In memory of Clément

His name was Clément Levy. He was born on 1/11/1940. He was Jewish. Emprisoned in Blois in the Loire Valley shortly after his third birthday. Gassed to death in Auschwitz one month later.

Today, Clément watches over the children at a beautiful playground in Blois. Parents look at his picture, read the lines and between the lines and cry.

Berlin - impressions

Never forget

We just went to Berlin. This is on Berlins mind.

40

So

Happy

I've

Turned



40

The fountain keeper

Of all the professions in all the world...it had never occured to me that there is such a thing as a fountain keeper. But there is, and I do believe every fountain keeper (can't possibly be that many??) envy Gilles Butez, the fountain keeper at Versailles - talk about prestige! He and his 12 colleagues make sure the waters dance the way they did to divert and entertain le Roi Soleil on his many strolls in the park. Today they dance alone, to the same music that once filled the castle with dancing dignitaries, and today, their purpose is to divert and entertain the herds of visitors hoping to get a glimpse of past magic. And according to M Butez, there is magic - in the water.

The lady is capricious

Avril avril macht wass er will, they say around here. And today, she (and I assume April is a female month, being of such an erratic and capricious nature) is using her last opportunity this year to do exactly as she pleases to the fullest. Like a bull raging against the fluttery red or a troll against the sun, and with the threat of May dangerously close, she is blowing seven winters upon us and turning light to dark so confused street lights turn themselves on in the middle of the day.

No wonder a poor gal gets awfully weather sick...

Merci d'être sympa

I like it when the buses of the city happily roll around with rears covered with the following message, illustrated with peace flowers: Merci d'être sympa. Thanks for being nice.
An attitude campaign, not a commercial campaign. I think the intent is to introduce this as traffic rule no 1, but it can safely (and somewhat sadly - in an ideal world we shouldn't need reminders to be nice...) be applied to the entire public space. I'm sure you can remember a time when a complete stranger smiled at you or even said something funny to you just passing by and how that just might have made your day.

I can not help but wonder though whether the bus drivers actually get the message...

So tomorrow, please go out and be nice to a stranger (even if it's the bus driver).