100 French Strangers - Yet Another Friendly Waiter

French Stranger #77

One a hot July day, this cheerful waiter served me lunch and as I watched, he greeted other patrons  outside with a smile.  About a block from Place des Vosges,  if memory serves.   I stopped by again,  late one afternoon for wine on the street again.  He took very good care of me.  Who says French waiters are snooty???

To see more of my photographs of my Paris waiters, visit My French Life.  My article "Waiting in Paris" was featured recently.

100 French Strangers - The Shop Owner

French Stranger #74

Mary, Richard and I wandered into Librairie Scaramouche from Passage Molière and Richard was right, a real treasure trove it was. Filled to the brim with vintage posters, postcards, books and movie paraphernalia.  Monsieur behind the counter gave me a rather blasé look when I snapped the first photograph,  but I wandered around and came back and this time I don't think he minded so much.  Is that just a hint of a smile???

Librairie Scaramouche

161 rue St.Martin

75003 Paris

3ème arr.

100 French Strangers - Smile for the Crazy Américaine

French Strangers # 72-73

 I do think this might just be two of my favorite "strangers".  (Do I say this everytime? )  Last June as I was snapping away in this photography shop at le Marché des Enfants Rouge, the gentleman on the left, the owner, asked what exactly I was photographing. I explained my Paris rouge fetish and he seemed satisfied.

Outside he and his friend were very kind to allow me this photo shoot.  I'm thinking the conversation went like this:  "Smile for the crazy American photographer!" Aren't they just great??  Who says Parisians are aloof?

100 French Strangers - Alexis, le Couturier

French Stranger #70

Oh I've been holding onto these photographs since last June. It's time to start sharing.  Meet Alexis.  You know the name because we've window shopped here and here.  I dropped by several times, but the shop was always closed.  In June, while wandering around the Place des Vosges, I found his shop and voilà, the door was open!  Alexis is a dress designer, an "over the top" dress designer.   He was polite but more or less went about his (cell phone) business, after he agreed to let me photograph his shop. Later that week, while JB, Peter and Owen were getting to know the music store owner across the street, Mary and I slipped in to say, "Bonjour" to Alexis.  More to come.

SECOND THOUGHTS

I announced last week that I would suspend posting on the weekends, but I've decided to go for it. I still  have many to share, and Mary and I will be hopefully be returning to Paris en janvier!!

Sketching

French Stranger #69

The Musée d'Orsay is a grand place for artists and students alike to have some quiet time to sit and sketch.  Last summer, I chatted with this American student, taking a fe minutes to capture a memory on paper.

100 French Strangers Challenge - L'artiste

French Stranger #68

The Village St. Paul in the Marais is not only a treasure trove of interesting shops, but I found several "strangers" as well. Meet Olivia Clétienne, an artist who does original and restorative work. Today two photographs that caught my eye when I approached her studio. That red bucket on the old paint spattered chair caught my eye as well as the fact that she was standing in the doorway painting. She heard the click of my shutter and turned, so I walked up and talked with her for a few minutes. I have another photograph that I liked of her as well. I'll share it another day.

Madame et le Chien

French Stranger # 67

Peter and I happened upon this lovely lady with her precious pup in the basket of her bicycle in a small park in the Marais. She was so kind to pose for photos.

(For those of you that have followed my comments regarding the unusual summer clothing in Paris, I rest my case.)

"Toto, I think we've landed in Paris!"

100 French Strangers - Trois Pompiers de Paris

French Strangers 64, 65,66

Trois hunky Parisian firemen. Mon plaisir. Need I say more?

As if I didn't have enough problems, now Picasa says I have used all my space and I"ve had to buy more. Grrrr Hopefully by tomorrow I can load photos here again. I had this one in draft.

Enjoy!

100 French Strangers - Dejuener Avec Amies

French Stranger #64 - Frank, owner and chef

Yesterday I welcomed my dear blog reader ( and Francophile, imagine!) Genie from Mobile, Alabama and her friend Marie from Houston to Paris. Genie took us to one of her favorite restaurants, and we were not disappointed. Hier & Aujourd'hui ( 145 rue de Saussure, 17 eme) is a small family owned restaurant and the food is wonderful ! Genie and I had monkfish with fresh green legumes and Marie had lapin. We three shared two entrees and a chocolat creme brulee that was magnifique! Good friends, good food, good wine, friendly hosts. Another Paris moment I won't soon forget!

BTW, It's not always easy getting a seat so call for reservations at 01 42 27 35 55

Today, a blogfest in Paris. Stay tuned for details and photos!

(I'm having some Blogger issues so I am unable to move my photos or enlarge them. Pardon!!!)

100 French Strangers - Grand Mère et Petite Enfant

French Strangers #62-63

My 100 Strangers has been featured in B-Metro, a Birmingham magazine, and they were kind enough to mix in my dear French strangers as well. I really can't express how much I've loved capturing the many delightful and interesting strangers I've met in France. Today I have two more for you. I am anticipating my return to Paris to try and find the rest!

