Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Poisson d'Avril - chut! (demain)



Do you know what tomorrow is?

In the USA 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?






Marché d'Aligre et le Baron Rouge
75012, Paris

Monday, March 30, 2015

Des Grandes Maisons




These beautiful homes overlook Parc de Monceau.


I do not know which view is better:
The homes seen from my vantage point in the park,
or the park seen from the grand balconies.



Parc de Monceau
75008, Paris

Sunday, March 29, 2015

L'horloge






Built between 1194 and 1250, Chartres Cathedral is one of the finest examples of
French Gothic architecture.  The 12th century structure is at least the fifth to occupy the
site since the fourth century.


Having read much about World War II in recent years,
 it is interesting to know that the magnificent windows seen still today 
were removed in 1939 before the Germans advanced.  
The glass was cleaned and releaded before 
being returned to their original placement.


Chartres is only fifty miles outside of Paris 
and worth a day trip to see this cathedral and two other churches.  
The old town is charming and a step back in time.

bon dimanche


Basilique Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres
16 cloitre Notre-Dame
28000 Chartres
Chartres, France

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Thé avec un serpent?



Petit Palais


In the main gallery of Petit Palais is this unusual teapot by Léon Kann (1859-1925).
An open-mouthed serpent bursts from a metal gourd 
and is ready to strike!


Now, would you care for lemon or milk 
with that tea?



Petit Palais
avenue Winston Churchill
75008, Paris

Friday, March 27, 2015

Marché Maubert - des légumes



Marché Maubert


Paris is not just about the baguettes, 
the pain de mie, the croissants, the tarts, the gâteaux...


Just stroll through one of the weekday street markets 
to see some beautiful, fresh vegetables (and fruits)



Marché Maubert
Place Maubert (Tues, Thurs, Sat)
75005, Paris

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Le Premier Train Pour Paris



The First Train to Paris


Well, as you can see by all the passengers and the clock,
it is probably not the first train leaving Charles de Gaulle Airport.


However, it is definitely early!



RER B, Aeroport Charles de Gaulle
Paris

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Café sans fleurs...



Avenue Rapp


This charming little café/bistrot is ready
for our party.


We should have brought some of yesterday's flowers 
to perk it up a bit.



Café on ave Rapp
75007, Paris

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

le Génie de la Liberté



Colonne de Juillet
(July Column)


Seen from the street below, the gilded "spirit of freedom"
appears ready to take flight into the blue sky


This towering Corinthian-styled column is topped with 
Auguste Dumont's "Génie de la Liberté" 
built between 1835 and 1840 to commemorate 
the 1830 revolution



Colonne de Juillet
Place de la Bastille
75004, Paris

Monday, March 23, 2015

Les fleurs de Paris



You may wonder about all of the shrubs and blooming plants in Paris.  
The parks and public gardens are filled to the brim, 
but one would think that there are not many private gardens 
in central Paris.


All you have to do is to look to the balconies 
and take a peek inside the almost-closed door courtyards.  


Now what would you put on your Paris balcony?



rue Cler florist
75007, Paris



Sunday, March 22, 2015

Église de la Sainte-Trinité

 
 
 
Église de la Sainte-Trinité
 
 
 
"La Trinité" features architecture of the Second Empire period,
and it was built between 1861 and 1867 at a cost of almost 5 million francs.
 
 
The exterior is impressive,
 filling the Paris skyline with its 63 meter tall bell tower
and topped with a dome.
 
 
 
bon dimanche
 
 
Église de la Sainte-Trinité
Place d'Estienne d'Orvez
75009, Paris


Saturday, March 21, 2015

Printemps et une abeille



Spring blooms and a bee


The parks in Paris will be soon filled with 
the chartreuse green of new tendrils
and the vivid pastel blooms



Parc de Monceau
Rue de Courcelles
75008, Paris

Friday, March 20, 2015

Le Jour du Macaron, ici et là

"here"
(chez Holly)

Today is the 10th anniversary of Le Jour du Macaron, started by Pierre Hermé.
In the early years it was a bit like a scavenger hunt all over Paris, and at each stop (famous Paris pâtisseries) you could collect three macarons and they would stamp your "macaron map."  At the end of the day if you had a map with all of the stamps, you then received a treasure chest of 36 macarons from Pierre Hermé!  In exchange you were asked for a small charitable donation.


