blé sucré - miam-miam

blé sucré

blé sucré is relatively new on the Paris bakery scene when one considers the legends of Ladurée and Pierre Hermé.  Founded by patissier Fabrice Le Bourdat, the list of temptations is long.  The quality is high and yet the prices are not.  So, what should you choose?

pain au chocolat, madeleine, and financier

Still hungry?

 éclair, croissant, chaussons aux pommes

More?

How about an assortment of macarons

 

 

blé sucré

7, rue Antoine Vollon

Métro Ledru Rollin

75012 Paris

 

Église Saint-Agnan de Chartres

Église Saint-Agnan de Chartres

Chartres is a quick train ride from Paris, 

and an easy day trip.

If you are there to see the cathedral, 

do not miss the other churches such as 

Église Saint-Agnan de Chartres and Église Saint-Pierre.  

Each is unique and exquisite in detail.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Aignan de Chartres

12, place de l'Etape au Vin

28000, Chartres

Jardin du Palais Royal - les amoureux

Jardin du Palais Royal

 

 

There are a few places in Paris where, in good weather,

one can just about count on seeing young couples in love... 

nothing that would embarrass your grandmother,

but a scene from a love story, perhaps.

 

 

This garden is at the top

of the list

 

 

 

Jardin du Palais Royal

75001, Paris

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



Des tapis - Rue Paul Doumer

Rugs and Reflection

 

 

Repurposed rugs...

an artful window display

 

 

bon weekend

 

 

 

 

Rue Paul Doumer

75016, Paris

 



Bassin de la Villette - la vie quotidienne

Bassin de la Villette

 

 

 

This is a scene far from the tourist crowds of Paris,

but is a favorite spot for the Parisians on a Sunday afternoon.

 

 

Pétanque (more games than I could count),

picnics among friends,

multi-generation families out for a water-side stroll,

children at play riding trotinettes...

 

 

There is something here for everyone.

 

 

 

Bassin de la Villette

Quai de la Loire

75019, Paris

Métro Laumière

 

 



 

 

 



Le Square Trousseau - zoom-zoom





 

Square Trousseau

 

 

 

Perfectly balanced on his bike without pedals,

he moved rapidly across the play area

only touching down to gain more speed

 

 

The photographer had best

step aside

 

 

zoom-zoom!

 

 

 

Le Square Trousseau

75012, Paris

Métro Ledru-Rollin



 



C'est un mystère

 

At the end of this narrow walled passage,

the enigmatic figure slipped from view

 

 

 

...and, perhaps was never seen again

 

 

(just kidding)

 

 

 

 

Rue Berton

75016, Paris

 





Les fenêtres de Paris

Windows of Paris

 

 

 

If I lived in Paris I would have the perfect shade of blue shutters

and window boxes with pink geraniums.

 

 

Then, I would have a party and invite each of you.

 

 

 

As long as I am dreaming, it might as well

be the way I want it, n'est-ce pas?

 

 

 

Windows of Paris

75010, Paris

 



Église Saint-Étienne du Mont

 

 

 

Église Saint-Étienne du Mont

 

 

 

One of my favorite churches in Paris...

 

light, airy,

filled with architectural details and history

 

 

 

bon dimanche

 

 

 

Église Saint-Étienne du Mont

1, place Ste-Geneviève

75005, Paris

 

 



Fête de la Musique!

 

 

Fête de la Musique

 

 

If you are in France, you are surely enjoying the music today.  In Paris the streets, parks, and churches are filled with music of all genres.  I will never forget the delightful close of a very busy day as we sat on the terrasse of Pré aux Clercs and listened to the wonderful sounds of smooth jazz.  As you can tell from this photo, the jazz quartet was a visual delight as well.

 

 

For the summer solstice,

have a celebration with food and music,

centered on family and friends

 

 

 

Pré aux Clercs

rue Jacob et rue Bonaparte

75006, Paris



 

 

 



L'Eure à Chartres

L'Eure à Chartres

Not only will you find the magnificent cathedral in Chartres, 

but a quiet place to stroll along the river Eure, 

stopping for a cup of tea, a delicious lunch, 

or an assortment of pastries.

The relaxed pace of life here is a welcome reprieve 

from the rush of daily life.

bon weekend

L'Eure à Chartres

28000, Chartres

Les trois chefs

Three chefs

We found these three chefs taking a midday break.  

Actually, I would guess two chefs and a cook?

The one on the left looks dressed as a chef,

and perhaps the man in the middle as well.

I wondered if the one on the right serves the plates?

Each of them has a white scarf or handkerchief 

tied in a short knot around his neck.

Ah, la vie quotidienne!

Brasserie Bofinger

5-7, rue de la Bastille

75004, Paris

Parc de Monceau - pelouse interdite?

Parc de Monceau

Have you seen the "Pelouse Interdite" signs 

in all of the green areas of Paris telling you to stay off the grass?  

Or perhaps you have seen the signs during 

the winter months indicating the grass is hibernating 

and to "stay off."

Parc de Monceau is one of the Paris parks 

that allows you to walk, sit, play on the grass 

(during the warm, green-grass months).  

Before I knew better, 

I once took a nap on the grass 

outside of Petit Palais (around the backside).

oops!

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Square Jean XXIII - dans un cadre

Square Jean XXIII

The elm trees above and the line of shrubbery below

make this lovely square into a vignette.  

Do you know this quiet, 

shady spot on the east side of Notre Dame?

Square Jean XXIII

l'Île de la Cité

75004, Paris

Ladurée - miam-miam!

Ladurée

It is probably not a healthy way to start the week, 

but who could resist these lovelies?

