Yesim Chambrey - élegante et sophistiquée

Yesim Chambrey

This chic boutique nestled in the narrow streets of Saint Germain des Prés has remarkable windows.  The awnings are truly three-dimensions but the curtains of black-white stripes are flat and permanent against the inside of the window.  The bright lighting always makes a striking sight on Rue de l'Abbaye.

The feminine couture of Turkish-born designer Yesim Chambrey are remarkably girly and fashionable.  It is an approachable boutique and worth a look.

Yesim Chambrey - boutique

1, rue de l'Abbaye

75006, Paris

 

Un café crème et un chocolat chaud

When two blog friends from different countries 

get together in Paris on a cold, misty day...

of course they take a break with pastries, 

warm beverages, many photos, and great conversation.

Boulangerie-Pâtisserie de la Tour Eiffel

21, avenue de la Bourdonnais

75007, Paris

Rue Mouffetard - les danseurs

Rue Mouffetard

Every Sunday a small crowd gathers on Rue Mouffetard 

in front of Église Saint-Médard to sing and dance 

to the music of Christian Bassoul.  

 

It is easy to spot the regulars, 

whose easy steps and spins are evidence of the Sunday routine. 

 

All are welcome to participate 

so if you find yourself in Paris on a Sunday morning, 

find your way to this charming experience and.... 

dance.

Rue Mouffetard at Rue Censier

75005, Paris

Métro Censier-Daubenton

Les toits et le chat

Les toits et le chat

On a gray rainy day in Paris this yellow cat can be seen grinning on the roofs from Montmartre to Vanves.  This one was seen among the chimney pots of the 6ème Arrondissement.

If it is raining where you are today, may you find a hidden smile.

75006, Paris

Église Saint-Vincent-de-Paul - V

Église Saint-Vincent-de-Paul

This long nave aisle on the Gospel side of the church 

has a bright polish on the marble floors. 

One walks softly as all sounds are amplified.  

I can hear the clicking of heels still.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Vincent-de-Paul de Paris

Place Franz-Liszt

75010, Paris

Métro Poissonnière

Place des Victoires

Place des Victoires

Inspecting the equestrian monument of Louis XIV dressed as a Roman emperor, 

I almost missed the woman high on the balcony.

bon weekend,

 and do not go out on a ledge

Place des Victoires

75002, Paris

Jardin du Palais Royal

Jardin du Palais Royal

The fountain of the Palais Royal garden is surrounded by people green chairs and sitting on the edge of the fountain in warm weather.  

As you can see, even in the the frigid temperatures of winter 

the fountain still attracts the hardy, 

the young, and those in contemplation.

bon weekend

Jardin du Palais Royal

75001, Paris

Boulevard Haussmann - l'architecture

La grande porte

This grand entrance can be seen from a block away with its imposing doors, ornate carvings, and grill-work.  The courtyard drive entrance could have been a film set and I expected to see a large black car exiting past those archway columns.  It reminded me a bit of the scene in les Intouchables in which a car was parked in the "no parking" zone, blocking the entrance.  Omar Sy should appear at any moment.

Paris architecture

134, boulevard Haussmann

75008, Paris

Père Lachaise XII - les ombres

Père Lachaise

I have an affinity for photographing cemeteries and Cimetière du Père Lachaise is a favorite.  No matter the season, the weather, or the time of day, one finds interesting lines, reflections, shapes, and ghosts.   

Although one would think that a cemetery does not change from day to day,

 it is different on each visit.

 (No, I have not seen ghosts)

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise

Boulevard de Ménilmontant

75020, Paris

Métro Père Lachaise, or
Métro Phillippe Auguste

Café le Nemours - Place Colette

Café le Nemours

Place Colette and the famous Café le Nemours provide a great vantage point for people-watching and street photography.  This was a cold day and people were bundled to stay warm.  

I do wish that I had been able to get a better view of this person walking briskly through Place Colette.  The hat and glimpse of hair do not seem to match the shoes and leggings.

Café le Nemours

Place Colette

75001, Paris

Printemps - l'artiste sur le trottoir

Artist on the sidewalk...

