Chartres Cathedral
12th Century Gothic
looking down as we ascended the many ancient,
spiraling steps to the bell tower
bon dimanche
Chartres, France
(an easy day-trip from Paris by train)
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Cathédral Notre-Dame de Chartres
Chartres, France
(an easy day-trip from Paris by train)
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Au bord de la Seine - les amis
Friends gathering after work
for a casual rendez-vous
baguettes, fromage, saucisson-sec...
et beaucoup de vin
bon weekend
La Seine
Quai du Louvre
75001, Paris
Métro Louvre-Rivoli ou Pont Neuf
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Le cycliste
Ready to ride
She came whizzing by,
and it was all I could do to get my camera up for a shot.
Plaid must be quite the style now.
My friend Bibi at A Yankee-in-Belgrade
spotted a fellow clad in plaid from head to toe.
Rue du Cardinal Lemoine
75005, Paris
Métro Cardinal Lemoine
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Galeries Lafayette - prêt-à-porter
"Click!"
clandestine, concealed, confidential, covert,
furtive, hush-hush, incognito, stealth, surreptitious...
Need I continue?
For years now I have been stalking this department
for its designs, color, textures.
I have only been commanded once to cease shooting
and that was in the very secretive shoe department.
Stay tuned for news...
I'm going back in!
Boulevard Haussmann
75009, Paris
Métro Chaussée d'Antin La Fayette
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Parc de Monceau - des amis
Parc de Monceau
Two friends without a care in the world.
We should be more like them.
Maman can worry about the limestone dust all over their clothes.
Weird, but I have a fondness for that chalk...
a reminder of good times in Paris.
Boulevard des Courcelles
75008, Paris
Métro Monceau
Monday, September 24, 2012
Le Petit Châtelet et le velo
Le Petit Châtelet
et le velo
Although I have never stopped here,
it is conveniently located just adjacent to Shakespeare & Co.
Have a browse through the famous bookstore,
meet friends afterwards on the terrace at Le Petit Château...
sounds like a full agenda to me.
39, rue de la Bûcherie
75005, Paris
Métros Saint-Michel ou Maubert-Mutualité
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Sainte-Chappelle - la chapelle basse
The Lower Chapel
Sainte-Chappelle, 1242
The windows of the upper chapel are stunning but no more so than the vibrant bold colors of the lower chapel with accents of gold. This magnificent 13th century Gothic chapel on the Île de la Cité was built by Louis IX for use as his royal chapel. This lower chapel served as parish church for all the inabitants of the king's palace.
bon dimanche
4, boulevard du Palais
75004, Paris
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Les trois fleurs - Marais
Three bright flowers
have the power to
light up the world
Be the bright flower in someone's life
75004, Paris
Friday, September 21, 2012
Guerlain - la vitrine
This simple window in the Marais has it all:
La Tour Eiffel
A fragrance with a sexy name
A salute to the very fashionable Parisians
and....
A reflection!
10, rue des Francs-Bourgeois
75004, Paris
For more reflections go to James' Weekend Reflection
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Rue des Thermopyles - Une porte rouge
Rue des Thermopyles
This narrow, winding street is a bit shabby-chic
but it is charming and quiet with an occasional cat looking at me
from a vine-framed window
Rue des Thermopyles
75014, Paris
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Rue des Cinq Diamants - le chef
le chef
On rue de la Butte aux Cailles, the chefs and cooks from
various restaurants gather outside to chat,
have a smoke, and get ready for the busy lunch crowd.
I have seen this same chef on three trips
and will be taking a photo to him in a few weeks.
I wonder what he will be serving that day...
Chez Gladines
30, rue des 5 Diamants
75013, Paris
Métro Corvisart
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Pain et Chocolat - Salon de thé
Pain et Chocolat
A sweet Paris friend who has a shop on Rue Cler told me about this delightful place nearby, and I was smitten before even walking inside. It is very small and an older married couple "do it all" from the baking and cooking to the serving. They are svelte as dancers and move almost as quickly, taking care of the diners.
The food is fabulous and the inside is as charming as the outside terrace.
Oh, please note the lap blankets for the cool morning petit déjeuner.
I will be back there for lunch with Holly very soon.
Pain et Chocolat
16, avenue la Motte Picquet
75007, Paris
Métro Ecole Militaire
Monday, September 17, 2012
La Tour Eiffel - le détail
Venetian red?
Did you know that Gustave Eiffel originally painted this tower red?
