this biennial show organized by the Club de Modélisme TEE 91 has been putting 1,200 visitors on the rails to admire larger-than-life miniature networks as well as meeting the suppliers and model makers who keep the store running To mark the occasion, on Saturday April 12, a historic train pulled by the A1A-A1A 68540 will make an exceptional round trip between Les Aubrais station (Orléans) and Paris the experience doesn't stop at the platform: it will be possible to board the train for all or part of the journey with tickets starting at €33 (including admission to the show and reduced rates for children) The timetable for this special train is:Outbound: Les Aubrais 8h00 / Etampes 10h00 / Paris 11h00Return: Paris 17h00 / Etampes 18h00 / Les Aubrais 20h00 Passengers will discover a unique model railway and a driving simulator that will put them in the shoes of a real railwayman And if you're still in the mood for adventure you can extend the experience with a velorail ride in partnership with Vélorail de la Vallée de la Juine Refer your establishment, click herePromote your event, click here Discover how Paris 2024 became the most media-covered Olympic Games in history See how the Olympic Games’ communications team supported by Wiztrust’s tailored PR platform overcame complex challenges-from synchronizing teams and managing thousands of journalists to ensuring top-level security Learn how innovative digital tools and expert support enabled Paris 2024 to achieve record-breaking visibility and flawless brand protection Download the full Paris 2024 Success Case now and get inspired by the strategies behind this record-breaking achievement For further information and other cases please visit Wiztrust.com protect your company and its directors from disinformation and adopt the “trust mark” of the market leaders plan campaigns targeting your audiences through all channels (e-mail social media) and organise your activities and events improve results by exploiting your data's true depth Discover the best way to manage your PR & Marketing efficiently: Wiztrust is THE integrated communication platform for corporate professionals Prioritise your activities thanks to a clearer view on your assets Manage your communication thanks to a collaborative platform for you and your team Certify your corporate communication thanks to our blockchain-backed technology Save your team and yourself some precious time Learn more about Wiztrust in our case study and of course Paris and the surrounding region are no exception Each year's event offers a host of promising discoveries A great opportunity to rediscover the region's heritage the next edition is scheduled for Saturday May 17 In Étampes, in the département of Essonne (91), the Diane-de-Poitiers library located in the heart of a Renaissance mansion of the same name is taking part in the Nuit des Musées dance Named in honor of Henri II's famous favorite this place steeped in history is offering a program specially imagined for the 21st edition of Nuit des Musées 2025 So what does the Diane-de-Poitiers Intercommunal Library have in store for us Here's what's in store for us on this exceptional night Presentation of the exhibition "Louise Abbéma des fleurs pour une peintre" / By the Musée intercommunal d'EtampesSaturday 2025 - 11:00 ⤏ 12:00"Louise Abbéma (1853-1927) des fleurs pour une peintre" is a mini-accrochage from the collections of the Musée intercommunal d'Etampes invited between the books of the Bibliothèque Diane-de-Poitiers Louise Abbéma owes her artistic renown to the flowers she sublimated on canvas Louise Abbéma was also an eminent member of the Société Nationale d'Horticulture de France Show Breaking News BarCloseBusinessParis Full Screen1 / 12Previous photoNext photoFarmers take a break along a main road during a demonstration Farmers in France have staged protests across the country against low wages and what they consider to be excessive regulation (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)Farmers occupy the highway (AP Photo/Matthieu Mirville)Farmers prepare a barbecue as they occupy a speedway Snowballing protests by French farmers crept closer to Paris on Thursday with tractors driving in convoys and blocking roads in many regions of the country to ratchet up pressure for government measures to protect the influential agricultural sector from foreign competition rising costs and poverty-levels of pay for the worst-off producers (AP Photo/Matthieu Mirville)Farmers attend a barbecue as they occupy a speedway (AP Photo/Matthieu Mirville)Farmer Nicolas Gallepin feeds his lambs before heading to a demonstration (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)Farmers occupy a roundabout Thursday (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)Farmer Nicolas Gallepin feeds his lambs before heading to a demonstration (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)Farmers block a main road Thursday (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)Farmers prepare a barbecue as they occupy a speedway (AP Photo/Matthieu Mirville)Farmers gather for a break as they block the highway Thursday (AP Photo/Matthieu Mirville)Farmers block the highway Thursday (AP Photo/Matthieu Mirville)Copyright 2024 The Associated Press Farmers take a break along a main road during a demonstration Macron's opponents are seizing on the farmers' demonstrations to bash his government's record ahead of European elections in June. