Oct

The Paris Wall of Love

by Meredith Mullins on October 16, 2017

The many ways to say “I Love You”
© Meredith Mullins

How To Say I Love You?
Let Us Count the Ways

Te amo . . . Sarang Hae (사랑해) . . . Nagligivagit . . . Ég elska pig . . . S’agapo . . . Mina rakastan sinua . . . Phom rak khun . . . Aishiteru (愛してる) . . . Je t’aime . . . Ya tebe kohayu . . . Rwy’n dy garu di . . . Ani ohev otach . . . Ik hou van je . . . Nakupenda . . . Wo ai ni (我爱你)

What does this parade of phrases have in common?

They are all ways to say “I love you”— language gems that are important in today’s world of far too much disaster, violence, mistrust, and hate.

What else do these terms of endearment have in common? They are all words that appear on the Wall of Love in Paris.

Can you guess the languages? (See the key at the end of this story for the answers.)

How to say I love you with love locks on the Paris Post des Arts, another way to say I love you from the Wall of Love. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

The glint of metal says “I love you” . . . but there are other ways.
© Meredith Mullins

Saying “I Love You” in the City of Love

Paris is a romantic city. In fact, along with its classic moniker (“City of Light”), it has earned the perhaps coveted title of “City of Love.” (What city wouldn’t want to be the center of love?)

From the thousands of love locks that once glinted on so many of the iconic bridges to romantic trysts on park benches tucked away in garden corners to passionate tango dancing by the Seine, Paris lives and breathes romance.

The Wall of Love (Mur des Je t’aime) is a more hidden tribute—nestled in the Square Jehan Rictus near the Place des Abbesses in Montmartre.

The Wall of Love in Montmartre Paris, showing us many ways to say I love you. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

A secret Montmartre garden with a treasured wall
© Meredith Mullins

The 40-square-meter, blue-tiled wall watches over the greenery of the peaceful park and the locals who choose to sit amidst the quiet.

The wall attracts visitors, lovers, (and selfie addicts) from around the world who either stumble upon it or have heard about this creative treasure and have come in the name of love.

The work is the brainchild of artist Frédéric Baron, a lover of travel, language, and romance. The dream emerged in 1992 as he collected simple statements of “I love you” from his family and neighbors, all from different cultures. Each person wrote his or her “I love you” words on a single page of a notebook.

Bengali way to say I love you from the notebook of the Wall of Love by Frédéric Baron. (Image © Fredéric Baron.)

A Bengali “I love you” from Frédéric Baron’s notebook.
© Frédéric Baron from the Book of “I Love You’s”

As the project grew, Frédéric found more neighbors and friends from different countries, and finally began knocking on embassy doors to explain his vision and collect the rarest of the languages.

“It was a way to go around the world without leaving Paris and its suburbs,” Frédéric noted.

The result was three notebooks filled with more than 1000 ways to say “I love you” in more than 300 languages.

Arabic way to say I love you from the notebook of the Wall of Love by Frédéric Baron. (Image © Fredéric Baron.)

An Arabic “I love you” from Frédéric Baron’s notebook.
© Frédéric Baron from the Book of “I Love You’s”

Frédéric and Claire Kito, an artist and practitioner of oriental calligraphy, collaborated to create the wall in the year 2000, with production assistance from Daniel Boulogne.

The wall is built with 612 enameled lava tiles, reminiscent of the pages of the notebooks. The 311 “I love you” phrases are expressed in 250 languages and dialects— all in white lettering in varying calligraphic styles.

In a 1999 interview, Claire explained that, in Chinese calligraphy, “the hand is guided by the heart.” She wanted to respect the spirit of the person who wrote the words. She wanted to preserve the rhythms and graphic quality of the original writing.

The Paris Wall of Love in Montmartre, showing ways to say I love you in many languages. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Can you find the languages you know amidst the reflections off the shiny lava tiles?
© Meredith Mullins

All the languages of the United Nations are present, as well as languages such as Inuit, Navajo, Bambara (from Mali), Bislama (from Vanuatu), Dzongkha (from Bhutan), and Esperanto . . . to name a few of the lesser known languages.

Interspersed across the blue tiles are fragments of red, which, if brought together, form a heart. The artists intend the wall to be a healing force of love for the too often broken heart of humanity.

Part of the Wall of Love in Montmartre Paris, showing many ways to say I love you in different languages. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

T’estimo . . . Catalan for “I love you”
© Meredith Mullins

Why Build A Wall?