He was gathering quite a crowd, some taking a quick look and moving on.  Others lingered to watch the process and progression of this transient work.  I wondered if this was an artist who would create a three-dimensional work, but did not stay to its completion.  Two days later, it was gone.

So, to my French speakers, is this artist "sur" le trottoir?  

Printemps, le trottoir

64, bd Haussmann

75009 Paris

Église Saint-Séverin

Église Saint-Séverin

One of the oldest churches in Paris, the early Romanesque building was replaced with Gothic architecture at the beginning of the thirteenth century.  It is well-known in the 5ème arrondissement for the exterior gargoyles and the original bells cast in 1412.

Fires and wars required rebuilding and renovation over the centuries.

The scenes such as this in the oldest parts of the church are my favorites.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Séverin

3, rue des Prêtres Saint-Séverin

75005, Paris

 

Un café - Les B. Arome Cafés

Les B. Arome Cafés


A cup of coffee is never just a cup.

This little sip was found at La Ruche à Miel 
in a cup with the green logo of Les B. Arome Cafés.


Hummm, I guess not all coffee in Paris comes from Cafés Richard after all. 

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

L'heure bleue - musée du Louvre

L'heure bleue

(The blue hour)

It is a magical time in Paris when the sun goes down 

and the sky becomes a palette of soft watercolors

 in shades of blue and violet and pink.

bon weekend

Musée du Louvre, I M Pei's Pyramid

75001, Paris

Pont des Arts - love locks

Love locks

Pont des Arts

I have photographed the "love locks" for years on the Pont des Arts and always said that if my sweetheart came with me to Paris that we would put one here on the Pont des Arts.

He did come with me last March and after attaching our lock threw away a red key (which was superfluous for a combination lock).  It was at the moment of sunset, and we were in good company with others on that March evening.  In October I went back to check on our lock and it was most assuredly missing.  The fact is that all of these lovers' locks weigh down the bridge and it appears that the locks are periodically "pruned."  In May of 2010, they all disappeared overnight but the city of Paris claimed innocence.

We will return and affix another lock, a tiny discrete one, which should not cause any attention (or pruning).

(Happy Valentine's Day, D)

Pont des Arts

75001, Paris

  

Rue Mouffetard - le dimanche

Rue Mouffetard

A bright winter Sunday afternoon on Rue Mouffetard, 

and it seems that all of Paris is out enjoying the sun.

Rue Mouffetard,

75005, Paris

Des bonbons et du vin

Candy and wine

Even simple candy looks better in Paris.  There are so many delicious edibles in Paris that I am almost never tempted by candy of this sort.  However, at home I would never be able to keep my hands out of jars that looked like this.

Do you have a sweet tooth?

(Joyeux Mardi Gras!!)

Epicerie-confiserie P. Legrand Filles et Fils

1, rue de la Banque

75002, Paris

Rue de Vaugirard - la porte

Rue de Vaugirard

This is not your typical blue door in Paris, but a deep azure taken from the Mediterranean palette.  The architectural design is crisp with fine detail but I do not know the architect.

The red scooter was a bonus.

zoom-zoom!

77, rue de Vaugirard

75006, Paris

Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs

Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs

This door opens to the circular steps up to the illustrious Cavaillé-Coll organ (1877) of Notre-Dame-des-Champs.  Yannick Merlin is co-titular organist here and is a substitute organist at Église Val-de-Grâce.  Holly and I had the pleasure of listening to a rehearsal but could only see the top of the organist's head high above us in the organ loft.  

As we prepared to exit the empty church this door opened and out walked M. Merlin himself.  I did not lift my camera for a photo, but instead thanked him for the music.

You never know who you will run into in Paris.

bon dimanche

Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs

92 bis, Boulevard du Montparnasse

75006, Paris

Il fait froid?

Leggings, pants, boots?


It was a cold day...
a very cold and frigid day in Paris.



bon weekend

Rue Beccaria

près de Marché d'Aligre

75012, Paris

 

Une girafe de ruban

How much is that giraffe in the window?

Made of ribbons, he stands proudly in the showroom window (SHINDO).

