Belleville - Christmas at Macy's

[nooneatall 6]

Very nice city!
Votre ville semble tr

[Simbourgeois 139]

Welcome to the 3rd page!!!

Bienvenue - c'est deja page 3!!!

 

I had today a long, even very long conversation with M.Hagege - the chief manager at the information department of Belleville. I believe that he's now really frightened, so that's why he prepared the photos for the new update due next week already today! It means that I need to be more rigorous with all those clerks...

But the photos are really nice  I'll show you this time a bit more of the quartier near Notre Dame de Belleville (No1). It's really a charming district...

 

 

A world famous Rembrandt Theatre is situated there (No2), now directed by my old friend monsieur Auteuil (at least he considers me to be his friend, as I give him sometimes money for his avant gard ideas...). It's on the Avenue Montaigne (No3) leading to Avenue Est. Here you can see also the famous Jean le Grand (No4). People sometimes get confused, as it's quite similar to less famous Big Ben in London. Englishmen probably took the Jean le Grand as a model for their clock tower... The next important object is probably the finest restaurant in Belleville - Chez Maxim (No5). The culinary legend of Chez Maxim belongs to one of the most beautiful pages of the Belleville's history. But it's not a history, it's still a Mecco of every gourmand here. Again, people sometimes take it for a branch of Maxim's in Paris, but that's not true. I've been told that they even sent once a spy from Paris to get some recipes of the famous chef-d'oeuvres of Chez Maxim... At last, but no least, you can see also Belleville's Diamond Exchange building - designed by a Dutch architect - G.A.van Arkel - at the beginning of the last century. As you can see, already in the past Belleville has been opened to the world influence...

But enough of historical expatiations - look yourselves!

 

 

Just a little note: every time I go to Rembrandt Theater, I've headache, because after the show I cannot decide whether to go to think about mission of theater and life in general in that fancy cafe nearby or to the Irish pub on the other side of that small street... Keep waching

 

 

There are even some romantic parks in this district, as you can see in the previous picture...

In the next picture you can take a closer look at the romantic pedestrian bridge crossing the city channel near Chez Maxime. What can be better on this world than to stay there a bit after a fine lunch Chez Maxime in a warm summer evening...

 

 

In the next picture you can see another advantage of this district - an underground shopping center. Engineers have made it a true masterpiece, because it was really difficult to build it so close to the channel.

 

 

And the last picture - without comments. As Lord Byron has said - For the night shows stars and women (and city ) in a better light...

 

 

Yours sincerely,

Simbourgeois

Mayor of Bell

[Simbourgeois 139]

Darling, where's my bow-tie? Please, hurry up!!! We've no time anymore  At eight o'clock we need to be at American Embassy, and I don't know even address of it... I hope that Francois (our chauffeur) will know where that embassy is...

Oh yes, tomorrow you'll see the embassy photos in the update

 

This time in a hurry, but always yours,

Simbourgeois

Mayor of Belleville

 

Darling, please HURRY UP!!!  You don't need to change your dress again

[Simbourgeois 139]

I promised yesterday to show you some photos from our dinner with American Ambassador- the honorable William M.Bell. Yes, I promised, but now I don't know if it's even necessary, because... Well, I believe almoust everybody on this planet already know about our informal meeting... Why? Look yourselves:

 

 

Ok, I don't mind that I'm becoming popular, but they got a photo of mine where I'm showed from the right side, but I prefer when people see me from the left side  And why I'm being showed near Uncle Sam? These were only some informal talks with Monsieur l'Ambassador about closer economic cooperation... And not with some Uncle Sam  I don't like humor of this kind...

You can take a look at the 5th page - I asked M.Hagege to make a small reproduction of it (pay attention to the title of this article ):

 

 

Ooooh! Those journalists always see some kind of conspiracy...

Anyway, I wount say anything about them anymore, otherwise they'll sue me

So, as I promised yesterday, I'll show you some photos of the Embassy. It's called Maison Blanche, as you can see, it's really white. One can easy find it in Belleville - it's situated on Avenue Nord in Belleville. So, if you're an American and need some help while staying in Pays-Beaux, the staff there will kindly help you

 

 

It was really an informal meeting - as you can see in the picture we (I myself, my darling, and some businessmen) were even going in there using the back door (No1 in picture), in order not to allow journalists to make bhouhaha out of it. In vain...

But Monsieur l'Ambassador himself is really a nice person. Especially I liked his dedication to old cars. In the picture (No2) you can see one exemplar of his collection - an old green Cadillac.

 

If you're passing by, it's interesting to go in to the Casa Bacardi nearby. I went there... An atmosphere of Puerto Rico in Belleville

 

But lets get back to the Embassy...

 

 

As you can see, it has its own small park with pond where Willy... ooops  , Monsieur l'Ambassador (sorry for such an unduly familiar tone, but after the fifth glass of wine we were already talking without all those 'sir and monsieur' ) likes to fish. Oh yes, in the banket there was not only good French wine  I can still feel the taste of Russian caviare...

