Sun 2 Mar 2008
Almost every French person I have ever asked says that they know who Buffalo Bill is. There seems to have been a real love of the whole cowboy and Indian story in France. In fact, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West was wildly popular in France. The show appeared for seven months at the Exposition Universelle in Paris. A grandstand, campground and even an electric plant were built to support the show for its extended stay. Following Paris, the Wild West played other French cities including Lyon and Marseilles, and then set sail for Barcelona and several Italian cities.
My husband is fascinated that I have Cherokee heritage but I’ve told him that just about every person in the States has some Indian blood. He made the whole story of the West famous and cowboys, who were once looked down upon, heros. Two famous people in his shows were Wild Bill Hicock and Annie Oakley. When we were recently in the States to see the new grandson, we also made a quick trip to Colorado, did a little skiing and made a stop at his grave.
The sign leading to Buffalo Bill’s grave. It is high up on Lookout Mountain. The government at the time said that he requested to be buried here when he died in Colorado (so did his wife) and buried him here with tons of cement on top so he couldn’t be exhumed and buried in Cody, Wyoming where he was born.
The altitude there. Maurice and I were breathless from the climb to say the least.
There was a museum there and a shop selling not only buffalo burgers but all sorts of cowboy and Indian things to buy.
His grave. His wife is also buried here.
March 2nd, 2008 at 9:53 am
I’ve learned a thing or two about Buffalo Bill! I was never very enamored of the Wild West…so don’t know much about it except from all those westerns we used to watch on TV when we were kids.
I was interested in your comment about A Good Year. It was slightly disappointing but I did not hate it. I was hoping for more Tuscany scenes…Russell Crowe wasn’t quite as appealing as he was in Gladiator…I did find much of the comedy funny (I laughed out loud a few times), though a bit of it was too silly. I agree, the book was better, and I wish they had not changed the movie so much from the book’s story. I hate it when Hollywood does that!
March 2nd, 2008 at 10:39 am
Buffalo Burgers!!!!!!
March 2nd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
When I was a little girl we lived in Cody, Wyoming, where Buffalo Bill was revered. Until we could find a house, we even lived for several months in the old, original western hotel, The Irma - named after his daughter or his girlfriend -I forget which. However, the halls were hung with original Russell and Remington paintings which had been traded for lodging many years before. (I’m confident that they now are hanging in the Cody museum built in recent years.) There also was a beautiful mahogany bar there that had come around the Horn. I hope to go back to Cody one day to check it out again because there are lots of interesting things to see there; it also is only 50 miles from the East entrance of Yellowstone National Park.
Thanks to everyone for your kind words when I was filling in during Linda’s absence. It was fun for me to share some impressions of France with you, and I hope to do it again when Linda hits the road again.
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:26 am
Interesting! When I visited friends in Birmingham, England they were fasinated by Jesse James. Apparently the James family is from that part of England. Anyway, I must have been a pioneer woman in a previous life and died a horrid death because I am NOT in the least bit interested in that part of the US history. (Shame on me) When I was younger we went to visit this place, but I have issues with altitude and proceeded to pass out. We had to come off the mountain in order for me to come out of it again! I am glad you had a good time.
March 3rd, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I am sending out invitations to come drop by my Blog Party. I am celebrating my one year blogging anniversary. I have mentioned you in my tribute about my first fun year in blogdom. Your blog is one I have enjoyed visiting over and over.
Everyone is invited to drop by and post a comment to sign up for my door prizes.
March 5th, 2008 at 1:45 am
Not sure where you wrote about a good year but just wanted to add my two cents. I thought the role seemed like it was obviously written for a hugh grant type, not at all suited to mr crowe, although I guess he wanted to role to try and smooth over his image following the telephone incident. fellow australian abbie cornish does quite a good job I think, her american accent seems pretty good to me! but hte movie is pretty disappointing and cliche I would say…
Good to see you’re back in France! I’m quite surprised that you say so many people in the US have Indian blood, I would never have thought!
March 8th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
This sounded interesting. I’ve never been to his grave, so thanks for sharing that.