Rue de Roi du Sicile - un éléphant bleu

A blue elephant?

It seems that a photographer cannot pass this thai restaurant

in the Marais without taking aim.  

It does not matter how many times you have snapped before.

Last week, the green plants and splash of pink orchid 

called out for another shot.  

The blue skies created a nice reflection.

Au Petit Thai

10, rue de Roi du Sicile

75004, Paris

To see more reflections,
click over to James' Weekend Reflections

Cimetière de Passy

Cimetière de Passy

The porcelain wreaths and flowers are usually broken, 

either through carelessness or vandalism.  

This one caught my eye for the delicate colors.  

Then one notices the long life enjoyed by this couple 

who saw many changes in Paris over their lifetimes.  

How rare was it to live to almost 100?

Cimetière de Passy

2, rue du Commandant Schloesing

75016, Paris

Métro Trocadéro

Jardin des Plantes

Jardin des Plantes

Walking alone in the garden, an alley of trees appeared, 

presenting a carpet dappled by the sun 

with a pattern of lace.

The sun was elusive,

 and one must be quick to capture its appearance.

Jardin des Plantes

75005, Paris

Métro Gare d'Austerlitz

Place des Vosges

Place des Vosges

The angles and patterns seen in this 400 year old square reflect the old and the new.  The lines of green superimposed on the curves of the lampposts and the never-ending archways are pleasing to the eye.

The four rows of houses forming the square were all built to the same design.  On a sunless day it is possible to enter the park and then lose your sense of direction.  Well, perhaps with dark clouds rolling in from the west, you will get your bearings again.

Place des Vosges

75004, Paris

Arc de Triomphe - au soldat inconnu

Arc de Triomphe

Originally commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, he died before its completion.  It sits magnificently at the hub of twelve intersecting roads and has witnessed history.  After World War I, the returning soldiers marched triumphantly through the arch, and it became the site of the tomb of the unknown soldier.  

The Arc de Triomphe is remembered as a memorial to all those who died in World War I.  I recently accompanied two World War II Veterans the tomb of the unknown soldier at Arlington Cemetery in Washington, DC.  Today we remember all those lost in wars defending our freedom.

Arc de Triomphe

Place Charles de Gaulle

75008, Paris

Église Sainte-Chapelle

Église Sainte-Chapelle

The devout King Louis IX founded the Gothic Sainte-Chapelle 
as a chapel for the royal palace and to house sacred relics.  
It is reported that he spent three times 
the cost of the chapel's construction 
for the "Crown of Thorns."


Built in 1246, it also provided easy underground access 
to the royal palace.  Almost all of the precious relics 
were lost or destroyed during the French Revolution.



bon dimanche

Sainte-Chapelle
4, boulevard du Palais
75001, Paris

Musée du Louvre - Mercure et son ombre

Mercury 

This bronze of Mercury is seen in an arabesque pose, balanced it would appear, on the head of Zephyr.  He is poised on a gust of air coming from the mouth of this god of the east wind.

My search of the internet has not told me for certain the name of the sculptor... any help?  There is one by Giambologna, a Flemish artist, but that bronze is in Florence at the National Museum of the Bargello.

Mercury in this pose of flight is recognized often as the emblem of FTD Florist.

Musée du Louvre

75001, Paris

Parc des Buttes Chaumont V

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

It took several visits to Paris before I made my way to this park which as the name indicates is sitting on a hill.  There are waterfalls and a limestone quarry, a suspension bridge, and more.  You will find more Parisians and fewer tourists here on a Sunday afternoon than in many of Paris' more famous parks.

It is not as large as Tuileries, but the terrain makes it seem more so.

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

Rue Botzaris

75019, Paris

Metro Botzaris, Metro Buttes Chaumont

Bassin de la Villette - Pétanque

Pétanque

The game is not just for older men in Paris.  

This area on the bank of Bassin de la Villette 

is filled with people of all ages, families, young friends, 

all enjoying an afternoon of this popular game.

Perhaps we will try our skill this week

Bassin de la Villette

Quai de la Loire

75019, Paris

Métro Laumière

Rue Cler - les cafés

le serveur

Paris is a large city. 

However, when you frequent a place like Rue Cler, 

it seems smaller when you "run into" the same waiter on several trips. 

Do not miss Rue Cler, 

particularly for people watching from the terrace of its many cafés.

Rue Cler

75007, Paris

Métro Laumière

The seats were too far apart for these lovers

Ah, c'est Paris, n'est-ce pas?

Métro Laumière

75019, Paris

Canal Saint Martin - l'artiste

Sitting on the bank of the canal

A sunny spring day will find many Parisians 

sitting along the bank of Canal Saint Martin.  

Working with pen and ink, 

she scarcely noticed the passersby 

or the photographer.

Quai de Valmy

Canal Saint Martin

75010, Paris

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris - un grand lustre

Notre Dame

This is only one of the grand chandeliers of Notre Dame 

seen up close and in detail as it was lowered last year for cleaning.  

The 850th birthday celebration of this renown cathedral 

called for some major housekeeping and renovations (the bells).  

I would say that this grand dame has held her age well.

bon dimanche

 

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

6 Parvis Notre Dame

Place Jean-Paul II

75004, Paris

Marché d'Aligre

Marché d'Aligre

This is not the expanse of goods 

that you might find at one of the renown flea markets of Paris, 

but I have never come away empty-handed, 

nor left the area hungry!