 

Sincerely yours,

Simbourgeois

Mayor of Belleville

[+Guest]

I really like your use of BAT's in your City Journal. Looks good all thos unique buildings!!

 

Keep those updates coming.. love to see this city expand..

[threeswept 12]

Nice lighthearted reading and Belleville has definitely developed into a beautiful place.

[Simbourgeois 139]

Thanks for comments, it's nice that you like our city  

But it's time for some update. M.Hagege's work has improved, so I just need to post these pics here

Yesterday I went to one of the most popular places in the city - Belleville Zoo. I became interested to go there after seeing these posters everywhere in the centre-ville

 

 

It turned out to be a wonderful afternoon  Adventure, exploration and fun - a trip to the Zoo is a journey you will also certainly enjoy and even learn from! There are more than 150 animals, and the staff offer educational tours around it. You just need to arrange it at the office near the main entrance which you can see in the next picture. Inside you can find also a small cafe.

 

 

If you dont want to walk around in guided groups like small kids (as I did  , you can read all the information about each animal on the signs near every pavilion, you can see them in the pictures.

Bears, reptiles, lizards and snakes - you can find everything there...

 

 

And also lions, a giraffe, and... I think that I found my look-alike between those monkeys

 

 

I was really surprised when I discovered how similar we are to animals. They've even all the same habits, for example to sleep during working hours

 

 

As a mayor I visited also the backside of the zoo where a dozen people every day work to keep everything in good order

 

 

Yeah, it was a nice afternoon I spent there.

 

Sincerely yours,

Simbourgeois

Mayor of Belleville

[The boy formerly known as Evil Muzz 27]

I like how you did The Economist. The zoo is very interesting too. Keep up the good work!

 

[timo 15]

Well done, that city is very cute! And the way you tell your story is quite funny, too.

 

One question : where did you get this amazing zoo??? And the rembrand theater??? are those on the stex?

 

Keep on the good work, we need more CJ's like this one!

[Simbourgeois 139]

Thanks for nice comments  I wish that all the bellevillois would appreciate my work as much as you do

 

timo: you  can find the Rembrandt theater here: https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=11076

There is also a separate lot of the construction site: https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=4559

Both of them are made by Vanderaap.

But the zoo is the result of my work as a mayor of Belleville  Those posters were so blatant that yesterday I just went to see how they're doing... But the initiative to make it was mine

 

Thanks again for the feedback!

 

Simbourgeois

Mayor of Belleville

[timo 15]

Date:1/14/2005 10:40:39 AM
Author:Simbourgeois

timo: you  can find the Rembrandt theater here: https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=11076

There is also a separate lot of the construction site: https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=4559

Both of them are made by Vanderaap.

But the zoo is the result of my work as a mayor of Belleville  Those posters were so blatant that yesterday I just went to see how they're doing... But the initiative to make it was mine

quote>

Cool I thought only the under contruction version was available... And when do you release the zoo so we can get rid of the scary maxis one????

[Simbourgeois 139]

timo: Well, at this moment I'm not planning to release it at STEX - I don't see why I should. It's practically the same Maxis one, I just changed some details in lot editor... And I've used so many different props that it would take at least two weeks to make a prop dependancy list... But if you really want to get it, we could arrange it, just PM me. But at your own risk , I'm really not going to make the dependancy list...

 

 

Edit: Sorry, but the previously posted information is now classified...

 

Sincerely,

Simbourgeois

Mayor of Belleville

[Simbourgeois 139]

After looking at the annual financial documents I'm horrorstruck  The budget of the Departement de la securit

[Simjurgen 0]

holy!!!!

you are starting to become my favorite mayor



ps: excellent work, beautiful city

[EnigmaticUK 1]

I love the humour and political intrigue in this journal - it makes it unique. I love BATted European cities too.

[Simbourgeois 139]

Thanks, Simjurgen and EnigmaticUK, for your kind comments, they've been sent to the Belleville's Central Archive, so even next generations will be able to read them

 

But today I wanted to show you some shots from one of the most important places in Belleville - it's Frarmers Market. I'm a frequent visitor there, as it's the best place where to buy fruits and vegetables. I've even seen M.Gilles Sauer, the owner of the grocery store showed in the previous post, going there sometimes  

 

There're some other farmers markets in Belleville, but, as this is the oldest one, it has the honour to be called Belleville Farmers Market.

 

 

This market has been there already for more than 120 years. It's not possible to determine an exact date when it was established, because at its beginnings it was just a square, a gathering place where farmers could provide food to local community. Only at the beginning of 20th century some it became permament structure, in the next picture you can see how it looked in 1908 compared to how it looks nowadays...

 

 

But old traditions are still there  For example, M. Jean Mouton (you can see him in the next picture), whose family owns a place in the central tent already from 1924, every second day supplies potatos, tomatos and cucumbers to the private school nearby. It was done so by his father, and his grand father as well...

