Au Nom de la Rose

Paris flower shop + old door =  photo stop!   As much as I love street photography while in Paris, I must admit that a vignette such as this one always stops me in my tracks.  And from the looks of that chair, I'm thinking it's stopped me before.

Today I join the group at James' Weekend Reflections right HERE!

Au Nom de la Rose

87 rue Saint- Antoine

75004 Paris

Un bon livre au Palais Royal

The day I arrived in Paris last January, as Peter and I walked through the Palais Royal, we spotted these two adorable young girls seated on a Buren Column,  enjoying their books amidst the flurry of activity going on around them.  The weather was quite chilly but children of all ages ran and climbed among the columns with their parents happily chasing behind or pushing strollers, while others rode bikes or scooters amongst these very graphic and controversial pillars. Another reason I love Paris, readers everywhere!

I just received news last night that the Girl's Guide to Paris has chosen my blog as one of their best Paris blogs!  I'm am very honored and I hope you will check out their site right HERE!

Tendant les fleurs

Perhaps I'm getting a reputation for using my camera to have a look inside Parisian life?

Guilty as charged.

Paris Rouge - Une chaise pour le bébé

What else would you expect in a Parisian café???  This is the first one I've seen in Paris. How adorable is that!

La lumière dans la fenêtre

I was sitting at a café overlooking the Stravinsky Plaza and Fountain early one evening and while some kids kicked a soccer ball around I looked up and saw the light in those windows.  Oh my.  I always love to imagine what's going on inside!

Peter has done a nice job posting more about the church there on the left,  l'Église Saint -Merri right here.

Après-midi dans le quartier du Marais

It's rare that I can get "rim light" to work for me.  This was such a charming scene I must have taken at least 10 shots in order to get just one.  Personally I think Monsieur avec son vélo just makes this one!

Today I join the World in Black and White right here! 

Paris Rouge - Holly

I caught Genie's daughter Holly,  savoring a few quiet, restful moments at the Jardin du Luxembourg on a sunny Sunday afternoon last January.  LOVE that red coat!

Morning Walk

First let me say, "Pardon, pardon, et pardon!" for the mess I made of my blog yesterday. It was typos in the title,  words in the wrong places and well,  just un grand désordre!  So today, I'll try to make amends with one of my favorites,  one I've been hoarding saving,  for a special day.

L'Écoute, of course!

Yesterday I posed this puzzle,  and I should have known my very smart readers would guess that I snapped this at Saint Eustache.  Écoute by sculptor Henri de Miller, has always fascinated me, and when I happened upon this boy and his father having such a grand game of chase around it, I couldn't resist. Today I share a few more.

Allons-y!!!

OK my friends, another test for you today.  Where is this happy boy playing?  The answer tomorrow, right here!

Sous-verre

Café le Nemours at Place Colette.  

Madame et son chien

Sitting quietly under Madame's chair while she enjoyed a late afternoon coffee.

Wishful Thinking

Alas, another trip to Paris and I've still not managed to get INSIDE the exquisite Opéra Garnier.  It seems I'm destined to spend my time on the outside looking in!

Many thanks to reader Maria Isabel for this fascinating link!

Ma Première Visite à Paris - mars, 2007

Taken the first day I set foot in Paris.  After settling into our room at the Victoria Palace Hotel,  Melissa, Eva and I took a stroll around the neighborhood.  We got a little lost but found this gorgeous doorway along the way.  For the record... the day I fell in love.

Paris Rouge - la Comédie Française

I see some of you with a puzzled look on your face. You're thinking this does not look like the Comédie Française, located at Place Colette.  Well you are correct.  It's undergoing some renovations and has found a new home over the Fountains Pol Bury  between the columns of the Galeries d'Orléans.  How nice of them to paint the temporary doors Paris ROUGE!  As Peter and I headed through the gardens the first day I arrived, I spotted the doors, and noticed this nice man making his way along. I waited.