No photos allowed, but I am standing on the street.

bon weekend

SHINDO
Paris Showroom
2, rue d'Aboukir
Place des Victoires
75002 Paris

Papa, sa fille, et l'éclair au chocolat

Papa, his daughter and the chocolate éclair

The two of them opened the bag from the pâtisserie.  He helped remove her red mittens, seen here peeking out of her coat pocket.  She patiently waited while he "prepared" the éclair for eating.  He patiently waited as she ate the éclair, and then shared with him.  They devoured it all, and he even had some wipes to remove the chocolate from hands and face.

This was late afternoon, and he had probably picked her up from school.  I wonder if they will tell Maman why this little French girl does not have much appetite for dinner.

Eric Kayser (pâtisserie/boulangerie)

Place Maubert

75005, Paris

 

Jardin du Luxembourg - Marrons chauds?

Jardin du Luxembourg

Marrons chauds, Chupa-Chups, an embrace, a sideways glance...

Despite this being a city of rules and red tape, 

I do not think that these two gendarmes were going to check her license and work papers.

souriant...

Jardin du Luxembourg

75006, Paris

Jour de Nutella

World Nutella Day

Today you can celebrate "World Nutella Day 2013" - a day to eat Nutella, to spread it on a croissant or a baguette.  If you are in a hurry, you can just eat it off a big spoon.

There are probably hundred of ways to use Nutella and if you have something special in mind like Nutella Baklava, a Nutella Gooey Butter Cake, or Nutella Mascarpone Chocolate Tarts, just let me know and I will send you a link to recipes.  

Whether the "day" of Nutella is celebrated in Paris or not, 

you cannot miss seeing the big brown jar wherever crêpes are made. 

miam-miam

World Nutella Day

5 fevrier, 2013

 

L'homme et le Vélib

zoom-zoom

The streets of Paris are full of bicycle commuters, 

and one sees many of the rental bikes (Vélibs) utilized.  

They come equipped with a lock, an ample basket, 

easily adjustable seat, three gears, hand brakes, and... 

a bell.

With a Navigo pass, a simple swipe of the card and you are good to go.  

For a tourist, there are a few more steps, 

but still easy and inexpensive when you understand how it is charged.

How do I know?

brrrring, brrrrring! 

Vélib on Rue de Vaugirard

75006, Paris

Chapelle Saint-Vincent-de-Paul

Chapelle Saint-Vincent-de-Paul 

This inconspicuous church sits only a block from Bon Marché and is hardly worth a glance from the street as its façade blends in with the other buildings on Rue de Sèvres.

  However, the interior is filled with treasures and a bit of mystery.  

There is a shrine to St Vincent de Paul, ornately adorned, 

a magnificent organ, and a link to Louis Braille.  

More photos and a continued story on another Sunday post.

bon dimanche

Chapelle Saint-Vincent-de-Paul

95, rue de Sèvres

75006, Paris

Métro Sèvres-Babylone

La Chandeleur - jour des crêpes

La Chandeleur

Fête des chandelles

(Candlemas - English)

Today is Candlemas, 2 February, and it is celebrated in France with crêpes.

Today I will be making crêpes, holding a coin in my left hand, and flipping the crêpe pan in my right.  If I can catch the crêpe, it means my family will be prosperous for the rest of the year, such is the legend.  Also, one does not eat crêpes until after 8:00pm.

This chef at Crêperie Plougastel on Rue du Montparnasse, cheerfully allowed me to take some photos of him as he deftly prepared all the crêpes for the lunch crowd.  I have been here three or four times, introduced by French friend Isabelle.  They have both savory and sweet crêpes with quick service and good prices.  On a street full of crêperies, this one is always well attended.

Crêperie Plougastel

47, rue du Montparnasse

75014, Paris

Pétanque et un parapluie

Jardin des Tuileries

Never daunted by a few drops of rain, 

these gentlemen gather daily to play their games of pétanque.  

A well-worn parapluie* provides scant protection from the deluge this day.

Joining the City Daily Photo Blogs

for February's Theme Day 

"umbrellas"

*parapluie = umbrella

Jardin des Tuileries

75001, Paris

Métro Tuileries