Les fleurs de Paris

Les fleurs de Paris

From the elegant flower boutiques to the simple corner fleuristes, 

nothing says Paris in the spring like flowers.

Even a casual placement of flowers on the sidewalk has 

a recognizable flair.  In trips to Paris I have given flowers 

and have been gifted with bouquets. 

There is nothing better...

and there are no calories in this feast!

Avenue Rapp

75007, Paris

Rue Cler - un café et beaucoup de chaussures

A café on Rue Cler

This delightful café on Rue Cler is a scene repeated all over Paris.  

I love to people-watch and wonder about their "stories."  

Perhaps the shoes will give us some clues...

Rue Cler

75007, Paris

Église Sainte-Marguerite II

Église Sainte-Marguerite

The layout of the sanctuary is that of the cross in the classic style of the Seventeenth Century.  This church is best known for its cemetery which was closed in 1804.  During the French Revolution, the bodies od three hundree people guillotined in the Place de la Bastille and the Place de la Nation were buried here.

The more I read and research,
the more intrigued I am by the history of this city, Paris.

 

bon dimanche

Église Sainte-Marguerite

36, rue Saint-Bernard

75011, Paris

Cour Damoye et La Brûlerie Daval - café et thé

Café et thé

On Cour Damoye is a delightful shop for an afternoon tea or coffee,

patiently brewed by the owner of La Brûlerie Daval. 

Take a stroll down this quiet impasse,

free of cars and reminiscent of years gone by.

 

Stop off for an expresse or a cup of tea.  
The memories will linger...

La Brûlerie Daval
Café Thé

Cour Damoye

75011, Paris





la cocotte - objets gourmands

*la cocotte*

How appropriate that a street of restaurants and bistrots
would also display a boutique of "objets gourmands." 


In looking for the translation of "la cocotte" I found:
darling, honey, love


Based on the website for *la cocotte* the word "hen" seems appropriate.



bon weekend



 

la cocotte

5, rue Paul Bert

75011, Paris

La petite bicyclette

Petite bicyclette

Complete with kickstand, hand brakes, and sturdy lock, 

this little bicycle holds its own amid the full-size bikes.

Oh, and do not forget the necessary bell.

zoom-zoom!

Rue Keller

75011, Paris

Rue Paul Bert - un bâtiment en rouge et blanc

Rouge et Blanc

This Haussmann era building at the corner of Rue Paul Bert and Rue Cesselin 

has four floors above the street level with wrought iron grills 

and pleasing patterns of red (painted) brick and white stone.  

In the warm months of the year 

almost every window is adorned with plants and flowers.  

I would add herbs to that list.

8, rue Paul Bert

75011, Paris

Métro Faidherbe Chaligny

L'Ecailler du Bistrot - poissons et fruits de mer

L'Ecailler du Bistrot

Situated next door to Bistrot Paul Bert, this restaurant of huîtres (oysters), gambas (prawns), crevette (shrimp), homard (lobster), and many types of fish won my heart.  It is decorated with large wooden boats, maps and painted murals of shellfish.  The blackboard menus feature the daily catch and have a large selection of named oysters. 

 I learned from my experiences at Le Baron Rouge that you order oysters by the number which indicates the size of the oyster and by the beach, such as Omaha Beach.  There are too many choices so you order some of all of them and savor the individuality of each.  Just as the French cherish their baguettes, the oysters are serious business and not to be rushed.  They have a nice selection of wines, and a glass of Sancerre is a perfect accompaniment.

Living most of the year on the Gulf Coast of the US and traveling to other coastal oyster regions (Seattle, Vancouver), my tastes are discerning.  The oysters that I enjoyed at L'Ecailler du Bistrot were perhaps the best ever tasted.  One could close the eyes and be transported to Brittany.

miam-miam  

L'Ecailler du Bistrot

22, rue Paul Bert

75011, Paris

Jardins des Tuileries - XXVII

Jardins des Tuileries

This sumptuous park is the largest in Paris at 63 acres (25.5 hectares) 

and provides a grand outdoor entertainment center for Parisians and visitors alike.

Jogging, walking, riding Vélibs, playing pétanque, 

sitting in the ubiquitous green chairs by the side of Grand Bassin Octagonal...

The list is endless

Jardin des Tuileries

75001, Paris

Chapelle Saint-Vincent-de-Paul II

Chapelle Saint-Vincent-de-Paul II

Saint Vincent de Paul was born in 1581 and after early years of study, graduated in theology, and was ordained in 1600 at the age of 19.  In 1617 he founded the "Ladies of Charity" from a group of women within his parish who came to be known as the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul.

He worked for some time in Paris among imprisoned galley-slaves, and established a group known as the Vincentians, priests with vows of poverty, chastity, obedience.  The Vincentians (also known as Lazarists) are today present in over 80 countries.

After his death in 1660, he was canonized by Pope Clement XII in 1737.  In the photo above you can see the richly appointed shrine which contains the body of Saint Vincent de Paul.  The bones are his, and the "body" was created beautifully of wax over the skeleton.  The overall effect is of the gentle saint peacefully at rest.  I did not photograph the body, but photos are available on the internet if you are interested.

bon dimanche

Chapelle Saint-Vincent-de-Paul

95, rue de Sèvres

75006, Paris

Métro Sèvres-Babylone

Carrousel XXXI - Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel

La Tour Eiffel

Le Carrousel avec énergies renouvelables

 The rides on this "renewable energy" carrousel are a mix of the traditional horses and the colorful vintage modes of transportation:  propeller plane, wood ship, motorcycle, jalopy, and tiger(!)


What a lovely background as we spin around.

