Theme Day - What Would I Miss Most...

Les Enfants de Paris

What would I miss most about Paris if I were never to return?

How can one even think in those terms?

...the people of Paris,

the children, the parks and gardens, the green chairs,

the music, the churches, the architecture, the history, the Seine, the bridges,

the Métro, the secret little spots discovered over 20+ trips, the food,

ex-pat friends, Parisian friends, the grand views from Paris landmarks,

sitting on green grass when it is permitted, dancing on Rue Mouffetard, 

and so much more.

No matter what the future holds, I will always have a bit of Paris, 

and all that it is, in my heart.

(and tens of thousands of photos, if I forget)

What Would I miss most?

75000, all of it, Paris

Décomposition et désespoir

Decay and despair

Overturned tombstones, doors ajar, unkempt grounds...


This desolate cemetery pairs well with the expression on this caryatid

(not Père Lachaise)

Leaving on a jet plane...

Guess where I am going...

I am sure you know

PARIS!

I will still have a daily post and will have some on-site

updates of friends and places in Paris. À bientôt!

 

à Paris par avion!

On my way!

It is time--

I have prepared my posts but will be updating you daily 

about our Paris adventures in the comments section.

  

When I return there will be 

new stories, familiar themes, 

and thousands of photos to share with you.

à bientôt!

Leaving on a jet plane....

Guess where I am going.... I am sure you know!

PARIS!

I will still have a daily post and will have some updates of friends and places in Paris. À bientôt! .

Reflections on the Seine

Walking along Quai de Bourbon with an eye on the Seine, the clear sapphire sky made a nice contrast to the moss on Pont Marie. The water and lights provided a green-tinged reflection in the cold, dark river.

For more reflections look here at James' Newtown Area Photo.

Jardin du Luxembourg -- un répit petit

You could spend at least a week in le Jardin du Luxembourg and not grow weary of the scene. It can be a quiet place to read, even on the busiest weekends. It affords little corners for reflecting and musing -- True to the expectations of une étrangère I hear the tender words of lovers on one side of the gravel path and the playful squeals of children on the other. In certain areas, there are people on the grass but not on this lawn!

Arrive early to find a coveted green chair, and once "installed" in a prime location there is no rush to leave. In warm weather the hexagon-shaped basin will be full of activity as young children maneuver sailboats across its surface and the resident ducks seem to enjoy the action. From my observation, there are as well some full-grown fish (perhaps bass?)

You may be surprised at day's end that your book has not even been opened -- too much else to enjoy.

Hung out to dry

Le cinquième étage, window with a view of Paris rooftops, purring appartement chat, quiet locked courtyard, a gentle breeze....

I play an imaginary role as I fashion myself a Parisian, shopping in the market, having "un noisette" in the corner café at "sept heures et demie" each day, greeting the young couple from le deuxième étage as we pass in the courtyard....

It just does not get any better than this! Yet, when the time comes I am ready to return to my regular life, my everyday existence, le quotidien.....

To dream of the next trip to Paris...

Dodo Manège -- Un carrousel

Dodo Manège, so read the hand-painted wood sign in front of this picturesque carousel, a merry-go-round of extinct and endangered species. Closed in the winter with the green tarp sealed tightly, it is a must-see for my warm-weather trips to Paris. It is found near the southeast entrance to Jardin de Plantes (Metro: Gare D'Austerlitz) and can be located by the sounds of the carousel music and children's laughter.

You will not see many tourists but parents, grandparents, children -- local families out for an afternoon. To ride the green T. Rex or perhaps the Dodo, each child clutches un billet until it is handed over to the ticket collector. Indulged most likely by grandparents, some children ride time and again, some changing animals each time the manège stops and others guarding the "first-come" rights to the same favorite animal.

Des Chapeaux: Rouge et Rose

Oh la la! A confession: J'adore bien les chapeaux! It is not quite the obsession I have with les chaussures but only because I do not wear one daily, bien sûr.

The vision of these beauties in Le Bon Marché were too much for my camera to resist and thankfully I managed to get a shot before being chastised. Did I purchase one? Malheureusement, non. A big hat presents a real challenge to carry home, and on another day I will share "that" story (and photo) with you!

Note: The link above only has the logo for Le Bon Marché so it may be in transition. However, this post on Peter's Paris has a wealth of information with photos. Merci, Peter!

The Angels and Mary

The churches of Paris are, as an understatement, just stunning. La Madeleine, or more formally, L'Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, is one that I frequently visit. When your flight arrives at CDG from Atlanta at 5:00am and your hotel is not ready, you can always visit a café or a church. Not much else is open and the Parisians are mostly still nestled in their beds. La Madeleine is warm in the winter when it is raining (or worse) outside, and it is cool in the heat of summer.

This is a photo of the altar and to give you an idea of the size/scale just look at the chair on the left. The enormous statue by Charles Marochetti shows the ascension of St Mary Magdalene accompanied by three angels. Above the altar is a beautiful detailed mosaic by Lameire.

The special attraction to ma fille Holly is that her beloved and now deceased French teacher was married here many years ago.

I'll tell you another time about the music and the people we met at La Madeleine.

miam-miam!

In December my daughter Holly and I went on a pastry hunt across Paris. It was our goal to find at least 5 patisseries which we had never visited. Bien sûr, part of the challenge included a sampling of the wares, all in the interest of scientific research!

This photo comes from Eric Kayser which is our daily stop on rue Monge so it did not count in our devious self-imposed contest. On the left is a périgourdin (chocolate, walnuts, caramel) and next to it an arabesque (apricots). I am not sure about the one on the right. You can barely see one in the upper left-hand corner which is a Mont-Blanc (so divine).

There will be more about the pastry hunt and I haven't even gotten to the macaron story (obsession) yet!

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!

Hail to the Chief!

The procession begins with President Sarkozy who stands tall (?) as he rides down the Champs-Élysées, la plus belle avenue du monde. Obviously, this year's weather does not match the blue skies of 2008 -- I stood alone making friends at the barricades for 4 hours to see the parade from Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde. Quelle bonne fête nationale!

Inspection for Bastille Day

The last minute inspection before Sarkozy and the procession on Champs Elysees -- The colors and variations of uniforms is mind-boggling!

I am excited to join the community of photo bloggers and all the amazing French/Paris blogs I enjoy! Thanks, Virginia, for your mis-guidance (JB, you too).