A quiet moment in the rain...

In a gentle winter evening rain,

this chef took a moment under the slight protection of a doorway for a break.

Rue de Rivoli

Radiant beams -- Église Saint-Merri

Église Saint-Merri is dedicated to an 8th Century abbot, named Medericus but called Merry. This gothic church is located near Centre Pompidou with its treasures was built in the 1500s. It is home to the Academie vocale de Paris, which performs concerts in the church every saturday throughout the year. Perhaps these are the singers featured by Virginia of Paris Through My Lens. I would have loved to have seen them that day.

Église Saint-Merri

76, rue de la Verrerie

Père Lachaise VIII - Shadows

The long shadows of winter are perfect for casting shadows on the tomb walls. The twisted bare tree branches reach up in contrast to the crystal blue sky over Père Lachaise.

La tête dans les nuages - Reflection

Not sure whether we have "our head in the clouds"

but we are all a bit "fragile"

Bon weekend!

Spotted in a vacant store window on Rue de Turbigo. The shop was being renovated and these "fragile" models had been covered and protected for the transformation.

To see more reflections, go to James' Newtown Area Daily Photo.

Carrousel VII -- Hôtel de Ville

This double-decker carousel in front of the splendid Hôtel de Ville is one of the few carousels I have seen on which the adults unabashedly ride with abandon. This evening scene witnessed a steady stream of riders on the planes, convertibles, and horses. I do not recall ever having seen another "two-story" carousel.

(In case anyone is paying attention, this one rotates counter-clockwise)

Se Jetter des Boules de Neige

So, our story continues... Do you recognize our cute "jeune garçon" from yesterday? He is the one smiling above with the huge snowball, uh hunk of ice...

...and now he takes one in the back by the kid with the striped hat! Pow!

After a rousing battle with snowballs accompanied by the laughter of kids playing, it was time to leave the park.

And this was the "stash" of snowballs!

This kind of kid-fun translates to any language... may it always be so

Paris Portrait -- Jeune Garçon

During the very cold days in early December, I got a shot of this handsome young fellow with hands and cheeks red from the frigid air.

You might be interested to know that there is a story to this one and I will show you tomorrow. I am such a tease!

Square Trousseau
Métro Ledru Rollin


(Is there a better title than "jeune garçon"?)

Couleurs de Paris

Intricate designed tile in a pâtisserie on Rue d'Aligre

Morning shopper, dressed to match...

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Église Saint-Roch -- The long walk

The first sight each morning from our apartment windows was this grand church, Église Saint-Roch. I have featured Saint-Roch before with photos and interesting facts here, here, and here.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Roch
Rue St. Roch et Rue St-Honoré

A talented and dear artist, Carol Schiff, has again honored one of my photos with her beautiful oil interpretation. These are the French sailors I featured on my very first post (July 14, 2010) and you can see the original here. But look at what Carol has created!

Terrasse Chauffée

Avenue Daumesnil is the scene of roller skaters on Sunday afternoons with an obstacle course of botttles and an audience of the café patrons. Despite the awning sign "Terrassee Chauffée" (heated terrace) there were no people on this frigid day.

Avenue Daumesnil

12ième arrondissement

Driving Miss Daisy -- Carrousel Reflections

The rainy, very cold December day found these two ladies out on a jaunt, taking a spin on the carrousel (which, for the record, is rotating counter-clockwise)...



Un-named carrousel
Boulevard de Courcelles and
Rue de Miromesnil
Place Prosper Goubaux

See more reflections at James' Newtown Area Photo.

Les danseuses - Palais Garnier

On the marble steps in this beautiful opera house, we found these petite dancers lighting the way.

How sweet are they?

Sunday morning - au Café

This dapper gentleman was enjoying his coffee, alone on a Sunday morning in the 12ième arrondissement...

Printemps - Deux Femmes

The pillars on the grand magasin are beyond stunning. In Paris you find art in the galleries, you find art in the museums, but you also find art in the food, in the lifestyle and certainly in the architecture.

Just breathe it in and absorb!

Printemps

64, boulevard Haussmann

Un Valentin pour Vous!

Just across from Ma Bourgogne at Place des Vosges, was a gallery of eclectic art. This colorful heart of hearts by David Kracov seems just the perfect valentine from me to you*. His wall sculpture of enamel on metal is entitled "Look within your Heart"

No chocolate (tant pis), but a pretty nice valentine!

Art Symbol
21, Place des Vosges

*or as we might say in the South ... "the perfect valentine from me to all y'all!"

Église Réformée de l'Oratoire du Louvre

Église Réformée de l'Oratoire du Louvre is a majestic church filling the block between Rue de Rivoli and Rue Saint-Honoré. It is so large that it is difficult to get the whole church in a single shot. I was not able to go in this protestant church in December but will be back to see the inside.

Bon dimanche

145, rue Saint-Honoré

Art à la Janeen

If you remember Holly and I stayed in Janeen's fabulous apartment in December, followed by Mary and Virginia in January. Needless to say we all fell in love with Janeen's quirky style, spectacular art, and her endearing personality.