Over the years, the tower has changed colors several times ranging from red-browns to mustard-browns and now to what some have called "milk chocolate" brown. The official color is "bronze." It is on its 19th painting, all by hand, which takes 60 tons of paint, 1500 paint brushes and an army of experienced acrobatic painters without a fear of heights!
The tower is actually painted three shades of the same color with the darkest at the bottom and the lightest hue at the top. Twenty-five painters strip, clean, rust-proof, and apply paint to all 250,000 square meters of the tower taking about a year to accomplish. The paint cannot be applied if it is too cold or if the tower is wet so the whole process from beginning to end may take 18 months.
Oh, and do not forget the 50 kilometers of security cords
and 5 acres of protective netting!
(Although I am a bit of a risk-taker,
I was not hanging from security cords for this shot)
La Tour Eiffel
75007, Paris
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Église Saint-Étienne du Mont - le perron
The side door steps of Saint-Étienne du Mont
I wondered if I came back at night, would the car come for me...
(Midnight in Paris)
bon dimanche
Église Saint-Étienne du Mont
1, Place Ste Geneviève
75005, Paris
(across from the Parthenon)
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Enfant précieux
This pensive little child is an angel,
shy with blue eyes and gossamer locks.
In late March I met with her mum, blog friend Nicola, at Parc de Monceau.
This precious angel played on the slide while her mum and I visited.
I hope to visit with this little one and her three sisters in a few weeks.
Parc de Monceau
75008, Paris
Métro Monceau
Friday, September 14, 2012
Immeuble - 9 rue Murillo
Is the awning by Hector Guimard?
That was my original question when I lifed my camera for a shot. In the subsequent months I have found that the awning is but a part of this amazing residence designed in 1870 by the architect Gustave Clausse. The rez-de-chaussée et le premier étage (ground floor and the next floor) were built in stone and the three upper floors in patterned brick. Above the awning you can see the arched windows decorated with polychrome ceramics.
So, is it a Guimard? Honestly, I do not know. Most of Guimard's Paris work was started about 10 years after this building was completed. There are more secrets about this residence, and I will share a special one with you another time.
9, rue Murillo
75008, Paris
For more reflections go to James' Weekend Reflection
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Le Parc de Bercy - les ombres
Railway tracks and a brick-paved path...
long shadows of early morning...
an empty Paris bench...
birds enjoy the solitude
Le Parc de Bercy
75012, Paris
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Le carrousel - XXVI
As the blue skies of this April evening turned the multi-hued shades known only in Paris, we waited for the first "twinkling" of La Tour Eiffel.
The lights on that iron beauty twinkle for about 5 minutes every hour until 1am.
They start on the first hour after the Paris street lights come on.
Little did we know that we would enjoy a show before the main event...
soft streetlights, sculptures, a reflecting pool, fountains.
It was all set off by a delightful carousel (rotating counter-clockwise)
with its calliope music playing.
The police vans?
Manpower to catch the people selling Eiffel Tower keychains - not so magical
Carrousel de Trocadero
Place du Trocadéro
75016, Paris
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
La Vinoteca - la terrasse
La Vinoteca
There is nothing quite as perfect in Paris as déjeuner on la terrasse complete with good service and crisp linens. These are not your usual café chairs but colorful, comfortable and bit upscale.
Well, they were not quite ready the day I happened by La Vinoteca, but I did capture a handsome young man preparing the tables for the lunch crowd...
peut-être une autre fois
La Vinoteca
32, rue de Courcelles
75008, Paris
Métro St Philippe du Roule ou
Métro Miromesnil
Monday, September 10, 2012
La salamandre et le maïs - art nouveau
This interesting motif of a salamander eating a stalk of corn is found on Rue de Grenelle. The art nouveau double door is part of pair, each with a salamander. Apparently, this greedy one got the corn.
The building was designed by architect Jules Lavirotte in 1898, his first major building. The façade, influenced by the French Rococo style, offers only hints of the theatrical displays for which Lavirotte was to become known. He designed at least nine buildings still standing in the 7ième arrondissement.
151, rue de Grenelle
75007, Paris
Métro La Tour-Maubourg
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Église Sainte-Anne de la Buttes-aux-Cailles
Église Sainte-Anne de la Buttes-aux-Cailles
(mosaic of the Atelier Mauméjean)
Designed by the architect Prosper Bobin, construction was started in 1894 and completed almost 20 years later. This Romanesque Byzantine style church was one of the few built in Paris during this time of severe religious tensions.
