Thursday, December 31, 2009

New Year's Eve


Today we are still on the boulevard Haussman like yesterday and this is the second big department store located on this boulevard : Les Galeries Lafayette. As you can see they have a fabulous lightning for the holiday season and inside the store you can find a giant Chritsmas tree :



May you all spend a great New Year's Eve and see you next year !

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Spring at Christmas time


"Le Printemps" (meaning "spring") is one of the big department stores in Paris. There are several Printemps stores in Paris but this is the biggest one located on the boulevard Haussman and here decorated for Christmas. The store has also beautifull windows decorated for the Holiday season with animated scenes.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Jours de fêtes au Grand Palais


(click on picture to enlarge)
I am back in Paris and ready to show more picture of the illuminated Paris. Here is what is happening in the Grand Palais located on the Champs Elysées. For the Holiday period they have put fairground attractions inside the great hall and among these attractions you can see the big wheel (I had a tour in it!). The place is beautifully decorated and it is a really great idea for the season. You can see more of the Grand Palais on their website.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas eve in ... London !

I left Paris this morning for a long weekend in London where I am going to spend Christmas.

I wish you all a Joyeux Noël and I will be back for more Paris pictures next tuesday.


Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Manèges de Noël



During the school holidays for the Christmas period, the city of Paris is offering free entrance to its merry go rounds. So if you are in Paris , and not only with kids (I must admit I went on this one located in front of the Town Hall !), do not hesitate to ride a horse!


Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Christmas market


We are still on the Champs Elysées today where for the second year we have a Christmas market going on both sides from the Champs Elyséees roundabout to the Place de la Concorde. This Christmas market tradition originated in the Alsace region, east of France where they are still the best to see if you have the chance to visit this beautifull part of the country. But I must say that this one on the Champs Elysées is very nice and it gives life to this part of the avenue where there is no shops.
As I am talking about the Champs Elysées roundabout where this market starts, here is a picture of the way this place is decorated for Christmas :

Monday, December 21, 2009

Up and down the Champs Elysées




Christmas lightnings on the Champs Elysées avenue.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Ice skating at the Hotel de Ville


Like many cities, Paris has ice rinks installed for the end of the year. Here is the one in front of the Hotel de Ville (Town Hall).

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Magic


Late posting today as it is already 10:55 pm in Paris but I waited in order to publish at last a picture of the Paris at Christmas time. In fact I did not have the chance to wander into the decorated Paris yet and today I really enjoyed my day feeling like a tourist in my own town and loving it. I took MANY pictures today and here is one of my favorite. I took it on the Place de la Concorde at the bottom of the Champs Elysées where each year we have that giant wheel.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Let it snow


It started to snow yesterday morning in Paris and for once we have the snow staying a little as this view from a Parisian appartment balcony (mine) shows.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

La Conciergerie at night


La Conciergerie is one of the most beautiful monument in Paris. It lies on the river bank on the Ile de la Cité right in the center of the city.Once a Palace it then became a prison where Queen Marie Antoinette was kept after the French Revolution.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Shopping for Christmas


A French boutique for Christmas shopping ...

Monday, December 14, 2009

Waiting for the train at the Gare de l'Est


This last weekend I took the TGV (fast train) to go near Strasbourg in the Alsace region, east of France on the German border. The Alsace region is very well know in France for its Christmas markets.
Here is a view af the great hall of the Gare de l'Est (east railway station).

