre-Dame, many more waited just for a chance to wave at him.

Indeed, catholicism is still alive and well in Paris.