Tag: France

Did You Know?

Because White Is Too Boring: Why the French Love Pink Toilet Paper!

Tanisha Cardozo

Did you know that in France, pink toilet paper isn’t just a cute bathroom accessory—it’s a quiet expression of elegance? While most of the world reaches for plain white rolls, the French have turned their bathrooms into spaces of charm and personality.

For decades, pink toilet paper has been the preferred choice in French homes, especially among those who value design and luxury. The soft pastel hue is often associated with cleanliness, warmth, and romance—a nod to the country’s enduring love for aesthetic beauty in even the most ordinary details.

In the mid-20th century, when colored toilet paper first became available, France embraced the pink shade for its visual softness and pleasant appearance against tiled walls and marble bathrooms. Over time, the color became a symbol of refinement, often seen in boutique hotels, stylish apartments, and upscale stores.

Cultural experts say that the French appreciation for pink toilet paper reflects a broader national mindset: beauty in everyday life matters. From the way they serve a cup of coffee to how they fold a napkin, the French find joy in detail and design. Choosing pink over white is a simple but elegant act—a way to make even mundane moments feel just a bit more special.

So, the next time you spot a pink roll in a Parisian home, know that it’s not just décor—it’s a cultural statement. In France, beauty belongs everywhere, even in the bathroom.

International

Paris Prepares to Tear Down the Eiffel Tower After 20 Years

Tanisha Cardozo

Paris stands at a crossroads — the city may soon bid farewell to the Eiffel Tower. Originally conceived for the 1889 Universal Exposition as a temporary iron structure, the tower was intended to be dismantled after 20 years. Though its permit was extended and the structure survived thanks to scientific uses and sheer popularity, now officials say the time has finally come to restore Paris’s classical aesthetic.

The move comes amid persistent complaints from locals that the tower is “ugly,” “out of place,” or a blight on the city’s architectural harmony. City planners argue that Paris should return to its tradition of Haussmannian facades, elegant boulevards, and harmonious rooflines — unspoiled by industrial iron frames piercing the sky.

Officials claim the Eiffel Tower has served its purpose: as a showcase of modern engineering, a magnet for tourists, and a communications platform. But they argue its continued existence undermines Paris’s identity and that the monument must go once the 20-year lease, which expires next year, lapses.

Heritage experts and historians, however, warn of the cultural cost. The tower has grown into a global icon — a symbol synonymous with Paris. To erase it could be to erase a piece of collective imagination. Some say future generations may scarcely know it existed. The debate raises deeper questions: how do cities balance preserving iconic structures with evolving civic identities? Where does the line lie between architectural purity and living heritage?

Previous generations saved the Eiffel Tower by converting it into a radio and meteorological station, extending its life beyond original intentions. Throughout its existence, it has undergone recurring renovations — repainting, structural audits, modernization of lifts and lighting — funded through tourism revenue and public investment.

Yet, dissent remains. Some residents see the tower as an ever-present oddity in a city defined by elegance. Others fear that removing it would be an irreversible act of cultural amnesia.

As Paris debates the fate of its most famous landmark, it confronts a central paradox: can a city truly flourish if it erases the very monuments that made it legendary?

International

Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris Reopens for the Feast of the Assumption 2025

Tanisha Cardozo

The heart of Paris will beat anew this August as Notre-Dame Cathedral hosts its first major religious celebration since the devastating fire of 2019. Marking a deeply symbolic return, the Cathedral will celebrate the Feast of the Assumption on August 14 and 15, 2025, restoring a centuries-old tradition to one of the world’s most beloved sacred spaces.

This two-day event carries both spiritual and historical significance. Since the 17th century, France has commemorated the vow of Louis XIII, who consecrated the nation to the Virgin Mary in 1638. In keeping with that legacy, the Feast of the Assumption is not just a liturgical celebration, but a national one — a reminder of France’s deep-rooted Marian devotion.

The program begins on Thursday, August 14, with reduced tours and access to the Cathedral as it opens its doors to the faithful. The evening is filled with solemn vespers, mass, and the Jubilee procession — a sacred moment inside the Cathedral that includes the ostension of the Crown of Thorns, one of Notre-Dame’s most revered relics. The evening concludes with the proclamation of the Gospel, a reminder of the enduring vow made by the French monarchy nearly four centuries ago.

Friday, August 15, the official day of the Assumption, begins early with morning masses and Lauds. The highlight of the day is the grand city procession, which begins at 3:45 pm from the Cathedral’s forecourt, led by Mgr Emmanuel Tois, Auxiliary Bishop of Paris. Carrying the Virgin and Child of Charles X, the procession moves through the streets of Paris, inviting the faithful and the curious alike to witness a public expression of devotion rarely seen since the Cathedral’s closure.

The day concludes with solemn vespers and a final mass, again presided over by Mgr Tois, capping a moment of immense spiritual and cultural renewal for France.

As Notre-Dame once again becomes a living space of prayer, music, and community, the 2025 Feast of the Assumption stands not only as a celebration of faith but as a testimony to resilience, heritage, and hope reborn.

#AllycaralTuesdaytips 👒

How to Pack for a Weekend Trip?

allycaralgoa

Weekend Trip… As soon as the news breaks of a weekend trip, well you tend to plan all sorts of things, what it take, what not to take. What you will require, what you will not.! But hell, one of the biggest mistake atleast girls that is we do is that we tend to overpack like a lot of things, like seriously like a lot of things.

However, best ways to pack for the weekend trip would be to stick to basics and at the same time to look daunting!

Selecting the Right Bag – First of all, Chuck Suitcase out of this Trip! Remember, this is a weekend Trip, so select a small backup that will be able to carry your essentials in it!

What’s On Your Travel Itinerary? – Whenever you pack, consider the itinerary that will help you pack for the trip the best. Suppose you are going for an adventure trip like that of trekking, swimming, taking heels wouldn’t serve the purpose at all. So avoid taking them!

Selective Clothes Only – Try to take selecting clothes only. You could take a couple of shorts or troussers and the same could be mixed matched with the t-shirts, try to include bright colors in your wadrobe also whites and blacks look great!  But pack only clothes if you are going to wear them, be true to yourself.

Have a Final Look – Here you can take a final look and deduct unneccesary clothing, systematically packing clothes will help you to wear them directly without having to iron them again. Also, remember when you plan to go for trips like these, wear always the heaviest shoe rather than packing them. This saves the pain of carrying them on your back.

To end with, remember pack only essentials. If there is space in your bag pack, great! you could pick a souvenir for yourself and for me too!

So it is tuesday now, you could plan a quick trip this weekend and at the same time go through these tips! Do Like and Share Your Feedback. Happy Weekend Travelling!

#AllycaralMonday Shots👒

My Favorite Symbol of Love ❤️

allycaralgoa

Eiffel Tower when the clock strikes 12 o’clock

As promised here it is! The most awaited glittering picture of the beautiful Eiffel Tower. My favorite and what better day than having it up on the eve of your parents’ anniversary which is followed by Your Elder Sister’s Anniversary. Here’s to unconditional true love and happiness. Je t’aime tour eiffel.