Joyeux Mardi Gras!

Happy Mardi Gras

Love life and family

Mardi Gras

Mobile, Alabama, USA

Mairie d'Arcachon

Mairie d'Arcachon

Just a block from the beach in the charming

town of Arcachon, the bleu-blanc-rouge flies

in the bay breeze.

Did I mention the fabulous oysters?

Mairie d'Archachon

Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region

33120, France

Église de la Madeleine

Église de la Madeleine

La Madeleine assumes a prominent footprint

in the 8ième arrondissement.

Built in the Neo-Classical style its

fifty-two (52!) columns surround the building.

The interior is stunning and worth a visit.

bon dimanche

Église de la Madeleine

Place de la Madeleine

75008, Paris

La solution au casse-tête

So, here is the answer to the puzzling photo of yesterday. 

The afternoon sun was shining on the frieze of 

the building on the opposite site of the Cour Napoleon (Louvre) which is

the Pavilion Richelieu. The image of the 

frieze is seen as a reflection off the interior back wall

  (yes, through the round opening). 

It was a special moment.

Cour Napoleon

Musée du Louvre

75001, Paris

Qu'est-ce que c'est?

What is it?

A porthole, 

a painting,

a tapestry?

I had to look at the surrounding photos 

of this image to figure it out...

and I was the photographer.

bon week end

Somewhere famous in Paris

I am joining other photographers
 at Weekend Reflections here

Les Toits de Paris

Les Toits de Paris

From the Printemps rooftop there

is much to see:

windows, chimney pots, roofs, and domes

Paris rooftops

75009, Paris

"Selfie" au Cour Napoleon

Cour Napoleon

Watched this sweet couple as they took multiple selfies

in front of the impressive façades that form the 

Cour Napoleon of the Louvre.

Monsieur had his digital slr around his neck,

but Madame was adept with the phone.

Cour Napoleon

Musée du Louvre

75001, Paris

Musée du Louvre

Musée du Louvre

Although the installation of I M Pei's glass and metal

pyramids at the Louvre must have been met with the ire

of many, the attraction to this large icon of Paris has withstood

the test of nearly three decades.

It is a kinetic sculpture of sorts with

an ever-changing view depending on the time of day,

the weather, and the season.

Cour Napoleon

Musée du Louvre

75001, Paris

La Vieille Ville de Bordeaux

Through a passageway in

Old Town Bordeaux

bon week end

Bordeaux, France

Joyeux Saint-Valentin

Joyeux Saint-Valentin

Not from a fine Parisian pâtisserie, 

but the wish for a Happy Valentine's Day

to all my readers just the same

Somebody has already

asked for the sugar-laden

Eiffel Tower.

Beyond Paris

Musée Rodin

Musée Rodin

Hôtel Biron is a jewel of Parisian rocaille architecture, 

with its expansive park.

From the Musée Rodin website:

First opened to the public on 4 August 1919, 

the Musée Rodin was housed in a mansion, 

formerly called the Hôtel Peyrenc de Moras. 

Now known as the Hôtel Biron, it was built on Rue de Varenne 

between 1727 and 1732. Nearly 300 works from Rodin’s collection 

are on view in this mansion.

Do you know how long you have to stand here to capture 

a photo with absolutely no one but M. Rodin in view?

Musée Rodin

79, rue de Varenne

75007, Paris

Église Saint-Sulpice

Église Saint-Sulpice

This enormous late Baroque church

in Paris is surpassed in size only by Notre Dame.

I would have guessed Église Saint-Eustache, but

really should go back for another look.  

What would you have imagined?

The façade is massive and imposing.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Sulpice

2, rue Palatine

75006, Paris

Le Comptoire de la Gastronomie

Le Comptoire de la Gastronomie

A café with a view in all directions,

from the impressive Art Nouveau façade of the

café/boutique to the café across the street

(Le Cochon à l'Oreille).

bon week end

Le Comptoire de la Gastronomie

34, rue Montmartre

75001, Paris

Art d' Arcachon

A bigger than life painting

in an Arcachon gallery,

caught in afternoon reflections

Arcachon 

Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region

33120, France

 

 

Les Marquis de Ladurée

Les Marquis de Ladurée

The windows of Paris never disappoint and

Les Marquis de Ladurée displayed

exotic birds of organza and wire

(Hint: If you have trouble getting

photos of windows without a reflection,

try an evening photo shoot.)

Les Marquis de Ladurée

14, rue de Castiglione

75001, Paris

Le Métro

Sometimes a simple smile

transcends language 

Make a difference

Le Métro 10

75008, Paris

 

Façade de 34, rue Pasquier

Not all of the elephants

seen in Paris are on carrousels

There was a rather famous one known as

the Elephant of the Bastille, a monument which existed

between 1813 and 1846 and was memorialized by

Victor Hugo in his novel, Les Misérables.

34, rue Pasquier

75008, Paris

Sacré Coeur et Eglise de la Sainte-Trinité

Sacré Coeur et Eglise de la Sainte-Trinité

Rising above the rooftops and chimney pots

are these two majestic churches

bon dimanche

Basilique du Sacré Coeur et

Église de la Sainte-Trinité

75018 et 75009, Paris

 

Musée du Louvre - le reflet

Musée du Louvre

The sharp lines and edges of the 'pyramid du Louvre' form

an eye-deceiving reflection of the buildings and the blue sky.

Classic architecture transformed into 

shards of an eclectic puzzle

Musée du Louvre

75001, Paris

(I am joining James' Weekend Reflections)

Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel

Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel

...and I thought he might

jump off the carrousel and 

run away with me

Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel

Place de Varsovie

75016, Paris

CDP Theme Day - Loving Life

Cour Damoye

This group created an impromptu party

and enjoyed a makeshift table

with lively conversation.

Today I join photobloggers from around the world

in theme day.  Click here to see their interpretations. 

The theme for February is 

"LOVING LIFE"

Cour Damoye

75011, Paris