Solitude at Palais Royal

Le Jardin du Palais Royal...

On a cloudy day in November, you can have the garden all to yourself.

(Joyeaux anniversaire, Daddy)

Le Jardin du Palais Royal

75002 Paris

Une tarte de baies

This tart full of berries just makes my mouth water.

Does that mean it is good for you?

(Tant pis... I had something much more sinful, abundant in chocolate)

La Petite Rose
11, boulevard de Courcelles
75008 Paris

Le Grand Colbert

I took this photo last December not knowing that Marie, our concierge (J), and I would enjoy a dinner here in April.  We sat adjacent to Alan Alda, his wife, and another couple, but left them to dine in peace. 

However, I was humming the theme from Mash off and on.

Don't you think that this would be a great place to ring in the new year?

Allons-y!

Le Grand Colbert
2, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris

La Tour Eiffel - en hiver

It was a dark and snowy night but the twinkling of la Tour lights up the December sky.

(Taken from the Suresnes American Cemetery, in the suburbs of Paris, only five miles from city center.  The 7.5 acre cemetery contains the graves of 1,541 Americans who died in World War I and 24 Unknown American War Dead from World War II.  The cemetery is located high on the slopes of Mont Valerien)

Suresnes American Cemetery
123, Boulevard Washington
92150 Suresnes

Apiculteur parisien

This friendly gentleman with a delightful sense of humor has a boutique, Les Abeilles,

selling honey and other "bee-products" on La Butte aux Cailles. 

You can even buy all that you need to set up as a beekeeper. 

He is an expert in les abeilles, miel, cire d'abeilles, a true apiculture parisien!

A purchase of honey and beeswax candles was made after a delightful visit with him in the petite shop.  Two large vats of honey along with all the other products give the small space a sweet aroma.

Monsieur Schakmundès became my newest Paris friend,

and I will carry this portrait back to him in January.

(for Holly, the Queen Bee)

Les Abeilles
21, rue de la Butte-aux-Cailles
75013 Paris

Carrousel Venitien - Place Saint-Pierre

Wondering what to do in Paris this week?

You can ride 20 carousels for free (gratuit) between December 17th and January 1, 2012

between the hours of 10am and 7pm. 

Here is the link to the list with the arrondissement and location of each.

The beautiful double-decker Carrousel Venitien is not one of them

but it has a wonderful view of Sacré Coeur.

(another counter-clockwise rotation)

Carrousel Venitien du XVIIIème Siècle
Place Saint-Pierre
Montmartre
75018 Paris

A child is born...

 

Joyeux Noël

Église Saint Roch

284, rue Saint Honoré

75001 Paris

Gâteau d'anniversaire

The imperfect gâteau, ready for the day...

I will be taking care of the treasured fêves which adorn the top layer, bien sûr

(Note the story from last year)

Les poupées

Hoping that all the little French girls get the dolls of their dreams for Christmas.  These are sweet, but ma chère amie Winterludes has the most charming and detailed dolls and she even weaves stories around them.

We met on our mutual birthday in November at a salon de thé in Passage Jouffroy and each exchanged a handmade cadeau.  I cherish my little Winterlude doll with her exquisite hair and little dress, a delightful gift from a dear blog friend.

l'ourson en bois

83, rue Charenton

75012 Paris

La circulation de nuit

Regular night traffic or last minute gift shoppers?

Rue de Rivoli at

Place de la Concorde

Place de la Concorde

75008 Paris

Chanel at Printemps

If the "weather outside is frightful"

you can dream of warmer climes with this Printemps window.

Printemps

Boulevard Haussmann

75009 Paris

 

Parc de Monceau - artistes chinois

This is one of six contemporary Chinese creations, 

part of the exhibition Artistes Chinois à Paris, 

found in Parc de Monceau until the end of December.

As with artists from around the world and over the centuries, the Parisian training and experience has had a major impact on generations of Chinese artists.  

The Chinese artists featured in the park are currently living and working in Paris. 