It was so successful that after a few years, the bonus at the end of the day was halted.  Can you imagine how many Parisiens and tourists chased all over the city collecting macarons!  Now, Jour du Macaron is celebrated in many cities and countries around the world.


My daughter Holly and I have been making them (amid much scientific study and experimentation) for years now.  Our favorites to make: pistache with chocolate ganache filling, pecan with caramel au beurre salé, rosemary with lemon curd.  A good Swiss buttercream cut with Nutella will be great in any of these. 


"there"
(in Paris)


bon weekend
(miam-miam)


"ici" et "là"
là - Spécialités Artisanales
Biscuiterie de Montmartre
16, rue Norvins
75018, Paris
 

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Rue Bonaparte - une cour



The large door was ajar, 
and a slight push was all it took


This empty courtyard on rue Bonaparte
was charming and the fresh buds of spring
will give it a new look.



rue Bonaparte
75006, Paris

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Jardin du Palais Royal - en hiver



Jardin du Palais Royal


The lovely fountain was sealed in ice - December 2010
The red and white rope was a signal to stay out of the fountain,
a suggestion lost on these young boys.


I hope that Paris did not get that cold this year, 
but regardless, we will all be glad to see winter go.



Jardin du Palais Royal
75001, Paris



Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Changement de saison - la Seine




It is almost spring and all across the hemisphere
people are looking forward to longer days and
warmer weather.


There will be many evenings
along the Seine with friends



Quai du Louvre
75001, Paris

Monday, March 16, 2015

Galerie Vivienne - Librairie Jousseaume



Librairie Jousseaume


Galerie Vivienne is home to this bookstore 
which was founded in 1826 as  Librairie Petit-Siroux.  


If you love books old and new, 
this is a charming spot to look at the titles and perhaps find a treasure.  
You can peruse the glassed display seen here or wander inside.


(Joyeux anniversaire, Alexa)




Librairie Jousseaume
45-46-47, Galerie Vivienne
75002, Paris 

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Église Saint-Laurent



Église Saint-Laurent

Saint-Laurent was founded in the 6th century as the chapel of an abbey.  
The present church dates to 1429 and finally completed in the 19th century.  
It was built on Paris' north-south axis, 
linking Senlis and Orléans, 
as laid out by the Romans in  the 1st century.


There are always candles 
in the many chapels

bon dimanche


Église Saint-Laurent
68, boulevard de Magenta
75010, Paris


Saturday, March 14, 2015

La Journée de Pi


Pi day of the century

π - not pie actually
(a pun)


Saturday, March 14, 2015 is Pi Day, a celebration of the irrational number 
that describes the ratio of a circle’s diameter to its circumference. 
Pi is approximately 3.141592653, but it continues at random to infinity. 
No matter how many numbers after the decimal place you use, 
the only way to get it exactly is to use the symbol pi (π)


March 14, 2015
3.14.15 at 9:26.53am


I love math and numbers as well as pie, 
so treat yourself to a slice of pie (or tart, if you will)



La Petite Rose
11, boulevard de Courcelles
75008, Paris




Friday, March 13, 2015

La Tour Eiffel, la Seine, et des Ponts



Paris at Night


The mighty bronze sculptures of Pont Alexandre III
gaze nightly at "the tower" as it lights up the evening sky.


I have stood on this same spot in all kinds of weather,
and I can close my eyes to be transported there in my imagination.



bon weekend



Pont Alexandre III
75007, Paris

Click here to see reflections around the world
James' Weekend Reflections

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Jeune patineur



Young skater


Contrary to the experienced skater of yesterday,
beginning skaters may need a little help.




Hotel de Ville
75004, Paris


Wednesday, March 11, 2015

La patineuse artistique



In the bright midday sun of a winter day,
the ice skaters moved around the temporary ice rink 
in front of Hôtel de Ville. 


