Quatorze juillet et l'anniversaire de mon blog!

Quatorze juillet

This shot was taken in 2008 on a two-week

solo trip to Paris.  I waited for what seemed hours against

the barricades on Champs-Élysées for the procession.  

The parade was fabulous but the preparations

were even better.

It is not a coincidence that I chose this date

for the beginning of my blog six years ago.

Virginia Jones (Paris Through My Lens) guided my 

entrance to blogging and I will be forever grateful for

her help and lasting friendship.

Thank you all for your support

and comments over the past six years.

Avenue des Champs-Élysées

75008, Paris

Printemps

Printemps

Dressed in its Christmas finery...

Perhaps I am hungry but it makes be think

of a delicious pastry, 

a religieuse perhaps.

Printemps

64, boulevard Haussmann

75009, Paris

Five Year Anniversary - Paris and Beyond!

Quatorze juillet

This was my first post five years ago when I started my Paris and Beyond photo blog under the guidance of Virginia Jones. In the five years of posting daily, I have met many wonderful people from around the world.  Many of those I have met in person and have traveled to faraway places to see them.  In the beginning I was not sure that I could keep up a daily post with a very full-time job and business travel.

Thank you to all who have followed me and have reached out to me.

Tomorrow I start year six....

(Merci beaucoup, Virginie!)

Avenue des Champs Elysees

75008, Paris

Clos Montmartre

Clos Montmartre

Does this look like the city of Paris?  

It is on the hill of Montmartre, only a short distance from Sacré Coeur.  

Often referred to as the secret vineyard of Paris,

but there have been vines here since the 12th century.  

Clos Montmartre is owned by the Mairie de Paris, 

contains about 1,900 vines of 28 different grape varieties, 

and is the last active vineyard inside the city limits.

If you are in Paris in October, do not miss the Fête des Vendanges, 

a five day harvest festival that draws Parisians and visitors alike. 

I will have come and gone by that time, sadly missing the celebrations this year.

Clos Montmartre

14-18, rue des Saules

75018, Paris

Mairie de Nogent-sur-Marne

Mairie de Nogent-sur-Marne

Just east of Bois de Vincennes are a series 

of beautiful villes situated along the Marne river. 

 If you take the RER A to Nogent-sur-Marne, 

the Mairie is only a one block walk (west).

It almost looks like scene from a fairy tale

Mairie de Nogent-sur-Marne

Place Roland Nungesser

94130, Nogent-sur-Marne

Le Défilé Militaire - des pompiers

Les Sapeurs-Pompiers

One of many groups in the Military Parade of Quatorze Juillet...  

On the eve of the Bastille Day celebrations the pompiers have parties 

all over Paris that do not end until the sun comes up.  

All of the arrondissements have Bals des Pompiers 

and by some count it may be as many as 60 (!) in Paris and the near suburbs.

Have you been to one?

Avenue des Champs Élysées

75008, Paris

 

Quatorze Juillet! - Bastille Day

Military Parade

of Bastille Day

2008

The parade involves around 7,000 soldiers 

(5,000 on foot, the rest are crew members or cavalrymen), 

300 vehicles, 240 horses and more than 80 planes and helicopters.

And, a celebration for me as today makes 

4 years of daily photos on Paris and Beyond

without missing a day!

A special thanks to all of you who follow my blog 

and to Virginia (Paris Through My Lens) 

who helped me "birth this baby" four years ago.

Avenue des Champs Élysées

75008, Paris

 

Le Défilé Militaire

Republican Guard Cavalry Regiment

Military Parade

(quatorze juillet)

The uniforms were perfect, 

from the elegant helmets to the rich leather boots.

The horses were exquisitely groomed and trained.

There will be 250 horses in the celebrated parade on Monday

Le Défilé Militaire du quatorze Juillet

Avenue des Champs Elysées

75008, Paris