Thursday, March 31, 2011

Sun on the Invalides


The sun was shining through the clouds on the main entrance of  "les Invalides" giving a great light for a picture of this Paris landmark.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

And suddenly between two buildings ...


... she appears ! Do I need any more comments ?

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Les Petits Plats


A "rouge" restaurant for my friend Virginia and for all of you. Isn't this nice place inviting ? For the French course, "Les petits plats" means " the little courses". It's used to qualify a nice and simple course that you can make at home for friends.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Dragon on the wall


I met this dragon on a wall in the rue du Moulin Vert in the 14th arrondissement, souht of Paris and I do not know why it's there but I liked it.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Les chaises


Luxembourg garden famous chairs waiting to be displayed. And the shadow of a photographer ...

Saturday, March 26, 2011

La Nouvelle Athènes : Gustave Moreau museum


To end the Nouvelle Athènes area theme, here is another beautiful mansion that was the home of paintor Gustave Moreau and is now a museum dedicated to his work. It's a small museum and I must admit I'm not found of his art but it like the place and especially the spiral staircase.

Friday, March 25, 2011

La Nouvelle Athènes 3



We are still in the Nouvelle Athénes area today and more precisely in a place called "Square d'Orléans". This big private courtyard has a great charm and holds very pretty buildings where as you can see on the little pictures, Frédéric Chopin and Georges Sand lived for a few years. It's a place easy to miss as you must enter through a door located at number 80 of the rue Taibout and it's often closed as it is private. I was lucky to find the door open so I can share this with you. 

Thursday, March 24, 2011

La Nouvelle Athènes 2


Let's continue our tour in the area of La Nouvelle Athènes with this other nice mansion.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

La Nouvelle Athènes


The New Athens is an area located in the 9th arrondissement around the "Rue de la Tour des Dames" near the tiny and gorgeous Place Saint Georges. The name was given by a newspaper in 1823 because of the "greek" mania at that time but honestly there is not much Greek into this area. It has been a place where a lot of famous actresses of that period used to live in beautiful mansions like that one. I will show more of the area these next days. If you're in Paris it's a very nice walk to do in a calm and beautiful area not much known by tourists but really great to wander around.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Lunch time at the "Lutèce arenas"


Together with the "Termes de Cluny", the "Arènes de Lutèce" are the only remains from the Gallo Roman era in Paris which at that time was named "Lutèce". They were built in the first century AD and were used to present gladiators combats. Now you can enjoy the spring sun and watch kids play football.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Spring gardening in Luxembourg garden


Spring is back and Paris gardeners are busy like here in the Luxembourg garden. We're supposed to have a whole week of blue sky and sun to start the new season. I hope they're right. Paris in the springtime is one of my best moment of year.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Sunday bridge : Pont Neuf


Let's share with you one of many Parisians habit on Sunday : walking along the Seine river as the street are closed to cars for the day and the views ... we just can't get ride of them ! Have a nice Sunday everyone !

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Mogador theater


French are not very into musicals and so Paris does not offer many shows like in New York, London or Berlin but for the past years there seem to have been a new go for this kind of shows. Here you can see the Mogador theater in the 9th arrondissement which specialized in musicals. They showed Lion King for years and now the big hit is Mamma Mia. The theater itself is splendid and so is the neighborhood as you can see.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Sur les toits de Paris ...


I always like to see cities from above and Paris especially. If you're like me I invite you to watch the beautiful "Paris vu du Ciel" video by photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand on Paris.TV  (click here). It's 15 minutes of fabulous views of Paris seen from above.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Gites de France


Yesterday I was telling you about that pathway where I found the "unusual" door. Here it is with the very nice mansion where Gites de France have their headquarters. You enter this place at the 56 rue Saint Lazare. Don't you feel like wanting to live there ? I do !

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Unusual


Yes, that's an unusual door sign in Paris. You would more likely see this in the countryside but not in that pathway in the 9th arrondissement where stands the nice building of the "Gites de France" organization which is a cooperative that regroups more than 50 000 accommodation in France (see website). This side door was so strange with this reversed pot that I could not resists ...

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Street life : the business man and Fauchon


Fauchon is a French gourmet food company that was founded in 1886 by Auguste Fauchon. The main stores are located on the Place de la Madeleine where I took this picture. Very expensive but they have wonderful food and patisseries !

Monday, March 14, 2011

Moulin Rouge


The Moulin Rouge is a famous Paris cabaret which opened in 1889. It's still running shows where mostly French and foreigner tourists go. They have a nice website where you can get information on the place : click here

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Sunday church : Eglise d'Alésia


The Eglise d'Alesia is nicely located on the Alesia Square in the 14th arrondissement, south of Paris. I've lived nearby for manay year before moving east. They've just renovated the church and as you can see the top of the "clocher" (tower for church in French) is not finished yet. It gives a nice look.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Even the Police !


Yes, everybody is biking in Paris !

Friday, March 11, 2011

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Restaurant decoration


Guess what kind of food does this restaurant serve ? And for Virginia ... it's Paris Rouge !

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Close up on the Sainte Trinité church tower


In her comment yesterday, "Thirtytwo degrees" was wondering if the clock was correct. As I happened to take a zoom picture of the tower, let's see if there is something wrong. The time was right as it was 3:50 pm when I shot and this close up is a nice opportunity to see the beauty of this tower. What may look different are the clock colors as it's not often seen on churches.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Eglise de la Sainte Trinité


The Church of the "Sainte Trinité" is located in the 9th arrondissement on a nice square called "Place d'Estienne d'Orves" (a name impossible to pronounce if you're not French !). Sorry for the "tourist" picture with the mMétro sign but I kind of liked it !

Monday, March 7, 2011

Street life


Nothing much to say about this picture I took yesterday except that I like it because it's street life on a Parisian boulevard on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Paris - New York


This entrance of a typical 20th arrondissement pathway in my neighborhood was the locational of a Company that does not longer exist. I like it that the kept the sign. 

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Under a clear blue winter sky


 A rather typical "chic" building in the 5th arrondissement. As you can see we still have the most perfect sky today.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Fashion week


This week is Fashion week in Paris with "Haute Couture" shows every day. So let's wander on the avenue Montaigne where most luxury boutiques are.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

On the Pont de Sully


I was riding back home and when I crossed the river on the Pont de Sully I couldn't help but stopping to take a picture. I've seen that view hundreds of time but I am still in love with it ... and even it's freezing cold in Paris , the sun is shining and the sky is great. What more ?

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Lunch time


For the past 2 or 3 years, a lot of Paris bars and "brasseries" have renovated their place and now offer many interesting and nice places to have a drink or eat. These rattan chairs are very typical and can be found in many bars in Paris.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Theme day : Your favourite part of town


It is difficult to choose a part of Paris that would be my "favourite". It all depends of what month, day of the week, hour of the day, mood ... Anyway if I have to pick up one it is the Ponts de Arts, a pedestrian bridge that crosses the Seine river between the Louvre museum and the "Institut de France". I love standing on this bridge offering incredible views everywhere you look.
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