La Ruche à Miel

La Ruche à Miel is a restaurant and salon de thé with a window view of the busy Marché d'Aligre.  It is a regular Sunday morning stop, a quiet moment with un café before stepping back into the cacophony of the marketplace,

vendors shouting out the virtues of their produce, each trying to outdo the next.

I would invite you to stop a moment with me to enjoy the honey-laced pastries but it appears that someone has eaten them both... Perhaps it was Oskar!

I did get a photo first...

La Ruche à Miel
19, Rue d'Aligre
75012, Paris

Basilique Saint Denis - un kaléidoscope

colors from the rainbow

mix with the late rays of day

Basilique St Denis

a kaleidoscope becomes

bon dimanche

Basilique Saint Denis

93200 Saint-Denis

Teinturerie Galande

With the exception of the modern furniture in the background,

this could have been a scene from the late 40s Paris. 

The sign is in rouge and I was so tempted to show the color,

but the style begged for black and white.

(do you know how difficult this is for me?)

Teinturerie Galande

31, rue Galande

75005, Paris

Monsieur et sa trottinette

Two minutes before I saw this gentleman zipping by on his trottinette, I captured a younger man going in the opposite direction.  As you can see from the photo, monsieur is moving at a good pace.

The trottinette is not just a child's sidewalk ride to school!

zoom-zoom

Rue Saint Louis en l'Île

Île Saint Louis

75004 Paris

Amour à Paris

Love in Paris

I wish I had a story for this photo

(Today is "Poem in your Pocket" Day - put one in yours)

Ave de New York at Pont de l'Alma

75008, Paris



La Maison du Cerf-Volant

La Maison du Cerf-Volant

A colorful shop on Rue de Prague, full of kites of all shapes and hues.

It's the weather for flying kites, n'est-ce pas?

May the spring winds lift your kite high into the blue sky! 

La Maison du Cerf-Volant
7, rue de Prague
75012, Paris

Le chat et le vélo

Look what I found...

an "Oreo" cat

on two bikes

Rue des Thermopyles

75014, Paris

Portrait in St. Denis

While walking the narrow streets of St. Denis, this gentleman popped out of the small restaurant and asked me to take his photo.  I think that he will be pleased when I return with a copy for him.

A camera always makes opportunities, most of which are good.

St. Denis (northern suburb of Paris)

Île de France



Basilique Notre Dame des Victoires - l'orgue

The angels flank the finely crafted organcase, tribune and entrance to the nave in the Basilique Notre Dame des Victoires.  It was created by Louis Régnier in 1739 and remains today.  I have visited this basilica several times, discovering new details on every visit.  As I search for more information, stories always emerge.

The original organ was constructed by François-Henri Lesclop and reconstructed in 1870 by Charles Spackmann Barker, and John Abbey in 1898.  The organ today was placed by Alfred Kern in French-German neo-classical style in 1973, and recently restored in 1995.  I would say that the replacements and restorations are a good fit with the early architecture which has been lovingly maintained.

 

I will be returning...

bon dimanche

Basilique Notre-Dame des Victoires
6, rue Notre Dame des Victoires
75002, Paris

Le Marais - le samedi midi

What is it about French waiters that is so charming and photogenic?

A regular Saturday in the Marais... would love to be there right now!

Rue Vieille du Temple

75004, Paris



Ultramod Mercerie - Vente au Detail

The interior of this shop is even more charming than its windows.  We found this charming mercerie (haberdasherie, notions store) with thousands of buttons, ribbons, silks, hats, feathers as we wandered out of Passage Choiseul. 

In looking for more information, I discovered the wonderful history recounted here by Colleen of Colleen's Paris.

One thing is certain, at every turn you can uncover a story in Paris.

Ultramod

3-4, rue de Choiseul

75002, Paris

Palais Garnier - luminaires

The gift shop of Palais Garnier has a new version of the graceful figures and handmade lamps I saw a year ago.  You will be amazed when I tell you how much they cost.

(We did not buy one)

Palais Garnier

75009, Paris

Terrasse - des tabourets noirs?

As chic as this small cafe appears with the toile-covered chair backs and white tablecloths, I much prefer the standard Paris cafe chair to these black stools.

Cafe 90 Cts

Rue Croix des Petits Champs

75001, Paris



Chez Gladines

Chez Gladines is one of my favorite new finds.  I was there with Holly in January, and then took Peter and my husband in March.  It is in Butte aux Cailles and always full of people and spilling out into the street.  This shot is taken from the back room and very moody.  The "No CB" is "no carte bancaire" and means that they do not take credit cards.  The food is cheap and good, evidenced by the crowds.

Chez Gladines

30, rue des Cinq Diamants

75013, Paris

Les Invalides - Jardin de l'Intendant

The Jardin de l'Intendant is a sculptured garden on the grounds of Les Invalides.  It sits off to the west side from which there is no exit and is usually very quiet and empty.  I have a short memory and have at least twice tried to leave the grounds in this direction only to turn around.  The photos void of people have been my reward both times in two different seasons.  The summer flowers had not yet been planted but the beds were ready.  If you are in this area it would be a delightful place of repose and quiet, worth a visit.

Jardin de l'Intendant

Les Invalides

75007, Paris

Les Invalides - Église du Dôme

As a part of les Invalides, this royal chapel was completed in 1708,

inspired by St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

The interior of the dome was painted by Charles de La Fosse with a Baroque illusion of space seen from below.

The dome can be seen from all over Paris, but I saw it for the first time two weeks ago.

