Street flowerpot

A strange but nice flowerpot created on a street pole.

On the Pont Alexandre III

A statue on the Alexander III bridge and in the very far background you can see the Montparnasse Tower, Paris's only skyscraper.

Charles de Gaulle bridge

The Charles de Gaulle is the latest bridge built in Paris (1996). It crosses the river between the 13th and 12rd arondissement (south east of paris) and it offers a direct link between 2 majors railway stations : Gare d'Austerlitz and Gare de Lyon which tower you can see at the end of the bridge.

Sunday coffee on red

What about "un petit café" as we say in French ?

Rue de Rennes

The rue de Rennes is located in the 6th arrondissement starting from Montparnasse quarter and going down toward the Seine river up to the Saint Germain des Près quarter. I took this picture from the roof top of the Montparnasse Mall.

Louis quatorze's butterflies

This "Louis Quatorze" (name of French "Sun King") is a fashion shop creating handbags and accessories. Much too expensive for me but I like their window decoration. ( Louis Quatorze website)

Old

This door and building front seem to come right from the 1950's !

Le Dansoir

"Le Dansoir" is the name of this little wooden theatre located on the National Libray square in the 13th arrondissement (south east of Paris). It is a mobile theater which stays 6 months here and which is dedicated to danse events. If you want to have a look inside you can check their website.
I like the contrast of this wood and the towers of the Library. And yes we had a great blue sky these two last days but clouds are back today.

Painted wall

A nice and colorful painted wall near Place de la République.

Green Bercy

This place is a giant indoor entertainment and sport theater called the P.O.P.B (for Palais Omnisport de Paris Bercy). We also just call it "Bercy". It is where big concerts take place (up to 17 000 people can attend) and also sport events like the Paris tennis tournament. Located on the Seine bank in the 12th arrondissement it has been built with grass walls which gives it a spectacular an original look. They had to create special machine to mow the lawn.

Election day

Today was election day in France (we always vote on sundays) for the local representatives of the "Regions". We have 22 regions in France, Paris being part of "Paris Ile de France region". In front of each voting place you find these boards with the candidates. Here you see only two as today was the second and last round.

Bazar

In French "c'est le bazar" means "it's a mess" and a Bazar is also a used for a shop where you can find ... everything like that one.

Louis the 14th

Louis XIV king of France on his horse in the center of the Places des Victoires in the 1st arrondissement.

By night

I recently told you that while I was waiting for the theater to open I had the chance to enjoy a nice view that was so Parisian with the Eiffel tower in the far background. Well, I took a picture that night and I thought I could share it even though it is not a great shot but I like it because I think it gives an idea of the atmosphere ... and Virginia will like the Rouge vespa !

At night at the theater in the Quartier Chic

I went to the Theater last night to see a play by Jean Anouilh called "Colombe". It was great and to join the place I walked down the Avenue Montaigne which goes from the Champs Elysées to the Seine and it is THE place for Haute couture, fancy restaurants and expensive hotels. This is an area I rarely go to and I enjoyed it. It was like another world if you compare to my home area ! Down the avenue was the theater and while waiting to enter we could see the Eiffel Tower not far away. Yes I like Paris !

Citroen old truck

This small truck is called "Type H" by Citroen. It was first sold in 1947 and continued to be used for years. It is now a familiar old car in French people mind as we see it in old movies and people kind of kept a loving memory for it like. I found this one in a street used for a restaurant advertising and it is quite nicely maintained.
If you want to know more about this trucks there are websites by passioned guys but only in French I'm afraid like http://deuch.chez-alice.fr/typeh.html or http://citroenhy.free.fr/Site.htm.

Le Printemps

Yesterday I posted a picture taken inside Le Pintemps department store and I realise that I never posted a view of this beautiful building (except one by night during the Christmas lightnings). The building is gorgeous and as you can see we have sales going on this week at Le Printemps.

Alice chez Ladurée

Yesterday I was shopping at le Printemps (One of Paris big Department store) and I found this "Event" named "Alice chez Ladurée" that they have in put in place to celebrate Tim Burton' new movie. They have decorated the entire street windows with Alice in wonderland theme and here inside the main building they set up a kind of "tea room" that they organized with Ladurée, one of the best Patissier known for its macarons.
A great idea !

Late blog day : the Tenin Technique

I missed the CDP blog day last thursday but I still wanted to pay tribute to Eric Tenin and celebrate its blog's 5th anniversary : Paris Daily Photo . It is thanks to him that we today share our pitcures and comments so here is a picture of the Place de la Concorde taken with the so called "Tenin Technique". If you want to see other participants pictures : Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Grafitis street

Located in the 20th arrondissement near metro station "Belleville", this is the "rue Denoyez" where a lot of old building are in a process of being renovated. Meanwhile, "artists" are expressing themselves.
A little funny thing about this street is that down the street, the city of Paris just opened a brand new swimming pool and if you take the street name in French "rue Dénoyez" can also be understood as "rue des noyés" which means "street of the drowned persons". Nice for a swimming pool street isnt'it ?

Street art

A nice street art painting in the rue des Haudriettes - 3rd arrondissement.

A glimpse inside

Inside the church of Saint François Xavier

Paroisse Saint François Xavier

Built in the end of the 1800's this church is located in the 7th arrondissement on the Place du Président-Mithouard.

Where has the French gone ?

Looking at this picture you can think that I am still on vacation somewhere in a English speaking country. The modern area doesn't look like "old Paris" and the not to mention the shops and building names ... "The Frog and British library (a pub)", "Accenture (a company)", Natural,Fresh and ready (a food store)" ... well in fact despite all these English names this is Paris ! The area is the new side of the 13th arrondissement near the National Library (you can see its towers in the back). The area has been built upon the railways leading to the Austerlitz station. A great way to gain space and also to prevent the area from the train noise. But maybe the news shops could try French language even though I know that English sounds more "fashionable".

Back home

I am finally back home today after a fabulous trip to Singapore, Phuket and Bangkok. I thought that keeping a little Asian touch in my "back to work" post (as Leif Hagen says) would be appropriate. I now need a good nap after a 12 hours flight. Thanks for your comments even while I was under the hot weather (37° yesterday in Bangkok and -3° this morning at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris !). See you tomorrow.

Far from winter

Just resting a few more days...