La Tour Eiffel et Le Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel

75007, Paris

Les Jardins du Trocadéro

Les Fontaines

The Fountain of Warsaw

Between the Palais de Chaillot at Trocadero and the Seine is a garden designed by Jean-Charles Alphand for the Exposition Universelle (1878).  This array of magnificent fountains was created by Roger-Henri Expert for the Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne in 1937.  

If you come in the evening to see the sparkling Eiffel tower, 

you can enjoy the lighted display of these cascading fountains.

Jardins du Trocadéro

(across the Seine from La Tour Eiffel)

75016, Paris

Parc de Monceau - des amants

amoureux d'un jour,

amis pour la vie

Parc de Monceau is not just for the young, 

but for those whose love has matured.

Ahhhh, printemps...

love is in the air

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau

 

 

Parc de Monceau - la pyramide égyptienne

The Egyptian Pyramid

Parc de Monceau was designed by Carrogis Carmontelle in the late 1700s 

with a fanciful assortment of features:  

a Roman colonnade, antique statues, a tatar tent, 

a farmhouse, an enchanted grotto, an Egyptian pyramid, and more

It is one of my favorite parks in Paris, active with Parisians and their children.  

The change of seasons is particularly remarkable in the spring.

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau

Entrée des Fournisseurs - mercerie

Entrée des Fournisseurs

Tucked quietly off the main street of Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, 

this large mercerie has a wonderful selection:

haberdashery, ribbons, buttons, passementerie, 

threads, fabrics, felting, knitting, books, and so much more...

but, if you can see the square sign on the door...

pas de photos!

Entrée des Fournisseurs

8, rue des Francs-Bourgeois

75004, Paris

Square Marie Trintignant - en printemps

Square Marie Trintignant

This small garden was founded in 1933 as Ave Maria Square 

and has a well-appointed 790 m².

In May of 2007 Mayor Bertrand Delanoe renamed it 

after the actress Marie Trintignant.

He must have seen these trees in bloom.

Square Marie Trintignant

Rue de l'Ave Maria

75004, Paris

Métro Pont Marie

Sainte-Chapelle - une arche des anges

Sainte-Chapelle

Palatine chapel

Certainly the magnificent jewel-toned stained glass windows are eye-catching, 

but every inch of the wall surface and the vault is intricately colored and decorated.

Fragments of the original paint would indicate that the colors of the 19th century restoration pale by comparison.  The 13th century designers selected colors that were closer to the vivid hues of the stained glass windows.

Stunning!

bon dimanche

Sainte-Chapelle

4, boulevard du Palais

75001, Paris  

Parc de Monceau - en printemps

Parc de Monceau - la petite fille

Parc de Monceau

A beautiful little blonde

deep in reverie

Is it...

the rippled reflections on the water?

the feathered friends who have come to see her?

some quiet thoughts deep in her heart?

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau

Madame et le chien

Shall we cross?

Madame with her ballet flats and her Scottie in tow

are either watching traffic or are lost in a reverie.

Rue Lagrange
75005, Paris

Jardin du Palais Royal

Jardin du Palais Royal

He is reading intently in the splendor of this garden.

The fountain must surely be splashing him a bit.

I would have my bare feet propped on the edge

(would have, have had, and will have)

Jardin du Palais Royal

75001, Paris

Les arbres de printemps

Montmartre

If you see this tree in the winter, 

you would not even take a second glance.  

In spring, it steals the show.

Place Jean-Baptiste Clément

75018, Paris

 

Jardin des Tuileries - petite fille

Jardin des Tuileries

This little girl with her long braids has Mickey Mouse lovingly wrapped, 

cradled in her arms.  Her chic plaid coat makes me think that...

She must be a French girl, n'est-ce pas?

Jardin des Tuileries

75001, Paris

Église Saint-Aignan de Chartres

Église Saint-Aignan de Chartres

This church, established in 400 AD, 

sits almost unnoticed in a ville known for its great cathedral.  

A bit neglected, it is majestic in its own way, 

filled with colors of turquoise, coral, and gold.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Aignan de Chartres

12, place de l'Etape au Vin

28000, Chartres

Jardin du Palais Royal - petit garçon

Water fountains are magnets for little boys.

It does not matter the nationality.

He was only filling his water bottle...

again and again and again.

Jardin du Palais Royal

75001, Paris

Livres - Rue de Seine

Bookstores in Paris are full of treasures:

stacks and stacks of beautiful books, some to be read 

and some just to be enjoyed.

This store is not much larger than you see right here, 

filled to the ceiling.

Rue de Seine

75006, Paris

Montmartre - en printemps

Rue de l'Abreuvoir

Dressed for spring in rose et vert, 

Montmartre looks like a page from a fairy tale.

Place Dalida et Rue de l'Abreuvoir

75018, Paris

Rue Mouffetard - monsieur et son chien

Monsieur et son chien

Walking the cobblestones of Rue Mouffetard, 

this gentleman and his dog turned heads, accessorized and well-groomed.

(tous les deux)

Rue Mouffetard

75005, Paris

Printemps - un lapin énorme!

Printemps

The grands magasins of Paris are known for their window displays.

In 2011 each of the Printemps windows featured fashion and an animal.

 

The rose foncé (bright pink) rabbit of roses stole the scene

Printemps

64, boulevard Haussmann

75009, Paris

 

Père Lachaise - crossing

Crossing

Crossing the stone paths of Cimetière du Père Lachaise

perhaps a symbol for passing from this life to the next

Cimetière du Père Lachaise

75020, Paris

Joining the City Daily Photo Blogs

for April's Theme Day

"crossing"