ParisPointGriset Best Wishes for 2012...

... go to the women and the men of Syria and Egypt and to every single person
who's suffering, fighting and dying for freedom and a better future.

[AlJazeeraEnglish on 31 Dec 2011]


[samqaid]
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A Mosko's feline on Le Mur/Ober

Le Mur # 111 - Mosko et Associés - December 22/2011

[Check out their site].


[75018laurence] - The poster's making of.
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Bahrain 6 - Shaikh Isa House in Muharraq

The house of Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa is situated in the heart of Muharrak, the old
capital of Bahrain, near to the Grand Mosque and is considered to be one of the oldest
houses in town.

[See more pictures in the slideshow].
The house was built at the end of the 18th century by Shaikh Hassan bin Ahmed Al Fatih
who lived there as well as his sons and grandsons.
Later on, the house became with king Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa a residence and a
government centre from 1869 to 1932.
Its huge walls, the small doors and the wind tower were conceived as
a protection from the heat in summer and the severe cold in winter.
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LINKS:
- BahrainTourism
- Bahrain Guide

Bahrain 5 - The Fort near Karranah

The Fort - Qal'at - of Bahrain [قلعة البحرين], is located by the sea in the northern coast
of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

[Slideshow by G@ttogiallo]
It is one of the Kingdom's most important historical and archaeological sites where
excavations carried out since 1954 have unearthed antiquaries from an artificial mound
of 12 m height containing seven stratified layers, created by various occupants from
2300 BC up to the 18th century, including Kassites, Portuguese and Persians.
It was once the capital of the Dilmun civilization and was inscribed as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site in 2005.
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Bahrain 4 - A 400 years-old tree

It can be seen from a distance on a small rise of the ground, as you drive 2 km south-
ward from Jabel Al Dukhan into the Bahraini white desert.
As impressive on the map as in real view, - a green spot lost in a blinding light, this 400
years-old mesquite, stands in absolute loneliness, defying the centuries.


[Click to see more pics].
The mesquite tree (Prosopis velutina) belongs to the large family of the 'Fabaceae' and fits
to extreme weather conditions, however this one has become a legend and truly deserves
the name 'Tree of Life', Shajarat-al-Hayat in Arabic.
Despite sand storms, grazing animals, high heat... and disrespectful behavior of visitors,
the tree is alive and well thanks to its strong roots that sink deep into the ground, only...
... there is no known source in the vicinity.

One natural wonder, one lonely tree
Life is powerful, and sometimes magic.
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LINKS:
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Fabaceae/Fabaceae.html
http://www.gisp.org/casestudies/showcasestudy.asp?id=64&MyMenuItem=casestudies&worldmap=&country=
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_Life,_Bahrain
http://bahraindiscovery.com/tree_of_life.html
http://www.asiarooms.com/en/travel-guide/bahrain/sightseeing-in-bahrain/tree-of-life-in-bahrain.html

Bahrain 3 - Absolute Oil

Bahrain was the first Persian Gulf country to explore and discover oil.

Click to see the Bahrain petroleum fields slideshow.
[Nov. 18/2011].

The Sakhir Oil Museum, built and officially opened in 1992, houses old drilling equipment,
samples of rocks found underground, topographical maps and some information about the
first concessions and the companies that have operated in the since 1931.

[The Bahrain Petroleum Field].



[G@ttoGiallo]

Bahrain 2 - Al Jasrah House

A 'Pearl' from de Persian gulf is offered to you to visit,
you just have to click, it's a slideshow...
Yours faithful G@tto.
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[Any reference to the 'Pearl', which has disappeared, is not due to chance].

Gabriel's Queens & Kings on Le Mur...

Le M.U.R. 110 - Gabriel Cante - December 3/2011


[75018laurence]

***

EMA's DropMan is watching you from Le Mur

Le M.U.R. - # 109 - Florence Blanchard, aka EMA - November 17/2011

[Artist's Site]

A C@t in Bahrain - 1

... and here we are with the first images
from the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Morning light for my first wakeup in Amwaj Islands...



