Monday, March 31, 2014

Poisson d'Avril - chut!



Do you know what tomorrow is?

In the United States it is April Fools Day and we play pranks like, "Look out!  There's a spider on your shoulder!" 

The tradition in France includes poisson d'avril, attempting to attach a paper fish to the victim's back without being noticed.  There is an interesting history of this holiday of foolishness, and it originated in France in the 16th century.  You can read about it here.

Today in France, people who are fooled on April 1 are called poisson d'avril, which literally means the "April Fish," because a young naive fish is easily caught.  

So, are you going to play a little prank tomorrow?
 
 
 
Le Baron Rouge, wine bar
1, rue Théophile Roussel
75012, Paris

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Église Saint Étienne du Mont


Église Saint Étienne du Mont


The windows, the architecture, the history, 
the art, the details, the stories...


You could sketch, draw, paint, photograph...
listen, observe, watch, study, pray...
and still not absorb it all


bon dimanche


Église Saint Étienne du Mont
1, place Ste-Geneviève

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Parc des Buttes Chaumont VIII



Parc des Buttes Chaumont
Temple of Sybil


Although the Temple of Sybil may not appear so high on the cliff, 
it is indeed a hike and a suspension bridge away.  
How can all of this be only a mile or two from the center of Paris?


If the weather cooperates for this last weekend in March, 
the Parisians will be here with friends and family.  
How I wish that I could join them!





Parc des Buttes Chaumont
75019, Paris
Métros Buttes Chaumont, Laumière, et Botzaris

Friday, March 28, 2014

Printemps - une vitrine



Printemps store window


Contemplation 
and reflection....


bon weekend



Printemps
Boulevard Haussmann
75009, Paris
Joining James' Weekend Reflections
Look here for so many more.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Champ Libre Fleuriste



Champ Libre 
fleuriste


No matter where you are in Paris, you can certainly find nearby:

a Métro station,
an eyeglass store,
and a fleuriste


How about:
a garden,
a boulangerie,
a church?


Champ Libre Fleuriste
104, avenue Ledru Rollin
75011, Paris

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Le Montegrosso - le petit déjeuner


Le Montegrosso
breakfast


This Franco-Italian restaurant has a charming terrace with a large red awning.  
This gentleman was enjoying the sun with his breakfast on a brisk spring day.



Le Montegrosso 
6, rue de l'Échelle
75001, Paris
Métros Tuileries, Pyramides, ou 
         Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Cimetière du Montparnasse - printemps


Montparnasse Cemetery


Spring blows into Paris,
scattering fresh blossoms
like pastel confetti


May they last in my memories forever



Cimetière du Montparnasse
75014, Paris


Monday, March 24, 2014

Jardin de l'Intendant



Jardin de l'Intendant

On the southwest corner of Hôtel des Invalides 
you will find this verdant sculpted garden, 
a quiet place to enjoy the greenness of spring in Paris.




Jardin de l'Intendant
Les Invalides
Ave de Tourville
75007, Paris

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides



Église Saint-Louis des Invalides
caryatid
télamon


This ornate organcase is attributed to Jules Hardouin-Mansart 
and includes two télamons supporting the massive platform of the organ pipes.

The architectural elements are quite detailed 
and the supporting right hand of the telamon appears to be real.


bon dimanche




Église Saint-Louis des Invalides
Les Invalides
75007, Paris
A contributor to inSPIREd Sunday


Saturday, March 22, 2014

Parc de Monceau - printemps!


Parc de Monceau
The Egyptian Pyramid
(1778)

The Parc Monceau is one of the most elegant parks of Paris and a peaceful oasis of greenery.  In general it is not frequented by tourists but full of nannies and children, families, and office workers at lunch.  You will see many joggers along the paths, pony rides for children, and a delightful carousel, Caroussel de Jules Verne.


A series of statues and busts of artists such as Guy de Maupassant, Frédéric Chopin, Charles Gounod and Alfred de Musset were scattered along the paths in the late 19th – early 20th century.  The large oval pool and its Corinthian columns were restored and are, along with the miniature Egyptian pyramid and the fantasy gravestones, some of the remains of the original park of the Duke of Chartres.


bon weekend



Parc de Monceau
Boulevard de Courcelles
75008, Paris

Friday, March 21, 2014

Palais Garnier - L'Opéra Restaurant


Palais Garnier
L'Opéra Restaurant


Can you imagine getting approval to build a restaurant as part of the storied Palais Garnier, only to discover that you could touch no walls, attach nothing to the 19th century structure?


