Pounds and Ounces, Stones and Gallons

Pounds and Ounces, Stones and Gallons: Exploring Their Origins Pondering Pounds Have you ever wondered why the abbreviation for pound, both as a unit of weight and as currency, is “lb” or represented as £ (an L with a line through it)? The answer lies in the Latin word “libra.” In astrology, Libra, the seventh sign of the zodiac, is symbolized by scales due to its association with balance, weights, and measurements. In ancient Rome, the standard unit of weight was "libra pondo," which meant "a pound by weight" in Latin. The English word "pound" is derived from the "pondo" part of this phrase, while the abbreviation “lb.” comes from "libra." Similarly, the symbol for the British pound (£) also traces its origins to "libra pondo," as the value of the pound was once equivalent to the price of a pound of silver. Interestingly, other currencies, such as the former Italian lira and the current Turkish lira, also have their roots in "libra." Then there is the pound symbol (#), al…
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  • 29 décembre 2025
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Our favorite 8 Museums just outside Paris

Whether you are a tourist or a Parisian, you have most definitely visited museums such as Le Louvre or Le Musée d'Orsay. Yes, they are absolutely gorgeous and definitely worth a visit but we are lucky enough to also have some hidden treasures Museums just outside Paris ! Not only you can discover some amazing things while getting some freqh air out of town but also a lot of them are free or inexpensive and you don't have to queue for hours to get in! In fact for some you need to reserve in advance so check the websites.  These are all accessible by train or car. Here are our 8 favorite museums just outside Paris, many of which have the "Maison des illustres" label which signals their importance in French culture. The * distinguishes them. Musée Rodin * This beautiful estate in Meudon includes an extraordinary park overlooking Paris. It has the "Maison des illustres" label as you might expect. The visit begins with the Villa des Brillants, Rodin’s home for the last 20 year…
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  • 22 décembre 2025
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The Saints on the map of Paris

Whether you walk across Paris or look at the metro or street map, you often see places named after a Saint. Such familiar names as St Genevieve, St Denis, St Vincent de Paul etc... Have you ever wondered who were these saints on the map of Paris and what their history was? We did! Here is a bit of history on the Saints on the map of Paris.

Sainte Geneviève

Logically the patron saint of Paris, St. Geneviève, is the one you come across most often. Her statue by Paul Landowski graces the Pont de La Tournelle in the 4th district. There is also one in Jardin du Luxembourg. She is on the front of Notre Dame as well. The Catholic church is celebrating the 1600th anniversary of Genevieve this year. A relic, her index finger, and her sarcophagus is in a chapel dedicated to her in the church of St Etienne du Mont a church in the 5th arrondissement on the Montagne Sainte Geneviève where she lived and prayed.

She was born in Nanterre in about the …
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  • 15 décembre 2025
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English speaking Musicians in France

Here's a set of English speaking musicians in France that we think you'll want to discover. Three of our selection of rising musicians in France are female Americans. They offer distinctly different styles all inspiring and uplifting.  Our fourth selection is a British expat who has just wrote his first song in French.

Emma Doucet Having grown up with a father as a musician, Emma has been singing and listening to music since she was born. During her years of traveling the world, she developed a capacity to sing divinatory songs. People, places and intentions create these songs. Sometimes you recognize the name of an ancestor, the spirits of a culture, trees or other familiar words. Sometimes words are not understandable and only vibrations and syllables can be felt.  Emma performs spontaneous melodies or classics in her sweet airy voice. She's a multi-talent musician with a special love for the guitar, the Celtic harp, the voice and percussion. She performs…
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  • 1 décembre 2025
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