Thursday, May 31, 2012

One Last Look


If you look closely in the background, you can see the famous la Samaritaine, one of Paris' grand magasins before it closed in 2005 dues to safety issues.  It is now under complete renovation, to the tune of 450 million euros. I would have loved to see Paris from its rooftop café.  Let me hear from you, dear readers, if you were able to have the pleasure before it closed.

24 comments:

Suz said...

What a lovely blog! I enjoyed my visit.

French Girl in Seattle said...

Oui, V. I went up there on a regular basis while I lived in Paris. I even applied for a job in the Samaritaine sales department while I was studying at la Sorbonne! Old, old store. Creaky wood floors. Snooty - and older - sales staff. Ah, but the terrace! That made it all worthwhile. It was usually packed on Saturday afternoons. Happy to hear they are renovating the building. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

Joe said...

I hope you can go back and take some photos when the renovations are complete.

PeterParis said...

The answer is, I must admit, YES! :-)

Shell Sherree said...

The rooftop cafe sounds beautiful! I'm glad it's being brought back to life ~ hard to imagine how it ended up being left to fall apart in the first place.

Eleanor said...

La Samarataine was a regular on our list of 'musts'. We once showed up for lunch without reservations, but the lovely hostess agreed to seat us by the window IF we promised to finish eating before the next party arrived. We did. The view was wonderful and I still remember the la salade de saumon I ordered.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

I remember the interior of la Samaritaine and bought some barrettes and hair accessories there on my first visit. I have seen photos taken from the terrace (Eric's) but am sad that I did not go while it was still open. I am not sure that the terrace will be available to the public after the renovations... (They should create another café!)

Janey and Co. said...

Sadly no. Sure do hope it re-opens

Beautiful shot of the bridge!

Anonymous said...

Great shot of the bridge!

♥ E.T. Suzy ♥ said...

This is one of your best shots, V!! The Queen of Paris lives up to her title once again. XO

Palomasea said...

This is a beautiful shot, Virginia!
I remember eating on a magasin rooftop, but which one? Yikes? I think it was here, unless Printemps has one...then it could have been there. I was going through a very romantic phase, and I did not pay much attention to anything at the time, unfortunately..ha!
I am very happy, though, that they are renovating.

Thank you so much for stopping by chez moi!
Bises,
- Irina

Starman said...

I can't really remember, but it was one of my favorite places, so it's entirely possible.

Virginia said...

I loved hearing your memories of la Samaritaine. I hope that once the huge project is complete there will be a rooftop for us to gather and have a toast!
V

Pamela said...

What a beautiful bridge!

Alexa said...

Oh yeah—I've been up there lots of times! (I love your shot, V.)

Vær våken said...

Love this! Wish I was there :)

Leif Hagen said...

Chere V de B - our friend Claude took Anne and me atop la Samaritaine for a magnifique foto de Paris!
Bon weekend et meme happy theme day!

Paris Rendez-vous and Beyond said...

Beautiful image and yes Virginia...Pierre and I caught the lift to the rooftop way back in 2001 to see all of Paris...we were the only 2 people there that cold, windy May morning...but it was wonderful. I don't even recall the rooftop café being open then....but the view was why we were there...magnifiqué. Looking forward to the Samartine "6 star" hotel when it's built!!!!!! It will be a stunner. A bientot.

Cezar and Léia said...

Glorious capture and a sad story...
God bless you!
Cezar

James said...

Just as my wife and I walked into la Samaritaine on our first Paris trip we decided to go get lunch and come back later. We didn't make it back on that trip and it was closed when we returned the following years. :(

VP said...

Yes we did, several times. On my first trip to Paris in the early 80s I saw a fight between policemen and strikers who wanted to flow a red flag from the mast up there. I even took some pictures...

AL said...

Oui...many, many years ago...perhaps 40! (yikes). I was only young then and it was my first visit to Paris and I was, and still am, in love with her. Beautiful picture of the pont V.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Wonderful image Virginia, everything just seems so 'solid' in Paris, that bridge is amazing from this angle. I see the restoration is hoped to be completed mid 2014, shall we catch up then and check it out haha!

Harriet said...

YES, I made my way up there on my trip in 2003! I remember the feeling that one could just step out and walk across rooftops which seemed so close. And in 2004, I purchased a favorite pair of walking shoes that are still in good shape despite having walked many miles in Paris and other parts of France. This is a GREAT photo!!! Love the bridge and have always loved La Samaritaine -- she's a beauty so deserving of renovation.