Impossible?  


Yet, here it is, and the artistry is magnificent as the curved transparent walls appear to float, moving in waves around Garnier's architecture on the northeast side.  It was conceived by the architect Odile Decq in the heart of the Palais Garnier. A mezzanine made of amazing shapes surrounds the original architecture of the Palais Garnier without ever touching it.  Opened in 2011, it is worthy of a special evening with Paris friends.  Oh, I would not wear red as you might disappear into the elegant seating.




L'Opéra Restaurant
Palais Garnier
1, place Jacques Rouchés
75009, Paris
 

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Rue de Lyon - les details


the door


Typical of many Paris doors from the 19th century, the details of the stone architecture are unique in design and frame beautifully the well-preserved heavy doors.  The cart belongs to the postman (le facteur) to transport the mail as s/he walks the neighborhood.  The ornamental wrought iron piece at the foot of a door is called a "chasse-roue" and was a practical implement to protect the door or gate from the carriage wheels.  You will see them all over Paris, some of wrought iron as seen here, and others of stone.  It would be interesting to photograph a collection of the different designs.



Rue de Lyon
75012, Paris

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Parc des Buttes Chaumont - le carrousel


Carousel in Parc des Buttes Chaumont


It was only on my third visit to this park 
that I discovered the petite, colorful carousel.  
The top makes me think of le Petit Prince 
with its stars, moon, and rocket ship.
The rides are over-sized rabbits, cats, and other animals, 
along with a rocket and a fire truck.


The park itself is beautiful, particularly in the spring, 
but has a checkered past.  
It is close to Gibet de Montfaucon, 
a notorious site where criminals were hanged 
and their bodies put on display 
from the 13th century until mid-18th century.  


After the French Revolution it became a refuse dump,
and then a spot for cutting up horse carcasses.  
Baron Haussmann chose this site for a new park 
for the rapidly growing population of the 19th and 20th arrondissements.


Work began in 1864 and the park was opened on April 1, 1867.  
To see the park today one would never imagine its nefarious history.



Parc des Buttes Chaumont
75019, Paris
Métros Buttes Chaumont et Botzaris

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Paris au printemps


Paris in spring


It is surely time for Paris to show her spring colors.


This small park on Rue de l'Ave Maria
is filled with color in March-April.
As the blooms mature and drop they will make a delicate carpet of pink .





Square Marie Trintignant
Rue de l'Ave Maria
75004, Paris
Métro Pont Marie

Monday, March 17, 2014

Un homme en vert

 
 
 
Men in green
 
 
 
The streets are meticulously cleaned daily by the men in green. 
An interesting feat of engineering allows the water to flow
under low pressure from the curbside openings into the gutters. 
This man with his broom helps sweep the water
and the floating debris back into the sewers. 
There are over 12,000 of these WOs (water outlets) in Paris.
 
 
 
Are you wearing green today?
 
 
 
Boulevard des Invalides
75007, Paris


Sunday, March 16, 2014

Église Notre Dame de Lorette - l'orgue

 
 
Église Notre Dame de Lorette
 
 
Église Notre Dame de Lorette is a neoclassical church
built by architect Louis-Hippolyte Lebas
between 1823 and 1836 in the 9th arrondissement.
 
 
It contains the first organ built by the great organ builder
Aristide Cavaillé-Coll (1811–1899). 
Composer Cesar Franck became the assistant organist here in 1947
and was married in this church as well.
 
 
For another view of the interior and an interesting story,
 
 
bon dimanche 
 
 
 
 
Église Notre Dame de Lorette
18, bis rue de Chateaudun
75009, Paris


Saturday, March 15, 2014

Rue Crémieux



Rue Crémieux


A lovely pedestrian street
adorned with an assorted palette of colors,
whimsical trompe l'oeil,
and at least one neighborhood cat.
(le chat roux)


Rue Crémieux
75012, Paris

Friday, March 14, 2014

Kogan Gallery - Installer une forêt


Installing a forest


The photographers are outside on the sidewalk. 
The "forester" is installing a mural of trees on the back wall of a gallery.
The buildings are a reflection.


dreamy illusions



Kogan Gallery
96 bis, rue Beaubourg
75003, Paris


 

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Cour Marly - Musée du Louvre


Horses of Marly


The monumental statuary displayed here was carved for the park of the Château de Marly. Most of the works were commissioned by Louis XIV at the end of his reign. However, the courtyard is dominated by Guillaume Coustou's celebrated Horses of Marly, completed in 1745 under Louis XV.