The flat had Janeen's art in every room and corner... The petite cuisine had this display of "art" on the ledge above the counter greeting us each morning as we prepared our coffee. I believe that living with "art" enriches your life... Janeen does this in a big way!


19, rue Saint-Roch

Ballerine en Rouge - reflection

The December windows at Repetto on Rue de la Paix, almost in the shadow of Palais Garnier, were stunning with three ballet costumes. I took many photos and will share the other two costumes in later posts. It was not until I began to read and translate the silver wording that I discovered the following:

Jewels is a ballet from George Balanchine in three acts which premiered in 1967 in New York. Each ballet is represented by a gem:

Emerald, set to the music of Gabriel Fauré, evoking Paris and Opera, birthplace of romantic dance in France.

Diamond, is the classic Pyotr Illych Tchaikovsky and a hommage to Marius Pelipa at the Kirov Ballet.

Ruby, which is set to the music of Igor Stravinsky, recalls the dynamism and vivacity of musical comedies in NYC.



Repetto
22, rue de la Paix


For more weekend reflections go to James' Newtown Area Photo.

Galerie Vivienne et le ciel

The gallery is lined with elegant fanlight windows and the rotunda is graced with nymphs and godesses. Looking up from the mosaic-tiled floors this is the rotunda framing a Paris blue sky.

La Galerie Vivienne
6, rue Vivienne

Blanc et Noir...... et Rouge!

What can I say? This apple did not fall far from the tree*...

With the Buren Columns there is a temptation to get a little silly and most everyone we saw there was standing on or hiding behind the black and white columns. In the late 1700s this Jardin du Palais Royal was opened to the public and closed to the police, making it a place of much activity. The Court of Honor shown here was updated in the 1980s with this landscape of columns designed by Daniel Buren. People generally love or hate the columns, but the children are in agreement that there is much to love here.

*"The apple did not fall far from the tree" is an expression meaning that children often take after their parents, be that good or not... Holly and I do have fun in Paris and Beyond!

Jardin du Palais Royal

Rue de Mentpensier et Rue Saint-Honoré

Déjeuner à Paris!

Can you just get a whiff of these still-warm baguettes sliced and filled with an assortment of deliciousness... Holly and I bought several in December and took them back to our apartment where we were meeting Peter (Peter's Paris) for a quick déjeuner and a spot of wine, bien sûr! Yes, they were delicious and not a crumb was left! Then we were off for an afternoon of discovery and photography!



Wish that I had a few of these right now... miam-miam!

Boulangerie
Rue Montmartre
(near Saint-Eustache)

Marché d'Aligre -- Paris Market XI

There are many street markets in Paris but on my recent trip in December we discovered one of the livliest, Marché d'Aligre... With an abundance of produce designed to sell, there is much noise as the vendors hawk their goods, shouting in various languages about their quality all while slicing specimens of fruit with grand flourishes!

The colors were exquisite and the people-watching would have been worth buying a ticket. No billet necessary! I have many more photos to show in the weeks ahead.

Marché d'Aligre

Rue d'Aligre et Rue Beccaria

Illumination - Église Saint-Eustache

When you first walk inside this magnificent church you are overwhelmed by her size, but as you take time to discover little details you will appreciate the elegance of her accessories.

Bon dimanche

Église Saint-Eustache
2, impasse Saint-Eustache

Paris Bistrot -- Après déjeuner?

Bistrot Richelieu's cheerful terrasse is sheltered from the street buy a wood screen of the type often seen in Paris. Although there were no people enjoying the warmth of the café heaters, it appeared that there had been some serious wine consumption as noted by the empty bottles.


Bistrot Richelieu
45, rue de Richelieu

Tammy at Beatrice Banks has so kindly honored me on her beautiful blog. Please hop over and say "bonjour" to this dear friend. Merci!

Le Grand Véfour -- Reflection

Restaurant Le Grand Véfour is a classic in Paris, found at the north end of Jardin du Palais Royal. According to Fodor's review, "Victor Hugo could stride in and still recognize this restaurant, which was in his day, as now, a contender for the title of most beautiful restaurant in Paris." Built in 1784, the elegant mirrored ceiling has reflected the passings of Paris' famous and infamous over the centuries.

One reviewer said that the prices are as extravagant as the decor... Peter, Holly, and I only snapped photos from outside... tant pis pour nous.


Le Grand Véfour
17, rue du Beaujolais

For more reflections, see James' Newtown Area Daily Photo...

Jardin des Tuileries - en hiver

I do not know what pleased me more...

The solitude of Tuileries in winter or the little tracks on the snow-dusted frozen pond...

All is quiet in le Jardin des Tuileries

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An unblinking gaze...

Walking the streets of Paris, my eyes are drawn upward as if she is watching with her slight Mona Lisa smile...

Treasures abound...

Lost in thought...

This young woman was alone in Jardin du Palais Royal, sitting quietly on the park bench, no acknowledgement of our presence or of others scattered throughout the park. Was she in deep contemplation, waiting for a friend? When we walked past this spot several hours later she was gone, no visible evidence of her time spent on the bench.

Jardin du Palais Royal

Métro Palais Royal Musée du Louvre