First falcons born in Paris since 19th century

(AFP) –

PARIS — The first peregrine falcons to be born in Paris since the end of the 19th century have hatched at the top of a giant heating tower close to the Eiffel Tower, it was announced on Tuesday.

The news has been greeted with delight by conservationists battling to build up stocks of a species that came close to extinction in France.

"It sends an important signal: when we apply ourselves, nature can reclaim its place in the city," Antoine Cadi of France's League for the Protection of Birds (LPO) told AFP.

The three chicks, known as eyases, were born in an artificial nest placed at the top of the 130-metre tower, two of them on April 25 and their sibling a couple of days later.

Since the births, the male of the adult pair has been busy hunting for his new family, taking out unsuspecting pigeons in full flight at speeds of more than 300 kilometres an hour (up to 200 miles an hour).

"They are the cheetahs of the skies," said Cadi.

The adult pair was first spotted in the...read more HERE.

Read my latest post HERE.

Doubleday/Associated Press -
This book cover image released by Doubleday shows “Paris,”
by Edward Rutherfurd

By Associated Press, Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 8:31 AM

“Paris: The Novel” (Doubleday), by Edward Rutherfurd

Paris has been both good and bad to the aristocratic de Cygne family over the centuries. While one generation was welcome at the nearby court of Versailles, another faced the guillotine during the Reign of Terror.

Edward Rutherfurd’s latest historical novel tracks the de Cygnes and a few other families in Paris from 1261 to 1968 as the city evolves from a medieval outpost to world-class metropolis. His primary focus is on the cohort born later in the 19th century who grew up to witness the existential threat to Paris in two world wars. Aside from the noble de Cygnes, the book follows the merchant Blanchard family, the working-class Gascons and the lefty Le Sourd clan. Action jumps from their day to points in the past. The fates of the families intersect over the centuries like lines on a Paris subway map.

The churches, gardens and back alleys of long-ago Paris are...read more HERE.

Read my latest post HERE.

The Paris Pass

What Do You Get With The Paris Pass

If you're headed to Paris, you might enjoy this website I discovered!  Here's what they say:

"The Paris Pass is your one stop shop for everything you need for a fantastic trip to Paris. It’s a specially designed sightseeing package that provides you with everything you need to discover the city.

The package is a bit like an ‘all you can eat’ buffet - once you’ve bought your Paris Pass you don’t have to pay to get into any of the attractions covered by the pass and the more sights you see, the more money you save.

Included in your Paris Pass package is:

• Paris Museum Pass – free entrance to over 55 of Paris’ world famous museums and monuments.
• Paris Attractions Pass – free entry to Paris’ best attractions including a Seine River Cruise, Musée Grévin, Tour Montparnasse and even a Wine Tasting experience!
• Paris Visite Pass – free unlimited travel on the metro, buses and RER within central Paris.
• Paris Bus Tour - Free Les Cars Rouge hop-on-hop-off bus tour of Paris, every Paris Pass comes with an unlimited use ticket valid for 2 consecutive days.
• Skip The Lines – at a selection of the busiest museums and attractions in Paris..."
  ...read more HERE.
  
  

  Read my latest post HERE.