Jardin du Palais Royal

Jardin du Palais Royal

This woman was sitting alone 
with her thoughts

in the Jardin du Palais Royal

The quiet moments in this garden are shared daily 

no matter the temperature or season.

Jardin du Palais Royal

75001, Paris

Chapelle Notre Dame des Anges

Chapelle Notre Dame des Anges

This glorious window is hidden in a small church on Rue de Vaugirard.  

The plain front and nondescript entrance belie the rich interior.

So often it is the case.

There are so many churches in Paris... explore

bon dimanche

Chapelle Notre Dame des Anges

102, rue de Vaugirard

75006, Paris

Rue du Jardinet

Rue du Jardinet

Walking in the wet streets after a Paris shower...

better than rain anywhere else

Rue du Jardinet

75006, Paris

Métro Odéon

Café de la Paix - des chaises vert

Green chairs at Café de la Paix

It is Friday and I have reserved these chairs 

for later today...

a virtual Paris get-together with friends

Alons-y!

bon weekend

Café de la Paix

12, boulevard des Capucines

75009, Paris

 

Les toits de Paris

From the rooftop of Printemps

...the view is spectacular

Do you see the boxes on the roof of Palais Garnier?

bee hives!

Can you get me a ticket to that roof?

I would be ever so grateful...

I love the bees!

The rooftops of Paris

from Printemps terrace

Boulevard Haussmann

75009, Paris

Square de la place Adolphe Chérioux - kiosque à musique

Square de la place Adolphe Chérioux

The bandstand

This square is a work of the architect Jean-Camille Formigé 

and was established in 1896.  

It is a long, narrow green space providing benches 

and a play area as well as this bandstand.  

The landscaping and trees buffer the noise from the busy Rue de Vaugirard.

Although hidden in this photo, 

you can see the Eiffel Tower just over the bandstand.

 

Square de la place Adolphe Chérioux

Rue de Vaugirard 

75015, Paris

Métro Vaugirard (at the front of the park) 

 

L'architecture de Paris

Rue Mademoiselle

I posted the door with the dog, cat and salamanders, 

but the beautiful stone work 

and graceful balconies of this early 20th century building 

are worth a second look

...with a different viewpoint

76-78, rue Mademoiselle

75015, Paris

Métros Vaugirard et Volontaires

Les couleurs de l'automne - Le Bidule Café

Le Bidule Café

The colors of autumn

The yellows and oranges of this café 

will soon match the leaves with their autumnal colors.

May you have a week of bright skies and warm colors

Le Bidule Café

2, rue Faidherbe

75011, Paris

Cathédral Notre-Dame de Chartres - un détail

Chartres Cathedral

12th Century Gothic

The 300 narrow, winding steps to the bell tower 

reward the adventurous climber with a quiet and lofty view of Chartres 

as well as intricate details.  

The cathedral artisans carved images of beasts and flowers 

in places where they would not be easily seen by anyone but God.

bon dimanche

Cathédral Notre-Dame de Chartres

Chartres, France
(an easy day-trip from Paris by train)

Jardin du Luxembourg - La Fontaine Médicis

The Medici Fountain

Jardin du Luxembourg

This quiet space is found just east of the Sénat 

with the closest garden entrance at Place P. Claudel.  

The garlands of ivy on the long sides of the pool 

provide a respite from the otherwise crowded garden.  

Even when all of these chairs are filled, 

there is a hush and reverence, 

perhaps a tacit understanding by those who come here.  

It is one of my favorite quiet places in Paris

bon weekend

Medici Fountain

Jardin du Luxembourg

75006, Paris

 

Rue Mouffetard - les danseurs

Dancing in the street

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

Louvre -- Le Carrousel du Louvre

Le Carrousel du Louvre

What looks to be a fashionable mall is a corridor to the least-crowded entrance into the Louvre.  You can buy tickets at the Tabac on the lower level and quickly enter - no lines and no waiting!  

To get there take Metro Line 1 and exit at the Palais Royal--Musee du Louvre station, and never leave the covered area going from one underground area to the next.  Just follow the signs to Carrousel du Louvre. 

