kerouac

A lot of you know me as a "Paris expert" but I was very happy to visit the lovely city of Metz last week, which is the place of my ancestral ties.

Anyway, many of you probably heard that the annex of the Pompidou Center opened in Metz last month, and I went to see it. I really thought it was wonderful, so I urge anybody going to Strasbourg, Nancy or Luxembourg to stop off and see it as well.

http://tinyurl.com/2wxwrlz

I'm going to have a full report about Metz coming up soon, which I will mention when it is ready.

cynthia_booker

Another super photo essay from Kerouac! Thanks very much.

Coquelicot

Ready whenever you are, kerouac!

FrenchMystiqueTours

Looks worth the train ride from Paris.

kerouac

Okay, here is a report on the rest of Metz besides the Pompidou Center:
http://www.anyportinastorm.proboards...ad=3702&page=1

Coquelicot

That was fun. Metz seems to be under-rated as a destination for visitors to France. Now I know better.

kerouac

It depends on "visitors to France" from <b>where</b>. I can assure you that the Belgians, Dutch and Germans know all about it.

One thing about Metz is that it is on the A31 north-south <b>free</b> autoroute (Luxembourg-Dijon) and that road is absolutely clogged all summer with tourists (particularly the Dutch caravans) -- many obviously use Metz as a stopover point.

And since it is also on the A4 east-west autoroute (Germany-Paris) (and TGV line), it is a stopover for Germans, Poles, Russians, etc., too. There are HUGE motel zones there along the autoroute intersection for people who don't want to hunt for accommodations in the center of the city.

kerouac

I was looking at train fares from Paris for a day trip, for example as early as one week from today, returning the same day, even though it is the height of the tourist season. Anyway, it can be done for about 75€. (People who plan far enough ahead can do a return trip for well under 50€.)

Southam

Kerouac, your report on the Metz Pompidou could not have come at a better time for me as I was already considering Metz for a day-trip out of Paris in October. Now I am determined!

I sense some irony in your introductory comments on how Metz itself has generated unity with its neighbours, considering how much the original Pompidou edifice divided the chattering classes in Paris.

The photos of the cathedral as seen from the museum's windows are especially evocative. I note that the church spire appears to be encased in workmen's scaffodling, an unconscious echo of the skeleton of the new building.

Your camera has become my third eye on France, gazing not just at the landmarks but at the way of life. Thanks very much.

Southam

Oops! Make that "scaffolding". And the tour of the city is a revelation too.