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen whose National Rally party is polling strongly imports and bureaucracy for farmers' economic woes “The worst enemies of farmers are to be found in this government," she said Thursday Roads hit Thursday morning by drive-slows included a highway west of the French capital and seat of power “We are getting progressively closer to Paris,” farmer David Lavenant said to broadcaster BFM-TV Two agricultural unions called for farmers to converge on highways into the city on Friday to blockade it Highway operator Vinci reported blockages on 14 of the motorways that it operates Attention-grabbing protests elsewhere included a supermarket being showered with a thick jet of pig slurry “We’re hit from both sides with high fixed costs but low prices You don’t need a drawing to imagine what our balance sheets look like,” said Benoit Mazure a regional representative of the influential FNSEA agricultural union Protest leaders said farmers would closely scrutinize measures expected Friday from the government in response to their demands before deciding on next steps “The determination is total,” said Arnaud Rousseau EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen opened a discussion panel to try to put farming on a new footing hoping to take into account some of the complaints raised by protesters around the 27-nation bloc The so-called strategic dialogue comes as campaigning for the June 6-9 EU parliamentary elections is picking up steam and the fate of the farm sector is expected to be a hot-button issue In recent weeks, farmers have staged protests in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania rewritten or redistributed without permission TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Closed Captioning / Audio Description Contact Us Careers at WPLG Terms of Use Privacy Policy Public File FCC Applications EEO Report Do Not Sell My Info 1.0 Host Exhibit Copyright © 2025 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The accrobranche at the Etampes leisure park is closed for good With the return of sunshine and fine weather, the accrobranche courses in the Île-de-France region are reopening their doors, to the delight of adventurers young and old. In Etampes, the leisure center offers a range of tree courses suitable for climbers aged 3 and over A total of 6 accrobranche courses are on offer in a 145-hectarenature park 45 km from Paris Pitchouns aged 3 to 7 can have fun on the Mini accro courses while older children can try their hand at crossing log paths And even the biggest thrill-seekers can choose the most challenging courses In addition, following its takeover by UCPA, in 2019 theleisure island inaugurated a genuine adventure center with the largest zip line in the Paris region an all-season tobogganing area and a pump track accessible to BMX bikes And in fine weather, the site also offers a swimming area with : to be enjoyed as soon as the warm weather returns Protesters’ traffic-snarling slowdowns, barricades of straw bales, dumps of agricultural waste outside government offices and other demonstrations have rapidly blown up into the first major crisis for new Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, installed two weeks ago by President Emmanuel Macron in an effort to inject new vigor into his administration. Macron’s opponents are seizing on the farmers’ demonstrations to bash his government’s record ahead of European elections in June. Marine Le Pen, the French far-right leader whose National Rally party is polling strongly, blamed free-trade deals, imports and bureaucracy for farmers’ economic woes. “The worst enemies of farmers are ... in this government,” she said Thursday. Roads hit Thursday by farmers’ traffic slowdowns included a highway west of the French capital and seat of power. “We are getting progressively closer to Paris,” farmer David Lavenant told BFM-TV. Two agricultural unions called for farmers to converge on highways into the city on Friday to blockade it. One highway company reported blockages on 14 motorways it operates, as well as disruptions on others. Protests elsewhere included a supermarket being showered with a thick jet of pig slurry. “We’re hit from both sides with high fixed costs but low prices. You don’t need a drawing to imagine what our balance sheets look like,” said Benoit Mazure, a regional representative of the agricultural union FNSEA. Protest leaders said farmers would closely scrutinize expected measures from the government Friday in response to their demands before deciding on their next steps. “The determination is total,” said Arnaud Rousseau, the union’s president. “We expect urgent measures.” In Brussels, European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen opened a discussion panel on farming to take into account some of the complaints raised by protesters around the 27-nation bloc. Farmers in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania have also staged protests in recent weeks. The dialogue on agriculture comes as campaigning for the June 6-9 EU parliamentary elections is picking up steam, with the fate of the farm sector expected to be a hot-button issue. “The challenges are without any question mounting ... be it the competition from abroad, be it over-regulation at home, be it climate change, or the loss of biodiversity, or be [it] demographic decline, just to name a few,” Von der Leyen said. Politics World & Nation California Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map YORK — The most interesting part about being in America his head tipping back to describe the skyscrapers The difference in the “rhythm of life,” said Eugene Gillotin The fact that everything is “bigger” – “The roads are bigger These are just some of the observations by students at the Lycée Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire who visited York for 10 days recently as part of an exchange program with York High School but all are motivated to become proficient “They are realizing that French-American dream The United States has always been something mythical for the French people And they are fortunate enough to be here and experience the American way