Des chaussures roses

Pink shoes...

Seen walking down Boulevard Beaumarchais

It was a "sweater day" in late spring, 

but this person was bundled for the cold.

Boulevard Beaumarchais

75003, Paris

Quai Malaquais - Il pleut

Quai Malaquais

On a rainy spring morning the streets were quiet enough 

to hear the footsteps on the rain-soaked Quai Malaquais.

bon weekend

Quai Malaquais

75006, Paris

le blanc et le noir

Jardin du Palais Royal

These two chiens were an interesting pair 

as they strolled on the "Paris dirt" at Jardin du Palais Royal.  

One, sleek, petite and dark...

 the other, fluffy, medium-sized, and white.  

They did keep in close step, 

each with the other, 

evidence of much practice on early morning walks. 

Jardin du Palais Royal

75001, Paris

 

Le fumeur

The smoker

Standing outside the restaurant on a night of drizzling rain,

the waiter took his short break with a cigarette

Rue Saint Honore

75001, Paris

l'escalier

L'escalier

When you rent an apartment on the 5th floor (6th from the street level), 

count on getting your exercise  unless there is a petite elevator.  

Assuredly, you only forget an item once on your way out 

as it is a breathless return to the apartment!

This eighteenth century apartment was definitely worth the climb

 and made it possible to eat baguettes and macarons with reckless abandon.

Rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine

75011, Paris

Dejeuner a Paris

Lunch in Paris

How can a simple sandwich be so divine?

All it takes is fresh bread and an assortment of the finest ingredients.

Remembering those who served

on this Memorial Day.

75002, Paris

Eglise Saint Eustache

Saint Eustache

This view is no longer - 

Taken from the steps leading up from Les Halles, 

this masterpiece of late Gothic architecture 

took over 100 years to buiild and was completed in the mid-1600s.

bon dimanche

Eglise Saint Eustache

75002, Paris

La Tour Eiffel - en printemps

La Tour Eiffel

One of the most recognizable structures in the world....

and one of my favorite viewpoints.

La Tour Eiffel

75007, Paris

 

Canal Saint Martin - le weekend

Quai de Jemmapes

Canal Saint Martin

May you dangle your legs over the edge
and enjoy wonderful weather in the company of your best friend


bon weekend

Quai de Jemmapes

75010, Paris

Square du Ranelagh - Jean de la Fontaine

The poet Jean de la Fontaine spent almost three decades

writing his version of 243 fables. 

This statue in Square du Ranelagh shows him regardant à ses pieds

le Corbeau et le Renard, one of his revered fables.

Square du Ranelagh

Métro La Muette

75016 Paris

Pas assez de sièges?

Métro Laumier

The metro was not crowded at all, 

but sadly the young lady had no place to sit.

This is not an unusual scene and the woman on the billboard 

peering out adds a bit of humor.


C'est Paris!

Métro Laumier

75019, Paris

Musée Rodin - le jardin du Hôtel Biron

Musée Rodin

This verdant scene is in the garden of Hôtel Biron, 

the site of Musée Rodin, and sits in the shadow of Les Invalides.

This quiet place in Paris is worth a visit 

to see the sculptures of Rodin 

as well as some of Camille Claudel.  

The garden includes some of Rodin's most recognizable 

works including The Thinker and The Gates of Hell.

Musée Rodin - Hôtel Biron

79, rue de Varenne

75007, Paris

Paris rouge - une terrasse

Café terrace 

With a view of Palais Garnier and the people passing by, 

a seat here on the café terrace is just about perfect.

l'Entracte Café

1, rue Auber

75009, Paris

Église de la Sainte-Trinité

Église de la Sainte-Trinité

The blue skies and pink blooms of spring
frame this elegant church.


bon dimanche

Église de la Sainte-Trinité

 66, rue Saint Lazare

75009, Paris

Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel

Eiffel Tower Carousel

There are many Belle Epoque carrousels around Paris.  Each carrousel has unique details setting it apart from the others.  As you can tell from the ceiling of this one, the theme is le cirque.


Wishing you a wonderful weekend and hope that if you are in Paris
you will find a carrousel and take a ride.  You are forever young on a carrousel.



bon weekend

Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel

75007, Paris

Parc de Monceau - manger ou courir?

Parc de Monceau has few tourists, 

and the people you see in the park either work or live nearby.  

It is one of my favorite parks for watching la vie quotidienne.

Parc de Monceau

75008, Paris

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

Parc des Buttes Chaumont



This lovely park frequented by Parisians
is not the only spot in the city to find a profusion of flowers. 
Do not forget to explore.


A hand-picked bouquet of flowers today
to each of you

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

75019, Paris

Petit Palais - la cour

Petit Palais

The Courtyard

At the center of this beautiful palace is a quiet and serene courtyard with patio seating for lunch or un café.

  The museum is free and the courtyard is perfect for a rest after seeing the museum and its exquisite palace.


Do not miss Monet's  "Soleil Couchant sur la Seine à Lavacourt"
and Rembrandt's self-portrait painted in 1631.

Petit Palais, City of Paris Fine Art Museum
Avenue Winston Churchill
75008 Paris

Bassin de la Villette - la vie quotidienne

Bassin de la Villette

This is not a place frequented by tourists...

which is why I love it so.

It is a place where Parisians can enjoy a relaxing afternoon:

sunning, strolling, having a picnic, playing games...