 

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard Courcelles

75009 Paris

Galeries Lafayette - Noël 2009 vs Noël 2011

The grand dome sheltered the 66-foot tree in a traditional decor in 2009.  The boxes were re-wrapped for a different color scheme in 2010.  The giant red Christmas balls of 2008 were stunning.  The "rock'n mode" for 2011 is quite different as seen in my post last week.

Let's hope that we just "rock away" from this year's theme when the season is over.  The poster for Galleries Lafayette seen in the Métro stations just sums it up.

Galeries Lafayette
Boulevard Haussmann
75009 Paris

Église Notre Dame de Lorette

There has been much said about the gaudy interior of Notre Dame de Lorette, but I found it elegant, adorned with 19th Century art and a Cavaille-Col grand organ. 

The painter Eugene Delacroix lived nearby and was christened here in 1840.

The other stories of this large church refer to the "kept women" of the surrounding neighborhood.  Many wealthy men of this period had mistresses as well as wives and it is said that all attended Sunday services. 

Interesting, n'est-ce pas? 

That little fact was not included in the church literature I picked up in November.

bon dimanche

Église Notre Dame de Lorette

18, bis rue de Chateaudun

75009 Paris

  

Se souvenant de George Whitman

From the website of Shakespeare and Company...

"On Wednesday 14th December, 2011, George Whitman died peacefully at home in the apartment above his bookshop in Paris.  George suffered a stroke two months ago, but showed incredible strength and determination up to the end, continuing to read every day in the company of his daughter, Sylvia, his friends and his cat and dog.  He died two days after his 98th birthday.

Nicknamed the Don Quixote of the Latin Quarter, George will be remembered for his free spirit, his eccentricity and his generosity.  He will be buried at Père Lachaise cemetery in the good company of other men and women of letters..."

Rest peacefully, gentle angel

Shakespeare and Company

37, rue Bûcherie

75005 Paris

Paris chic

Do you need an elegant ballgown for your holiday parties?

Reflect on these... bon weekend!

Pronovias (of Barcelona)

7, rue Saint Roch

75001 Paris

Galeries Lafayette - Noel 2011

Under the exquisite dome of Galeries Lafayette,

the large tree towers many levels above the rez de chaussée.

I was a bit disappointed to see the "Rock'n Mode" theme

and would have preferred something a bit more elegant

such as the hot pink packages and bows or the giant red balls of previous years.

I am a romantic at heart,

and rock'n the tree was not what I was wishing for.

Galeries Lafayette
Boulevard Haussmann
75009 Paris

French girl XII

With her blond hair flying,

she sped through the park dodging the other children. 

She is practicing for her next, larger vehicle....

zoom-zoom!

Parc de Monceau

75008 Paris

Le camion vert?

Although this little zoom-zoom was seen in a shop window,

I wonder its intended use. 

Maybe we should take it out for a spin?

Rue St Benoit

75006 Paris

Bonhomme de neige - Dalloyau

This snowman is not for the fainthearted, those on a diet... or on a budget.

He would be pretty cute to serve for a little dinner party!

Dalloyau

63, rue de Grenelle

75007 Paris

Métro Rue du Bac, Sèvres-Babylone

Romanian Orthodox Church of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

How could I have missed this church for so many years? 

It is just around the corner from Place Maubert nestled between two ordinary buildings. 

 It was closed but showed signs of an active congregation. 

I will be back...

bon dimanche

Romanian Orthodox Church of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael
9 bis, rue Jean de Beauvais
75005 Paris

Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois - Ginko leaves

A carpeted path of gold...

Russian Orthodox Cemetery

Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois

Printemps 2011 - Noël en Rouge

The red laquer chest and le dragon rouge captivate les flaneurs

in front of this window at Printemps.

The animated windows are spectacular but the genius of this still-life holds its own!

To the right of this shot is an exotic crested bird 

which I will post once I can "name" it.

bon weekend!

  

Printemps
Boulevard Haussmann
75009 Paris

Un carrousel?

At first glance this could be a rather sporty red Peugeot moto (with pink accents) 

alongside a poster advertising soap from Reims. 

