Monumenta at the Grand Palais : Leviathan by Anish Kapoor 2

Here is the oustide of the place we were in yesterday. Incredible don't you think ? The Grand Palais Nave is already beautiful by itself and with this great piece of art by Anish Kapoor it's fabulous! If you want to know more about this exhibition , see the website here : Monumenta 2011

Monumenta at the Grand Palais : Leviathan by Anish Kapoor

When you enter the Grand Palais "Monumenta" exhibition here is where you get. A huge red "bubble" like place with the roof of the nave appearing on the top and a strange feeling of not knowing where you are. Wait for tomorrow to see the outside ...

Le Grand Palais

Le Grand Palais is an exhibition center near the Champs Elysée and this entrance is the one for the Nave which is a giant place where big exhibitions or shows  take place. Among the exhibition there is one called "Monumenta" when each year an artist is invited to use the huge nave for his art. I will show you tomorrow what absolutely must see exhibition we have this year.

Paris' flat iron

Some of you may know the famous New York flat iron building, I thought that nice Parisian building had a quite similar look. It's located on the corner of the rue Arsene Houssaye and the Avenue Friedland in the expensive are of the 8th arrondissement.

Buildings on Place de la Concorde

Close up on two buildings facing the Concorde square. Impressive aren't they ?

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 !

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.

Ca c'est Paris !

Monday I went to the cinema on the Champs Elysées to watch a broadcast of an Opera live from Paris Garnier Opera. The cinema theater entrance was located in the same building as the famous "Lido" where you can see one of Paris typical shows. I've never been there but it has a very good reputation. You can see more of it on their website : here.
By the way the opera I watched was Haendel's Guilio Cesare with the fabulous French soprano Nathalie Dessay. If you want to hear her click here

Sunset from the Jeu de Paume

Monday I was telling you about about the beautiful view we have when we stand in front of the Jeu de Paume at the end of the Tuileries garden. Here is what I saw when I got of the Kertész photo exhibition. The sun was going down and the Eiffel tower in the far away seemed nearly as big as the Obelisk on the Place de la Concorde. Who could resist to take the picture ?

Rainy Champs Elysées

I was on the Champs Elysées yesterday night and while waiting for my friend under the rain I took this picture (among others...) that I wanted to share with you today.  I do not like the rain but I must admit it gives nice pictures sometimes especially at night.

Riding the Champs Elysées

The lights on the Champs Elysées are soon going to be taken off and I realize that I did not show it this year so here it is with that brave guy riding on this very busy avenue.

Noel on the Champs Elysées

Christmas market on the Champs Elysées on Christmas day.

Champs Elysées boutiques at night

Sephora has put on great lightings this year an so does the Marriot on the Champs Elysées.

Commemoration day

The giant French flag is back under the Arc of Triumph as today we commemorate the armistice of World Word I.
For this occasion it is a public holiday in France and since its a Thursday this year, lots of people (including me) also take their Friday off which gives a 4 days weekend ! In French we call this : "faire le pont" which literally means "make the bridge" (between 2 non worked days). If you'd work in France this week  people would ask you " est-ce que tu fais le pont ?" (do you make the bridge?).

Want to have a drink ?

A chic place to have a "patisserie" and a drink at Ladurée on the Champs Elysées.

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.

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 !

Rue François 1er

This street is located in the 8th arrondissement near the Champs Elysees, one of the most expensive area in Paris.