Anne-Elisabeth Moutet writes with the following clarification:
"Numbering of streets parallel to the Seine starts at Notre Dame. So any that begins West of the Parvis, such as Quai Voltaire, yes, they follow the flow of the Seine, but East of the Parvis, like Boulevard Voltaire (check on Google Maps), the numbering starts from the centre of Paris and the higher numbers are at the periphery. You will notice it’s also how the perpendicular streets are numbered: from the centre. Which makes perfect sense as when the city expands, you add numbers at the end."
The photo of Celine Dion really struck me: 1982 was the second half of my junior year in Paris, and my discoveries and escapades that year led to a lifelong passion for Paris and France more broadly - one that’s seen me return over 20 times since then. Thank you for this post and these wonderful weird factoids!
So, my comment on your first envoi of this newsletter got lost. Je recommence. After a long hiatus, I've taken up horseback riding again, having mostly ridden years ago in the United States. I learned a few months ago that horses here, like the example of dogs you cite, are named with the first letter that corresponds to the year they are born. The letters for each year are different for horses than they are for dogs! I've been riding a sweet mare unfairly named Vendetta merely because she was born in a "V" year, 2009. This year the letter is "O", and I'm wondering how many fillies will be named "Olympe" in 2024.
Super interesting! But one error, you can order DNA kits to Poland, perhaps you meant Switzerland? There is no law in Poland that forbids it and all the companies like ancestry, my heritage do send it there, the latter even has a website entirely in Polish (with an extension .pl). You actually can test anything to do with DNA here that is available.
Anne-Elisabeth Moutet writes with the following clarification:
"Numbering of streets parallel to the Seine starts at Notre Dame. So any that begins West of the Parvis, such as Quai Voltaire, yes, they follow the flow of the Seine, but East of the Parvis, like Boulevard Voltaire (check on Google Maps), the numbering starts from the centre of Paris and the higher numbers are at the periphery. You will notice it’s also how the perpendicular streets are numbered: from the centre. Which makes perfect sense as when the city expands, you add numbers at the end."
The photo of Celine Dion really struck me: 1982 was the second half of my junior year in Paris, and my discoveries and escapades that year led to a lifelong passion for Paris and France more broadly - one that’s seen me return over 20 times since then. Thank you for this post and these wonderful weird factoids!
Very happy you enjoyed reading it!
So, my comment on your first envoi of this newsletter got lost. Je recommence. After a long hiatus, I've taken up horseback riding again, having mostly ridden years ago in the United States. I learned a few months ago that horses here, like the example of dogs you cite, are named with the first letter that corresponds to the year they are born. The letters for each year are different for horses than they are for dogs! I've been riding a sweet mare unfairly named Vendetta merely because she was born in a "V" year, 2009. This year the letter is "O", and I'm wondering how many fillies will be named "Olympe" in 2024.
Sorry about that, Mira. A distribution mishap but we’re back in business! Love this anecdote…
Love love love! 💛
Thank you, Lolly!
The ban on “recreational” D.N.A. testing is fascinating
re 25, have you seen the Isabelle Huppert film based on Giraud‘s story? Une affaire de femmes from Claude Chabrol
I have. Thinking about it gives me chills.
Super interesting! But one error, you can order DNA kits to Poland, perhaps you meant Switzerland? There is no law in Poland that forbids it and all the companies like ancestry, my heritage do send it there, the latter even has a website entirely in Polish (with an extension .pl). You actually can test anything to do with DNA here that is available.
Hi Julia! Interesting. According to this article, it's indeed France and Poland, but, if you live there, you'd know better than I (or Le Parisien)!
https://www.leparisien.fr/societe/famille/tests-adn-donnees-sensibles-risques-darnaque-pourquoi-la-france-les-interdit-01-06-2024-VQVISCK44VGRFDRRJJI4MTYB54.php?ts=1726663085969
Learned so much about my own country! Thank you
The richest compliment I could receive—thank you
I do love a list! 💗
Gillian! Anything for you