of life.” This is the fourth year that there has been a student exchange between York High School and GSH – which began when a student from Étampes attended York High a number of years ago She and YHS French teacher Nancy Stevens connected through email 21 students from GSH have been living with host families in York going to school for the first few days and staying through April vacation week The differences in the teenagers’ lives between York and Étampes are not insignificant the French students attend classes from 8 a.m with Wednesday afternoon off and Saturday morning classes Cell phones are not allowed in the schools “There’s a big difference at school,” said Alice Kathala we don’t work,” said YHS student Daphne Gignac acted as “the live Google translate for the trip,” and several times translated what students were saying during the interview with the York Weekly students cannot get licenses until they are 18 so it’s easier for us to plan things to do with friends,” she said The exchange is also trickling down to the youngest students in both communities Kindergartners at Village Elementary School and in Étampes have been exchanging letters Many of the teenagers visiting York helped the kindergartners in France write their letters the French students visited the youngsters who prepared a bouquet of their hands and a welcome banner they traveled to Portland for a Sea Dogs game to introduce them to the very American game of baseball Memorable for Gillotin was the “Taste of Maine” dinner an extravaganza of a meal with food prepared by local restaurants he was “touched” by the effort that went into that event Gillotin joined others in saying that they were deeply appreciative of their host families “He says his family really took him in and treated him like one of their own children He was very impressed by how welcoming everyone was,” said Gignac we can all be friends.” Kathala stayed with the family of YHS student Elizabeth Adams and I hope we can still be friends,” she said “I’m already planning on going over to see her,” she said French teachers Nancy Stevens and Kendall Perkins recognize the following individuals businesses and organizations who contributed food expertise or raffle items during the exchange: Anthony’s Food Shop The Étampes leisure center welcomes you all summer long, as well as during the Easter vacations discovery and good times to share with friends and family Whether you're a beginner or a keen sportsman you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to the various activities on offer: accrobranche rosalies and minigolf are all open on Wednesdays Your children can also take a pony ride or enjoy aswim in the large wave pool this regional leisure center is the only one to offer surfing in a swimming pool.. with its panoramic view over the natural lake The Étampes outdoor leisure park will be open all summer long couples and even companies for days of relaxation or intense sport The Étampes leisure park is also a summer activity: The Étampes leisure park hosts sporting and festive events all year round and the full program is available on their website Shall we take a trip with the family or friends instead of the familiar orange  jack-o'-lantern variety From the half-ton Big Max to the miniature these decorative pumpkins with funny names are the results of genetically designed crossbreeding.  look for an original. While the larger more decorative varieties tend to be bland creamier and denser. Even the names are sweeter — Cinderella These haute pumpkins will definitely have you eating outside the can.  More: Southern Perspective: First City Art Center's preview party had plethora of pleasing pumpkins decorative and heirloom pumpkins are now easier to find. Look for them in produce markets Decorative PumpkinsOne Too Many: Has red veins and stripes on a light Jack-o'-lantern: Typical decorative Halloween pumpkin for carving Cinderella (Rouge Vif d'Etampes): Gorgeous old French heirloom; slightly flattened with bright red skin and sweet orange flesh Was the inspiration for the pumpkin carriage in "Cinderella." Fairytale (Musque de Provence): Deeply ribbed French heirloom green when immature but cures to a mahogany color Cheese Pumpkin: Resembles a flattened wheel of cheese; dusty More: Sonshine Family Farm pumpkin patch opens Sugar Pie Pumpkin: Small heirloom with sweet Peanut Pumpkin (Galeaux d'Eysines): Pinkish-salmon skin with peanut-like warts and orange flesh Excellent flavor despite foreboding appearance 3-inch miniature with ghostly white skin and white flesh Casper: Brilliant white with sweet dark-orange flesh; round with slight ribbing White Ghost (Valencia): Pure white with bright yellow flesh Jarrahdale: Deep ridged blue pumpkin with thick flesh and superior flavor developed in honor of October's breast cancer awareness Celia Casey is a graduate of the Paris Cordon Bleu and teaches classes in French cuisine. Cuisine Française, 850-934-7481 or visit www.celiacasey.com The scary pranksters with red noses and outsize shoes running amok on the streets are the antithesis of a great tradition Read more“It doesn’t mean anything,” says Gaulier via Skype from Étampes the clown guru isn’t wasting words on the craze “It’s just gangsters taking the mask of clowns to be gangsters Some people put on police costumes to be gangsters sending a great Gallic shrug coursing down my broadband “It’s just that gangsters change how they work.” and the children who watched it did the same at home ‘A clown doesn’t need any of that stuff’ … Tim Curry in Stephen King’s It Photograph: Allstar/Lorimar TelevisionI’m not sure that crockery was foremost in the mind of the eight-year-old Swedish boy who leapt from a balcony last month to escape a clown-costumed intruder But Gaulier may be on to something: the idea that clowns are beyond