Cimetière de Montrouge

Cimetière de Montrouge

The porcelain funerary flowers are probably the work of
Céramiques de France in Béthune with origins in the mid-nineteenth century.
This grave tells the story of a brave aviator Maurice Arnoux (7 September 1895 – 6 June 1940) who was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. He returned to flying fighter planes during the early days of World War II and died fighting for France.


The high polish of the marble reflects the
words of remembrance and honor.

Grave of Maurice Arnoux

Cimetière de Montrouge

18, avenue de la Porte de Montrouge

75014, Paris

 

Quatorze juillet et l'anniversaire de mon blog!

Quatorze juillet

This shot was taken in 2008 on a two-week

solo trip to Paris.  I waited for what seemed hours against

the barricades on Champs-Élysées for the procession.  

The parade was fabulous but the preparations

were even better.

It is not a coincidence that I chose this date

for the beginning of my blog six years ago.

Virginia Jones (Paris Through My Lens) guided my 

entrance to blogging and I will be forever grateful for

her help and lasting friendship.

Thank you all for your support

and comments over the past six years.

Avenue des Champs-Élysées

75008, Paris

Un defile militaire

Military Parade

Avenue des Champs Elysees

Quatorze juillet

The avenue was lined from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde

with a display of the French military and its territories, an amazing spectacle!

Avenue des Champs Elysees

75008, Paris

Five Year Anniversary - Paris and Beyond!

Quatorze juillet

This was my first post five years ago when I started my Paris and Beyond photo blog under the guidance of Virginia Jones. In the five years of posting daily, I have met many wonderful people from around the world.  Many of those I have met in person and have traveled to faraway places to see them.  In the beginning I was not sure that I could keep up a daily post with a very full-time job and business travel.

Thank you to all who have followed me and have reached out to me.

Tomorrow I start year six....

(Merci beaucoup, Virginie!)

Avenue des Champs Elysees

75008, Paris

Bicentenaire de la Bataille de Waterloo

Musée le l'Armée

The Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, 

stopped the advance of Napoleon 

and sent him into exile for a second and final time.

 

In the one day of fighting there were around 55,000 

either killed, wounded, or missing in action.

 However, the battle ushered in more than 50 years of peace.

Musée de l'Armée

129, rue de Grenelle

75007, Paris

Les Médailles Militaires

Military Medals

The many shops in the arcades 

around the courtyard of Palais Royal are filled with treasures.

bon weekend

Palais Royal

75001, Paris

Le Défilé Militaire

Republican Guard Cavalry Regiment

Military Parade

(quatorze juillet)

The uniforms were perfect, 

from the elegant helmets to the rich leather boots.

The horses were exquisitely groomed and trained.

There will be 250 horses in the celebrated parade on Monday

Le Défilé Militaire du quatorze Juillet

Avenue des Champs Elysées

75008, Paris

Cour d'Honneur - Hôtel des Invalides

Cour d'Honneur

The patina of the cannons in the courtyard is stunning.

Some of them date from the reign of François 1er, 1515-1567.

Celebrating Veteran's Day in the USA

 

129, rue de Grenelle

75007, Paris

Métros Varenne ou École Militaire

Le défilé du 14-Juillet

Quatorze Juillet

2008

The many regiments line up an hour or two 

before the march down Avenue des Champs Elysées.

2013

In all, 4,800 troops marched in front of the presidential stage Sunday, 

along with 241 horses, 265 vehicles and 58 planes.

Bringing up the rear was an array of 35 helicopters, 

used in wartime and for civilian missions. 

Precision parachutists landed 

in front of the presidential stand to close the parade.

The military parade of 14-Juillet

Avenue des Champs Elysées

75008, Paris

 

Musée de l'Armée - Habit d'officier de la gendarmerie de France

Officer's uniform

XVIIIe century

The Musée de l'Armée was originally built by Louis XIV 

as a hospital and home for disabled soldiers.  