There were as many ways to express this creative concept as there are ways to say “I love you.”

For Frédéric and Claire, the wall was not meant to be the usual symbol of division and separation. It was a way to reunite the world, through the languages of love—a symbol of reconciliation and peace.

Part of the Paris Wall of Love in Montmartre Paris, showing many ways to say I love you in many different languages. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Can you spot the Zulu word for “I love you”?
© Meredith Mullins

The “Oh I See” Hope: Love Will Triumph

As visitors look at the Wall of Love—with so many cultures, countries, races, lives, and languages united in saying “I love you”— a feeling of hope is inevitable.

The Wall of Love is meant to spread this hope . . . and love — “to erase borders and open hearts,” as Frédéric says.

A worthy dream.

Part of the Paris Wall of Love in Montmartre Paris, showing many ways to say I love you in different languages. (© Meredith Mullins.)

Can you find “Ek het jou lief”? And can you guess the language?
© Meredith Mullins

For a free download of Frédéric Baron’s book of “I Love You’s,” click here.

To see more of Frédéric’s work, go to this site.

For more information about the Paris Love Locks, see this OIC Story.

Answer Key: Spanish, Korean, Inuit, Icelandic, Greek, Finnish, Thai, Japanese, French, Ukranian, Welsh, Hebrew, Dutch, Swahili, Mandarin, (and for the last image—Afrikaans).

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Meredith Mullins 2 Comments

France (Paris)/Language & Culture/The World's Art & Design

Aug

Travel Tales (Tails?): Making Dog Travel Great Again

by Meredith Mullins on August 28, 2017

Dog looking sad, a part of the travel tales of making dog travel easier in Paris, France. (Image © Dor-riss/iStock.)

We don’t have to mope around at home. Let’s go out!
© Dor-riss/iStock

An Open Letter to the City of Paris

Paris, France

Dear Officials of the City of Paris and Regional Transport (RATP) Directors,

We, the dogs of this beautiful City of Light (having formed a more perfect union known as Les Chiens de Paris), know we are lucky to live in France, and especially in its romantic capital.

Dog in restaurant seat in Paris, part of the travel tales that indicate dog travel is easy in Paris, France. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

We are able to dine elegantly with our humans.
© Meredith Mullins

Meredith Mullins 3 Comments

Art of Travel/France (Paris)

Jul

The Interdependence of Independence

by Meredith Mullins on July 4, 2017

A symbol of freedom
© VStock LLC

Crossing Cultures in Celebration of Independence Day

It’s July. Our thoughts are drifting to . . . beaches, heat-quenching thunderstorms, easy summer reading, lazy days, and, oh yes . . . freedom.

Independence is in the air. Especially for an American living in France. (C’est moi.)

Large American flag and smaller French flags at the American Embassy Residence in Paris France, as we are crossing cultures in celebration of Independence Day. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

America and France cross cultures in celebration of independence at the
American Embassy Residence in Paris.
© Meredith Mullins

I feel fortunate to divide my time between two countries that celebrate their freedoms. It’s rewarding to walk down both paths of history. And it’s gratifying to have two occasions to party in the name of pride and patriotism—July 4th and July 14th.

Fireworks behind Statue of Liberty silhouette, a symbol of crossing cultures in celebration of Independence Day. (Image © Stockbyte.)

New York’s Statue of Liberty, a gift from France
© Stockbyte

France and the U.S.—Longtime Allies

America and France have much in common.

In the flag world, America’s red, white, and blue mirrors the tricolors of France’s blue, white, and red. Shared Statues of Liberty declare friendship among nations and freedom from oppression.

French statue of liberty, a symbol of crossing cultures in celebration of Independence Day. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

France’s Statue of Liberty standing proud on an island in the Seine
© Meredith Mullins

Both countries mounted successful revolutions against monarchy and aristocracy, with several key leaders (Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, the Marquis de Lafayette) successfully crossing cultures and supporting the efforts of the other nation.

And both countries are dedicated to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Equality for all. Liberté, egalité, fraternité.

Sometimes these principles are difficult to implement, but they are emblazoned on documents and monuments so that we won’t forget.

So how should we celebrate these treasures? Especially in a world where freedom is currently a critical issue for so many countries.

Young girl with American flag at parade, part of crossing cultures to celebration Independence Day. (Image © iStock/SaraPlacey.)