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Painted windows


A real work of art and sure better than nothing.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

More of Le Marais


Part of the "Archives" building in Le Marais with ending of the day lights

Friday, December 11, 2009

Notre Dame de Clignancourt


Right in front of the 18th arrondissement city hall is the church Notre Dame de Clignancourt. Not famous but I like it.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

East side


This view of the Seine river is taken from the "Pont National" bridge on the very east side of the city. On the left you can see the National Library towwer and on the right the trees fo the Parc de Bercy. This is a part of Paris that has changed a lot these last 10 years and which is still changing.
(click on picture to enlarge)

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Assemblée Nationale


The "Assemblée Nationale" also known as the "Palais Bourbon" is the house of the French Parliament.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Rue de Rivoli


The rue de Rivoli is one of the longest street in Paris starting in Le Marais and ending Place de la Conconcorde after 3 kms.
As it longs the north wing of the Louvre museum it has arcades like you can see here with shops and expensive hotels.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Friday, December 4, 2009

Gare de Lyon


The Gare de Lyon is the railway station for trains going south.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Eglise Saint Germain de Charonne


I already talked about this church in a previous post but I did not publish any picture of it yet. When looking at this little charming church possessing its cemetery around it (in the back) you feel like you are in a small town out of Paris, but you are in the 20th arrondissement.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Bridges


La Seine river and its bridges.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Theme day : waiting


Waiting to enter the Beaubourg museum (Modern Art) where an excelent exhibition of Pierre Soulages (French paintor) takes place. As you can see I was lucky enough to be inside since rain was starting. People outside were watching street shows while waiting.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Monday, November 30, 2009

Flags


French are not flag people. We quite never put flag in our homes like you can see in some countries (except for special events like Soccer world cup) and the only places where you can find French Flag are public buildings like this beautiful Hotel Particulier located on the Place de l'Etoile (you can see the reflexion of the Arc de Triomphe in the windows).

Sunday, November 29, 2009

An afternoon at the Opéra


I'm sorry for the poor qulaity of the picture but I took it my phone since I did not take my camera this afternoon. I am just back from a fabulous performance of  La Bohème at the Bastille Opéra which you can see on the picture and I could not help but posting something about it today.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Sunset on Notre Dame


As George would say : what else ?

Friday, November 27, 2009

Rue Stendhal


The rue Stendhal, named after the French author, ends with steps when approaching the Eglise de Charonne. A very typical 20th arrondissement scenery, within a walking distance from home.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Gare de l'Est


"East railways station" is located in the 10th arrondissement. It's one of the 6 Paris stations.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Saint Eustache church


Saint Eustache church was built between 1532 and 1640. It is located in the center of Paris near "Les Halles".

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Monday, November 23, 2009

Art building


Seen on a appartments building, rue Beaubourg. You see why It is always worth looking up when walking in Paris. I have passed by this building many times before noticing this 2 sculptures.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Père Lachaise in fall


I'm back from a visit of the Père Lachaise cemetery where I took some friends who are staying at home for the week-end. Very nice views with the falling leaves.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Arc de Triomphe


I realize that I never posted any picture of the Arc de Triomphe located on the Place Charles de Gaulle also called Place de L'Etoile (Star square) as all the avenues around are organized like a star.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Art in the garden


Once again a view from the Tuileries garden which I really like. The trees don't have leaves anymore but the sun is there these days and I wanted to share this view with you.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Roof terrace


And if I tell you that this terrace is located on the Champs de Mars right in front of the Eiffel Tower ... one more dream apartment don't you think ?

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

A view


From the Cité de l'Architecture on the Trocadéro.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Inside the Petit Palais


The Petit Palais is a free city Museum located near the champs Elysées with a nice little garden inside.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Carrousel in Montmatre



One of the nice old carrousel we have in Paris. During the Holiday season from December 20th until January 4th the Paris city makes them free for the children.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Surrounded statue



I will have to come back next spring when the wisteria surrounding this statue will be green again.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Péché mignon


One thing I did not tell about my little trip on the Champs Elysees for the Armistice day is that I could not help but stop at Ladurée and have some of these incredible macarons ... and by the way I wish you all good luck for this Friday 13th !

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Do you ?


Like this shop's name on the Champs Elysées I love Paris, do you ?
By the way, I saw today that they already put the lights in the trees for the Christmas lightings of the Avenue. It will start on November 20th and I will post photos of course.