Déjeuner?

What a shame that I did not capture him "snapping the linens"

as he waved each smartly pressed square over the table. 

As I recall, he was poetry in motion.

La Vinoteca

32, rue Courcelles

75008 Paris

La saison des champignons

My dear young friend Isabelle from Bordeaux introduced me to the delicious cèpes seen above in Marché Maubert.  She took me to a delightful restaurant serving authentic Savoyard fondue with a generous mix of cèpes.  November is mushroom season as you can see from the selection above.  In addition to the cèpes and girolle, there were coulmelles, trompettes, and pied mouton.

I learn much with every trip and will share the restaurant with you on another post.

Église de Saint-Germain-des-Prés

This ancient church built in the 12th Century boasts a romanesque tower and other treasures within.  Parts of the church remain from the 6th century beginnings.  It is undergoing a much-needed restoration to bring it back to its former glory.

 

Did you know that the heart of Descartes is interred here? 

The rest of him is at the Pantheon. 

The fantastic acoustics enhance performances of Gregorian chants,

 and the medieval surroundings make a haunting backdrop.

bon dimanche

Église de Saint-Germain-des-Prés

3, place Saint-Germain-des-Prés

75006 Paris

 

Sergei Loier - Photoquai 2011

On the last day of Photoquai 2011, an open-air exhibit along the Seine at Quai Branly, the dreary day was brightened by the nearly 400 photo images by 46 photographers from around the world.  I met Vreni (Verenas Paris Blog and Vienna Daily Photo) and we enjoyed the afternoon strolling through this free exhibit.

The above by Sergei Loier, a 30-something Russian, was my favorite.  As I remember, his models are all children from an orphanage, and by the time he concluded his photo project, all had been adopted.

What a treat to see this eclectic photo exhibit... on the very last day!

  

Photoquai 2011
musée du quai Branly
37, quai Branly
75007 Paris

Pâtisserie - Julien IV

Photos may be prohibited, but drooling on the glass is allowed

I will have un macaron pistache framboise, s'il vous plaît.

And for you?

bon weekend

Julien
73, ave Franklin D Roosevelt
75008 Paris

A Pilgrimage to Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois

For years I have wanted to see this amazing tribute to Rudolph Nureyev, a fringed kilim rug meticulously crafted in bronze and glass mosaics by Ezio Frigerio.  The loose drapes of rug over the "traveling trunk" is a bright gem in the Russian Orthodox Cemetery, an homage to Nureyev's Bashkir heritage.

His funeral, the civil ceremony, was at Opéra Garnier in the rococo foyer after an elegant procession up the grand staircase.  The devotees of Nureyev payed their respects as an orchestra played Tchaikovsky and Bach.  The splendor of Garnier was left behind and he was buried in the Russian cemetery at Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois.

One week ago, Peter (Peter's Paris) and I made the journey by train, by bus, and on foot to the remote town.  As a town it is oblivious to the cemetery and does not encourage the tourists with signs of direction.  For two hours we saw only the custodians of the cemetery as we walked among the graves, a quiet time in this spectacular resting place of the great dancer and choreographer.

To read more about Rudolph Nureyev, the biography Nureyev, the Life (2007) by Julie Kavanagh is spellbinding.

Rudolph Nureyev (1938-1993)
Russian Orthodox Cemetery
Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois

La Tour Eiffel - disappearing act

So the day was not filled with sun...

A low ceiling obscured the uppper floors of buildings, and

gave a mysterious look to La Tour

La Tour Eiffel
Quai Branly
75007 Paris

Stepping out...

This little angel was seen stepping off the curb of Rue Théophile Roussel just at the edge of Marché d'Aligre.  A little unsteady on her feet, she was moving at a steady pace all the same!

Cimetière Montmartre

When I visit a city, I always search out the cemeteries.  This was my first trip to Montmartre, and it was regrettably closed.

We could only peer from the bridge down the lonely center road  



Malcolm Miller, Chartres Cathedral expert

On Sundays, I usually feature a church.

Today, I am presenting a portrait of Malcolm Miller, who is likely the foremost authority on Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres.  He has been giving lecture tours of this world famous cathedral for over 50 years and says that he continues to learn new details.

According to Mr. Miller, the 13th century Chartres Cathedral can be compared to a library. And like a library, we may visit and read many books, maybe even re-read some books, but we will never read all the books. Chartres is much the same. Its contents: architectural design, statues, and stained glass are each like books and their respective images their text. What is remarkable in this new millennium, said Miller, is that much of Chartres can still be "read."  (from Kathleen Lang's "Malcolm Miller: Reading Chartres Cathedral, info@artagogo.com)

If you have an opportunity to see Chartres Cathedral, be sure to search out Mr. Miller for better understanding of the details, stories and mysteries of the cathedral.  He will demand your attention much like a professor of his students and delight you with his humor and intimate knowledge.

bon dimanche

Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres

Chartres, France 

Le Temps des Cerises

The scene reflects the texture of the wall and a very kind Frenchman!