This young woman was in a world of her own
as she gracefully made her turns, jumps and spins.



Hôtel de Ville
Place de l'Hôtel de Ville
75004 Paris

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Square du Vert Galant



Square du Vert Galant


This little tear-drop of green is not exactly a secret place, 
but it is most often photographed from the other direction
(as seen in my banner photo above).


The view from Pont des Arts gives the illusion 
of a ship's bow.  You can access this little park
at the midpoint of Pont Neuf.



Square du Vert Galant
75001, Paris


Monday, March 9, 2015

Les portes de Palais Royal



The Gates of Palais Royal


These gold spears on the gates 
must receive a coat of paint each year
as they always look as if they are solid gold


Oh, they do close and lock the gates each
evening so do not fall asleep on one of the benches or
you may be forced to spend the night



Jardin du Palais Royal
75001, Paris

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Basilique Notre-Dame des Victoires


Basilique Notre-Dame des Victoires


The square in front of this basilica is often filled with children,
playing chase or ball games.


The church is located at the intersection of Place des Petits-Pères
and Rue de la Banque. Notre Dame des Victoires
is the former chapel of the Augustinian fathers (Petits-Pères),
built in the years 1629-1740


bon dimanche


 
Basilique Notre-Dame des Victoires
6, rue Notre Dame des Victoires
75002, Paris

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Galerie Véro-Dodat



Galerie Véro-Dodat


In 1826, two friends, Messieurs Véro and Dodat, opened a covered galerie 
between Rue du Bouloi and Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau.  
Built in Neoclassical style with a decor that included details of copper and cast iron, 
along with mirrors and the black and white marble floor, 
it quickly became the darling of Paris.


This early winter morning photo found the passage
in fine order, a close reflection of its 19th century beauty.




Galerie Véro-Dodat
Rue Jean-Jacques et Rue du Bouloi
Métro Palais Royal
75001 Paris

Friday, March 6, 2015

Jardin du Luxembourg - le carrousel


Jardin du Luxembourg


This very old carrousel in Jardin du Luxembourg 
does not have glitter, 
shining lights, or 
polished ponies, but...


you can wield a baton and 
catch a brass ring on each pass



bon weekend


Jardin du Luxembourg
75006, Paris

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Rue Raynouard - Passy



Just above the wall-lined street you can see
this wonderful collection of windows, roofs, balconies,
and chimneys all washed in the glow of a winter afternoon's sunliight.


The architecture and textures
have interesting details.



Rue Raynouard
Passy
75016, Paris

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Bistrot Victoires



Bistrot Victoires


This neighborhood bistrot/café is a favorite of mine.
Yes, the food is good and reasonable, nothing fancy, 
but it is not the food that makes it a favorite.  


...It is all the friends whose company I have enjoyed 
over the years as well as the staff and the charming ambiance


We need to meet again...



Bistrot Victoires
1, rue de la Vrillière
75001, Paris

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Encore un peu de patience!




Cafes and sandwich shops in the US 
may provide a placard for your table
after you place your order.
When it is ready, a server will deliver it to your table.


At Le Jardin du Petit Palais Café, 
the placard appears quite charming in French.
I can only imagine how the French tsk-tsk
the crazy photographers.



Le Jardin du Petit Palais Café
Petit Palais
Avenue Winston Churchill
75008, Paris

Monday, March 2, 2015

la Seine



The Seine


All is quiet on the Seine
at midnight...

a great time to take photos



La Seine
75006, Paris

Sunday, March 1, 2015

City Daily Photo Theme Day: "Aging"



This mature gentleman dined alone 
on the café terrace, 
enjoyed un café and a smoke, 
and then counted out the payment.


He walked with the assistance of a cane,
independent and self-assured.
He is known in the neighborhood,
acknowledging the greetings that came his way.



On the first day of each month the City Daily Photo community
posts a photo.  The theme this month is "aging."
Click here to see "aging" in cities all around the globe.


Le Metevier
1, avenue Gambetta
75020, Paris