The traffic report for highways in France is called Bison Futé
Bison Futé or the "Clever Bison", is the national traffic website for Highways in France and now also available as a phone app. The Bison gives the current incident reports (accidents, closures, construction) for all highways in France as well as predictions of traffic volume for holiday weekends. It is a very helpful site for avoiding notorious traffic jams on French roads during the high traffic weekens on the routes des vacances. But why on Earth is the traffic reporting system called "Bison Futé" and incarnarted by an American Indian? The "clever" part makes sense as the clever traveler avoids traffic, but why "bison"? Well they almost choose Ginette la Girafe (who could see a long ways thanks to her height, note that in French girafe takes just one "f"). Other suggestions for a mascot were Thimothée the bird who culd see far ahead with her binoculars, a dolphin or a rat, so why not an Indian? Bison Fut…
ANNA KLUMPKE IN THE GARDEN
ANNA KLUMPKE IN THE GARDEN JUNE 1ST TO SEPTEMBER 18TH EXHIBITION
Anna Klumpke (1856-1942) was an American portrait and genre painter born in San Francisco, California, United States. She and her family lived in Germany, Switzerland and France during her formative years. In childhood Anna had once owned a Rosa Bonheur doll. Her family was well-educated and accomplished. Read about two of her sisters who were pioneers in math and science here. https://fusac.fr/women-scientists-international-women-and-girls-in-science-day/. A thrid sister was a pianist and Anna studied art at the Académie Julian in Paris. She spent many an hour copying paintings in the Musée du Luxembourg, including Rosa Bonheur's Ploughing in the Nivernais. She presented her first work at the Paris Salon in 1884 and exhibited regularly in following years. While still a…Traditions and firsts: Coronation in the United Kingdom
Get out of Town to Dieppe!
Rosa Bonheur Bicentennial Continuing Celebrations
What is the European Health Insurance Card?
It is a free card that gives you access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in any of the EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland under the same conditions and at the same cost (free in some countries) as people insured in that country. The benefits covered include, for example, benefits provided in conjunction with chronic or existing illnesses as well as in conjunction with pregnancy and childbirth. The card should allow you to have medical care without paying much out of pocket or at least to be reimbursed just like you do at home. You'll be treated and cared for like a local.
Cards are issued by your national health insurance provider. In France this is Ameli. Ask for a card for each family memeber over 16 via yourAmeli account - it's just a few clicks. French cards are valid for 2 years , so keep an eye on the expira…
Get Out of Town to Cergy-Pontoise and La Défense
Who was Christopher Oberkampf?
Oberkampf. You know the metro station, which was named for the street. The street was named for Christopher-Philip Oberkampf in 1864. But do you know who Oberkampf was and why there is a street named after him?
Christopher was a German Protestant immigrant to France in the 1700s under the Ancien Regime. He was a man who climbed the social and financial ladder by his own grit. He came from Germany and spoke only German when he arrived in Paris as a trained, but young, textile printer and dyer. He died a millionaire, head of an empire of 1300 workers and fashion trend-setter. The odds were against him, but his tenacity, creativity, technique, innovation, intuition and thick skin makes him one of the best immigration success stories in history. And that's why Paris has a street, metro and neighborhood named after him. But in fact though he did not live and work in Paris but in the nearby (now) suburb of Jouy-en-Josas. You probably know this town as the location …