For more information on the renovation see Peter's Paris Blog here! 

Un coca light et un café

If there's coca light, then mon amie Mary can't be far away!

Double Take

How photographers amuse themselves.

BTW, there's a bit of Birmingham/Paris on my Birmingham Alabama Daily Photo today. 
Have a look!


I"m joining James' Weekend Reflections this week. See the other clever entries HERE.

French Strangers #80, 81 - Girl Talk

As we left le Reminet, I wandered ahead and found these two lovely girls enjoy a smoke and a little girl talk.  I thought about taking the photo without them seeing me, but instead asked for permission and they agreed.   I love their smiles!

Paris Rouge - le vèlo

Rouge + vélo + classic Métro, need I say more?

Another Contender

Cour de Rohan

for my Paris apartment.  I think Meeps and I would be very happy sitting on that balcony and enjoying the view.

Après le déjeuner

When we lunched at le Reminet there was a large group at the table next to us. It must have been a business lunch as they had everything, including the dessert that you can see was well received.

le Reminet

3 rue Grand Degrés

Paris 75005

Samedi Signes - Bonne Année Saint-Denis

When we made our trek to Saint-Denis last January, this banner still hung from the Hôtel de Ville.  Interesting mix of old and new!

Bienvenue à l'Oisive Thè, Salon de Thè

I learned about this charming shop from another Paris blog months before my trip last January.  I contacted Aimee, the owner ( who is an American) and told her to expect us.  We found the shop at 10 rue de la Butte aux Cailles our last day in Paris.  We arrived a bit early ( it opens at 12:00) which gave us time to stroll the neighborhood and take a lot of wonderful photographs.  Once inside, we ordered our tea and I took as many photographs as I could between sips.  As you can see, Aimee not only serves tea,  but colorful yarns as well. What a terrific combination!

You can follow them on Facebook here

Matin aux Tuileries

Reading in the gardens, a national pastime and I love it!

Les Jambes!

A very colorful chorus line!

Le chapeau violet

Shakespeare & Company

One can stay in Paris for days, weeks, months and never tire of photographing the many beautiful buildings. parks and monuments.  When I'm there, of course I love that, but what I'm always in search of are those moments when you capture an image that had you been a minute too early or too late.......you would have missed.  I think this gentleman seated behind this suitcase full of books ( which I've photographed on other trips ) was just such a shot.  Actually, I had more than a minute.  He sat through several snaps, perhaps in awe of what the crazy américain photographer was doing, and then I wandered off and came back and he was still there,  so I took that to mean I needed to give it another go.  Merci Monsieur ( looking good in that purple cap) !

Quel Cinéma ?

 

Thanks to Mary who had already seen this film, I took this shot in the Tuileries Métro.   I recently purchased it to share with the grandkids and watched it yesterday.  No wonder it won awards!  Do you know it?

Sunday Church Series - Des amis fidèles

The Basilica Saint Denis is an amazing church filled with rows and rows of beautiful marble statuary, a veritable Who's Who of French royalty.   Many  have faithful friends, such as these, at their feet.  My friend Owen at Magic Lantern Show was our guide that day, and he has done a marvelous post on many of these as well right  HERE.  He and I seemed to have had a "foot fetish" that day.  More on that later!

Les dernièrs géraniums

Poking down a little alleyway in St. Denis proved a good idea.  These two brave blossoms were still weathering the cold and wind last January.  A week later, Paris experienced bitter temps.  They put up a good fight against winter!

Paris Rouge - Réflexions

 rue de la Butte-aux-Cailles

This place just made me smile!

This is my offering for James' Weekend Reflections!

Bon weekend,

V

100 French Stangers - Louie

French Stranger #79 

Yesterday I told you that I snapped that photo while Mary and I were strolling through a small playground on rue de la Butte aux Cailles.  Today meet my new little friend Louie.  Louie's mom kindly allowed me to take his picture. He tried out all of the playground equipment while I snapped away. Très mignon!