Perhaps just share one with a friend.

miam-miam

Ladurée

21, rue Bonaparte

75006, Paris

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Beautiful from any angle, but this view is my favorite.

When you consider that this icon of Paris has seen nine centuries of history, 

she looks like she will be around for many more.

If you come around to this side of Notre Dame, 

you can enjoy an unobstructed view (sans beaucoup de touristes) 

and enjoy a shaded bench as well.

bon dimanche

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

(seen from Square Jean XXIII)

75004, Paris

Théâtre du Palais-Royal

Théâtre du Palais-Royal

Originally known as a puppet theatre (Théâtre des Beaujolais) Théâtre du Palais-Royal was built in 1784 with seating for 750.  Through a rich history it has been a venue for operettas, plays, Neapolitan puppets, performing dogs (!), vaudeville, and comedies.  The comédie mêlée d'ariettes (comedy mixed with brief arias) was performed here including some early works of Hervé.

La Vie Parisienne, by Jacques Offenbach, was first presented here in 1866.  It is known as an opéra bouffle which is a form of operetta with elements of comedy, parody, satire, and farce.

Théâtre du Palais-Royal

Northwest corner of Palais-Royal

38, rue de Montpensier

75001, Paris

L'heure bleu - Jardin des Tuileries

Jardin des Tuileries

The perfect blue-tinted light of Paris 

on a June evening

bon weekend

Jardin des Tuileries

75001, Paris

Rue Berton - une femme et son fils

A woman and her son

This chic mother and son captured my attention 

as they moved quickly down Rue Berton.  

Undoubtedly, the animated conversation 

centered on the boy's day at school.

Rue Berton

75016, Paris

Pont des Arts - As-tu un clé?

Pont des Arts

Do you have a key?

This pedestrian bridge is in the news this week.  

The bridge was closed for a period of time 

as the weight of the "love locks" was so heavy 

that it tore a portion of the railing away from the bridge.  

The city (or the mysterious lock-remover) 

has periodically pruned locks from this bridge

 and Pont de l'Archevêché, 

but they re-appear almost as quickly as they are removed.  

Pont des Arts

75001, Paris

Cimetière Passy - un message privé

Passy Cemetery

Passy Cemetery sits in the shadow of la Tour Eiffel 

and is the final resting place of the painter Édouard Manet, 

a key figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism.

On the left corner of his grave I found a weathered

message anchored by small rocks.
Always watch for the details

Passy Cemetery
2, rue du Commandant Schloesing
75016, Paris
 

Square Santiago du Chili - les trois amis

Three friends

Just off the northwest corner of Hôtel des Invalides 

are two "pocket parks," Square Santiago du Chili 

and Place Santiago du Chili.  

These three are enjoying warm weather in the shade.

Square Santiago du Chili

Avenue de la Motte Picquet

75007, Paris

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides - des drapeaux

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides

This "soldier's church" was constructed in 1677 and its dome is recognizable on the Paris horizon.  It is worth a visit for its almost blinding light, very different from most Paris churches.  The ornate details of the altar and the organ are offset by the graceful array of flags lining both sides of the nave.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides

les Invalides

75007, Paris

 

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

On a slightly cool, but clear Sunday afternoon in May 

I happened upon this young man on a quiet slope in the park.  

He was enjoying his beverage, the gentle weather, and his book.

The book:

Ecce Homo, by Nietzsche

bon weekend

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

75019, Paris

Le Carrousel de la Gare Montparnasse

Carousel at Gare Montparnasse


This (counterclockwise) carousel has the original
wood horses along with some other interesting rides.


I do not know the significance of the turquoise "F" along the crown.

Le Carrousel de la Gare Montparnasse

Métro Montparnasse Bienvenue

75014, Paris

Déjeuner à Chatrès

Lunch in Chartrès

A quiet table for two.

Yes, this could be just about anywhere, 

but the cane chair just about gives it away.

Chartrès, 

a quick train from Paris

Des fênetres de Provins

Windows in Provins

With just a quick train ride out of Paris (from Gare de l'Est)
you can be in the midst of a Medieval village
with a panoramic view of the landscape. 


Many of the 11th century buildings are relatively unchanged.
 It is an easy day trip out of Paris and has a very quiet, peaceful feeling.

16, rue du Four des Raines

77160, Provins

La Chaumière en l'Île - la terrasse

La Chaumière en l'Île

On a quiet street, under the shade of trees,

 this terrace looks quite inviting.  

However, I am always a bit suspicious 

when there is a sign in English.  

Perhaps I am a tourist-snob?

La Chaumière en l'Île

4, rue Jean du Bellay

Île Saint-Louis

75004, Paris

Des oranges et des fraises

Oranges and strawberries

This fruit was as delicious as it looked.  The strawberries had that just-picked look and taste, but the oranges, oh my!  They were an explosion of a perfect mix of sweet and tart in your mouth.

We had a group of friends in for an early evening at our favorite apartment on St. Roch.  We devoured all the fruit as well as the radishes, baguettes, saucisson sec....

Eat well this week!

rue St Roch

75001, Paris

City Daily Photo Theme Day - "Zest!"

"Zest!"

Taken in the window of Galeries Lafayette, this grater would be fine for a citrus zest but not shaped well for larger fruits and vegetables.  I wish that I had bought one for my kitchen wall.

In observance of Theme Day for the City Daily Photo blogs (a different theme on the first day of every month), there is a double entendre with this photo:  First is the obvious function of this grater for making zest; second, my heart beats faster when it sees the Eiffel Tower design... zest!

Click here to see the many interpretations on this month's theme 

by photographers from around the world.

bon dimanche

Galeries Lafayette

Boulevard Haussmann

75009, Paris