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)

Le petit déj

Le petit déjeuner

Join me? 

Enjoy your weekend

Au bord de la Seine - les amis

Friends gathering after work

for a casual rendez-vous

baguettes, fromage, saucisson-sec...

et beaucoup de vin

bon weekend

La Seine
Quai du Louvre
75001, Paris
Métro Louvre-Rivoli ou Pont Neuf

Le cycliste

Ready to ride

She came whizzing by,

 and it was all I could do to get my camera up for a shot.

Plaid must be quite the style now.  

My friend Bibi at A Yankee-in-Belgrade 

spotted a fellow clad in plaid from head to toe.  

Rue du Cardinal Lemoine
75005, Paris
Métro Cardinal Lemoine

Galeries Lafayette - prêt-à-porter

"Click!"

clandestine, concealed, confidential, covert,

furtive, hush-hush, incognito, stealth, surreptitious...

Need I continue? 

For years now I have been stalking this department

for its designs, color, textures. 

I have only been commanded once to cease shooting 

and that was in the very secretive shoe department.

Stay tuned for news...

I'm going back in!

Galeries Lafayette
Boulevard Haussmann
75009, Paris
Métro Chaussée d'Antin La Fayette

Parc de Monceau - des amis

Parc de Monceau

Two friends without a care in the world.

We should be more like them.

 Maman can worry about the limestone dust all over their clothes.

Weird, but I have a fondness for that chalk...

 a reminder of good times in Paris.

Parc de Monceau
Boulevard des Courcelles
75008, Paris
Métro Monceau

Le Petit Châtelet et le velo

Le Petit Châtelet

et le velo

Although I have never stopped here,

it is conveniently located just adjacent to Shakespeare & Co. 

Have a browse through the famous bookstore,

meet friends afterwards on the terrace at Le Petit Château...

sounds like a full agenda to me.

Le Petit Châtelet
39, rue de la Bûcherie
75005, Paris
Métros Saint-Michel ou Maubert-Mutualité

Sainte-Chappelle - la chapelle basse

The Lower Chapel

Sainte-Chappelle, 1242

The windows of the upper chapel are stunning but no more so than the vibrant bold colors of the lower chapel with accents of gold.  This magnificent 13th century Gothic chapel on the Île de la Cité was built by Louis IX for use as his royal chapel.  This lower chapel served as parish church for all the inabitants of the king's palace.

bon dimanche

Sainte-Chappelle
4, boulevard du Palais
75004, Paris

Les trois fleurs - Marais

Three bright flowers

have the power to

light up the world

Be the bright flower in someone's life

Première étage
75004, Paris

Guerlain - la vitrine

La Petite Robe Noire

This simple window in the Marais has it all:

La Tour Eiffel

A fragrance with a sexy name

A salute to the very fashionable Parisians

and....

A reflection!

Guerlain
10, rue des Francs-Bourgeois
75004, Paris

For more reflections go to James' Weekend Reflection

Rue des Thermopyles - Une porte rouge

Rue des Thermopyles

This narrow, winding street is a bit shabby-chic

but it is charming and quiet with an occasional cat looking at me

from a vine-framed window

Rue des Thermopyles
75014, Paris

Rue des Cinq Diamants - le chef

le chef

On rue de la Butte aux Cailles, the chefs and cooks from

various restaurants gather outside to chat,

have a smoke, and get ready for the busy lunch crowd. 

I have seen this same chef on three trips

and will be taking a photo to him in a few weeks. 

I wonder what he will be serving that day...

Chez Gladines
30, rue des 5 Diamants
75013, Paris
Métro Corvisart

Pain et Chocolat - Salon de thé

Pain et Chocolat

A sweet Paris friend who has a shop on Rue Cler told me about this delightful place nearby, and I was smitten before even walking inside.  It is very small and an older married couple "do it all" from the baking and cooking to the serving.  They are svelte as dancers and move almost as quickly, taking care of the diners. 

The food is fabulous and the inside is as charming as the outside terrace. 

Oh, please note the lap blankets for the cool morning petit déjeuner.

I will be back there for lunch with Holly very soon.

Pain et Chocolat

16, avenue la Motte Picquet

75007, Paris

Métro Ecole Militaire



La Tour Eiffel - le détail

Venetian red?

Did you know that Gustave Eiffel originally painted this tower red?

