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<\/p>\nThe last few weeks have been busy in France. There are a number of notable passing and other news updates that I thought would be good to share this week. Some are happy, some sad, but all are making waves on the French airwaves over the last few weeks.<\/p>\n
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Paris sous l’eau<\/strong> (Paris beneath the waters)<\/em><\/p>\n Paris (and many parts of France) has seen record levels of rain over the last weeks. As a result, the Seine river, which flows through the heart of the city, has overflowed it’s banks.\u00a0Les quais de la Seine<\/strong> (The quais along the river)\u00a0<\/em>are submerged and river traffic (including the famous Bateaux Mouches and the newer Batobus)<\/a> has come to a halt. On a walk through the city this past weekend mon beau-fr\u00e8re<\/strong> (my brother-in-law)<\/em> took the pictures above showing just how high the water has risen.<\/p>\n Passings<\/strong><\/p>\n Janvier fut un triste mois <\/strong>(January was a sad month)<\/em> not just because of the la<\/strong> pluie<\/strong> (rain), <\/em>but also because two giants of French culture left us this month. La chanteuse<\/strong> (singer) <\/em>France Gall died on January 7. Known for such hits as Ella, elle l’a<\/a> and Poup\u00e9e de cire, poup\u00e9e de son<\/a>, Gall’s career spanned more than 30 years from les ann\u00e9es soixantes <\/strong>(the 60’s)<\/em> to the mid 90’s. In addition to her pop hits, Gall won the 1965 Eurovision<\/a> competition (representing Luxembourg) and starred in the 1970’s era rock opera Starmania<\/a>.<\/p>\n