The scene above, "Suffer the Little Children," is a portion of the Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1938). It is a mosaic made of tens of thousands of tiny pieces of glass with almost imperceptible shades of colors. It is reported that there will be a retrospective of this atelier Mauméjean, and I will let you know what is planned. The skilled artists of the family Mauméjean installed their work of stained glass and mosaics in over 5,000 cathedrals, basilicas, and chapels in 34 countries. Because of demand for their work, additional ateliers were opened, two of those in Barcelona and Saint-Sebastian, Spain.
bon dimanche
Église Sainte-Anne de la Buttes-aux-Cailles
188, rue de Tolbiac
75013, Paris
Métro Tolbiac
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Rue Rembrandt - les fenêtres
The area surrounding Parc de Monceau is full of architectural treasures. Seen near the Rue Rembrandt entrance to the park this elegant five-floor residence has an array of paned windows, each different from the other. The quiet street ends at one of the south entrances to the park.
If you visit Parc de Monceau
do not miss the upscale neighborhood in which it resides.
May you each have a relaxing weekend
Rue Rembrandt et Rue de Lisbonne
75008, Paris
Métro Courcelles ou Métro Monceau
Friday, September 7, 2012
Parc des Buttes Chaumont
Parc des Buttes Chaumont
Suspension bridge
This suspension bridge leads to a large rocky cliff with a 32 meter waterfall. The nature of the bridge construction means that there is a sway as these people walk to and fro.
If you are afraid of heights this might be one to avoid.
Parc des Buttes Chaumont
Rue Botzaris
75019, Paris
Metro Botzaris, Metro Buttes Chaumont
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Street Artist - Nemo
Street art
Although it disturbs me to see graffiti covering walls, fences, and every available surface on the train station platforms (and the tunnels in the Metro), this I love! The street artists of Paris are recognized for their distinctive style and themes.
This panel is by the artist Nemo.
Oh, I checked to make certain that I am not showing this upside down!
Street artist Nemo
seen here on Rue Bichat
75010, Paris
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Canal Saint-Martin - les passerelles piétonnes
Canal Saint-Martin
Along the canal you find many pedestrian walkways,
arched high over the canal to allow for passing boats.
Although I have never taken the trip, many report that a leisurely excursion on Canal St. Martin gives a different view along the quais. My friend Marie and I watched this boat pass through the locks on a bright Sunday afternoon. On canal Saint-Martin alone there are seven bridges, the majority of which are passerelles piétonnes (footbridges).
They all have names and I will have to search to put the proper name and location on this one. It is very close to Hotel du Nord on Quai de Jemmapes.
Passerelle piétonne, Canal Saint-Martin
Near Rue de la Grange
75010, Paris
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Parc de Monceau - XVI
Parc de Monceau
While waiting on a park bench to meet a blog friend and sa petite,
I watched this young fellow riding in circles.
He was so fast that it was a challenge to capture him in action...
and in focus!
zoom-zoom!
Parc de Monceau
Boulevard des Courcelles
(five entrances around the park)
75008, Paris
Métro Monceau
Monday, September 3, 2012
Les couleurs de Paris - le bleu
le carrousel de Tuileries
le bleu
It is difficult to select just one photo for blue in Paris. There are thousands of "blues," doors and buildings and skies and reflections, but this carrousel in Tuileries and I have a relationship (if that is possible). I have seen it in all seasons including a snowstorm one December.
This one small part of the carrousel has the Eiffel Tower, angels, and diamonds, all embellished with gold and red. The painted blue skies behind the Tower are matched by the blue skies of spring.
This is my last contribution to a five-color series of photos,
and with this I capture the memory of Paris blue and tuck it under my pillow.
sweet dreams
Le carrousel de Tuileries
Terrasse des Feuillants
Jardin des Tuileries
75001, Paris
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Les couleurs de Paris - le blanc
Sacré Coeur
le blanc
Even with weathering and polution,
this church made of travertine stone remains white.
This sacred landmark sits high on the butte of Montmartre
overseeing all of Paris.
This is my contribution to a five-color series of photos,
and with this I look up in reverence to the whiteness of Sacré Coeur.
bon dimanche
La Basilique du Sacré Coeur de Montmartre
35, rue du Chevalier de la Barre
75018, Paris
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Les couleurs de Paris - le rouge!
la porte rouge
Paris enjoys an abundance of red doors
This is my contribution to a five-color series of photos,
and with this I blush in homage to le rouge
la porte rouge
75007, Paris