Back home in the 20th arrondissement

I am back from a terrific vacations and I thank you for your comments and wishes left on my last post. Being back home just this morning I invite you to my home area the 20th arrondissement, which apart from the Père Lachaise cemetery, in not often visited by foreigners. This little street is named "rue Etienne Dolet" and leads to that charming church on top of numerous stairs called "Eglise Notre Dame de la Croix".

Spring break ... at last !

No more volcanic cloud in the French sky so today we are standing in this airport (Paris Charles de Gaulle) and taking the flight to a tropical Island. As my regular visitors already know, I do not put the blog on automatic mode while I am away so next picture will be posted by the end of next week. See you !

Floating wine bar

A nice wine bar on the Seine river not far from Notre Dame.

Au vieux Paris

"Au vieux Paris" is a very old restaurant (they say "since 1594") located in the 4th arrondisssement in a very old and typical street called "rue Chanoinesse". Look whta they've done for their spring decoration ! Grass and spring flower ... isn't it charming ?

Notre Dame in Spring

As I am spending my vacation in Paris yesterday I took a long walk along the Seine river and look how beautiful Notre Dame cathedral is with the gorgeous spring trees.

Jardin du Carré Baudoin

Yes I am still in Paris and airports are still closed at least until Tuesday morning. It is an unbelievable situation but I must say that I am not too sad because first I could postpone my vacation to next Friday (which does not mean flights will be operating ! ) and second I am home so not like those people who try to get back home.
Today's picture is a place that very few tourist visit. It is located in the 20th arrondissement and this little garden takes its name from the nice mansion you can see called " Nicolas Carré de Baudoin 's house". The house, built in 1770,  is a perfect example, and the only one left in Paris, of the "country houses" that aristocrats and wealthy bourgeois built in the XVIII century for their "rest". Actually at that time the 20th arrondissement was really in the country side as Paris was much smaller.

Nature in Paris

As I can't fly to my vacation resort I take advantage of  it to wander in Paris and enjoy the beautiful "Parc des Buttes Chaumont" in the 19th arrondissement. Would you suppose that this picture is taken in the middle of Paris  ?

Spring, blue sky and ... volcanic cloud !

Perfect weather today in Paris with a great blue sky but unfortunately way up there there is a huge volcanic cloud covering most of Europe and blocking all air traffic since Thursday. We hope that it would end today but Paris airports have been closed until Monday morning and probably more ! Never had this situation and guess what ? I was supposed to take a flight tomorrow for my spring break ! Flight cancelled and nothing available before next Friday ... if the cloud has gone ... if not I may also be unemployed because it would mean 1 whole week without any flight ! Well in the meantime just enjoy the trees ... 

Overhead subway

There are only 2 subway lines in Paris out the the 14 lines that are partly overheard. Line 2 and line 6. Here is a view of "Stalingrad" subway station on line 2

Theâtre du Soleil

Yesterday evening I attended a fabulous play at the Theatre du Soleil called "Les Naufragés du Fol Espoir". This theatre is located in the "Bois de Vincennes" one of the 2 Paris big "forest like" parks. The place is called "La Cartoucherie" and hosts 6 theaters. It was a former military place that had been left unsed and where 40 years ago some theater people decided to locate their work area. It is now very well known and in order to give you an idea of what it is like I made this little photomontage.
More information on le Theatre du Soleil or La Cartoucherie by clicking on the names.

Country side of Paris

This is a street called "Cité Leroy" in the 19th arrondissement. A perfect calm area with little houses or buildings and lots of plants and trees. I just love it !

Street view

A view on Montmatre Sacré Coeur from corner the rue Lafitte and boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissment. The church with the columns is Notre Dame de Lorette.

Parc de Belleville

We have had a splendid weather last week-end and as you can see nature and Parisians are loving it. I took this view from the Parc de Belleville, a public garden located in the 18th arrondissement from which you get a terrific view over the city.

Up to le Père Lachaise

Going to to the Père Lachaise cemetery.

Bikes

Paris is not Amsterdam as far as bikes are concerned but for the last two years the number of bikes has increased a lot. We of course have the "Velib" about 20 000 free bikes in the city but people are more and more using their own bikes. Here you can see two different ways of parking the bike. On the sidewalk or on the balcony.

Nice place to live

You may have noticed that I fancy roof top appartments ... what about that one overlooking the Seine River?

Seine or Mississippi ?

Louisiana boat on the Seine river

Parc de Bercy

One of Paris parks : Parc de Bercy

Chimneys

Yes blue sky is back today in Paris and we should even have warm temperatures this afternoon. No need to use the chimneys today.

Reflexions on Paul Bury's fountain balls in the Palais Royal.

Happy Easter !

Care for a little cake for Easter ?

French flag on the Quai d'Orsay ( building of the French ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Winston and the man

As I am leaving Paris today to London where I will spend the Easter 3 days weekend (monday is a bank holiday in France) here is a British post with Winston Churchill's huge statue in front of the Petit Palais.
As London is nearly Paris suburb I will keep posting Paris pictures during the weekend.

Theme day : red

This month's theme day gives me the opportunity to post a picture I have had in my archives for a few years. The Lady was lighted in red during 5 nights to honor the Chinese new year in 2004. Not a fresh daily photo then but I thought it would be nice to share it though.
To see other picture of this months theme day : Click here to view thumbnails for all participants