13 juillet - les bals des pompiers

Les bals des pompiers

The pompiers around Paris (and all of France) have celebrations

tonight and tomorrow in honor of Quatorze juillet.

Take a look here for schedules and locations.

Enjoy the party!

Les bals des pompiers

13, 14 juillet

Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel

Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel

A trip to Paris would be so much easier 

on a plane like this...

No crowding, no security, 

and no Air France pilots striking!

La Tour Eiffel et Le Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel

75007, Paris

Le Carrousel de Nogent

Le Carrousel de Nogent

The carousel is protected from the elements by the glass windows.  

It is nice to see that they have chairs for the adults, 

well... for the adults who do not ride.

Le Carrousel de Nogent

Nogent Sur Marne, just beyond Bois de Vincennes

 

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

Carrousel XXXVIII

Hôtel de Ville

le carrousel

The proper name for the carousel, as you may be able to read, 

is "Carrousel, la Belle Épouque," 

but even without a label its double-decker elegance 

and unique crown are recognizable.  

The rides are painted with the finesse of a fine artist.

The night scene with an outline of lights 

around the Belle Époque carousel are worth a visit, too.

le carrousel

Hôtel de Ville

75004, Paris

 

Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel - le zèbre en colère

The angry zebra!

This carousel which sits in the evening's golden glow 

of la Tour Eiffel is one of my favorites.

Many of the horses have pedals and a bicycle wheel.  

Even the parents can pedal from the sidelines 

in this renewable energy carousel.  

The zebra looks none too happy about it.

Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel

Quai Branley

75005, Paris

Carrousel Vénitien - un cheval sauvage

Carrousel Vénitien du XVIIIè Siècle

A wild horse

The animated expressions of the horses on the Carrousel Vénitien 

give a wild and colorful appearance

to this merry-go-round sitting at the foot of Sacré Coeur.

Carrousel Vénitien du XVIIIème Siècle

Square Louise Michel  
6, place Saint-Pierre  
Montmartre  
75018, Paris

Carrousel de Trocadero - carrousel XXXV

Carrousel de Trocadero

The carrousel is beautiful

but pales in comparison 

to the princess upon her throne

Carrousel de Trocadero

Place du Trocadéro

75016, Paris

Carrousel Jules Verne - Parc de Monceau

Carrousel Jules Verne

There are carousels at every turn in Paris, and I am not even sure how many.  For me there are about five favorites but I have a list of ones yet to visit.  

Carrousel Jules Verne is a relatively new addition to Parc de Monceau (autumn 2011).  The colorful, petite merry-go-round is a highlight for the children of the neighborhood.  On weekends every ride is taken, and during the week the mamans and nannies gather with the young children.

Carrousel Jules Verne

Parc de Monceau

75008, Paris

Joining Paulita's Dreaming of France meme
check it out

Dodo Manège - Carrousel XXXIII

"Dodo Manège"

Carousel in Jardin des Plantes

Wrapped in tarp this carousel hides its animal-rides 

created to reflect extinct and endangered species.  

Jardin des Plantes is filled with treasures 

and this carrousel is but one.  

On weekend afternoons in good weather 

you will find many families enjoying this charming carrousel.

To see the carrousel "revealed" look here.

Dodo Manège

Carrousel, Jardin des Plantes

(near Gare d'Austerlitz entrance)

75005, Paris

Le Bon Marché - le carrousel

Square Boucicaut

le carrousel

Almost hidden in the shadow of Le Bon Marché, 

sits this vintage carousel.  

Alas, it was too early in the morning for little passengers, 

but by the afternoon it will be full.

Le Bon Marché

Square Boucicaut

24, rue de Sèvres

75007, Paris

Carrousel XXXI - Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel

La Tour Eiffel

Le Carrousel avec énergies renouvelables

 The rides on this "renewable energy" carrousel are a mix of the traditional horses and the colorful vintage modes of transportation:  propeller plane, wood ship, motorcycle, jalopy, and tiger(!)


What a lovely background as we spin around.

La Tour Eiffel et Le Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel

75007, Paris

Carrousel XXX - Hôtel de Ville

Carrousel - Hôtel de Ville

There is nothing as spectacular as a carrousel at night in a glory of lights.

It is even better when you throw your head back 

to see La Tour Eiffel as you are spinning.

bon weekend

Le Carrousel 

Place de l'Hôtel de Ville

75004, Paris

 

La Tour Eiffel et le carrousel

La Tour Eiffel

Le Carrousel avec énergies renouvelables*

*(probably not a good translation of "Carousel with renewable energy")

Even though I have seen the Eiffel Tower many times 

in all seasons, all weather, different times of day, 

I never cease to be amazed at how huge it is.  

The carousel with renewable energy sits 

about 100 feet from the base of the tower and it is totally dwarfed.  

La Tour Eiffel et Le Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel

75007, Paris

 

Le manège Garnier - Jardin du Luxembourg

Carousel in Jardin du Luxembourg

This charming carousel in Jardin du Luxembourg was constructed in 1879 

from the plans of Charles Garnier, 

the architect of Palais Garnier (the Paris Opera House).  

The animals are suspended from the canopy,

and after selecting a wood horse or elephant, 

each child is given a wand.   

On each turn of the carousel they try to catch a brass ring.

As you can see from this eager little girl, 

some are quite good at catching the ring!

Le manège Garnier

Jardin du Luxembourg

75006, Paris   

Manège du Parc - Parc de Monceau

Manège du Parc

This fascinating carousel in Parc de Monceau seems a bit lonely

 in the fading light of a gray autumn day

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau

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

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

Parc de Monceau - Carrousel Jules Verne

As dawn gives way to the bright spring sky,

the animals of the carrousel whispered to be set free

Carrousel Jules Verne

Parc de Monceau

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau



Le Carrousel de Nogent - Carrousel XXIII

Just outside of Paris in Nogent-sur-Marne is this enclosed carousel

which I featured almost two years ago here. 

The enclosure allows this merry-go-round confection

to be enjoyed in all seasons with seating both inside and out. 

I will have to return to get a closer photo of the spaceship

and the old cars in their counter clockwise rotation. 

My blog friend and artist Shell Sheree has a lovely interpretation of this carousel 

and I encourage you to visit and see her ink and watercolor selections.

l'Esplanade de l'Hôtel de Ville

Nogent-sur-Marne

(just east of Bois de Vincennes)