Le Temps des Cerises
75018 Paris

Café de Luna

Café de Luna receives so-so ratings

but with a red awning on a busy corner of Boulevard de Clichy

I could stop by for a coffee and watch the moving scenery!

Café de Luna
122, boulevard de Clichy
75018 Paris
Métro Blanche or
Métro Place de Clichy

L'Atelier - Orla Kiely

Walking with Peter and Marie down Rue Tholozé in April, I captured this shot through the open door of an atelier."  What I did not know from this unasuming scene is that Orla Kiely is an award-winning fashion designer.

I discover much as a detail-oriented photographer.

Orla Kiely

4, rue Tholozé

75018 Paris

Métro Abbesses 

L'architecture de Paris

Just at the exit of Metro La Muette is this adorned building.

Le Moulin de la Galette

Perhaps a tourist shot, but a delightful place for déjeuner with friends



Le Moulin de la Galette

83, rue Lepic

75018 Paris

Façade blanche

On the deuxième étage high above the shops of Rue des Abbesses is this fashionable façade, wrought iron railings, boxes of greenery and flowers, shuttered balcony windows,

and a touch of rouge in the awnings.

Do not forget to look up!

Rue des Abbesses

et Rue Burq

Montmartre

75018 Paris

Église Saint Étienne du Mont

The churches of Paris are museums of sculpture, architecture, and paintings. 

Église Saint-Étienne du Mont is abundantly overflowing in its richness.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Étienne du Mont
1, place Ste-Geneviève
75005 Paris

Un ombre

The grillwork of the entryway

makes long, ornate shadows in the foyer

3, rue Antoine Vollon
75012 Paris
Métro Ledru Rollin

Une moto rose - Zoom-zoom

On the street, a pink scooter...

Now, that's my style!

Zoom-zoom! 

Le Square Trousseau

I have seen this restaurant/café on three or four trips to Paris

but have never stopped for a coffee. 

Why, you ask?

 

I am always full from a stop at blé sucré or from the other direction,

the pâtisseries of Marché d'Aligre... 

Perhaps the next time

Restaurant Le Square Trousseau
1, rue Antoine Vollon
75012 Paris
Métro Ledru Rollin

Caryatids in Paris

These caryatids* are high above the street level on Rue de Provence and support the balcony of the deuxième étage.  Although this building does not have the architect's name and date of construction like my previous post, one might guess that this building was designed late 19th or early 20th century.  Well, after looking at many of these caryatids and two architecture books, one can see that this Greek influence has been felt for centuries.   The earliest known examples are seen in the treasuries of Delphi (6th century BC) and the Caryatid Porch of the Erechtheion on the Acropolis in Athens.

The caryatids are by Édouard Lormier (1847-1919) who made his debut at the Salon in 1886.  He specialized in evocative works of the Art Deco era and is best known for his figures of beautiful women in flowing drapes. (Thank you detective Malyss) 

*caryatid -A sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar

73, rue de Provence
(at Rue Chassée d'antin)
75009 Paris

Sculpture and vines - Ciné 13 Théâtre

I think that these vines have been growing for more than a few years.

What do you think?

 

Do you think that the sculpture over the window would show better without?

Ciné 13 Théâtre

1, ave Junot

75018 Paris



Musée Grevin - a ghost?

At Musée Grevin, this figure peeking from behind the velvet curtains

seemed just spooky enough for our Halloween

I am not sure who inspired this wax figure.  It is a wax figure, right?

Musée Grevin

Passage Jouffroy

Boulevard Montmartre

75009 Paris

Cathedral of our Lady of Chartres - astrological clock

The chancel screen of Chartres Cathedral displays an impressive astrological clock dating from the 16th century. It told not only the time but the day of the week, the month of the year, the time of sunrise and sunset, the phase of the moon and the current sign of the zodiac. Its inner works were partially destroyed in 1793.

With the thousands of stained glass windows one could almost miss this treasure

bon dimanche

Beyond this door...

Beyond this door of unknown decades

are stories untold and lives unseen

bon weekend

Le Corbeau et le Renard

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

Rue Montorgueil

The curtained window with its box of flowers,

belies the chaos of the street below

providing a refuge for the birds and those who reside within.

Look up

Les mains

Hands of friendship

There are six sculptures of bronze hands laid on granite stones in Jardins des Tuileries by Louis Bourgeois.  In April, Marie entwined her hands in the cold bronze as tens of thousands before her.

Then she quickly pulled out the hand sanitizer.

Near the Jeu de Paume Museum

Jardins des Tuileries

1, place de la Concorde

75008 Paris



Un abondance de l'asperge

An arrangement of simple vegetables

in a Paris market,

seen here as a theme in soft shades of green

Climbing

A rock wall climber in training

at Square Trousseau