Marché d'Aligre

Square d'Aligre

75012, Paris

Square Trousseau - un kiosque à musique

Bandstand

Square Armand-Trousseau

This square is just a little park off the side of Rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine, but in many visits, we have seen Tai Chi excercises, an old men's club, ferocious snowball fights, very fast bikes and scooters (trottinettes), mamas and nanas, children of all ages, boules, and ping-pong games.

When you go, do not miss Le Square Trousseau, a café on the corner, 

and Blé Sucré, pâtisserie (Madeleine, financier, pain au chocolat, and more!)

Square Armand-Trousseau

Rues Antoine Vollon et Rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine

Métro Ledru Rollin

75012 Paris

Palais Garnier - XIII

Palais Garnier

On every visit to this Beaux-Arts opera house one can make new discoveries.  

Just look at the art and detail applied to the lamps surrounding this building.

I think that the Phantom would be pleased 

to see the repeating patterns of music symbols.

Palais Garnier
Place de l'Opéra
75009, Paris

Parc de Monceau - XXXI

Parc de Monceau

Rotunda

This rotunda at the main entrance of Parc de Monceau 

is in the form of a classical Doric temple.  

It is known as the Pavilion de Chartres 

and was designed in the late 18th century by Claude Nicolas Ledoux.  

The ground floor of the temple was used as a customs house, 

while the upper floor was an apartment with a view of the garden 

reserved for Phillippe d'Orléans, Duke of Chartres, 

a wealthy cousin of King Louis XVI.  

Unfortunately, the Duke was guillotined during the Reign of Terror 

in 1793 and the park was nationalized.

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau

à Paris par avion!

On my way!

It is time--

I have prepared my posts but will be updating you daily 

about our Paris adventures in the comments section.

  

When I return there will be 

new stories, familiar themes, 

and thousands of photos to share with you.

à bientôt!

Café le Nemours - Place Colette

la terrasse

Before the streets are busy and this becomes a gathering place, 

the chairs and tables at Café le Nemours sit waiting in the early morning light.

I plan to be here on Wednesday...

Café le Nemours

Place Colette

75001, Paris

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Notre Dame

This 850 year old icon on the Paris landscape has greeted worshipers and tourists for centuries.  For all of 2013 there will be special concerts and celebrations for this auspicious and grand cathedral.

bon dimanche

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

6, Place du Parvis Notre-Dame,

Place Jean-Paul II

75004, Paris

Marché de Saint-Denis

Marché de Saint-Denis

The Saint-Denis Market is located just a few moments 

outside of Paris and is one of the largest in the greater Paris.  

Few tourists make a stop here, 

but it is rich with international flavors, lively and bustling.

It was closed on the day that five of us visited the Basilique Saint-Denis, 

but I am thinking that it would be worth another trip 

to the end of Métro Line 13 for the colorful market.

Marché de Saint-Denis

92 Bis Rue Gabriel Péri, 

93200 Saint-Denis

Hôtel de Béthune-Sully

The Orangerie

or second courtyard

The Hôtel de Béthune-Sully is a hôtel particulier, a private mansion, 

in the Louis XIII style, located in the Marais.  

If you enter from Rue Saint-Antoine and walk through the first paved courtyard, 

you will enter the formal garden of this 17th century home.

On this bright day we found a pleasing arrangement of architectural details, 

a blue sky, and a fading contrail.

look up

L'orangerie, Hôtel de Béthune-Sully

62 rue Saint-Antoine

75004, Paris

Palais Garnier - Repetto

What little girl would not want the 

beautiful tuille attire of a French ballerina?

The gift shop at Palais Garnier is one of my favorite stops, 

for taking photos, for people-watching, and for dreaming of sugar-plums.

Palais Garnier

8, rue Scribe

Place de l'Opéra

75009, Paris

 

Musée du Louvre - Escalier Mollien

The Mollien staircase

For anyone who has ventured into the Louvre, the size of this museum is staggering.  This staircase situated in the center of the Pavillon Mollien was built by the architect Hector Lefuel and inaugurated on August 14, 1857, along with the other buildings comprising Napoleon III's Nouveau Louvre.

On my first trip to Paris this ironwork was a subject of sketches 

as I tried to take in all the architecture Paris could deliver.  

Much of my time in Paris now is spent behind a camera lens, 

but I plan to sketch again on my next trip, 

taking the views and details at a slower pace.

Escalier Mollien - Pavillon Mollien

Musée du Louvre

75001, Paris

Boulangerie Pâtisserie Huré - cake vanille chocolat!

Delicious French Pastries

They are adorned with fruit and must, therefore, be very good for you.

If you prefer something savory, they have a selection of delicious baguette sandwiches.

miam-miam

Boulangerie Pâtisserie Huré

18, rue Rambuteau

75003, Paris

Palais Royal - Ce doit être une fille française

Palais Royal

This young woman walked on the wet pavement

in front of Le Nemours as she chatted on her phone.

Must be a French girl

(love those red boots!)

Palais Royal

75001, Paris

Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs - l'orgue

Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs

The organ is Cavaillé-Coll from 1877, 

and on this dreary, rainy day Yannick Merlin 

was rehearsing for a concert.

If you want to have a sample of the sounds and a video of the church, 

follow this link. 

bon dimanche

Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs

92 bis, Boulevard du Montparnasse

75006, Paris

Jardin des Tuileries - une petite grenouille?

une petite grenouille?

No, but this young fellow was quite comfortable 

playing in the rain-filled puddles of Jardin des Tuileries. 

The flâneurs and others in the park gave him a wide berth 

as there was much water flying.

coa-coa

or should that be ribbette-ribbette?

(ribbit!)

Jardin des Tuileries

75001, Paris