social norms the lurid wigs and candy-coloured costumes that give us the heebie-jeebies “The makeup is sometimes exaggerated,” he confesses “and it could create some fear for young children.” “When I was a kid,” says Gaulier, who is now 73, “I saw the best clown in Paris, in Cirque d’hiver there were two thousand of us and we didn’t see the clowns very well so they had to exaggerate the makeup.” To a grotesque degree White-face clown tends to be credited to the legendary pre-Victorian pantomime act Joseph Grimaldi the tension between whose depressive personality and leering features is the sine qua non of the scary (or But Gaulier traces its origin further back Always the village idiot in rural life was falling down in the flour outsize shoes – these are yesterday’s news in clown world I see better how he was when he was a child red nose.” As the creepy clown craze continues “Once a student has discovered his clown,” Gaulier concludes “I love it when he no longer announces with his outfit A clown doesn’t need any of that stuff: a clown is innocent.” Sacha Baron Cohen says he’s the funniest man he’s ever met and countless comics have learned from his ridicule Brian Logan attends the classes of the legendary French teacher An exercise has gone badly wrong at École Philippe Gaulier “You are the definition of a bad student,” croaks the septuagenarian teacher It is so shit!” Gaulier’s student gawps at him as his classmates laugh cheerfully at his discomfort I and the rest of the non-ridiculous world might cross continents to avoid this is the place to be – and Gaulier’s tongue-lashings are an exquisite form of torture “I had moments of extreme suffering there,” remembers Phil Burgers, better known for his stage persona, the smouldering silent clown Doctor Brown something inside you cracks and you can begin.” “is the greatest living teacher of clown and modern theatre and the funniest man I’ve ever met.” Having started as a student of the physical theatre maestro Jacques Lecoq Gaulier has run his own college – in France When I visit on a sunny summer day, his class includes the young British standup Elf Lyons here for a year to study being funny (and to take courses in Greek tragedy melodrama and Chekhov) at the clown-feet of the master Fees are €2,300 a term and there are no auditions (“because the role of the teacher is to change the person but are mainly young and from many countries but Gaulier’s institute is not just a clown school I would never teach something so horrible.” straggle-haired goblin of a man couldn’t look or sound more like a “clown guru” if he tried but there’s humour and warmth behind every blunt statement and volley of abuse (“I don’t give a tiny shit!”) The first class I attend begins with a kissing session: students request bisous from one another lays bare what performers were like as children – and infant playfulness is at the core of his teaching with references to Sigmund Freud and much orgasmic groaning An actor shouldn't be too comfortable. If you want to be comfortable, you should be a pharmacistThere follows an exercise in which red-nosed students “boo!” at the audience. Gaulier then proposes to each a costume tailored to their particular spirit: a church mouse in love with a priest; a character from the Asterix books; Confucius; a Boy Scout “When they come in on Monday with the costume,” he tells me To feel ridiculous and sensitive is a part of freedom.” This is the kernel of Gaulier philosophy: good performers (in comedy or theatre – there’s no difference) are in touch with their own unique absurdity “It’s not difficult to be ridiculous,” he replies and normally after five seconds they are ridiculous.” Maybe but not everyone is comfortable showing it Gaulier watches students at his schoolElf Lyons elaborates: “He always says If you’re not the happiest person in the world to be on stage then don’t go on stage.’” Lyons isn’t an actor But Gaulier’s teaching has been invaluable because “it’s about being at ease with the audience It teaches you simple things like standing still I see plenty of failure in another exercise which obliges students to sing along to songs in an unfamiliar foreign language – then keep singing and the self-consciousness of some students is hard to witness for glimpses of the sensitive child behind the ill-at-ease ‘He teaches you simple things like standing still’ … British standup Elf Lyons“He can penetrate through your bullshit to get to the best thing in you,” Burgers says “Philippe doesn’t settle for any mediocrity.” It’s a point echoed by Lyons: “Nothing goes past him Suddenly he’ll ask you a cutting question about yourself and you realise he’s been watching you the whole time.” Both agree that the school’s attraction isn’t primarily the philosophy – it’s the man “A lot of his ideas are down on paper,” says Lyons It’s like the difference between reading a comedian’s material and seeing his show.” He can penetrate through your bullshit to get to the best thing in youPhil BurgersBut if Gaulier enjoys the atmosphere of guru worship that surrounds him in Étampes it’s mainly because of the opportunities it yields for self-mockery he is clearly delighted with his own ridiculousness “A teacher has to make sense,” he burbles at one point repeating the phrase over and over until it dissolves into gibberish says his colleague and former student Carlo Jacucci Because when we play with somebody who is fair and honest and fun we are all dignified.” Or in Gaulier’s words: “If you do something bad The teacher is unimpressed with his hip cachet in UK comedy circles “I don’t teach something fashionable,” Gaulier grumbles you do whatever you want with it.” Meanwhile accepting kisses and telling people they’re shit “I didn’t expect to become a legend,” he says c’est une étoile que célèbre le Petit Palais (ill