Waiting for a Euro

This man was sitting outside the entrance of the beautiful Église Saint-Germain-des-Pres, quietly reading as he waited for a euro or two in his cup. I don't wish to pass judgement here. I've not been in this position...I'm blessed.

Les Chaises - Paris Rouge XXII

Can you believe it? This is Paris Rouge No. XXII. I have lost count on the Table/Chairs Series by now. Well, just enjoy this delightful setting I found in January in the Marais, of course!

A Quiet Corner of Paris

Most visitors to Notre Dame gather in the plaza in front the church. Last June, as Meredith Mullins and I strolled the Seine in search of sunset photos, we stopped here behind the cathedral. This quiet little park is delightful. Earlier that week I photographed the roses right here when I visited the gardens with my daughter and grandchildren. Late in the day, Meredith and I found it deserted and quite peaceful. ( Maybe because it was closed? )

Pont de Mirabeau

Today a few photos that make me smile. 14 Juillet, I spent on the Pont de Grenelle, but we passed the Pont de Mirabeau on our way there. Peter and I staked our claim on this bridge in great anticipation of the fabulous fireworks to come at the Eiffel Tower in celebration of Bastille Day! We waited for quite a while in order to keep our front row seats. It was well worth the wait as you've seen here and here.

Well today, our friend Louis is hosting the first in his new Serie du Pont de Dimanche. I don't have many left, but I did have this one that I've not shared. I thought I'd also post the Statue of Liberty, found on the Pont de Grenelle. She is 3 years younger than "our" Lady Liberty. The plaque that commemorates these events reads: IV Juillet 1776 and XIV Julliet 1789 ( the storming of the Bastille). I think Peter picked the perfect spot for us to celebrate Bastille Day!

UPDATE: Merci to my Paris expert Peter, who kindly emailed and helped me get this all straight. The bridge above is the Pont de Mirabeau. The bottom photo is the Pont de Grenelle where we watched the fireworks! I guess this should count as two bridge posts in one! Sorry for the confusion but you should be use to it by now! :)

Musique Dans Les Rues IV - The Bass Player

The bass player is the last of this series. I hope you've enjoyed it.

I am pleased to introduce my Francophile readers to a new blog that I've recently found. Keith Eckstein, my new best friend in France, at A Taste of Garlic has a delightful blog and has recently reviewed PTML! I am very flattered Keith. Thank you for your kind words and hilarious review of my blog! I'm amazed to learn that you found my blog "seriously seductive! " Well, how about that!

Musique Dans Les Rues III - la Danseuse

Of all the interesting people I've photographed in France, this lady has to be one of the most intriguing. She seemed to dance in her own "world" for lack of a better description. Often she closed her eyes and just seemed to let the music move her. She seemd rather oblivious to the spectators and even the band members. Another "Paris moment" I'll always remember.

I really struggled with which two photographs to share with you today. I hope you won't mind if I post several more later.

Musique Dans Les Rues II - A Little More Sax in Paris!

Today the second part of our series. As I've said before, you just can't have too much sax in Paris. I've proved it here and here. Today even more. Ohh la la!

Musique Dans Les Rues - The Singer

Today I thought we would start a little series. Last July, Peter, Maya, and Janet and I were touring Montmartre. We walked up on this interesting street band. It was yet another "photographer's buffet" as Bob Crowe likes to say. The four of us must have taken hundreds of photos. I don't know why I've held onto these for 8 months! I've decided you might enjoy seeing them for the next few days in a series rather than here and there.

Today the leader who played the trumpet and sang as well. I polled my trusty companions and they all agreed that he was probably an American ex-pat. He looked and sounded like he'd spent many nights in some very smoky bars! I loved the cup he used to mute his horn.

Cimitière Père-Lachaise

Today's photo of the lovely Cimitière Père-Lachaise is dedicated to my Cincinnati ami Phil Nuxhall. Phil is the curator of the beautiful and well known Spring Grove Cemetery there, and he's written a new book- Beauty In the Grove: Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum. Unfortunately we didn't have Phil along on the day we visited Père Lachaise , but we had the next best thing, Mary Gilbert! Mary's a docent at Spring Grove and is quite the authority on Parisian cemeteries as well. She gave us a wonderful tour. Merci mon amie!

Sweet Treat

I have a very good reason for sharing this not so great photograph of this patisserie window with you today. Last week I received a lovely email from Susan Hochbaum, a new follower of this blog. Susan is not only a lover of Paris, and Paris pastries, she is also a talented photographer and one creative lady! She was kind enough to send along the link to a little movie she's made. You will thank me for this one! She will return to Paris in April for more photographs as she has signed a book deal. Susan, let us all know when your book comes out. I think we will ALL want one!

Eiffel Tower! Eiffel Tower! Eiffel Tower!

You PDP fans will know immediately who this post is dedicated to. The delightful and Paris loving Eiffel Tower Suzy of course! Suz, I hope you enjoy these photos I captured one very fine, very sunny, very blue skied day in Paris. C'est magnifique!

Paris Rouge XX - la Voiture Rouge

Bienvenue á V's Fantasy World: IF I could live in Paris, and IF I could have a car there, I'd have a cute red Fiat with an orange license plate just like this one! :)

Shadowed

The Musée Rodin not only has a fine collection of Auguste Rodin's sculpture, but also features some lovely work by Camille Claudel, his student, the model for many of his pieces, and his lover. Many will argue that her talent rivaled Rodin's. From the source that I used, I will attribute this piece to her. If anyone has evidence to the contrary, please let me know. It would be interesting to know if this is a model or an unfinished piece. Perhaps one of you, dear readers with more patience for Google than I, will enlighten us! I liked the afternoon shadows on her face.

