FIreworks, Paris Style!

Peter and I enjoyed the Fete Nationale fireworks from the Pont de Grenelle, near the Eiffel Tower tonight. It was just spectacular. See for yourself!

For many more great shots of the celebration, jump on over to Peter's blog and see his dazzling collection of photos!

Joyeuse Fete Nationale !

Musee Rodin

Tuesday is Fete Nationale ( Bastille Day) here in France. If the fireworks that the neighborhood kids are setting off this evening are any indication, tomorrow promises to be a firecracking, flag waving good time. I haven't noticed the aroma of charcoal grills being fired up, so I must assume that the French choose not to celebrate with WELL cooked barbequed pork. (The very idea!) I think it will be fun to see the festivities so I hope to have some photos to share. I don't think I"ll be in the thick of the huge crowds, so don't hold your breath for a photo of President Sarkozy as my latest "100 French Strangers". Stay tuned though.

Pictured below is the Hotel de Ville ( Paris City Hall). Our mayor at home would give up his pipe dream of a domed stadium if he could "rule" from a place like this!

Hotel de Ville

An Afternoon at the Bois de Boulogne

Today Peter and I visited the wonderful Musee Marmottan Monet. More on that on a later post. We walked from there to the Bois de Boulogne. What an oasis on the periphery of Paris. Just a lovely place to stroll, row, picnic or enjoy the woods. Here's a link to Peter's previous post. He has everything you'll want to know about this must see park. Merci Peter!

Knock, Knock

A VERY full day in Paris. Peter and I walked about 500 miles and he will verify that I'm sure. It's late and I'm tired so here you have a nice little collection of door handle/knockers I found today.

Bonne nuit!

Dancin' in the Streets!

I have featured this fabulous street dancing on the rue Mouffetard previously. Aujourd' hui, just one photo. Sometimes, one photograph says it all.

I arrived in Paris today. I will be in here for nine glorious days and then return to Fontaine-Fourches , France where I will lead a small but I'm sure a very productive photography workshop. The countryside there is remarkable. I'm planning to let members of the group contribute photographs to my blog. I think this will be a great addition to my blog.

Thank you all for bearing with me on both of my blogs as I hop, skip and jump around.

UPDATE: My luggage has been found! That's a very good thing!

Watching the Sunset Over the Val de Grace

I'm leaving for Paris today.  I leave you with a  very special image that I've been saving.

Back to the Foire aux Antiquaires - Place Saint Sulpice

What Is It? Where Is It? - Paris Puzzle IV.....SOLVED!

Well I guess I stumped my fine Francophiles this time !!  I'll admit it was a tough one.   As a matter of  fact, my photo in full won't tell you much more.  This is a spiral staircase on rue Manutention that runs beside the Palais de Tokyo!!!  To see more of the Palais you're going to have to blog jump on over to Peter's blog and check his photos of this most unusual museum. And while you're visiting over there, behave yourselves and don't get rowdy or he won't let us come back!HA   

Well here we go. One more for you to figure out . Wonder where it is????  We have had some great winners and I'm hoping for a "dark horse" that will take this one!  I'll leave it up till Wednesday. On Thursday I leave for Paris. Bonne chance!!!!

Lost in Thought

When you take over 3,000 photos  you often overlook some that you missed on first review. Today I discovered these three,  and they all seemed to go together.  These were taken at the Palais Royal.   I think they are thought provoking.

Dear Jacques,.........

Window Shopping, Paris Style

Well, my goodness!  I think in another life I wore one of these!!!

( The question is.......what did I wear UNDER it?)

I've been promising all my friends that I would post a few photographs of the wonderful Paris shop windows.  The French are the masters at window display. Since I shot these through glass, the quality is not as good, but I'm sure you veteran shoppers will get the idea.  I promise, more windows this next trip!

I do love a straw hat.  Isn't this window the best!!!

They let down that fancy grid at night to keep people like me from breaking the glass and making off with every one of these great shoes!

Palais Royal

This was "handbag heaven " for sure. I'll take one of each s'il vous plait!

Palais Royal

I pulled this one from my archives.  I took this photograph of Bonpoint's infant store in 2007. Bonpoint has separate shops for infants, girls , boys, shoes etc.  Check out their trés chic website for more offerings.  Mrs. Obama and her girls shopped here on their recent trip to Paris.  I plan to revisit these shops soon!