Coustou sculpted these from a single monolithic block of Carrara marble - stunning.  These are the originals (moved to the Louvre in 1984) and there are copies at Place de la Concorde and at Marly.


(joyeux anniversaire, Countess)


Cour Marly, Richelieu Wing
Musée du Louvre
75001, Paris
 
 

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Gare de l'Est



Gare de l'Est


Gare de l'Est resembles the Belle Époque generation of train stations, 
and the west wing is the original building of 1847.   
An interesting note: On October 4, 1883, 
the Gare de l'Est saw the first departure 
of the Orient Express bound for Istanbul.


On this day I was not venturing nearly that far, 
but there is nothing quite so pleasant as traveling by train.


Gare de l'Est
Place du 11 novembre 1918
75010, Paris

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Palais Royal - l'ombre


Palais Royal
-the shadow-


The shop was closed, 
but in a blink of an eye 
the shadow moved.


How can that be?
Surely it is just the reflection of trees,
or a cloud passing in front of the winter sun,
or.... un fântome?




Palais Royal
75001, Paris

Monday, March 10, 2014

Julien - pâtisserie



Julien


Perhaps not the best for the start of a healthy week, 
but I do see four things that make me drool in this display case.


At least there is no harm in looking


miam-miam!




Julien
73, Avenue Franklin D Roosevelt
75008, Paris

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Sacré Coeur et Église de la Sainte-Trinité


Sacré Coeur
Sainte-Trinité


From a vantage point above the streets, 
these two magnificent churches 
provide a focal point above the rooftops and chimneys 
of Paris' 9ième and 18ième arrondissements.


bon dimanche

(linking to inSPIRED Sunday)


La Basilique du Sacré Coeur de Montmartre
35, rue du Chevalier de la Barre
75018, Paris

Église de la Sainte-Trinité
Place d'Estienne d'Orves
75009, Paris

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Paris rouge - Macéo

 
 
 
Macéo
 
 
 
This restaurant has a quiet back entrance
framed in red with cherubs on either side of the doorway. 
 
 
Perhaps a little worse for wear,
the sculptures still make a dramatic presence
on the quiet street behind Palais Royal.
 
 
 
 
Macéo
15, rue des Petits Champs
75002, Paris
 
 
 


Friday, March 7, 2014

Place Maubert avec Papa



at the seafood market


The poissonnerie is full of interesting creatures from the sea.  
It appears that Papa is making a selection for the evening dinner.  
Although the child's eyes cannot be seen from this view, 
they were open wide and full of interest.


Must be a French boy...



Poissonerrie Boulonnaise
47, boulevard Saint Germain
Place Maubert
75005, Paris

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Le Grand Vefour



Le Grand Vefour


Unfazed by the drizzling rain and without concern for traffic,
this chic woman walked like she owned the street
...and the famous Grand Vefour.





Must be a French girl



Rue de Beaujolais
Palais Royal
75001, Paris

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Palais de Tokyo



Palais de Tokyo


Taking their lunch with the pigeons
at Palais de Tokyo...



Palais de Tokyo
13, avenue de Président Wilson
75016, Paris

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Trois statues parmi les fleurs



Three statues among the flowers


Without regard to the season or the weather,
one can always find fresh flowers, herbs, and plants in Paris.


Are you ready for spring?



Mahasiah
234, boulevard Raspail
75014, Paris

Monday, March 3, 2014

Une chaise haute - a child's café chair





Well, the little French children start early in the café life.


What could be a more perfect transition...
from the arms of Maman to a suitable chair on the terrasse.



75005, Paris

Sunday, March 2, 2014

La Sainte-Chapelle - la chapelle basse



La Sainte-Chapelle
The Lower Chapel, 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 Île de la Cité 
was built by Louis IX for use as his royal chapel.  
The lower chapel seen here served as parish church 
for all the inhabitants of the king's palace.


bon dimanche



La Sainte-Chapelle
4, boulevard du Palais
75001, Paris

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Theme Day - "People on the Street"



People on the Street


Observing the brisk stride of synchronized steps, 
one would believe that the afternoon outing is a well-rehearsed routine.


It makes you wonder how many years 
they have walked together through life.



Rue Brémontier
75017, Paris


The first day of each month is Theme Day
for the City Daily Photo Bloggers - Check here for all the others