If you are visiting Paris and want a museum recommendation, this is one of my most favorites. It's a small, intimate museum in the former Hôtel Biron. The grounds are lovely as well. In fine weather, you can have a nice lunch at the cafe on the grounds. Search this blog for other posts- there are many!

Feeding the Pigeons?

Palais de Chaillot

Un Après-Midi Sur La Seine

Taken last June on my wonderful evening spent with American/Parisian photographer Meredith Mullins.

Note to self: Next trip......a bottle of champagne needs to be uncorked right here!

Madame et le Chien - Joigny,France

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!

Les Chaises - Palais Royal

Encore une fois vous demander? Certainement! At the gardens of the Palais Royal a photographer can find endless delights. Forgive me for returning again and again. On my last visit we stayed very close and of course there was la neige to make it even more delightful. This photo was taken last summer.

I've had a fascination for these chairs you find in many parks in Paris. They are so condusive to sitting, reading, napping? I'd love four for my patio back home!

Today I again join the Monochrome Weekend group of great photographers. Have a look here.

Paris Rouge XIX- Packed and Ready to Go!

You read my mind didn't you! Oui, I'd love to be traveling to Paris with one of these fabulous valises from Merci ....TOMORROW!

Déjeuner á la Bourgogne

La Bourgogne, on rue Mouffetard is a great little place for lunch. That's my cassoulet of jambon et fromage at the bottom. May I just say I ate every bite. The sauce was creamy and cheesy and well, you know! And the top photo just says Paris café to me!

A special "Merci" to our dear Parisian amie Anne who chose this delightful place for the lunch we shared that day!

La Tour Eiffel - The Tenin Technique

Today City Daily Photobloggers around the world are helping Eric Tenin celebrate the 5th birthday of his Paris Daily Photo blog. As a result of Eric's inspiration, City Daily Photo was born and now hundreds of bloggers around the world post a photograph of their city each day. Eric gets all the credit for inspiring me to start my Birmingham blog and the rest is history! Eric is known for shooting at wacky angles or from ground level. Since I'm featuring another tower on my BADP today, I decided to salute him on this blog as well with le Tour j'adore! Joyeux Anniversaire Eric!

Fermé

Alexis, one of the most gorgeous shops in the Marais, was closed the last time I passed by. After I took this photograph here, I crossed the street, pressed my camera against the window and drew a breath. Just look!

Coucher de Soleil - Votre Choix

I took these photographs of the sun setting on the Seine the evening I spent with photographer Meredith Mullins. As I pondered which to share with you today, I couldn't decide which I preferred. So today, un petit cadeau pour toi, enjoy the one you like best. I hope I never tire of this delicious view.

I Say Macaron, You Say Macaroon

Today I pay homage to the divine macaron on my Birmingham blog. Imagine that! Don't believe me? Well just shashay right over there and have a look. So what's good for Birmingham, must be good for Paris as well, so we'll just stop for a little visit at Macaron Heaven.....Ladurée! Last January, you'll remember we had a grand blogfest right there. Thé and petite macrons were consumed ( at a grand prix I might add! ). Well what's a few Euros when you're in this fabulous place with bons amis!

Dimanche á Paris

Taken at The American Cathedral in Paris

I'm joining Aileni's Monochrome Weekly group today. Click here to see the other wonderful participants.

le Coeur - Cimetière Père-Lachaise

The photo opportunities at the wonderful Cimetiere du Père-Lachaise are endless. Today a lovely little sign hanging from a mausoleum.

Shooting Birds in Paris

Spring is on its way, and I think you will soon be tired of Paris snow photos. Today a photo that still makes me smile. As we crossed through the gardens of the Palais Royal late that afternoon, this group was intent on capturing this bird, pigeon? I had more fun photographing the photographers!

Paris From Above

As promised, photographs from the rooftop café at Printemps. Above the lovely Église de la Madeleine . I love the chimney pots and the allée of trees leading up to the church.

Below, the fabulous Opéra Garnier. Check their website, it's amazing.

C'est Paris!

I say that a lot. Today another example that made me smile. Of course the pug caught my eye, but then his hair, his clothes.......c'est Paris!

le Brouillard - Montmartre

At the time, the cold, damp, foggy day didn't thrill us as we strained to see the city of Paris laid out before us from the Sacre Coeur's spectacular vantage point. Then again, it made for some nice photographs that day.

Fashion Extra - l'echarpe de Paris!

OK you men can go get a snack or something. The girls and I need to chat about the long awaited scarf. I'm not sure fashion photography is a path I need to follow, but you can get an idea here. The best part? I didn't lay down a pile of Euros at Bon Marché. NON, I bought this is at a little shop on rue Mouffetard for 20 Euros or less, and I could have bought about 10 more! When I put it on , I looked at my friend Mary G. and said, "C'est moi!" I think it might be the single item in my closet that makes me feel chic, girly, flirty, sexy .......all rolled into one. I'd say it was Euros well spent.

( The color is a yummy raspberry color with dots of a goldish green. I don't think the photo color is just right)

Hanging Around the Paris Flea Market

Last summer when I visited the Paris Flea Market, I think maybe I was a bit overwhelmed with the sheer number of booths and lovely offerings. In looking back over my photographs I found this one. I took one look and asked myself, "WHY didn't you buy one of those gorgeous laces scarves? What were you thinking??" Well I'm home now and I want one. Here's my solution. The next one of you to get there, would you please buy me one? ( We may need to talk reasonable number of euros however! ) Mon amie Harriet may be the first one since she's going for a nice long visit in April!

Update: My dear reader Louciao suggested this Edith Piaf song to accompany this post today.

Parfait!