Over the years, the tower has changed colors several times ranging from red-browns to mustard-browns and now to what some have called "milk chocolate" brown.  The official color is "bronze."  It is on its 19th painting, all by hand, which takes 60 tons of paint, 1500 paint brushes and an army of experienced acrobatic painters without a fear of heights!

The tower is actually painted three shades of the same color with the darkest at the bottom and the lightest hue at the top.  Twenty-five painters strip, clean, rust-proof, and apply paint to all 250,000 square meters of the tower taking about a year to accomplish.  The paint cannot be applied if it is too cold or if the tower is wet so the whole process from beginning to end may take 18 months.

Oh, and do not forget the 50 kilometers of security cords

and 5 acres of protective netting!

(Although I am a bit of a risk-taker,

I was not hanging from security cords for this shot)

La Tour Eiffel
75007, Paris

Église Saint-Étienne du Mont - le perron

The side door steps of Saint-Étienne du Mont

I wondered if I came back at night, would the car come for me...

(Midnight in Paris)

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Étienne du Mont

1, Place Ste Geneviève

75005, Paris

(across from the Parthenon)

Enfant précieux

This pensive little child is an angel,

shy with blue eyes and gossamer locks.

In late March I met with her mum, blog friend Nicola, at Parc de Monceau. 

This precious angel played on the slide while her mum and I visited.

Nicola has a delightful blog about their life in Paris with four daughters, Growing Berries.

I hope to visit with this little one and her three sisters in a few weeks.

Parc de Monceau

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau

   

Immeuble - 9 rue Murillo

Is the awning by Hector Guimard?

That was my original question when I lifed my camera for a shot.  In the subsequent months I have found that the awning is but a part of this amazing residence designed in 1870 by the architect Gustave Clausse.  The rez-de-chaussée et le premier étage (ground floor and the next floor) were built in stone and the three upper floors in patterned brick.  Above the awning you can see the arched windows decorated with polychrome ceramics. 

So, is it a Guimard?  Honestly, I do not know.  Most of Guimard's Paris work was started about 10 years after this building was completed.  There are more secrets about this residence, and I will share a special one with you another time.

Residence

9, rue Murillo

75008, Paris

For more reflections go to James' Weekend Reflection

Le Parc de Bercy - les ombres

Railway tracks and a brick-paved path...

long shadows of early morning...

an empty Paris bench...

birds enjoy the solitude

Le Parc de Bercy

75012, Paris



Le carrousel - XXVI

As the blue skies of this April evening turned the multi-hued shades known only in Paris, we waited for the first "twinkling" of La Tour Eiffel. 

The lights on that iron beauty twinkle for about 5 minutes every hour until 1am. 

They start on the first hour after the Paris street lights come on.

Little did we know that we would enjoy a show before the main event...

soft streetlights, sculptures, a reflecting pool, fountains. 

It was all set off by a delightful carousel (rotating counter-clockwise) 

with its calliope music playing. 

The police vans? 

Manpower to catch the people selling Eiffel Tower keychains - not so magical

Carrousel de Trocadero

Place du Trocadéro

75016, Paris

La Vinoteca - la terrasse

La Vinoteca

There is nothing quite as perfect in Paris as déjeuner on la terrasse complete with good service and crisp linens.  These are not your usual café chairs but colorful, comfortable and bit upscale. 

Well, they were not quite ready the day I happened by La Vinoteca, but I did capture a handsome young man preparing the tables for the lunch crowd... 

peut-être une autre fois

La Vinoteca
32, rue de Courcelles
75008, Paris
Métro St Philippe du Roule ou 
Métro Miromesnil

La salamandre et le maïs - art nouveau

This interesting motif of a salamander eating a stalk of corn is found on Rue de Grenelle.  The art nouveau double door is part of pair, each with a salamander.  Apparently, this greedy one got the corn.

The building was designed by architect Jules Lavirotte in 1898, his first major building.  The façade, influenced by the French Rococo style, offers only hints of the theatrical displays for which Lavirotte was to become known.  He designed at least nine buildings still standing in the 7ième arrondissement.

151, rue de Grenelle

75007, Paris

Métro La Tour-Maubourg



Église Sainte-Anne de la Buttes-aux-Cailles

Église Sainte-Anne de la Buttes-aux-Cailles

(mosaic of the Atelier Mauméjean)

Designed by the architect Prosper Bobin, construction was started in 1894 and completed almost 20 years later.  This Romanesque Byzantine style church was one of the few built in Paris during this time of severe religious tensions.