organisée à l’occasion du centième anniversaire de sa mort montre que Sarah Bernhardt ne fut pas seulement une grande actrice - Réjane et Julia Bartet l’étaient tout autant - elle fut une véritable « star » qui ne se contenta pas d’incarner des rôles sur scène ponctué de frasques et de scandales savamment orchestrés Sarah sut jouer avec son image pour créer un mythe Elle était « la Divine » le « monstre sacré » qui fascina Cocteau apparaissant sous les traits d’une chimère dans un autoportrait en bronze comme dans une caricature d’André Gill (ill Elle était aussi un phénix qui renaissait sans cesse de ses cendres : qu’elle incarnât Phèdre Doña Sol - maîtresse d’Hernani - ou bien la Dame aux camélias Pour avoir accès à ce contenu, vous devez vous abonner à La Tribune de l’Art. Les avantages et les conditions de cet abonnement, qui vous permettra par ailleurs de soutenir La Tribune de l’Art, sont décrits sur la page d’abonnement mot de passe oublié ? Afin de pouvoir débattre des article et lire les contributions des autres abonnés, vous devez vous abonner à La Tribune de l’Art. Les avantages et les conditions de cet abonnement, qui vous permettra par ailleurs de soutenir La Tribune de l’Art, sont décrits sur la page d’abonnement Si vous êtes déjà abonné, connectez-vous Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information LONDON--Nissan and Renault on Monday unveiled details of their redesigned alliance with the Japanese car maker committing to buy a stake of up to 15% in Renault’s electric vehicles unit Ampere The alliance junior partner Mitsubishi Motors will also consider investing in Ampere “Nissan’s intention is to invest up to 15% in Ampere Renault Group’s EV & Software entity in Europe with the aim to become a strategic investor,” the statement said ahead of a presentation in London The companies had already announced that under the deal to revive their long-standing alliance the French carmaker would reduce its stake in its Japanese partner to 15% from around 43% now Renault will transfer 28.4% of Nissan shares into a French trust making the two more equal partners in the alliance Sources close to the matter said the agreement aimed to make the alliance freer and more balanced for the next 15 years The partnership will produce synergies from joint projects in Europe and the companies will work together in Renault’s flagship EV business Renault will have flexibility to sell the Nissan shares held in the trust but “it has no obligation to sell the shares within a specific pre-determined period of time,” the statement on Monday said “Nissan would benefit from a right of first offer to its or the benefit of a designated third party.” The two companies last month announced a sweeping remake of their 24-year-old automaking alliance which was thrown into disarray by the ouster of its architect and former chairman That announcement came after nearly four months of intense talks complicated by concerns about the sharing of intellectual property as Renault sought tie-ups with companies outside their alliance Renault’s board approved the deal on Sunday night Nissan’s board also approved it early on Monday Investors and analysts will be looking for more clarity on how the trust in which Renault will place the bulk of its Nissan stake will operate “There is absolutely no word about what’s going to happen to those shares in the trust,” said CLSA analyst Christopher Richter “It seems they’re all avoiding the issue of Nissan buying them back which I think would be the best thing for all parties involved.” Richter said Renault’s brand is not seen as being a strong brand so it may be tough for the French carmaker to raise money for Ampere “I wonder once this thing goes into the market how much money you would really raise “That’s why I think they’re going to push Nissan to pay too much.” The unequal relationship between the two carmakers had long been a source of friction among Nissan executives While Renault bailed out Nissan two decades ago CLSA’s Richter said that the revamped alliance could enable Nissan and Renault to work together on R&D shared costs and a few shared products “with a little bit less rancor and acrimony between them,” but added that Honda and General Motors have built a partnership that includes jointly developing lower-cost EVs together without any need for a capital relationship “One almost wonders what’s the point of them having any stake in either one Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Spaniard expected to wrap up victory today France – Carlos Sastre handled his latest test and is one step from the Tour de France title The 33-year-old Spaniard all but locked up victory by holding off Cadel Evans of Australia and other contenders in a decisive time trial in Stage 20 on Saturday – a day before cycling’s showcase event ends in Paris Worn down by an onslaught from Sastre’s powerful CSC team during the three-week race Evans couldn’t muster the leg power he needed to erase a 1 minute and was caught off guard by the Spaniard’s skill after more than 84 hours of racing since the July 5 start in western Brest that’s close – but just enough for the soft-spoken Spanish veteran to take home the yellow jersey today “This is the dream of my life that’s become a reality now,” said Sastre who finished in the top 10 in five of his previous seven Tour appearances “I was feeling better and better and was in top form at the end of this week.” Today’s finale – an 88.9-mile ride from Etampes to the Champs-ElysDees – is likely to be a ride of honor that won’t change the overall standings attacks on the leader are frowned upon in the last stage and any attempts at a breakaway by a rival are easy to counter on the flat course anyway Expect CSC to protect Sastre hawkishly today and keep him out of trouble – like a crash which looms