This officer's uniform is part of the extensive permanent collection 

of over 500,000 artifacts.

The historical sense of style by the French 

can be seen in the elaborate details on this bright jacket. 

 I could imagine this on the fashion runways today...

...minus the sword

Musée de l'Armée

129, rue de Grenelle

75007, Paris

Métros Varenne ou École Militaire

Musée de l'Armée

Musée de l'Armée

In my trips to Paris I had prowled the grounds of Les Invalides but had never explored this national military museum of France.  It was originally built as a hospital and home for disabled soldiers by Louis XIV.  The museum holds 500,000 artifacts and includes weapons, armor, artillery, uniforms, emblems and paintings. 

 The permanent collections are organized chronologically giving a historic tour from antiquity through the end of World War II.  There is considerable focus on Napoleon with less on the role of France during the last world war.

The display of weapons and uniforms over the centuries is fascinating.

Musée de l'Armée

129, rue de Grenelle

75007, Paris

Métros Varenne ou École Militaire

Avenue George V - le Quatorze Juillet

This is not a usual sight on

Avenue George V

This was at least a vehicle that I could identify

as opposed to the one below which was huge and strange

(photos taken 14 juillet 2008)

Ave George V
75008, Paris

Le quatorze juillet - La Fête Nationale

Le quatorze juillet,

a day of celebration in France and not coincidentally my second blog anniversary!

Two years ago I posted the above photo as I ventured into this daily Paris photoblog, never thinking that I would be able to manage a post every day.  Please look here for the story of how it all started and the friendship I share with Virginia (Paris Through My Lens) who helped me "birth this baby." 

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The photo above shows two French sailors preparing for the grand military parade on Avenue des Champs-Elysées.  I stood on the baricades for hours in order to have a good position to capture the excitement and emotions of the day. 

Now, I have a small oil painting created by Carol Schiff of this moment,

a treasured work of art that I enjoy daily.

Le quatorze juillet

Avenue des Champs-Elysées

75008, Paris

(on this festive day there is no nearby Métro,

bus, taxi so be prepared to walk for miles)



 

Un reflet et une réflexion - Que pensez vous?

June, in the Marais, a bus crossed my path. 

Although I was first taken with the uniforms and clicked,

I later wondered about the troubled look on the left

and the wiping of a tear on the right.

Often a photo asks more questions than it answers

Added note:

Part of what captured my attention is the resemblance to my dad

(living and thriving with my mom still today)

A bus in the Marais

75003, Paris

    To see more reflections go to James' Weekend Reflections

Un Bon Soldat

The uniforms of the French military are quite elegant for the 14 juillet, and it was a wonderful opportunity to photograph many individuals as well as the "regiments." As this soldier walked past me to join his battalion, I requested a photo. He nodded agreement and I quickly snapped.

I imagine maman would be proud to see her son in his fine uniform.


Le Quatorze Juillet
2008

Umphhh!

I would say that this is a mouthful!

Whether you are a history buff or not, you would surely enjoy the display of cannons in Cour d'Honneur.

We previously visited the cannons here.

Cour d'Honneur -- Les Invalides

You do not have to be a fan of France's military history to appreciate the beautiful patina on the cannons in Cour d'Honneur. Some of them date from the reign of François 1er, 1515-1567.

I have heard that decorators and gardeners go to extreme measures to get the green patina that the centuries have adorned naturally.

Il est très sérieux

One more photo before we leave le quatorze juillet -- There was a whole batallion of these guys with big guns, some with bayonets. I have never seen so many tanks, trucks, and weapons in a row, ever! The uniforms range from the simple as seen here to the elaborate. This guy was the only serious one in the crowd waiting for the parade to begin. Maybe he was Big Cheese's lookout.

From what I saw, every soldier, sailor, wheeled vehicle, horse, weapon (tout) that is part of the French military was there on Champs Élysées. The crowd was well behaved -- bien sûr, with all of that weaponry present!