CDP Theme Day - "look down"

Avenue des Champs Elysées

seen from l'Arc de Triomphe

The first day of each month is Theme Day

for City Daily Photobloggers and today's theme is

Looking Down

Check here to see the photo interpretations

from around the world

Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile

Place Charles de Gaulle

75008, Paris

L'or de septembre

September "gold"

There is something to look forward 

to with the changing of seasons

in Paris.

This is the first glimpse of gold.

It will be another month before the Ginko leaves turn.

Père Lachaise

75020, Paris

Chartres Cathedral

Seen through a window as Marie and I climbed the many steps 

to the top of the bell tower, 

the interior of Chartres Cathedral 

appears to be a blended neutral color.

The major renovations and makeover 

of this eight hundred year old cathedral have created a stir.  

I look forward to checking them out myself 

before passing judgment, but you can read about it here.*

bon dimanche

Notre Dame de Chartres

Chartres, France

*Thanks to traveling friend, Mary G, for the link

Cimetière Passy - un message privé

Passy Cemetery

Passy Cemetery sits in the shadow of la Tour Eiffel 

and is the final resting place of the painter Édouard Manet, 

a key figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism.

On the left corner of his grave I found a weathered

message anchored by small rocks.
Always watch for the details

Passy Cemetery
2, rue du Commandant Schloesing
75016, Paris
 

l'escalier

L'escalier

When you rent an apartment on the 5th floor (6th from the street level), 

count on getting your exercise  unless there is a petite elevator.  

Assuredly, you only forget an item once on your way out 

as it is a breathless return to the apartment!

This eighteenth century apartment was definitely worth the climb

 and made it possible to eat baguettes and macarons with reckless abandon.

Rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine

75011, Paris

Galerie Vivienne - les artistes étudiants

Galerie Vivienne

student artists

If you frequent the side halls in the famous covered passages of Paris, 
you will likely see gatherings of students 
sketching the century-old architecture.  
The arches, the moldings, the skylights, 
and even the floor tiles are worthy of a sketch.

You will see students in the not-so-famous covered passages as well

Galerie Vivienne

Rue des Petits Champs, 

Rue de la Banque, et Rue Vivienne

75002, Paris

Métro Bourse, Métro Pyramides, ou Bus 29

Avenue de la Grande-Armée - La Grande Arche de la Defense

Avenue de la Grande-Armée

Seen from the top of Arc de Triomphe 

the Grand Arch appears as the outline of a box.  

It was built in 1989 to celebrate the 

200th anniversary of the French Revolution.  

The Arc de Triomphe is a part of the straight line along which one finds:  

the Louvre, Place de la Concorde, Arc de Triomphe, 

and finally la Grande Arche de la Defense.  

The distance from the photo's vantage point 

to the Grand Arch is about 3 miles.  

The entire distance of the "perspective royale" is over 9 miles!

Avenue de la Grande-Armée

75008, Paris

Les toits de Chartres

from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres

On the ascent to the top of the Bell Tower

A variety of architecture, rooftops, and layout of the city

can be seen from our ascent at the half-way point to the top of the Bell Tower.

The steps were worn smooth and a tight spiral shared by those going up and those going down.  We only encountered a few in either direction.  It is a bit dizzying.

If I had shown this photo in black and white you would have missed the fields of rape seed (canola) in the far horizon.  As we made the quick trip on the train, the bright yellow provided blocks of color as we zipped along.

Chartres, France

96 km southwest of Paris

an easy day-trip by train

Le Printemps, Palais Garnier, et les toits de Paris

Taken from the rooftop of Printemps, 

one can see the two towers of Printemps, 

the magnificence of Palais Garnier, 

and many familiar outlines of Paris buildings.  

Oh, you will always see many cranes obliterating the skyline.

Printemps

64, boulevard Haussmann

75009, Paris

Jardin du Palais Royal - un skateboard

The Fountain at Palais Royal

This wide bowl of water with active fountains is not just for the retirees of Paris to prop their feet.  This twenty-something was reading, taking a moment to enjoy the quiet of the early morning.  He had the fountain to himself.

zoom-zoom

Jardin du Palais Royal

75001, Paris

Jardin des Plantes

Jardin des Plantes

Walking alone in the garden, an alley of trees appeared, 

presenting a carpet dappled by the sun 

with a pattern of lace.

The sun was elusive,

 and one must be quick to capture its appearance.

Jardin des Plantes

75005, Paris

Métro Gare d'Austerlitz

Rue Saint Roch - ma rue à Paris

Rue Saint Roch

my street in Paris

This is undoubtedly one of the smallest of café terraces with seating for six.

Rue Saint Roch runs between Rue de Rivoli 

and Avenue de l'Opéra, a single-lane, one-way street.

From my residence of choice in Paris, I can look (hang) out of the large windows 

and watch the school children marching their way to Jardin des Tuileries, 

gaze on the large stained glass windows of Église Saint-Roch, 

or, in warm weather, observe the wonderful food selections on the terrace below.  

Often we can hear the music from one or more of the church's three organs.

Just thinking about my street in Paris lightens my mood 

and brings a smile to my face.

Restaurant de la Cordonnerie

20, rue Saint Roch

75001, Paris

City Daily Photo Theme Day: My Street

See all the contributions here

 

Pain et Chocolat - sous la table

Pain et Chocolat

salon de thé

This authentic salon de thé has captured my taste buds.

The menu is varied and excellent...

The desserts will transport you to heaven in a spoon 

Pain et Chocolat

16, avenue la Motte Picquet

75007, Paris

Métro École Militaire

Combien de cheminées?

How many chimneys?

...too many to count!

Seen from the rooftop of Printemps

Printemps

64, boulevard Haussmann

75009, Paris

My blog "disappeared" for two days and my email was "gone" as well - 

Don't forget to back up your blog!  

Cathédral Notre-Dame de Chartres

Chartres Cathedral

12th Century Gothic

looking down as we ascended the many ancient,

spiraling steps to the bell tower

bon dimanche

Cathédral Notre-Dame de Chartres
Chartres, France
(an easy day-trip from Paris by train)