What an opulent and stunning sight.

bon dimanche

Les Invalides - Église du Dôme

75007, Paris

Le Petit Fer à Cheval

Two weeks ago, my husband and I arranged to meet Peter (Peter's Paris) and friend Isabelle for déjeuner at this café/bar in the heart of the Marais,

Le Petit Fer à Cheval (the horseshoe). 

It was the one coolish day of our visit and we enjoyed sitting in a warm corner. 

Do you know the special anniversary that is today?

It is the birthdate of an artist, one who left his mark on the world through his photography.  His amazing insight into children's street culture created visual stories of life in France.  His photography has had a revival since his death in 1994 and many of his portraits and street photos of Paris in the late 1940s and 1950s have become icons of French life.

Robert Doisneau

born 14 April 1912

Joyeaux anniversaire, Monsieur Doisneau

Le Petit Fer à Cheval

30, rue Vieille du Temple

75004, Paris

Anna Stein -- Painter, Sculptor, Author

Passage de Choiseul is situated between Rue des Petits Champs and Rue Saint Augustin and is one of the longest in Paris.  Constructed in 1925 by architect Tavernier on the site of four hotels.  Only a few elements of the hotel Gesvres were preserved, including the porch, which now forms the northern entrance.  The long passage resembles a street with two rows of house connected only by a glass ceiling.

It is here that the artist Anna Stein has an atelier and boutique.  As you can see from the window, she creates beautiful jewelry in addition to her paintings and sculptures.  The shop was not open, perhaps closed for déjeuner, and I plan to return to meet this amazing woman.   She was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1936 but has lived in Paris for many years, studying at Les Ecoles de Beaux-Arts.

Anna Stein

Passage de Choiseul

40, rue des Petits Champs

75002, Paris

Rue d'Ulm - l'architecture

I am at a loss to explain and unable to identify this sculpture

found above a door on Rue d'Ulm.

The letters are "ensdad"

There are several schools in this area south of the Parthenon.

Any ideas or facts?

Rue d'Ulm

75005, Paris



Pétanque - Jardin du Luxembourg

Although I have never played Pétanque, one can learn much by watching. 

The guys playing in Le Luco* on a Sunday afternoon were experts in form and accuracy. 

A few fine points:

All of the balls are a dull silver color without any special markings,

but everybody seems to know which ones are theirs.  Actually, they come in different sizes, weights, groove patterns, and hardness.

Do you see the pendant around his neck? 

It is a cord with a boule lifter magnet, perfect for picking up his boules

without stooping over.

Don't forget about the soft cloth to wipe off grit from the boules

(*Le Luco - the nickname for Luxembourg Gardens)

Jardin du Luxembourg

75006, Paris



Signe étrange

I have seen this sign only once or twice in Paris, but love the sense of humor.

No left turn!

or... does it say, "Don't bend the Eiffel Tower!"

This is one of many designs of Clet Abraham,

who places his artistic, non-destructive stickers on signs around Europe.

(Thanks, Rob and Mandy for the information)

Rue Laffitte facing 

Église Notre Dame de Lorette 

75009, Paris

Hôtel de Ville

Photography exhibit at Hôtel de Ville

Not everyone was "toeing the line"

Hôtel de Ville

75004, Paris



Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Although it resembles a chandelier, it looks like a crown for the King

Joyous Easter

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

6 Parvis Notre Dame

Place Jean-Paul II

75004, Paris



Michel Cluizel - une vitrine pleine de chocolat

Of all the delicious offerings in this Rue Saint-Honoré window the bucket of eggs, the large one on the right, would suit me just fine.  I'll share, of course!

Michel Cluizel has an interesting history, traced back to a family pastry business in Normandy.  In 1948 Michel Cluizel followed his parents as they transitioned into the chocolate business.  Today, Michel, a true cacaofevier and his four children are leaders in this family business which employs over 200 people.  One could compare the varieties of chocolate to those of fine wine with more descriptive adjectives than I can summon in my French vocabulary.  One of his daughters runs the boutique here on Rue Saint-Honoré.

I first posted about Michel Cluizel here for the chocolate purses in the window.

Michel Cluizel

201, rue Saint-Honoré

75001, Paris



The old and the new

Reflection of old and new in the narrow Rue Taitbout

Rue Taitbout

75009, Paris



Un âne à Paris

On Saturday (the day before Palm Sunday)

this donkey and his brother were seen in the streets of Île Saint Louis. 

Église Saint-Louis en l'Île

Rue l'Île Saint-Louis

75004, Paris

Two chicks and a dozen eggs

Among the fine chocolates and cellophane-wrapped treats,

this window also displayed some decorated eggs with a handmade touch. 

The windows were full of feathered chicks as well.

I wondered if the eggs were hollow shells and if not,

would they survive in the week until Easter.

Rue d'Aligre

75012, Paris   

L'éclairage

If I could not have the 7-ton brass and crystal grand chandelier of the Palais Garnier, I would gladly take this lovely lamp with its Venetian-style adornment.

Paris is a pocket of sweet memories now, and it may have been my best trip ever.  

I look forward to sharing stories and many photos.



La toque de chef

I think that this chef was just taking a break or perhaps just starting for the day on Rue Jacob.  Is it me or does la toque (chef's hat) seem just a bit too small for his head?

I do love the chef's attire and the starched hat.

Rue Jacob

75006, Paris

Église Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois

Perfectly sculpted, the three cherubs reach to the heavens

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois

2, place du Louvre

75001, Paris