 

 

Oh, I forgot to say, that it's closed on Mondays...

 

Yours sincerely,

Simbourgeois

Mayor of Belleville

[Simbourgeois 139]

After seeing my last post, M.Hagege insisted that I must post some more pictures of Belleville's farmers markets...

 

Here's a photo of the market at rue Ampere. Although not so fine as the previous one that I showed you, this is certainly a place you must visit when in Belleville  Why? Well, because of its unique atmosphere. One should have a great talent to describe it properly. An old good-humoured a bit chubby farmer shouting how good and cheap his tomatos are; pleasing iregularity around...  I like this place

 

 

But not everywhere farmers markets are suitable for common good... The most striking example is the market at rue Ordener. It's located in a miserable district, where the purchasing capacity is rather low. Therefore customers choose to buy some cheap genetically modified food in supermarkets and not to go to the farmers market... And what can do all those farmers which regulary come here? They sit at leisure all the day, read newspaper feuilletons and... and start to think about the social order and disorder, about their rights  Eh... This market was the ideological center in the last wave of farmers protests in Pays-Beaux in 1998.

 

 

A real den of noncomformists...

 

Sincerely,

Simbourgeois

Mayor of Belleville

[Beloved 2]

Man, your very creative I love the whole journal idea. its funny too. I can't wait to see more.

By the way this is my first post and im a new member. so Hi all.

[Beloved 2]

And the buses, are those customize? I think they wer black and yellow or something like that.

[Simbourgeois 139]

Thanks a lot, TheGuardianAngel !!!

 

In the name of Belleville, I express my thankfulness for your comment, and welcome to Simtropolis!!!
Now about those buses - they've been made by OlympiaBussar AB, a company owned by SAC. You can find all the information here:

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=50713

 

Sincerely yours,

Simbourgeois

Mayor of Belleville

[Dargor 17]

That's a cool way to show us around... with the zoo and the market and all the pictures!  Very interesting!

[Citilicious 0]

Your city is very beautiful.....which sucks only because I realize I live in a not anyway near as beautiful city.

I must go now and steal your ideas.

[GingerBlokey 30]

I love the way you have maodified or made your own lots. It is really beautiful

[Simbourgeois 139]

Thanks, Dargor, Citilicious and GingerBlokey, for your comments! I shall say that nothing, and I mean nothing, can give more satisfaction than the good words from other people about my work as a mayor  Thanks again!

 

But I don't want that those ill tempered farmers in the previous update would distort the image of Belleville - a city of charm and elegance  

William Shakespeare once wrote: 

Take your paper too,

And let me have them very well perfumed,

for she is sweeter than perfume itself

To whom they go...

In 1934, a passion for fragrances and women inspired Jacques Petitjacques to create his own perfumerie called Belancome. At the beginning there were four great fragrances, which quickly became popular across entire world. Not surprisingly, as he himself was 'a product' of the school of Francois Coty, the 'father of 20th century luxury perfumes'. Petitjean devoted his life to his company, which rapidly became one of the most influental perfumeries in the world. There have been attempts to challenge its leader positions, but in vain... One of the most spectacular examples is a company called Lancome in Paris, founded only a year later by Armand Petitjean. Although they've been striving to emulate to Belancome, Belleville is still honoured as a capital of perfume  In the next picture you can see the house where where the saga of Belancome started and still continues.

 

 

As you can see in the next picture, it's situated at Avenue Est, in front of the Notre Dame de Belleville.

 

 

All those perfumers (or 'noses', as they're often called) can inspire there from the timeless grace and elegance of the architecture of this house. They can also listen to the songs of birds in the backyard, while sitting in those reclining chairs you can see in the next picture.

 

 

Well, but I shall say that sometimes I really hate this company, especially when I check the balance of our family budget, where some astronomic sums are indicated as the expenses for toiletry for my darling...

 

Yours sincerely,

Simbourgeois

Mayor of Belleville

[Superstar 69]

[:0] This is AMAZING!!! such a great CJ! VERY well done!!!

[bobinator 0]

I really like the story line! I was also wondering, where'd you find that large church/cathidral in some of the above pics?

[Simbourgeois 139]

Thanks superstar and bobinator for your nice comments

 

bobinator: you can find that Cathedrale here: https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=2676

It's built by bandito.

 

Simbourgeois

Mayor of Belleville

[bobinator 0]

Wow! thanks Simbourgeois! That was a quick response to my question! Can't wit for more updates to this city journal.

[timo 15]

Yeah more updates! I wish I could do such a cool city AND cj...

[Dannato 4]

Gee,  I love those superb close-ups with the European-style bats and the combination of game shots and photos.  That's really well done.   Carefully built city with excellent BATs, lots of irony and casual humour in the text as well, I really like this. This is becoming an excellent journal!