Square du Serment de Koufra - carrousel

Square du Serment de Koufra

This enclosed carrousel 

resembled a little jewel box

nestled under the trees

(More on this park and its historical 

significance at another time)

Square du Serment de Koufra

75014, Paris

Dubois - depuis 1861

Dubois

depuis 1861

This establishment has been 

providing fine art materials

to the artists of Paris for over 150 years

The sign is beyond charming...

Dubois

20, rue Soufflot

75005, Paris

Creperie - Mammy Gateaux

Provins

There are more than a few creperies in Provins,

but this one had the most charming entrance.

Mammy Gateaux

16, place du Chatel

77160, Provins France

Église Saint Paul Saint Louis

Église Saint Paul Saint Louis

Beautifully restored, it is a visual treat
to turn a corner and see this magnificent church
in the heart of the Marais


Constructed from 1627 to 1641,
it was due for another refreshing



bon dimanche

Église Saint Paul Saint Louis
99, rue Saint Antoine
75004, Paris

Aux Couleurs Modernes - quincaillerie à Paris

Aux Couleurs Modernes

This hardware store was established in 1876

and I can assure you that although this is a smaller 

store than I have in my neighborhood,

you can find most anything you need here.

Having always called a store of this type

un magasin de bricolage, I do love the French 

noun une quincaillerie.

Aux Couleurs Modernes

6, rue Monsigny

75002, Paris

Parc Montsouris

Parc Montsouris

Montsouris is located in the 14ème arrondissement 

at the southern edge of Paris.  

Opened in 1869 the park is one of the four large parks, 

along with the Bois de Boulogne, the Bois de Vincennes

 and the Parc  des Buttes Chaumont, created by Napoleon 

and Baron Haussmann at each of the cardinal points 

of the compass around the city.

It was filled with Parisians enjoying

a sunny clear November day.

Parc Montsouris

75014, Paris

Le Train Bleu

Le Train Bleu

High above the platforms of Gare de Lyon 

sits this elegant restaurant, Le Train Bleu.

 

Although the menu is rather expensive,

one can enjoy the ambiance with a glass

of wine or Champagne.

Le Train Bleu

Gare de Lyon

Place Louis Armand

75012, Paris

Tombant en ruines

In need of repair

but the ghosts are free

to come and go

What a beautiful tomb this 

once was

Père Lachaise

75020, Paris

Cour du Commerce Saint André

Cour du Commerce Saint André

This covered passageway was opened in 1776,

 running between rue Saint André des Arts 

and boulevard Saint Germain. 

 It also follows a section of the perimeter wall

 built by King Philippe-Auguste in the late 13th century.

Cour du Commerce Saint André

75006, Paris

Cimetiere Montparnasse

Montparnasse Cemetery

This cemetery is the resting place 

of many of Paris' intellectuals and artistic elite.

You will find quiet paths and an easy walk as you recognize

19th and 20th century writers and artists.  I was pleased to find

the graves of Brassai (photographer) 

and Bartholdi (sculptor of the Statue of Liberty)

Cimetiere Montparnasse
3, boulevard Edgar Quinet
75014, Paris

Marché aux Fleurs

Flower Market

The flower market on Ile de la Cité 

has attracted both avid gardeners

and curious passersby since 1830.

Located near Notre Dame in 

Place Louis Lépine, 

it is worth strolling through.

Marché aux Fleurs

Place Louis Lépine

75004, Paris

 

Petit Musée de la Table de la Tour d'Argent

Little Museum of the Table

...of the Table?  

Why, a most famous table, that of La Tour d'Argent.  

The little museum has a display of cutlery, original menus,

 and memorabilia from times gone by.

Probably the most impressive display, is that of a table,
which is laid out exactly as it would have been for a royal assembly
and pretigious event that took place in Paris in 1867.

Before you write down the address and put it on your to-do list
please note that it is only available in the reception area of the restaurant,
for which you have made dinner reservations.  Tant pis pour moi.

Petit Musée de la Table de la Tour d'Argent

15, quai de la Tournelle

75005, Paris

 

l'apartement

With a grand piano,

art, a wall of books in French,

and fabulous views,

even the laundry looked better 

from this 6th floor window

Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine

75011, Paris

Une porte de Paris

Patches, paint, patina...

the old door has seen many pass

through its portals

the stories it could tell

bon weekend

Une porte de Paris

rue de Bretagne

75003, Paris

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

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

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

Passage Verdeau - le stube

Passage Verdeau

The high fishbone glass ceiling and clean neoclassical lines 

of this often forgotten passage are remarkable.

Built in 1847 it is an extension of 

the passages Jouffroy and Panoramas.

Le Stube Verdeau

23, passage Verdeau

75009, Paris

Métro Réamur-Sébastapol

With an entrance designed by

the renown Hector Guimard, French architect.

He is now the best known representative of  the

Art Nouveau style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

This metro station entrance is but one of the styles

designed for the Métro.  

When you are in Paris, 

make a list, a sketch, a photo...

 of all the ones you can find.

bon weekend

Métro Réamur-Sébastapol station entrance

Rue de Palestro

75002, Paris

 

Poilâne

Poilâne

 Deep under the street, the Poilâne wood-burning ovens 

scent the air with the smell of baking bread.  

I can close my eyes and recall the delicious aroma 

of early mornings on Rue du Cherche-Midi.

"... mark it with a 'P' and put it in the oven

for baby and me"

Poilâne

8, rue du Cherche-Midi

75006, Paris