Joyeux Anniversaire Amérique!

Yes, a petite version of our Lady Liberty resides in Paris!  This is the original "life size" cast.  She stands 15 feet tall in the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens, home of the French Senate.  This was architect/sculptor Batholdi's miniature mold for our American Statue of Liberty.

Le Cemetière Montparnasse

Mary explained that this is a Jewish tradition to lay stones on the grave. This is my favorite photograph.  I love the pebbles arranged in a circle.

This couple is immortalized in bed with their clothes on.  Anyone have an explanation?

My friend Mary  Gilbert talked me into another cemetery tour at Cemetière Montparnasse.  She's an expert,  so although this is not usually my thing , I must confess I really did enjoy her tour, despite the rain.

Fleuriste

Located on rue Claude Benard, this very Parisian flower shop was a block from our apartment. One Sunday morning while I was walking to the Val de Grace for services, I spotted the owner putting out her flowers.  We had a nice chat,  and she let me snap some photographs .  My 100 French Stranger # 22!

What is It??? Where Is It??? Part 3

Well our friend Dusty Lens has taken the last two prizes.  DL, I'm sending you and Mrs. DL two photographs  I hope you will enjoy.  It's time for some of  you other Francophiles out there to have a turn at guessing today's puzzle. Remember, you must tell me WHAT it is, WHERE it is and today....... explain it for my readers!

I'm sorry that my French friends are disqualified!  Of course you know this, so sit back and enjoy the fun!  Isn't it wonderful seeing how much we all love Paris?   I know I do!

JILL IS OUR WINNER TODAY!  SHE CORRECTLY GUESSED THE NAMES OF FAMOUS FRENCH SCIENTISTS , ENGINEERS AND OTHER NOTABLES DISPLAYED AROUND THE EIFFEL TOWER.  (See photograph below!)

Paris Rouge III

Berthillon

la crème de la crème

les cherises

Église Saint Sulpice

Église Saint Sulpice may sound familiar. It played a major role in The Da Vinci Code.  It is currently undergoing major exterior refurbishing.  It's a beautiful church to visit. Thanks to my friend Mary Gilbert who made sure I got inside to see it.

In Loving Memory

Ceiling Details

Exterior Repairs

Homeless

100 French Strangers at Foire aux Antiquaires- Saint Sulpice

Monsieur's remarkable Eiffel Tower made from pinecone seed scales was something to see. 

I really wanted it, but how to get it home?

100 French Strangers Challenge -# 19

100 French Strangers #20

I liked this lovely lady's pose and her reflection in the mirror

Her cute coat matched the chairs she was selling!

100 French Strangers #21

Madames et Monsieurs, We Have a Winner!!

Well I think I might have potential as a game show host in my future!  This has been a lot of fun.  We do indeed have a winner to my latest "What Is It? Where Is It?.................our very own Dusty Lens has done it again.  He correctly guessed the *Pont d'Arcole.   DL, your fabulous prizes are mounting up my friend.  We also have a runner up this time, my former student Rip.  Rip is just going into 6th grade and I think if you read his comment you can see he did an excellent job researching the photo.  As a new "Shades Cahaba alumna" Rip will also get a prize.  BTW, Rip was in my class when I went to Paris for the first time.  He endured many many viewings of my Paris movie and endless photos, tales etc.  I went in March of 2007 and Rip and his family went in May of that year. We are both hopeless Francophiles as is the rest of his family. Congrats to DL and Rip!  

Watch for the next contest. I have one ready to post in the next few days.  

* A very special thanks to Meredith Mullins for verifying the correct bridge for me.

Doorways of Paris

You knew that more Paris doorways would make an appearance eventually.  Voilà!

Paris Sunsets

What is It??? Where Is It??? Part 2

Last week's contest was over in a hurry. Well I'm ratcheting up the difficulty now so we'll separate the true Francophiles from the "wannabees"!ha   Most of you will get part of this right away, but there's a catch.  You must tell us WHAT it is and WHERE it is! You may make your guesses in the comments section,  and the winner will be revealed Monday sometime. That will give more Frenchies a chance to play. Remember, a fabulous prize awaits you.  I imagine Dusty Lens has been waiting on his porch for the mailman every day. Let the game begin!

* Peter, Laurent, and all of you other French bloggers out there, sorry you can't compete. That just wouldn't be fair now would it???  

