Thursday, April 21, 2011

Quiet Courtyard



A quiet courtyard in Paris is a great relief from the noisy streets. But in the evening the sounds carry to the open windows above. It is much more comforting to hear the chatter of friends than to hear only the single clicks of a solitary person walking on the stones.

26 comments:

Bill Dixon said...

Good morning from here...it's good night.

Anonymous said...

Posséder à Paris un tel hâvre de paix, est un cadeau du ciel. C'est merveilleux!

Malyss said...

The secret sides of Paris, little corners that can't be seen from the streets..How precious!

Cezar and Léia said...

I think it's that time of the day to enjoy inside home!
Léia

cocoa and coconut said...

I have always envied and loved those Parisian courtyards. The joy of staying in an apartment is you can peak into surrounding courtyards :)

Joe said...

So many windows, so tall the walls, lonely was the courtyard once hidden from all.

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

There's just something so mysterious about seeing the secret side of walls. This was fun Genie.
Sam

Jeanne said...

....or in the morning to hear the City gradually wake up in this quiet courtyard. It is remarkable how we remember those sounds.

Harriet said...

Was this the courtyard view from your apartment? Quiet spaces are always welcomed find in a busy city.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Bill -- Good morning here...

Richard -- Oui, mais un ascenseur serait un vrai cadeau du ciel!

Malyss -- This courtyard is off Rue du Faubourg St. Antoine and is ruled by a Siamese named Oscar! (I love to say "Oscar" en français)

Léia -- It is and the courtyard is almost always quiet.

Brittany -- This is a large courtyard but the locked entrance makes is quiet compared to the streets beyond the large doors

Joe -- Lovely prose and so fitting of this scene -- Thanks!

Sam -- Yes, and I was not sneaking around this courtyard unless searching for Oscar!

Jeanne -- This was July some years ago and we slept with the windows open for a nice cross-breeze.

Harriet -- No, this was a lovely two-story apartment with a grand piano and sumptuous kitchen where I stayed several years ago. Our apartment in Dec and April did not have a courtyard, but we compensated with the lovely view onto St. Roch.

Virginia said...

Sleeping with the windows flung wide open takes some getting us to. The sounds echo it seems. I love it though.

Could you see in those windows?? :)
V

Randy said...

Very lovely and wonderful in B&W. Have a wonderful day!

biebkriebels said...

Those courtyards have their own space, it is like you are in a village. And when you come through the front door you are in the big city again.

Halcyon said...

It's beautiful and serene. And perfect in black and white!

TheChieftess said...

Love the angle and B&W!!! Not so fond of the noise...but would gladly suffer through it!!!

Sylvia K said...

Terrific capture as always, Genie! I would love to be there -- regardless of the noise! Great B&W for the day! Wishing you a very Happy Easter!

Sylvia

Amanda Summer said...

....but the solitary click of heels on stones is romantic in its own way, non?

a lovely courtyard, genie~

beau gosse said...

My first flat in Paris on rue Barbette had a large courtyard with a large partial glass roof into a very fashionable boutique below. I could watch people walking about from my third floor flat...and the multi-peaked glass glowed at night. In the early morning and in the evening the cries of the birds flying back and forth from the Seine would echo up to my windows. The church bells from Clos DES Blancs Manteaux would echo against the stone walls...I loved it so........

Loree said...

I'd love to hear the solitary footsteps. I love the shot.

Anonymous said...

So true, so true! I've loved looking into courtyards when staying in Paris or elsewhere. It creates such a sense of community, and it's nice to know that others are close, and living their everyday lives, when vacationing on one's own.

Jack said...

Interesting insights into the private part of Paris today. I have often gone past a gate in an other wise solid wall, peeked in, and started to imagine what life on the other side would be like . . .

Alexa said...

It made me feel so "chez moi" to have the code for the big doors that let us into the courtyard when we were in Paris last month. :~} Love this shot in b&w.

Vreni said...

I love to peek into courtyards, you never know what they are hiding.

Harriet said...

Last April when I stayed with the French family in the 4e there was a small courtyard view from my bedroom window. One morning I heard piano music and thought it to be a recording, but it started over and I realized that someone was practicing........the music floating through the air was absolutely wonderful.

Starman said...

The little shed-like thing at the top right, looks about the size of the place we rented in Lyon.

James said...

I love places like this in Paris. Very nice find and I like that it's in black and white. Great job!