Celebrating the 4th of July
© iStock/SaraPlacey

The 4th of July: Independence Day

In France, much of the American expat community pauses on or around July 4th to pay tribute to the seeds of their democracy—commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Fourth of July picnic, part of crossing cultures in celebration of Independence Day. (Image © iStock/bhofact2.)

The 4th of July picnic: Stars, stripes, and burgers.
© iStock/bhofact2

As America celebrates with parades, picnics, and fireworks, we in France rustle up a feeling of America. We seek out hot dogs and hamburgers. We abandon our croissants and espresso and have a morning meal at Breakfast in America, a restaurant that brings us the familiar American taste of eggs, bacon, and pancakes.

We visit American bars in Paris, such as Harry’s New York Bar made famous with its invention of the Bloody Mary and its hosting of the hard drinking Ernest Hemmingway.

Hot dog at Harry's New York Bar in Paris, part of crossing cultures in celebration of Independence Day. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

A real American hot dog at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris (that’s pickle relish in the glass, not a newfangled Harry’s cocktail.)
© Meredith Mullins

We organize backyard BBQs, or we hope for an invitation to the elegant party at the American Embassy and Residence (this year also celebrating the centennial of the U.S. entry into WWI.)

WWI soldiers at the American Embassy party in France, part of crossing cultures to celebrate Independence Day. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Stars and stripes abound, and the national anthem plays (and still grabs at the heart even when your home country is thousands of miles away).

There is also a ceremony at the Picpus Cemetery in Paris at the grave of Lafayette to honor his important role in Franco-American history.

Lafayette not only fought in the American Revolution, but also secured full French support for the cause. He later worked with Thomas Jefferson to establish trade agreements between the two countries.

When the U.S. entered World War I to support the French, an American flag was placed at Lafayette’s grave and an aide declared, “Lafayette, we are here! Nous voilà.”

General Lafayette Statue Lafayette Park in Washington DC, part of crossing cultures in celebration of Independence Day. (Image © iStock/bpPerry.)

The 14th of July: Fête Nationale/Bastille Day

The 14th of July goes by many names in France—La Fête Nationale, Quatorze Juillet, and Bastille Day.

Originally called Fête de la Féderation, this day commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789 marking the beginning of the Revolution.

The day also pays tribute to the official Declaration of Independence (in 1790), with its ideal that we are “born free and remain free and equal in rights.”

Jets trailing blue, white, and red of the French flag on Bastille Day, part of crossing cultures in celebration of Independence Day. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

The day of celebration begins with a roar and a rattling of roofs. Jets from the French Air Force fly in formation down the Seine, leaving a trail of tricolor patriotism.

They are followed by an air show of military planes, giving us a lesson in history and a cogent reminder of the pervasiveness of war.

The Bastille Day military parade in Paris France, part of crossing cultures in celebration of Independence Day. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

A parade down the Champs Élysées follows, with all branches of the military marching in synchronized step, followed by vehicles of military might and the majestic horses of the Republican Guard (Garde républicaine).

The Guard Republican on Bastille Day in Paris, part of crossing cultures in celebration of independence. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

The celebration continues at night around the Eiffel Tower, with a concert and an extensive, dramatically designed fireworks show (with this year’s theme of the Olympics), as the tower becomes an ever-changing part of the fiery and magical artistry.

Then, hundreds of thousands of people flood the streets, thinking not only of the meaning of freedom, but also of how to get home safely amidst the hordes.

Fireworks at the Eiffel Tower on Bastille Day, part of crossing cultures in celebration of Independence Day. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

The Future of Crossing Cultures

This year, a further step in crossing cultures is in progress, as newly elected President Macron invited President Trump for the festivities on 14 July. We hope for the best from this rendez-vous. There will, no doubt, be many “Oh, I See” moments.

My only wish is for an honest discussion of the real meaning of freedom and how to ensure equality for all.

We hold these truths to be self evident.

And I, for one, want to still feel that lump in my throat when the national anthem plays.

French and U.S. flags at the American Embassy Residence in Paris France, part of crossing cultures in celebration of Independence Day. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

French wine in American colors, part of crossing cultures in celebration of Independence Day. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Thank you to the American Embassy in Paris for an invitation to the Fourth of July celebration, to Harry’s New York Bar for the great hot dog, and to Breakfast in America for a real American treat of eggs, bacon, and pancakes.