Johnny Hallyday Sets Up Residence in Switzerland to Avoid Paying French Taxes

An interesting news item has surfaced in France during the last week. The famous French rock and roll icon, Johnny Hallyday (not his real name- several French rock & roll singers took on English sounding names when they started, another example is Eddie Mitchell) has decided to give up his French citizenship to avoid paying high taxes in France. Since he has such a high profile and is still France’s most popular singer (he’s also an actor in numerous films), all the major politicians have made comments, including President Jacques Chirac. Chirac said essentially that he admires Hallyday as a performer but not as a responsible citizen, or words to that effect.

Hallyday would have to reside in Switzerland for 6 months each year in order to take advantage of lower taxes there and not pay them in France. Segolene Royal, the candidate of the PS for President, also called on Hallyday to continue paying French taxes. Many other wealthy French people are doing the same thing, but none are in the public eye like Hallyday. He said in effect that he didn’t care what the politicians thought, and he was tired of paying so much in taxes when he didn’t have to. Nicolas Sarkozy, who will probably be the other major presidential candidate and who will challenge Royal, said that this shows that France has a problem with its tax system.

Another famous French person, Yannick Noah, had done this in the past, but he has since moved back to France and is paying taxes there.

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New Tramway in Paris

Paris is inaugurating a new tramway this weekend. It is the first tramway in the city in about 70 years, and it will replace a bus line. The tram runs through 3 arrondissements, the 13th, 14th and 15th. It is about 5 miles in length and is expected to service about 100,000 passengers per day, roughly twice the number of people who took the bus each day.

In addition, there will be an exhibition of 9 pieces of contemporary art to be seen along the length of the tramway. These pieces were done by well know international contemporary artists.

Tramways have been gaining popularity in recent years in French cities. In Strasbourg, for example, a new tramway system was completed several years ago. It’s a bit confusing at first for tourists, but once you understand which tram to take and how to buy tickets, etc., it is a very good means of getting from one spot to another in the city.

I'd like to point out as well that Linda Ballenberger of Beaux Voyages, who is also an accomplished artist, has launched a new web site which makes her hand painted silk scarves available. You can visit the site here: Hand Painted Silk Scarf

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Two Art Exhibitions in Paris

There are currently two rather exceptional art exhibitions on display in Paris.

1. An exhibition of Egyptian antiquities which were recovered from the sea by French underwater archeologists is on display at the Grand Palais in Paris. The show is called “Sunken Egyptian Treasures”, and it includes 489 pieces covering 1,500 years of Egyptian history. It includes statues and other artwork, pieces of money, and objects of every day life. The show is open every day from 10am to 8pm, and stays open to 10pm on Wednesdays. The show runs until 16 March. The address is:Nef du Grand Palais (Nave of the Grand Palais), avenue Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris

2. An exhibition entitled “Afghanistan Treasures Found”. Collections of the national museum of Kabul” is on display at the Guimet Mueum in Paris. This impressive collection includes golden jewels, Greco-roman glass goblets, and ivory Indian goddesses, among many other items. All in all there are 220 items on display ranging from 2,000 B.C. to the 3rd century AD. The story of their preservation is just as impressive as the works themselves.
The Communists hid the collection in 1989 and locked it in a secret location. There were 7 keys to the main lock, and they were all held by separate people, which is an old Afgan tradition. The Taliban tried in vain to locate the collection but did not succeed. The exhibition is open every day excepts Tuesdays from 10am- 8pm. The cost is 7 euros.

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