as the only threat to his hold on the jersey hundreds of fans watching the race on a giant screen TV cheered wildly as he crossed the finish line – some jumping and hugging each other in joy kissed his fingers and shook them skyward as he crossed the line who sheltered him from the wind in the stages after he took the jersey in the last and most punishing Alpine ride Tuesday That helped him save energy for the time trial It comes down to they have two or three times the budget we do they can straight away buy much better quality riders,” said Evans “But Sastre’s ride in the time trial today for me was a real surprise.” Kohl’s Gerolsteiner teammate Stefan Schumacher of Germany won the time trial a 32.9-mile race against the clock in central France from Cerilly to Saint-Amand-Montrond – for his second stage win this year gave a standout performance to retain third place overall having already locked up the polka-dot jersey given to the Tour’s best mountain man The Austrian deprived a podium spot from Denis Menchov of Russia and Christian Vande Velde of the United States Sastre and Evans on Saturday – but had too big a deficit before the stage This is the second straight year that the Tour has seen one of its tightest finishes with the lead up for grabs going into the final time trial Sastre is poised to become the third Spaniard in a row to win cycling’s premier race Alberto Contador won last year and Oscar Pereiro inherited the 2006 title that Floyd Landis of the United States lost in a doping scandal Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible Get the day’s top sports headlines and breaking news delivered to your inbox by subscribing here TDS Telecommunications continues expanding its high-speed all-fiber internet network into more Spokane-area neighborhoods © Copyright 2025, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy Print It’s happening at farmers markets all over Los Angeles at a table of fruits that look like artichokes from Mars as are those in common prickly cactus pears They grow on climbing cacti native to the tropical forests of Mexico Central America and parts of South America where they are called pitahaya; in Southeast Asia where they were brought by French colonists more than a century ago in wedges or cut in half and scooped out with a spoon as in the recently introduced Bacardi Dragon Berry rum The farmers market vendor is Pedro Gallardo although he never encountered pitahaya there After immigrating to the United States he worked for the Port of Long Beach and made enough money in real estate that he was able to acquire 21 acres of farmland including organically grown avocados and pitahayas a gorgeous agricultural area in northern San Diego County Last year he quit his day job and devoted himself to selling these fruits at farmers markets Henri Gerwig, who sold Gallardo the pitahaya planting and still farms it, also sells commercially under his DeVine Tropical Dragonfruit label; the fruit is often available in season at local supermarkets such as Whole Foods and Gelson’s although there’s currently a slight lull; production ends some time from November to January depending on the advent of rain and cold weather Adventurous farmers started trying to grow pitahaya in California in the 1990s, and began selling fruit commercially on a small scale early this decade. Now there are close to 200 acres, estimates Ramiro Lobo a UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor for San Diego County who has a test planting in Irvine of 19 varieties that he is studying to see which will perform best for local farmers pitahayas require substantially less water an important advantage in this time of mandatory cutbacks Last Saturday, Lobo hosted a huge turnout, 140 home gardeners and aspiring growers, for the fifth annual Pitahaya Festival and Field Day, held at the UC ANR South Coast Research and Extension Center When pitahaya cultivation began in California most growers planted white-fleshed varieties which were predominant in Vietnam and could be grown without hand-pollination which was thought to be required for many of the varieties with magenta and red pulp “I like the red-flesh varieties because they’re sweeter, but they’re very difficult to do commercially,” said La Do, a Vietnamese American whose Do King Dragon Fruit Farm grows 25 acres of pitahaya in Escondido producing 200,000 pounds a year -- possibly the largest planting in the state Now Lobo is finding that at least some red-fleshed varieties can be grown without hand-pollination It will be crucial for repeat sales that growers select varieties with superior flavor Edgar Valdivia a rare-fruit enthusiast who has been a major booster of California pitahaya cultivation encouraged growers at the festival to experiment with seedlings which vary from their parents in fruit characteristics so as to come up with tasty new varieties adapted to local conditions Pitahayas were rare and expensive when they debuted here and are still quite pricey. Eco Farms Gallardo and his workers sell pitahaya for $4 to $7 a pound Prices may decline in the face of increasing competition, both domestic and international. In the last decade Florida growers have also put in about 200 acres of pitahaya, and wholesale prices are lower than in California, about $1.50 to $4 a pound, said Roger Washington of Red Dragon Fruit Co. Department of Agriculture permitted Vietnam which grows more than 33,000 acres of pitahaya treated with irradiation to kill or sterilize fruit flies the shelf life of pitahaya is only about two weeks under optimal conditions Serious competition may come some day from Mexico which currently grows about 5,000 acres of pitahaya and has for several years been permitted to export it from fruit-fly-free districts to the U.S Most of the plantings currently are not in such