I found this photograph in my archives and burst into smiles all over again. I walked up on this delightful grand-mère et sa petite-fille in Luxembourg Gardens last summer. What a find!!

100 French Strangers - Glaces et Sorbets

French Stranger #61

This stand outside the entrance to Luxembourg Gardens was a "must stop" for Eva and Davis. This nice gentleman always had a smile for us. There were many delicious choices but of course we always asked for chocolat!

Bistrot Victoires- 100 French Strangers Challenge

French Stranger #60

Located in the 1st, on rue de la Vrillière, Bistrot Victoires is a nice little place for a good lunch at an affordable prix. Our waitress was very charming and pretty as well! We had a table in the doorway facing the street. I love that about Paris. In fine weather, you can enjoy your meal and people watch at the same time.

Since writing this text, I might add that we also dined here our first night in Paris last January! Peter joined us and we had a nice dinner and got to see this charming waitress again as well. Jet lag and wine provided many laughs that night!

The zinc bar is so, so Paris!

I don't know exactly what this is. A brass R2D2 or an expresso machine of some kind? Love the straw hat!

100 French Strangers - Crêpes While You Wait

French Stranger #59

Oh how can I break this to you ......I've never had a crêpe in Paris! I'm so ashamed. I should have had one of his, but as I recall, I'd just polished off un éclair au chocolat et le thé á la maison de mon amie Anne!

rue Mouffetard

For my Birmingham readers I will be teaching another photography class soon

FROM SNAPSHOTS TO PHOTOGRAPHS

Please visit my website for more details!

100 French Strangers - Kiosque a Journaux

French Stranger # 58

I love this photo. Just so you know, after I bought my carnet of metro tickets, I asked this gentlemen if I could take his photograph. He just stood there, so I asked again, he never moved. From the look on his face, you'd think he was looking down the barrel of an Uzi , rather than down the lens of my Canon. Monsieur dire, "Fromage"! Merci!

100 French Strangers Challenge - Les Artistes

French Stranger # 56

Well you know by now, I am often drawn to the artists when I'm roaming around Paris and the French countryside with my camera. The top photo is artist Françoise Daganaud. I met her at Vivienne Art Galerie last summer. Her unusual paintings of African children really appealed to me. Sadly I didn't see her there this past visit.

I met the artist below in a small gallery in Joigny, France. He graciously showed me around his shop. I enjoyed seeing his work, as well as that of his wife.

French Stanger #57

100 French Strangers - Troyes, France

French Stranger 54

Believe it or not, I took these two photos within minutes of each other. The petite jeune fille was sitting at the table next to ours. Her adorable smile with that green balloon had us all snapping away. Madame was making some delicious crepes at a nearby stand. I got lucky this day!

French Stranger 55

100 French Strangers Challenge - Les Dames et la Jeune Fille

French Stranger #51

If you have followed my 100 French Stranger quest you know that I have had much better luck with the men! That said, today I have proof that the French women were also quite friendly, well except for these !

The jeune fille in the top photo was seated next to me at a café one afternoon. We had a nice chat, and she was kind enough to let me take her picture before she scooted off for an interview.

These nice ladies below, were visiting through this open window in the little town of Nogent sur Seine, FR.

French Strangers # 52-53

100 French Strangers - Les Bijoutiers

French Stranger #49

Saturday on my Birmingham blog, I had a few more of my 100 Strangers. Today I thought we'd take a little trip to the countryside of France to find two more of my 100 French Strangers. The top photo is a jewelry artist we met in Troyes, France. The bottom photo is a young man selling jewelry outside of a shop in Sens. Strangers 49 and 50, and I have a few more to share. Perhaps my next trip I'll find the rest? I think I'll have to improve my French or my charm, one or the other to capture that many. We'll see!

French Stranger #50

Baguettes to Go! - 100 French Strangers

French Stranger #48

While in Thorigny sur Oreuse, Fr, I was photographing the old rusty gate below and decided to see what was on the other side. Voilá ! The baker from the boulangerie next door came out with these scrumptiuos baguettes and loaded them in his van. I should have grabbed one! The gate was pretty wonderful as well, oui?

The Music Man

French Stranger #47

My daughter Melissa just came back from a two week stay in Paris. She joined Richard Nahem for one of his Eye Prefer Paris tours and made another visit to the Marais district of Paris. One of her favorite stops was this musical instrument shop. When she described it , I knew just who she was talking about. I visited this lovely man and his shop last November. I thought I had previously posted a photo, but I'm unable to locate it in a search so hopefully it is new to you as well! When we walked in, he was

waxing this beautiful music box that he had just acquired. What a dear he was and before we left, he even played a waltz for us! His shop was a treasure trove of every kind of instrument you could imagine. He even allowed me access to his workshop in the back! Today a few photos for you. As a note, I did not find him this past summer. I had no idea where in the Marais he was located. Melissa says it's near Place des Vosges.