Vacations : flying to ...

Yes today I'm on vacation and I am flying to the second city in my heart : New York. See you in a while !

Reflexion

It's always a good day to watch the Tower from the Trocadero, even when it's rainy and cold ... gives nice reflexion.

Perfumes at the Galeries Lafayette

The perfumes brands do not forget to decorate the top of their both. Dior, Chanel, Guerlain ...

Square des Batignolles

The "Square des Batignolles" is a public garden in the 17th arrondissement. It has been designed as an English garden and it's a really a nice place to visit and the area around it called "Les Batignolles" is also a pleasant part of Paris to discover. The area looks like a kind of village with a little church and calm streets.
From there to the edge of the city limit there was, and partly still is, a huge unbuilt area that belonged to the National Train Company. It was there that the City had planned to build the Olympic Village if Paris had won the games for 2012 (which London did !). The place is now starting to be renovated an yet a new big garden has opened before apartments buildings will be built around it.

Where is that Patisserie ?

There is a clue on the picture to find out where I took this picture ... Yes , it may look incredible to most of you but the giant American fast food restaurant understood what French like ...

Outside the Cernuschi museum

As I told you yesterday, the museum stands in a gorgeous mansion (hotel particulier).

Inside the Cernuschi museum

Last weekend I visited the Cernuschi museum located in an beautiful mansion on a private road leading to the Parc Monceau. This museum is owned by the city of Paris so its permanent collections is free to visit like all municipal museums. This picture is the giant entrance and stair. This tiny museum is specialized in China, Japan and Korean art.It's small but really worth the visit also considering the very nice area of Paris where it is located.

Red Café Marcel

Like my blog friend Virginia (see her great Paris Through my Lens blog) I like rouge (red) so I could not help but  shooting this Café in the 17th arrondissement where this nice couple was hesitating to enter. Look at the girl, doesn't she perfectly suit with the Café's colors ?

Another demonstration

I took this picture yesterday evening in the subway as I was going to a diner. It was the end of another demonstration march against the retirement changes project and the participating people were taking the subway back home. These two men were from south of France and the one with the beret wore his former "La Poste" (Post Office) uniform. Who said that French did not were berets ?

Unusual street scene

I was riding down the rue de Lagny in the 20th arrondissement when I caught that unusual scene. The street traffic was stopped because a train was crossing. In fact it's a Metro that is leaving its storage house and I think this kind of Grade Crossing is one of the only in Paris.

Reflexions

Refelexions on a nice Haussman type building in the 8th arrondissement.

Monet exhibition

Last evening I went to the Monet exhibition at the Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais. This retrospective exhibition started on September 22nd and will last until January 24th and it is just marvelous. Nearly 200 paintings are shown coming from museums and private collection all over the world. Beauty,beauty, beauty !

General strike

Yesterday was another national general strike day to protest against the Government's project concerning Retirement laws.Demonstrators have lots of ideas for posters like this one based on l'Oreal advertising slogan "Parce que je le vaut bien" (because I'm worth it) and transformed with Skarkozy and his minister photos with a "Dehors - Parce qu'ils ne valent rien" which means "Out - because they worth nothing ".
Strike is still going on today in public transportations and oil refineries. We do not know if it's going to end or be bigger ... but hey, would it be France, or even southern Europe without big strikes !

Opera stage door

On the back side of the Palais Garnnier (Paris Opera House) you can find the stage door or "Entrée des artistes" as we say in French. I like the little "tutu" dress hooked on the right window.

Grape harvest fair in Montmatre 2

One more photo of this year Montmartre harvest fair taken during a break in the the Parade. These kids seemed to have a great fun.

Grape harvest fair in Montmatre

This weekend is Montmartre Grape Harvest Fair and since last year (see link) I posted pictures of the parade today I decided to show you a shot of yesterday night fabulous fireworks on the Sacré Coeur church. The weather was just perfect all day with warm temperature and a great blue sky which gave us the most perfect night for the fireworks. I posted a video of the Fireworks final on you tube so you can have more than the picture (click here to watch the video).

Relaxing in the Jardin de Reuilly

The Reuilly Garden is located in the 12th arrondissemt along the "Promenade Plantée". It's a very nice little garden with a lawn where you can stand for Tai Chi for example.

Decorated window

Nice Parisian buildings in the 12th arrondissement with a specially beautiful window top for that one.

Beaubourg at night

The "Centre Pompidou" also called "Beaubourg" at night where you find the Museum of Contemporary arts.

La mode c'est vous

"Fashion is you" is the new advertising campaign of the Galeries Lafayette department store. Their windows on the boulevard Haussman are made with models whose heads are mirror so YOU can be the model. And all around the window are pictures of "normal" street people representing fashion. A nice idea !

From the "Printemps" rooftop 2

As promissed here is another shot from the Printemps Roof where you can have a drink with a view ...

From the "Printemps" rooftop

Going to the rooftop of the department stores "Le Printemps" is definitely a must do when you're in Paris. The place offers a great view on Paris and it's free ! Here you can see the splendid newly renovated details of the Printemps building and in the background lies the Opera house. I will show more views this week ...

Nuit Blanche

This was one of yesterday night "Nuit Blanche" event. The artist created lighted sentences that all said the same thing is many different languages : "love the differences". It was on the Paris City Hall and there were many many other shows in th city related to Contemporary Art which is the theme of the "Nuit Blanche" event.

Through the window

Unfortunately this is not a view from my apartment but  as today is a grey and rainy day in Paris it's museum time. The picture is taken from the Architecture Museum located on the Trocadero in front of the Eiffel Tower. I hope the weather will get better tonight as we have the yearly "Nuit Blanche" event in Paris. I will post about it tomorrow.

Theme day : Graffiti

Theme day today. Graffiti can be really art pieces sometimes ... well the car owner may not think so !

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants