Rémi Gaillard - n'import qui

Rémi Gaillard

nimportequi.com

I can't believe I haven't blogged about this guy yet! I've been watching and laughing hysterically at his videos for years.

A French humorist who has his own website and uploads videos onto YouTube, Rémi has been doing his own unique Candid Camera-style videos since he lost his job in a shoe store in 1999.

Rémi Gaillard gets over 1.3 billion views on his videos, each one averaging 1 million views. His most popular video has over 57 million views. Wow!

Here are some of my favorite videos--easy to enjoy no matter what language you speak! This guy is in top physical shape and can kick a soccer ball like a pro!

Foot (soccer) elevator

Rocky Rémi

Disco Elevator

Bat

and... Foot (meaning soccer) 2009

Bonne rigolade!!

Love, Charley

Lek Ban Thaï Relaxation

One of the things I absolutely adore about France are Thaï massages. I am accustomed to a good strong massage that really digs in deep to release and relax the muscles and, unfortunately, traditional French massages just don't fit the bill. Just as the French don't like spicy food, they don't like strong massages; their version is a feather-like brushing of the fingers along the body, point final, leaving the recipient more frustrated than anything else!

Needless to say, I was thrilled to discover Thaï massage, and more specifically to discover Lek Ban Thaï Relaxation.

  Located in Saint Genis Laval, a mere 10 minutes from downtown Lyon, Lek Ban Thaï Relaxation is a little slice of paradise where, for an hour and a half, you part en voyage, leaving France behind for exotic Thailand. 

Greeted by the charming and warm Lek herself, one is immediately enveloped by smooth odors of exotic flowers and spices, and a hand-constructed decor of materials imported directly from Thailand. Nous sommes directement plonger dans l'ambiance!

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First off, Lek baths your feet in warm water, salts and perfumes.

Slipping your feet into Thai sandals, you are directed into the changing room where you don a loose Thai shirt and trousers for traditional Thai massage...

... or a Thai pareo for the more relaxing oil massage.

Ahh, la vie est belle!

Best of all, you can make an appointment for two and go with your other half -- a relaxing afternoon à deux. 

So next time you feel the stress growing, take a break and have a Thai massage. I more than highly recommend it!

Lek Ban Thaï Relaxation

30 Bis Avenue des Belges

69230 Saint Genis Laval

06 66 22 25 27

Gros bisous de massage Thaï et à bientôt!

Love, Charley

Le Manoir du Diable by Georges Méliès -- first ever horror film 1896

The 1896 three-minute-long film Le Manoir du Diable (The Haunted Castle) was directed by Georges Méliès, and is considered by most to be he first horror film as well the first vampire film.

It was released on Christmas Eve in 1896 at the Théâtre Robert Houdin in Paris. Originally meant to amuse people, it ended up frightening them--thus was born the horror genre of cinema.

Referred to as the first "Cinemagician", illusionist and filmmaker Méliès became famous for inventing technical and narrative developments and special effects: multiple exposure, time-lapse photography, dissolves, hand-painted color, and he accidentally discovered stop trick in 1896.

An early pioneer of horror films, Méliès was also known to create some of the important early science fiction films: A Trip to The Moon (1902) and The Impossible Voyage (1904). (Somewhat in the style of Jules Verne.)

Méliès directed 531 films between 1896 and 1913, ranging from 1 to 40 minutes in length. 

In 1910, Méliès made a deal with Charles Pathé (Pathé cinema still exists today as one of France's biggest chain of cinemas), a deal where he accepted a large amount of money by mortgaging his home and studio to Pathé. In 1912 Méliès broke his contract with Pathé, and his brother (and business partner) frittered away all his money. Méliès was bankrupt and, by the mid-1920s was a candy and toy salesman at the Montparnasse station in Paris. 

By the late 1920s, journalists began to research his life and work. A retrospective of his work was held in 1929, and in 1931 Méliès was awarded the Légion d'honneur, presented to him by one of the Lumière brothers. In 1932 the Cinema Society arranged for him to live at La Maison du Retrait du Cinéma, the film industry's retirement home. In 1938, Méliès died of cancer, and is buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetary in Paris. 

Bon, Gros bisous de cinéma d'horreur!!!

Love,

Charley