The scene above, "Suffer the Little Children," is a portion of the Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1938).  It is a mosaic made of tens of thousands of tiny pieces of glass with almost imperceptible shades of colors.  It is reported that there will be a retrospective of this atelier Mauméjean, and I will let you know what is planned.  The skilled artists of the family Mauméjean installed their work of stained glass and mosaics in over 5,000 cathedrals, basilicas, and chapels in 34 countries.  Because of demand for their work, additional ateliers were opened, two of those in Barcelona and Saint-Sebastian, Spain.

bon dimanche

Église Sainte-Anne de la Buttes-aux-Cailles

188, rue de Tolbiac

75013, Paris

Métro Tolbiac



Rue Rembrandt - les fenêtres

The area surrounding Parc de Monceau is full of architectural treasures.  Seen near the Rue Rembrandt entrance to the park this elegant five-floor residence has an array of paned windows, each different from the other.  The quiet street ends at one of the south entrances to the park. 

If you visit Parc de Monceau

do not miss the upscale neighborhood in which it resides.

May you each have a relaxing weekend 

Rue Rembrandt et Rue de Lisbonne

75008, Paris

Métro Courcelles ou Métro Monceau

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

 

 

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

Suspension bridge

This suspension bridge leads to a large rocky cliff with a 32 meter waterfall.  The nature of the bridge construction means that there is a sway as these people walk to and fro.  

If you are afraid of heights this might be one to avoid. 

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

Rue Botzaris

75019, Paris

Metro Botzaris, Metro Buttes Chaumont

Street Artist - Nemo

Street art

Although it disturbs me to see graffiti covering walls, fences, and every available surface on the train station platforms (and the tunnels in the Metro), this I love!  The street artists of Paris are recognized for their distinctive style and themes. 

This panel is by the artist Nemo.

Oh, I checked to make certain that I am not showing this upside down!



Street artist Nemo

seen here on Rue Bichat

75010, Paris

Canal Saint-Martin - les passerelles piétonnes

Canal Saint-Martin

Along the canal you find many pedestrian walkways,

arched high over the canal to allow for passing boats. 

Although I have never taken the trip, many report that a leisurely excursion on Canal St. Martin gives a different view along the quais.  My friend Marie and I watched this boat pass through the locks on a bright Sunday afternoon.  On canal Saint-Martin alone there are seven bridges, the majority of which are passerelles piétonnes (footbridges).

They all have names and I will have to search to put the proper name and location on this one.  It is very close to Hotel du Nord on Quai de Jemmapes. 

Passerelle piétonne, Canal Saint-Martin

Near Rue de la Grange

75010, Paris

Parc de Monceau - XVI

Parc de Monceau

While waiting on a park bench to meet a blog friend and sa petite,

I watched this young fellow riding in circles. 

He was so fast that it was a challenge to capture him in action...

 and in focus!

zoom-zoom!

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard des Courcelles

(five entrances around the park)

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau



Les couleurs de Paris - le bleu

le carrousel de Tuileries

le bleu

It is difficult to select just one photo for blue in Paris.  There are thousands of "blues," doors and buildings and skies and reflections, but this carrousel in Tuileries and I have a relationship (if that is possible).  I have seen it in all seasons including a snowstorm one December. 

This one small part of the carrousel has the Eiffel Tower, angels, and diamonds, all embellished with gold and red.  The painted blue skies behind the Tower are matched by the blue skies of spring.

This is my last contribution to a five-color series of photos,

and with this I capture the memory of Paris blue and tuck it under my pillow.

sweet dreams

Le carrousel de Tuileries

Terrasse des Feuillants

Jardin des Tuileries

75001, Paris

Les couleurs de Paris - le blanc

Sacré Coeur

le blanc

Even with weathering and polution,

this church made of travertine stone remains white. 

This sacred landmark sits high on the butte of Montmartre

overseeing all of Paris.

This is my contribution to a five-color series of photos,

and with this I look up in reverence to the whiteness of Sacré Coeur.

bon dimanche

La Basilique du Sacré Coeur de Montmartre

35, rue du Chevalier de la Barre

75018, Paris



Les couleurs de Paris - le rouge!

la porte rouge

Paris enjoys an abundance of red doors

This is my contribution to a five-color series of photos,

and with this I blush in homage to le rouge

 

la porte rouge

75007, Paris