Poisson d'avril! (demain)

Do you know what tomorrow is?

In the USA it is April Fools Day and we play pranks like, 

"Look out!  There's a spider on your shoulder!" 

The tradition in France includes poisson d'avril, attempting to attach a paper fish to the victim's back without being noticed.  There is an interesting history of this holiday of foolishness, and it originated in France in the 16th century.  You can read about it here.

Today in France, people who are fooled on April 1 are called poisson d'avril, which literally means the "April Fish," because a young naive fish is easily caught.

This man who is kindly shucking oysters has been "tagged" with a paper fish. 

So, are you going to play a little prank tomorrow?

Le Baron Rouge, wine bar

1, rue Théophile Roussel

75012, Paris

Montmartre - printemps

A pink "explosion" providing

quite a view from

these windows and balconies

Montmartre

75018, Paris

Montmartre - avenue Junot

The springtime shades of

chartreuse and lavender

drape this courtyard entry

Probably the safest place

for the invasive wisteria

Avenue Junot

Montmartre

75018, Paris

Église Saint-Louis d'Antin

Église Saint-Louis d'Antin

Joyeuses Pâques

Église Saint-Louis d'Antin

63, rue de Caumartin

75009, Paris

Un bébé dinosaure...

Maintenant, on peut faire un bébé dinosaure...

un bébé dinosaure en chocolat!

The Parisian chocolatiers are quite creative

with their Easter displays - indeed!

A La Mère de Famille

82, rue Montorgueil

75002, Paris

Le Louvre et la Pleine Lune

Louvre and the first full moon of spring,

a calm scene and reflection...

bon week end

Musée du Louvre

75001, Paris

Jardin Marie Trintignant

Jardin Marie Trintignant

This small patch of green and pink

along Quai des Célestins will 

make you turn your head

Loving spring....

Jardin Marie Trintignant

Rue de l'Ave Maria

75004, Paris

Oeufs en Chocolat

In preparation of Pâques (Easter)

you will find the windows of

pâtisseries and boulangeries filled

with their specialties of the season.

Au Levain du Marais

28, boulevard Beaumarchais

75011, Paris

Pyramid - Parc de Monceau

Parc de Monceau

dressed and adorned

for spring

Parc de Monceau

75008, Paris

Dimanche des Rameaux

Dimanche des Rameaux

(Palm Sunday)

In preparation for Palm Sunday in Paris

the ancient but active church of Saint Louis en l'Île

has both palm branches and a donkey.

The music for Dimanche des Rameaux includes

Puccini's Messa de Gloria

bon dimanche

Église Saint Louis en l'Île

Île Saint Louis

75004, Paris

 

Café Kitsuné - Palais Royal

Palais Royal

In the arcade shops and restaurants of

Palais Royal you will find a wide range 

of choices: from the old to the new and from the 

elegant to the casual.

Café Kitsuné

Palais Royal

75001, Paris

Today I join other photographers

here at James' Weekend Reflections

  

Montmartre - une terrasse vide

Almost spring,

Montmartre café,

blue skies, 

and welcoming terrace...

alons-y!

Montmartre café

75018, Paris

 

 

Cimetière du Père Lachaise

Closing time at Père Lachaise

does not mean a leisurely stroll to the exit... 

as the whistle bleats remind you.

(joyeux anniversaire, Alexa) 

Cimetière du Père Lachaise

75020, Paris

Butte aux Cailles

Just ring the bell

for entrance

Hidden streets of Butte aux Cailles

75013, Paris

Fleurs de Paris

The flowers are abundant in Paris

and so are the flower shops

(Happy Pi Day

 3.14159265359....)

rue de Belleville

75019, Paris

 

Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste-de-Belleville

Église-Saint-Jean-Baptiste-de-Belleville

Beautiful and sturdy iron hinges on the

massive doors of this neo-gothic church 

are offset by the soft visage

bon dimanche

Église-Saint-Jean-Baptiste-de-Belleville

139, rue de Belleville

75019, Paris

Le Baron Rouge - des huitres sur le pouce?

Le Baron Rouge

Delicious oysters served on the sidewalk

along with a healthy dose of sunshine...

ah, wish I was there

Le Baron Rouge, wine bar

1, rue Théophile Roussel

75012, Paris

Port de l'Arsenal

Port de l'Arsenal

Commercial boats, working boats,

pleasure boats, and many house boats...

all can be found in Port de l'Arsenal

between the Seine and Place de la Bastille

bon week end

Port de l'Arsenal

75004, Paris

Take a look at James' Weekend Reflections

to see reflections from around the world.

Paris au printemps

Paris in Spring

After a frigid winter

all of Paris prepares for spring

and even la tour Eiffel

dons a prissy pink crinoline

(almost spring)

la tour Eiffel

Champ de Mars

5, avenue Anatole France

75007, Paris

une rue cachée

A charming hidden street 

with vines and trees, 

a slight spring-like breeze,

and an occasional glimpse of a pussy-cat.

Butte aux Cailles

75013, Paris

Chez Gladines

Chez Gladines

l'Original

This setting in Butte aux Cailles is the original restaurant

serving Basque cuisine.  If you are looking for elegant dining

pass on by, but if you want to experience a local eatery

and all the salad you can manage for about 10€ 

and served in a stainless steel mixing bowl, come on in.

(I have also eaten twice at Chez Gladines on Blvd Saint-Germain -

same menu but different atmosphere)

Chez Gladines

30, rue des cinq Diamantes

75013, Paris

 

Le Parc de Bercy

Le Parc de Bercy

Two pergolas with a canopies of

wisteria vines, a deep gold in late November.

Spring will bring the purple blooms....  soon.

Le Parc de Bercy

75012, Paris

Take a look at James' Weekend Reflections here

to see all the creativity in capturing reflections.

Fondation Louis-Vuitton

Fondation Louis-Vuitton

What genius to have designed this intriguing structure at

the edge of Bois de Boulogne.  One has a feeling of 

riding an enormous ship high above the Bois de Boulogne 

with a view of the Paris skyline in the distance.

Fondation Louis-Vuitton

8, avenue Mahatma Ghandi

Bois de Boulogne 75116, Paris

Métro Sablons

Grande Galerie de l'Évolution

Grande Galerie de l'Évolution

Although we went to see the Robert Doisneau exhibit of photographs

taken at the museum, this parade of animals was magnificent.

I wondered how I could have been to Paris so many times 

and yet failed to visit this museum

Grande Galerie de l'Évolution

Jardin des Plantes

75005, Paris

City Daily Photo - "Where I Belong"

Theme Day for the City Daily Photo group

this month is "Where I Belong." Although I have many 

favorite places in Paris, my happiest times are spent 

with family or friends at a café terrace.  Although I have sat in 

winter months with a drizzling rain and a lab robe for warmth,

this spring scene with blue skies and warm sun is perfect.

See where other CDP photographers feel they "belong"

Pain et Chocolat

16, avenue de la Motte-Piquet

75007, Paris