In the distance you can see the Pyramid

Le Carrousel du Louvre

99, rue du Rivoli

75001, Paris

Gwen Choc - boulangerie

Gwen Choc

It is nearly impossible to find a "bad" boulangerie in Paris and each artisan boulangerie-patisserie has a loyal following.  The aroma of fresh bread wafts down the street and the lines form at the appointed hour...

Gwen Choc is a favorite in this area of the Marais.  My favorite neighborhood is Place Maubert and its Eric Kayser boulangerie...  be sure to ask for the Baguette Monge.

Gwen Choc

5, rue du Temple

75004, Paris

Metro sign

The high post with its lighted "M" is one of my favorite Metro signs
particularly when seen against a clear Paris sky


The season does not matter

Paris Metro Sign

Near Louvre

75001, Paris

Lenôtre

Lenôtre


A little something for your  sweet-tooth on a Monday.

The Schuss cake is one of the crown jewels 
of a famous French cooking school: Lenôtre.  
The base is a sponge cake with a layer of mousse 
and a topping of whipped cream. 
The varieties and flavors are endless.


Although I admire the aesthetics of this dessert, 
I prefer a tart or a portion of chocolate.


How about you?

Lenôtre

15, boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Eglise de la Sainte-Trinité

Eglise de la Sainte-Trinité

This church is known simply as La Trinité or Sainte-Trinité, built between 1861 and 1867 as part of the beautification and reorganization of Paris by Haussmann. It was designed by the Théodore Ballu taking inspiration from French and Italian Renaissance architecture. Prior to the construction, many significant historical buildings were demolished to make way for the church and surrounding roads.

The façade, with its three porches and gallery above, is topped by a large rose window and two large windows. Rising above these windows is a four-story bell tower with two cupolas at the top.

bon dimanche

Eglise de la Sainte-Trinité
66, rue Saint Lazare

75009, Paris

Bouillon Chartier II

Bouillon Chartier

une brasserie

Quite often the line extends from the door into the tiled courtyard to wait for a table.  The scene then resembles an alfresco cocktail party.

May you have a restful 

and delicious weekend

Bouillon Chartier

7, rue du Faubourg Montmartre

75009, Paris

Cimetière de Passy

Cimetière de Passy

Just across the way from Trocadéro and the stunning view of la Tour Eiffel 

(and the throngs of people) 

is this quiet cemetery with its own stunning view of la Tour.  

As you walk the narrow shaded paths, 

the chatter of  the many tourists 

along with hawkers of Eiffel Tower key chains 

cannot be heard.

The muffled sounds of the caretaker 

going about his daily maintenance 

and the songs of birds 

will accompany you on a walk 

through the rows of crypts, tombs and markers.

Cimetière de Passy

75016, Paris

Métro Trocadéro

Jardin du Palais Royal - les promeneurs

Jardin du Palais Royal

the dog walkers

It does not matter how early you get up in the morning.  

The dog walkers are out in force.  

Truthfully, I cannot imagine a more scenic place to gather with others, 

away from the busy streets and sheltered from the elements.  

Can you hear the crunch of the limestone gravel under your feet?

Jardin du Palais Royal

75001, Paris

 

Le Grand Colbert - une brasserie

Le Grand Colbert

In the beginning twilight of the dinner hours, 

the creamy yellow walls are offset by a large vase of flowers.  

The service is quite proper, 

the plat fresh and perfectly prepared, 

and the dessert sinfully chocolate*.  

What a great evening with friends.

miam-miam

*profiteroles with ice cream 

and smothered in hot chocolate sauce

Le Grand Colbert

2, rue Vivienne

75002, Paris

Le Huitième - une brasserie

Le Huitième

This brasserie is memorable on my usual walk up 

Boulevard de Courcelles from Parc de Monceau.  

The café chairs in Paris come in every color in the rainbow 

and in many styles and designs.  

You do not see many of the orange shades, 

but the view across the wide boulevard 

is that of bright orange window awnings.

It appears that there would be plenty of room 

on this glassed in terrace for all of us.

allons-y!

Le Huitième

13, boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Métro Villiers