[Increasing the contrast, curiously reveals a graffiti under the peinture' layer].







Exploring the beach, I'm intrigued by these mounds of sand pellets. Their authors should be those tiny
crabs I saw on the shore.


I've never been a birdwatcher, until today, but these herons just come and friendly share this quiet beach
with me.

Later on, I've the privilege to attend the private ablution of a dark heron in the deserted pool...




From November 16, until 22, it is the French Week in Bahrain
Opening speech by the French ambassador and cocktail at the InterContinental Regency hotel

Entertainment with the 'Swing DeLuxe' quintet and 'La Bourrée Arverne' dance group.


Tribute to Georges Brassens in Bahrain City Centre.


The 'French Week program' includes, among others,
three gourmet French dinners but, personally, I intend
to enjoy myself with more exotic dishes.


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A Tabby Yellow on a new mission...

I know at least one and that one is to fly...

... here.


[No more info available for now, but stay tuned].
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Berlusconi: Whatever the man does it's a shame!

[Except if he's to give up politics].

All day long, conflicting reports 'on whether Berlusconi would resign' didn't stop on
international press and social media...

- 'Journalists close to Berlusconi say he will resign' Monday [Reuters]
- 'Berlusconi denies rumours he will stand down' [The Telegraph]
- 'Berlusconi to quit within hours' [The Times]


- 'Silvio Berlusconi: 'Rumours of my resignation are groundless' [on his Fb page]

- 'Berlusconi's key ally tells him to resign' [Al Jazeera]
- 'Berlusconi, giallo sulle dimissioni' [La Repubblica]
- 'PM Silvio Berlusconi faces a crunch vote on public finance on Tuesday' [BBC News]
- 'C'est terminé, Silvio, inutile de t'accrocher' [Le Monde]

And The Financial Times: 'In God's name, go!"
[A sentence that echoes the words once used in 1653 by Oliver Cromwell in dissolving the Parliament].


[SkyNews online - Nov. 8/2011]
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Shuck2, now on Le Mur...

Le M.U.R. Oberkampf - # 108 - Shuck2 - October 29/2011

... and the making of :

[75018laurence]
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George Brassens.. forever.

A French singer, a songwriter, a poet...
and an anarchist.

... whoose texts I strongly recommend
to any French language lover or student.
___


October 2011 marks a double GEORGE BRASSENS' anniversary :
- born in Sète on OCTOBER 22, 1921
- gone in Saint-Gély-du-Fesc on OCTOBER 29, 1981


[Miirdza]

Have a look to PETER's blog for more info and pics and...
for a better understanding of Brassens' lyrics, HERE is their translation.
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Col. GADDAFI... barks no more.

Following a last UN-CNT assault, this morning, Sirte
is freed and another dictator's career came to an end.

In Benghazi and Tripoli, crowds gathered in the streets to start celebrating
the death of Colonel Gaddafi.



[Photo: Philippe Desmazes]
NTC fighters celebrate in the coastal city of Sirte on October 20, 2011 after the final bastion of
resistance by forces loyal strongman Muammar Gaddafi fell to fighters of the new regime.
Gaddafi was killed on October 20, when new regime forces launched a final assault in his hometown.

euronews breaking news today:
- Gaddafi captured close to Sirte
- The last moments of Mouammar Gaddafi
- Gaddafi's death rises problems and questions
- Jubilant Libyan fighters parade Gaddafi's body
- What has become of Gaddafi's missing sons

Al Jazeera takes a look back at Gaddafi's reign, in pictures... HERE.


Col. Gaddafi's 42-year career :
- September 1st 1969, access to power...
- Oct. 20th 2011, dead of a Mad Dog.



BBC: Gaddafi reported final movements.
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More PPG posts on Gaddafi...