Autumn updates 2010
Paris in the Autumn as I remember it each year - gorgeous leaves of red and gold,
and strikes. We read in the papers that strikes are all about fights, clashes and rowdiness. Truth be told, this is one of the biggest marches in france and from Republique to Nation, it was more like a big parade cum street party! There were hot dog stands, paella pans, mojito vans (!?) and jazz bands! It puts a new perspective on the phrase 'peaceful protest'. That said, I am told that many of the footages we see on tv are post march, where certain groups of people (as there always are) who may (or may not) necessarily be there for the march, are just spoiling for a fight. And of course, there are the drunks, and certain more extreme unions. All in all, it was a big Saturday party for all, students, families (with baby buggies in tow), and the unions (bien sur).
Le Pere Lachaise Cemetery - Chopin, Edith Piaf, Moliere and Oscar Wilde. This is probably my favourite place in Paris, quite serene and peaceful. It's a real gem because Paris is such a bustling city, you can barely find a space of quiet which is not chocabloc with tourists!
Golfing in Essex and candy shopping
In keeping with the theme of carvings, there was a Halloween soiree with freaks and fetishes @ Clerkenwell, and Hell's Half Acre @ the Old Waterloo Tunnels. The exhibition was pretty stunning. A collaboration of various artists expressing their view of what Hell represents. The venue was eerily apt, and I thought this particular work was quite hilarious. This cleverly done artpiece was, I think, chiselled out of a big block of wood. And the arches - just part of the old tunnel where trains used to pass by.