It is a great place to observe the best of Paris, 

to see the locals as "not so different" from you.

However, do note that there are no guard rails 

and a meter drop to the surface of the water.

Bassin de la Villette

75019, Paris

Promo! Des orchidées

Orchids

A street-side display of flowers is typical in all parts of Paris.  The orchids so carefully protected sous cellophane are a promise of colorful plants for months to come.  The prices seen here are comparable to what one might expect to pay at home.  If you are going to be in Paris for a week or so, a pot of these orchids would make you feel right at home.

Thinking of my daddy who had 

a greenhouse full of these for most of my life.

Marché Maubert
Place Maubert
75005, Paris

Fêtes des Mères

Joyeux Fêtes des Mères

Wishing mothers around the world a joyous Mother's Day 

as we celebrate in the United States on the second Sunday in May.  

If you want to celebrate twice, 

be sure to mark the last Sunday in May (25th) 

for the traditional French celebration of mothers.  

The tradition calls for flowers and perhaps a poem, 

catering to the whims of "maman," 

and culminating the day with a large meal for the whole family, bien sûr.

The dessert, so I am told, is a cake that resembles a bunch of flowers.

bon dimanche

Musée du Louvre

75001, Paris

 

 

Le Bar à Huîtres

Le Bar à Huîtres

The sidewalk display in front of the restaurant is colorfully arranged 

with a large selection of les fruits de mer

Although I have not eaten here, 

the boxes in the bottom row are labeled Les Huîtres Cadoret, 

a family company over five generations since 1880.

It makes my mouth water just to think about these bivalves.

 

miam-miam

Le Bar à Huîtres

33, bd Beaumarchais

75003, Paris

 

Boulangerie St. Antoine - la Parisse

Boulangerie St. Antoine

The window was filled with tempting pastries, 

but we opted for baguettes for our spring soirée.  

I seem to remember pinching the end off of one before we left the street.

The reflections set the scene here in the heart of the Marais.

bon weekend

Boulangerie St. Antoine

29, Rue Saint Antoine

75004, Paris

Square Armand-Trousseau

Square Armand-Trousseau

This beautiful wooded park sits quietly off Rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine.  On Sundays it is lively (as are all the parks of Paris) with children and families.  One can bring a picnic from the near-by Marché d'Aligre or the pâtisserie/boulangerie just outside the gates at Blé Sucré.  

This lovely park has a dark past with a cemetery in Medieval times for orphans;

in 1674 it was the site of a hospital; and later became an orphanage.

Square Armand-Trousseau

1, rue Antoine Vollon

75012, Paris

Tout le monde aime des baguettes!

Mid-morning errand...

Does she go daily to bring back the baguettes?  

How is it that I have not seen her before?

It pays to keep one's eyes open in Paris

...and camera ready

Rue des Petits Champs

75002, Paris

 

 

 

Rue de l'Abreuvoir

Rue de l'Abreuvoir

Just a few steps away from La Maison Rose (a brighter shade of rose) is this charming home, well kept and beautifully adorned with the spring cascades of lavender wisteria.  

As much as I love the look of wisteria, it is quite a nuisance and must be properly corralled.  It has been known to kill trees with its heavy weight.

Rue de l'Abreuvoir

75018, Paris

Un ancien mur de pierre

An ancient stone wall

The crumbling stone wall 

crusted with moss and lichens 

provides a perch for delicate yellow wild flowers

Chartrès

Beyond, France

Église Sainte-Chapelle

Église Sainte-Chapelle

Miracle of Light

This Gothic masterpiece built in 1246 is an incredible feat of construction.  The upper chapel seen here surrounds the visitor with soaring stained glass windows of deep, vibrant primary colors.  The ceiling design and structure is unique and recognized the world over.  

The architectural prowess of the 13th century rivals any construction we might see today.  Sainte-Chapelle is essentially a building of glass supported only by the narrow rib-like cages that press the entire weight of the roof  through a system of arches on to a few columns - amazing!

bon dimanche

Église Sainte-Chapelle

4, boulevard du Palais

75001, Paris

Lutétia Île Saint Louis Restaurant

Le Lutétia

The usually busy tables were noticeably vacant on this rainy May afternoon.  However, from inside the large windows give a great view of the quai, the Seine, and Pont Louis Philippe.

In the course of an hour or two we watched several stories unfold in the rain:

a drowning in the Seine, a family drama on the terrace, and wedding pictures on the quai below.

You do not always have to rush around Paris to see the city.  

On some days the city comes to you.

Lutétia Île Saint Louis Restaurant

33, quai de Bourbon

75004, Paris

Bassin de la Villette - pétanque

Bassin de la Villette

On a Sunday afternoon 

you will find many groups of people playing pétanque.  

We found a foursome of twenty-somethings 

enjoying a game with a man and a woman on each team.  

So much for thinking that only 

little old French men play pétanque.

Quai de la Loire

Bassin de la Villette

75019, Paris

City Daily Photo Theme Day - Squares

Hôtel du Nord

A faceless shadow leaves its mark 

on the restaurant floor tiles.

On the first day of each month I join all my City Daily Photo friends in a theme.  This month's theme is SQUARES.  Click here to see all of the others from around the world.

Hôtel du Nord

102 Quai de Jemmapes

75010, Paris