areas the fruit may become as common as mangoes here Pedro Gallardo (Pedro’s Ranch) sells at these farmers markets: Hermosa Beach (Fri.); Huntington Beach (Fri.); Cerritos (Sat.); Santa Monica (Sat. Organic and Wed.); Torrance (Sat. and Tues.); Hollywood (Sun.); Montrose (Sun.); Silver Lake (Sun.); Manhattan Beach (Tues.); Huntington Park (Wed.). For locations and times, see the Los Angeles Times farmers market map. Food Getting there: Take the RER A north from Paris or the regional L train from Saint-Lazare to Cergy-Préfecture and then the 48 bus to the stop ‘Base de Loisirs’ Take the regional H train from Gare du Nord to Pontoise and then the 45 or 48 bus Opening: Open every day. Free admission. More info here Getting there: The base is located 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Paris Take an overground train from Gare de Lyon in the direction of Sens or Montereau Get off at ‘Bois-le-Roi’ (35 minutes) and follow signs for Base de Loisirs/UCPA (25 minutes) Opening: Monday to Sunday, 9AM to 9PM. Free admission. More info here. Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Base de loisirs de Bois le Roi │© Speculos / Wikimedia Commons Facilities: Lake-shaped pool with water slide open from June to August; outdoor climbing and 20-meter (65-foot) indoor wall; treetop adventure trails; 12-meter (40-foot) sliding simulator; catapult; pony rides; inflatable children’s park; disc golf; 80-kilometer (50-mile) mountain biking and hiking trails; outdoor laser tag; and archery Getting there: The base is located 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) south of Paris Get off at ‘Gare de Malesherbes’ and take the seasonal minibus (10 minutes) or follow signs for Base de Loisirs (35 minutes) Opening: Monday to Sunday, 9AM to 9PM. See 2017 price guide here. More info here. Facilities: Huge wave pool in July and August; pétanque; ping-pong; inflatable children’s park and play areas; treetop adventure trails; cycling; skate park; pedalos; canoeing; fishing; pony club; hiking trails; mini-golf; archery; surfing; and ice skating Getting there: The base is located 55 kilometers (34 miles) south of Paris Take the RER C in the direction of Saint-Martin d’Étampes Get off at ‘Étampes’ (55 minutes) and then walk through the town for 15 minutes Opening: Monday to Sunday, 8AM to 8PM. Free admission. More info here. Facilities: Lake with a 7000-square-meter (0.7-hectare) fine sand beach, and 10,000 square meters (one hectare) of lawns for sunbathing; nine-hole golf course; tennis, squash, and badminton courts; rowing, catamaran, canoeing, and dragon canoes; pony trekking; and 3500 square meters (3770 square feet) of nature for walking and running Getting there: The base is located 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) east of Paris Take the regional P train from Gare de l’Est in the direction Meaux (18 minutes) Get off at ‘Vaires-Torcy’ and take the 421 bus in the direction Torcy RER Get off at the stop ‘Les Cantines’ (6 minutes) and follow signs for Île de Loisirs Vaires-Torcy (20 minutes) Opening: Monday to Friday, 10AM to 10PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 9Am to 8PM. More info here. Ile de loisirs Vaires Torcy │ | © Tangopaso / Wikimedia Commons Île de Loisirs du Port aux Cerises Facilities: 1800-square-meter (0.18-hectare) wave pool with slides in July and August; beach sports; playgrounds; mini-golf; pony rides; treetop assault course; hiking; cycling; canoeing and kayaking; skate park; and children’s amusement park Getting there: The base is located 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) south of Paris Take the ‘Seine’ exit and follow signs for ‘Base Régionale de Loisirs’ (7 minutes) Take the RER D to Gare de Juvisy or Gare de Vigneux Opening: Open every day. Free admission. More info here. Facilities: Large freshwater lake with two swimming zones; pedalos mountain biking; mini-golf; archery; tennis; ping-pong; disc golf; zip water skiing; and horse riding Getting there: Take the regional P train from Gare de l’Est in the direction of Meaux (23 minutes) Get off at ‘Lagny-Thorigny’ and then take the 15 bus to the stop ‘Rigaudin’ in the off-season Take the RER A to Chessy / Marne-la-Vallée and then the 24 bus to ‘Base de Loisirs.’ Opening: Monday to Sunday, 8AM to 7PM during the off-season, and 10AM to 6:30PM during the summer. Entry is €7 in the high season. More info here Facilities: Several large ponds on the banks of the Seine; canoeing and pedalos; horse riding; cycling; tennis; children’s playgrounds; forest walks; fishing Getting there: The base is 35 kilometers (21.7 miles) west of Paris Take the regional J train from Saint-Lazare Get off at ‘Verneuil – Vernouillet’ (28 minutes) and follow the signs for Île de Loisirs Verneuil-sur-Seine (35 minutes) Opening: Check out opening times here. See price guide here. More info here. Facilities: Large lake; playground; walking routes; barbecue pits and picnic areas; horse riding; teaching farm; golf course and mini-golf; karting; Segway tours; beach sports; and sailing Getting there: The base is 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) southwest of Paris Take the RER C to Gare de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines or Gare de Trappes (50 minutes) and then take the 463 or 10 bus to ‘Île de Loisirs – Golf/ Centre équestre.’ Opening: Every day in March and April from 7:30AM to 9PM and otherwise from 7:30AM to 10PM. Free admission. More info here. Base de Loisirs Saint Quentin en Yvelines│ | © Lionel Allorge / Wikimedia Commons Île de Loisirs Créteil Facilities: Large open-air wave pool in July and August; sailing and canoeing; playgrounds; cycling; walking routes; assault courses; fishing; and mountain biking Getting there: The base is 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) southeast of Paris Take the RER C in the direction of Créteil (10 minutes) Get off at ‘Créteil Université’ and then take the TVM bus in the direction of Marché de Rungis Opening: Open every day. Free admission. More info here. Paul is a trained journalist who spent many years living and writing in Paris immersing himself in the city’s rich history and art scenes See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November Guides & Tips Scenic Road Trips to Take From Biarritz See & Do Hacks Every Tourist Should Know When Visiting the Eiffel Tower See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October See & Do 10 French Theme Parks You Should Be Visiting Instead of Disney Art The Best Photography Galleries in Paris Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd Une première pour l’Essonne, qui fait partie des deux départements les plus faibles en capacités de sevrage en Île-de-France : « Avant ça, il fallait aller jusqu’à Villejuif (Val-de-Marne), Issy-les-Moulineaux (Hauts-de-Seine) ou Paris. 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SAS au capital de 1000 € Siège social : 18 RUE DES CARRIERES 91470 BOULLAY-LES-TROUX Modification au RCS de EVRY 980573976 This Page Has Washed AwayLooks like this page has disappeared with the tide — perhaps it’s buried in the sand at Vazon or drifting off Petit Port Last Updated on 17th May 2024 by Sophie Nadeau Located around 50 km south of Paris and boasting no fewer than two dozen listed historic buildings the charming town of Étampes boasts all of the delights of a small countryside French town all the while still being in the Île de France region Here’s your guide to the best of Étampes As Étampes is best visited over the course of a few hours, the easiest way to get to the city is by taking a direct train from Paris. Trains cost €5 each way (train tickets in Île de France are capped at a maximum of €5) and the best way to reach the city is by hopping on the RER C at Gare d’Austerlitz The train journey takes around an hour each way and the best way to get around is on foot (so be sure to wear some comfortable shoes) The first attestation of the city of Étampes goes all the way back to the 7th-century though it did not gain true prominence until the 12th-century when a council hosted in the town recognised Innocent II as the legitimate and true pope During the middle ages, Étampes was a royal town and today many buildings boasting its heritage can be found dotted across the French town. If you’re arriving in Étampes via train then one of the first historical sites that you’ll see in town is that of the Guinette tower which stands high above the town and now largely lies in ruin The tower dates back to the time of Louis VI in the 12th-century and now offers one of the best views of Étampes Tour Guinette was once actually part of a fortified complex and is now all that remains of the Château d’Étampes. Originally constructed during the 900s, the castle was built in the motte and bailey style (favoured by the Normans and the same style as which can be found in Totnes, England) before eventually being replaced in around 1150 Château d’Étampes was incredibly badly damaged during the Hundred Year War and was eventually ordered to be demolished by Henry IV of France during the 16th-century you can visit for free and admire the view over the city the tower is illuminated with multicoloured lights As you might expect from a settlement with a rich and other ecclesiastical buildings are scattered across Étampes with the most prominent of them being that of the Église Saint-Martin which is acclaimed for its leaning tower One of the largest churches in Étampes is that of Église Saint-Basile d’Étampes which is built in the French gothic architectural style this ecclesiastical building was constructed at the behest of Robert II in around 1020 before being completely reconstructed just over a century later The other main church in Étampes is the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame-du-Fort Once associated with the now demolished Château d’Étampes the church was founded around the same time as the church of Saint-Basil and also by Robert II which explains why the edifice of the ecclesiastical building now boasts architectural features such as crenelated parapets and an elevated walkway just below the rooftop these later additions mean that the collegiate church is one of the most fortified and complex in the Île de France region the church is the main Catholic church for Étampes and regular services are held there One of the more prominently placed chapels in Étampes is that of the Chapelle de l’Hôtel-Dieu on account of its position at 37 rue de la République (i.e on the main thoroughfare which snakes its way through town) as well as the fact that it’s located right next to the Collegiate church of Notre-Dame-du-Fort d’Étampes Constructed during the 17th and 18th-centuries this was once used as the chapel for the town’s hospital Enjoyed reading this guide to the best things to do in Étampes Sophie Nadeau is a full time travel writer and photographer focused on cultural experiences in Europe and beyond When she's not chasing after the sunset (or cute dogs she sees on her travels) she can be found reading and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. I started this site back in 2015 with one mission in mind: I wanted to create useful travel guides with a historical and cultural focus Today it has blossomed into my full time job and together with a small team of writers (including my husband and sister) we craft articles to help you travel better throughout Europe © 2015- 2025 Sophie Nadeau. Nadeau Pasquier LTD. All Rights Reserved. solosophie participates in various affiliate marketing programs. solosophie is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Privacy Policy