With a longer view one sees a carrousel

(with counterclockwise rotation)

zoom-zoom!

(Joyeux anniversaire, ma chère Holly!) 

Le Carrousel de la Gare Montparnasse
Métro Montparnasse Bienvenue

Le Square Trousseau IV

I went looking for les trois flaneurs with a photo for each. 

It was the same time, same park 

on a Sunday morning, temperate weather, people about...

The three gentlemen were not there,

but there were many children running, playing, riding scooters and bikes. 

The park was as lively as a circus!

(Happy Birthday, Cherie!)

Le Square Trousseau

Métro Ledru Rollin

75012 Paris



L'heure bleue

As I was waiting (somewhat) patiently for the full moon,

I looked over my shoulder to find these shades of pinks, purples and blues.

My Paris is always full of surprises and treasures. 

I know... she is not just mine, but alone this evening it felt like she was all mine.

Pont d'Arcole

(looking to Pont Notre Dame

and Pont au Change)

 

Le Reminet - un Paris bistrot

With so many options to dine in Paris, how do you find a great, reasonable meal?

Certainly, you should check internet reviews, but I would offer that reading blogger favorites may be a good place to start.  In June of 2010, Virginia (Paris Through My Lens) introduced me to Le Reminet.  She had met Meredith Mullins for déjeuner at Le Reminet at Meredith's suggestion.  The prices are quite reasonable at lunch if you guard your wine consumption and select from la formule.  The meals have been excellent and the friends I have sent there agree.  Often I enjoy a bit of a splurge at lunch and have just a light salad or baguette et fromage for dinner. 

Le Reminet has a lovely aubergine-colored entrance, a charming ambiance,

and it is situated on a narrow street in the 5ième near Notre Dame. 

Le Reminet

3, rue Grands Degrés

75005 Paris

Métro Maubert Mutualité



Saint-Alexandre-Nevsky Cathedral

On Rue Daru in the 8ième arrondissement, this Russian Orthodox church is nestled in a predominantly Russian neighborhood.  Although there are no photos allowed inside, the exterior is elegant, in the shape of a Greek cross.  Each branch of the cross is terminated by an apse, topped with onion dome turrets. 

Picasso was married to the dancer Olga Khokhlova in this church in 1918.  The cathedral celebrated its 150th anniversary in September this year, and just a week ago a charitable auction featuring works of 29 Russian painters living in Paris was held to benefit restoration of the cathedral. 

bon dimanche

Saint-Alexandre-Nevsky Cathedral

12, rue Daru

75008 Paris

Métro Ternes ou Métro Courcelles

   

Caryatid III

Walking to Parc de Monceau on Avenue Hoche

I noticed two caryatids high on a building supporting the balcony of the deuxième étage. 

As is typical with the caryatids seen in Paris, the two male figures were unique.

Look carefully on the left side of the figure at the bottom.  Do you see a tail?

Now, look at his chest.  Do you see a large paw with claws?

Now, look on top of his head.  What do you see?

I did not notice the details until reviewing the photos later.

Do not forget to look up.

Caryatids, E Ricard et Le Foll,
Architectes, 1892
4, avenue Hoche
75008 Paris

Repetto VIII

Dansez!

Repetto's window on Rue de la Paix is always on my list,

and the petite souris did not disappoint.

Dance, with all the joie de vivre in your heart

"Dancing can reveal all the mystery that music conceals." -- Charles Baudelaire

Repetto
22, rue de la Paix
75002 Paris

La Tour Eiffel, with a coat of living plants?

From Place de Catalogne, la Tour suddenly came into view.  When you look at this historical structure, can you imagine it clothed in green plants?  There is a company "Ginger" which is proposing to drape the tower with a mantle of 600,000 plants.  The story was leaked in Le Figaro, that there would be 12 tons of tubing attached to the tower's struts.  "Thousands of hemp or sack-cloth bags would carry soil and a large variety of plants would be added gradually over the second half of 2012." 

Can you imagine la Tour covered in living plants from head to toe? 

La Tour Eiffel, without a coat of plants

seen from Place de Catalogne

75014 Paris