Wearing Our Pride…or Not Wearing Much of Anything!?
NIGHT SHINING
During La Fête de la Musique, on the longest day of the year, June 21st, “many Parisians were stunned when the midnight sky over the Eiffel Tower turned electric blue. It was the glow of noctilucent clouds (NLCs)*. The same clouds appeared in the USA a few nights later near Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Los Angeles. New data from NASA’s satellite-based Microwave Limb Sounder explain these anomalous sightings: As June comes to an end, the mesosphere remains unusually wet at middle latitudes, creating rare conditions for the formation of NLCs.” (Source: spaceweather.com)
*Wikipedia.org: “Noctilucent clouds, or night shining clouds, are tenuous cloud-like phenomena in the upper atmosphere of Earth. They consist of ice crystals and are only visible during astronomical twilight. Noctilucent roughly means ‘night shining’ in Latin. They are most often observed during the summer months from latitudes between 50° and 70° north and south of the Equator. They are visible only during local summer months and when the sun is below the observer’s horizon, but while the clouds are still in sunlight. Recent studies suggest that increased atmospheric methane emissions produce additional water vapor once the methane molecules reach the mesosphere — creating, or reinforcing existing noctilucent clouds.”
They are the highest clouds in Earth’s atmosphere, located in the mesosphere at altitudes of around 76 to 85 km (47 to 53 mi). They are too faint to be seen in daylight, and are visible only when illuminated by sunlight from below the horizon while the lower layers of the atmosphere are in Earth’s shadow.
OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF
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Friday I lunched with two women who changed my life forever…18 years ago. In the summer of 2001, sisters Michelle Sedita and Barb Perriello of Opportunity Travel contacted me to speak at a “Retire Overseas” conference they were organizing in Paris on behalf of “International Living.” Having recently written an article for the “Paris Voice” about buying an apartment in Paris, Bob Bishop, the publisher, recommended me…why I may never know, but he did. When they called, I remember distinctly admitting that I couldn’t speak on the subject, but I knew who could and would organize four speakers for them: an immigration specialist, a financial advisor, an author who had written a guide to working and living in France and a real estate agent.
The conference day we spoke was on September 9th, 2001, just two days before 9-11, that also changed our lives forever. I didn’t speak, but did introduce the speakers. It all went swimmingly well. At the conference, which took place at a hotel near Place de l’Opéra, the CEO of the parent company, Agora, Inc., was a keynote speaker. On his way out the door, he passed me and invited me to meet with him. A week later, he offered me the job of creating an office in Paris for International Living and the rest is history. Thanks to that opportunity, I learned everything I needed to know to assist people in moving to France and purchasing property here. In September of 2004, I left International Living for my own ventures, but remained forever indebted to Michelle and Barb for changing my career direction that fateful moment.
They came to Paris with their family for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France matches taking place this week. When they contacted me about meeting up after so many years, they explained their reason for being here. Like the non-sports enthusiast I am, I didn’t have a clue about the important event — my head was more buried in real estate than women’s soccer, but they are very sporty and huge fans. Remembering how well we worked together in the past, like when we did tours to the Languedoc and Provence, before saying our “adieus,” we vowed to organize another event together here in France sometime this coming year. It will likely involve a tour and a conference, between Paris, Provence and Nice…so stay tuned for when this actually materializes!
PROUD, HAPPY AND BEARING IT ALL
Photos by Tom Regan By Adrian Leeds
By Erica Simone |
If you read last Monday’s Nouvellettre®, then you know I went out for “Pride,” in spite of the heat in the 90s that may have otherwise dampened our clothing and our spirits. We took refuge in the air-conditioned, but window-walled café Le Pachyderme which had a perfect view of the parade as it ended and flooded into Place de la République, where a party ensued…until some fool in the café turned off the air-conditioning and opened the windows (for what reason we could never find out). That’s when we left, took our cameras and headed out and against the parade so that we could see most of it within an hour, rather than waiting four hours for it to pass.
And that’s when the fun begins! While the Paris parade is much more subdued than those in other cities, such as New York or Los Angeles (thanks to the French sense of “comportement,” or property behavior), there is an “anything goes” atmosphere that can be very addictive, if not downright hilarious. There are more and more exposed breasts with each year, of all kinds, real and otherwise. No one seems to care and in this heat, a welcome relief for those wearing theirs (I was not among them)! Nonetheless, it’s a party…and it’s a big one!
Paris is making a big effort to embrace the LGBTQ community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer), by honoring it with names on streets and squares. U.S. activist and politician, Harvey Milk, of the Stonewall riots of 1969; gay Holocaust survivor, Pierre Seel; French transgender writer, Ovida Delect and others are getting their names plastered around Le Marais, the area of Paris which has always been the traditional heart of the gay community. (See more about it at paris.fr/actualites/)
We got some great photos from the afternoon I share with you now…by my photographer daughter, Erica Simone; by Tom Regan, amateur photographer who outperforms most and a few by myself. Have fun and be proud.
By Erica Simone |
BLOOM WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED
If you’re planning on attending the 54th Annual Bloom Where You’re Planted this coming October 5th at the American Church in Paris (which you should!), you can register now, before July 31st and save 10%!
Bloom Where You’re Planted is a full-day orientation seminar designed to help you make the most of your new life in Paris. Created for English-speaking expats from around the world, this seminar provides valuable insights that will enable you and your family to grow and thrive, as well as opportunities for meaningful connections with your new community in the City of Light.
The day will feature keynote speakers and focused seminars offering inspiration and information on topics such as acclimating to the culture, finding the perfect home, navigating the education and healthcare systems, creating a successful business, cooking like the French, and more! I’ll be speaking on “Finding Your Perfect Paris Home” during the morning session that starts at 10 a.m., so be sure to get there early!
In the extensive Exhibit Hall, you will connect with organizations and businesses offering opportunities and services for the expat community. And, of course, an introduction to Parisian life wouldn’t be complete without delicious food and wine as our day culminates with a wine tasting and networking party. Childcare and a kids program will be available for children ages 6 months to 12 years.
Join me October 5th at the American Church in Paris for the 54th annual premier expat orientation seminar and register by 31 July and save 10%! Visit bloomparis.org to register and for more information.
A la prochaine…
Adrian Leeds
Adrian Leeds Group
(a waterlogue by Craig Ziegler)
P.S. Did you know…friends of Parler Paris, Parler Nice and French Property Insider are welcome to stay in Le Matisse — at least when I’m not there. It’s warmer in winter and cooler in summer! Contact us to secure your stay!
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