The Welcoming Hands

This series of sculptures is close to my heart. I first saw one of them on a blog in 2007,  soon after I came home from my first trip to Paris.  When I returned last November I searched  the Jardins des Tuileries but never found them.  Luckily, my friend Peter located them and did a post  and photographed them when he featured all of the Tuileries sculptures!  When we met for our night shoot a few weeks ago, he took me to the very spot before it got dark.  All I can say is that they are as beautiful as I had imagined .  In my opinion, they are some of the most beautiful sculptures I have found in Paris. The artist , Louise Bourgeois, has created this amazing installation.  I asked him to be my "model" so that you could get a sense of their size.  If you are fortunate enough to visit the gardens , you will find them  on the upper level overlooking the Place de la Condorde. I've changed my banner photo to give you a sense of where they are located.  Merci Peter!

Pétanque at the Palais Royal

Deux

Earlier I posted some photos of some gentlemen at Jardins du Luxembourg that showed me the ropes of pétanque here.  I heard from a reader that has the Pétanque America blog.  Check  out his blog to find more information on the game.  The evening we spent at the Palais Royal with our Birmingham friends, I walked up on this cute group playing as the sun set.  They were equally as spirited but added a new "accessory" in the other hand! 

Apparently the Heineken is a new pétanque accessory for the younger set.

100 French Strangers  #14, 15, 16, 17, and 18

More Paris Portraits

What Is It??? Where Is It???

For all you Francophiles out there, you know who you are,  I have a little contest for you. Today's photo is your clue.  What is it and where is it?  The winner will get about 2 dozen Paris photos that I can't seem to unload.  Well seriously, I'll send you something, maybe an Eiffel Tower keychain!! :)  BTW, Peter and Laurent, and all bloggers from France, sorry you are disqualified because you are  OVER qualified for this contest.:)  May the best Frenchie win.  If you're a big fat loser this time, don't fret, I have more.

The first person to email me with the correct answer will be our winner and I'll run the photograph showing it in its entirety shortly thereafter.

CONGRATULATIONS DUSTY LENS AT NORTH METRO MINNEAPOLIS DP. HE CORRECTLY GUESSED THE BEAUTIFUL WOOD CEILING/WALLS AT CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT!  A FABULOUS PRIZE IS ON ITS WAY!!  

Paris Mélange III

Eglise Saint Sulpice

Paris Tees

Jardin d'Acclimation

Paris Rouge II

Stairway - Cité l'architecture et du Patrimoine

Aux Marches du Palais

vin rouge - Peter's choice was a fine one. 

( One of my most favorite meals!)

Café Heaters / Red Awning

Red Shutters For Sale

Foire aux Antiquaires - Place Saint Sulpice

Jet Lag!

Palais Royal

rue Mouffetard

Walking back home to the apartment late one night.

Musée du  Louvre

Today we "jumped the pond" and arrived in Birmingham at about 5:30 pm.  Yes, I'm still up and approaching 24 hours. I'll crash momentarily but wanted you to know that from now, till I return to France in July, I will just be posting 3-4 assorted photos a day. Tonight? Well who knows what I'll pick.  We had a wonderful month in France, the children were troopers and Melissa and I were most of the time! ha Thank you all for following our travels. It has been a wonderful experience sharing it with you from day to day.

Au Revoir !

La Port Montains

Provins

Tomorrow we leave for home. It has been a wonderful 4 weeks. I will be returning to Paris around July 11th and then to Fontaine-Fourches again on the 17th for two weeks of my photography workshop. I will continue to post on this blog so keep visiting.

Marche du Vendredi

Like a kid in a candy store!
The children have loved these candy shops. We had one just like it on rue Mouffetard. They get a pink stiped sack and you scoop your own candy.

Today we loaded the van with happy campers and headed to nearby Bray sur Seine for the Marche du Vendredi. What fun we had strolling the streets of yet another quaint village and seeing what they had to offer. I hope my photos will make you feel like you were along for the ride.

Today is my One Year Birthday at Birmingham Alabama Daily Photo. Run on over and have a piece of birthday cake!

La Cathédrale de Sens

Wednesday we traveled to Sens. This quaint town is home to the beautiful Cathédrale de Sens. One of the earliest Gothic churches it was begun in 1140 and completed in the 16th century. It is is undergoing some major exterior renovation at this time. We also toured the Musées de Sens. Photos from that and our walk around town to follow!

La Cathédrale de Sens