Monday, October 31, 2011

Le dame en or


The series of statues here overlooking la Tour Eiffel is lovely but this time, the golden light in the window caught my eye. The reflection was the bonus.

Palais de Chaillot
Métro: Trocadéro

Sunday, October 30, 2011

La brouette de jardin


This beautifully handpainted (inside and out) cart is used to carry watering cans and other tools to the graves at Cimetière de Passy.  The French always seem to find a way to turn function into art!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

La vie imite l'art



Les Américains fou

Our first trip to Paris, we entered Tuileries and immediately these enthusiastic tourists caught my eye and my Eva's as well.  She seemed a bit puzzled as to why grown men would pose with a statue such as this.  I decided to pass on that explanation!  A while later she picked her own statue and asked me to take her picture with it.  Peter has done extensive posting of all the statues in the gardens here and if you look closely you will find our Eva on his blog as well !

Friday, October 28, 2011

"L'addition s'il vous plaît"


These days Paris waiters don't leave a small handwritten tab on your table, although I'd love to find some that still do.  Sadly, now it's a computerized ticket they've printed out.  Here at Le Petit Marcel, it seems our handsome waiter, with the red suspenders, was actually logging it all in on a computer!  Quel dommage.

Le Petit Marcel
65 rue Rambuteau
75004 Paris

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Réflexion au plafond


Last January Mary, Peter and I met Laurent for dinner in a nice little resto near the Pompidou.  While waiting I noticed the mirrored ceiling and the nice reflection.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

La pharmacie


If you've traveled to Paris, you've probably had to locate la pharmacie a time or two.  Oh I've had to stop in for band-aids for my toes many times, but the most fun is strolling the aisles pouring over the cosmetics, cremes and soaps.....  Paris pharmacies are well known for this and Pharmacie Place Monge  is said to be the largest and busiest one in Paris.  Mary and I stopped in for a few things and the line to see the pharmacists was quite long, but there were friendly salespeople there to help us with over the counter items.  Just look for the neon green cross!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Keeping Watch


Madame lives on a busy street in the Marais. Perhaps the noise is not so pleasant or maybe she's just having a look at what is going on below?

Monday, October 24, 2011

Paris Rouge LXXI - Hôtel du Louvre


Question:   Is the Hôtel du Louvre always bathed in red or just this evening especially pour moi?

Place André Malraux
75001 Paris
Mètro: Palais Royal Musée du Louvre

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Leaving Stones



In keeping with the Jewish tradition of leaving a stone on the gravestone as a way to honor that person with their visit.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

La voiture pour moi!


And if I could land a job with le  Centre Monuments aux Nationale,  I could drive one!

Centre des Monuments Nationaux
Hôtel de Sully
rue Saint-Antoine

Friday, October 21, 2011

Le couturier II


You have met Alexis several times here on this blog, as I've photographed  his studio at Place des Vosges as often as I can find it open.  Today another view of one of his gowns with the designer himself in the background.  Alexis was gracious enough to allow me to stop in and photograph his creations on several occasions but remained a bit in the background.  I think this photos illustrates that.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

La boutique des petits gâteaux


I don't know that I've ever found a patisserie that offered only cookies.  Too bad they were closed.  I spotted several I would have liked to taste.

Merci to my faithful reader Harriet and  blogger Richard Moisan for the tricky translation!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Trop Mignon!


For the little Emperor in your family.  We all have at least one!

I'm leaving today for Los Angeles and a wonderful blog gathering.  I won't be able to leave as many comments while I'm gone.  I look forward to your comments and visiting your blogs when I return.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

100 French Strangers - Monsieur Feldman

French Stranger #77
M. Marc Feldman, propriétaire 
Au Passe Partout
rue Saint- Paul

As I wandered near my apartment in the Marais one afternoon, I spotted this man hard at work at his desk just inside the doorway.  I stepped in and asked if I could take some photos.  After all, the place was dripping with old keys and tire bouchons!  He spoke a little English so I asked if I could take his photograph as well.  He consented but asked to share the book he had written, Des Clefs et des Hommes.
Of course I agreed.  I have a few more photos of his interesting shop for you later.I'm one lucky photographer.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Timeless


Thanks to the well dressed patrons, this photograph could have been snapped decades ago.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Spring Cleaning la Pyramide



Oh I can hear what you're saying, "Why on earth is Virginia posting this shot? Every tourist on the planet has taken this one!". Well I have a little Louvre trivia pour toi aujourd'hui. Ever wonder how they clean all that glass? ( Paris is full of pigeons you know.) I'm sure I.M. Pei never gave that a thought when he designed it. Well it's obviously a job too big for a Frenchman with a squeegee! Look closely and you will see the little robot that does it effortlessly. You just never know what you'll learn on PTML!


Saturday, October 15, 2011

Supersize My Macaron!


Yes, even in Paris, you can supersize even this normally petit confection.  These macarons were almost as large as our southern Moon Pie!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Les cinq dames


Enjoying this beautiful summer day in the Place des Vosges.  I smiled when I saw them.  They reminded me of this photo.  This group seems a bit friendlier!

Do you think they are tourists or Parisiens?  I can't decide.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Le débat


Jardin du Luxembourg

It seems that faithful pétanque players enjoy their game year round.  In fact, I think I recognized several of these players from previous trips.  This very chilly Sunday, they donned jackets and scarves and seemed to be having a bit of a discussion, which I've observed,  happens quite often.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Le Carrousel - Où sont les enfants?


A cold and drizzly day in January
 The carrousel stands still.

Monday, October 10, 2011

L'Artiste - Sketching Canal St. Martin


This young artist with his interesting attire, was very focused on his lovely rendering of the Canal Saint-Martin.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Le Croix II - Cimetière Église Saint Germain de Charonne



This small cemetery behind the church was well cared for and we found some lovely monuments and crosses

Église Saint Germain de Charonne
4 Place Saint-Blaise
20 eme

Saturday, October 8, 2011

L'Opéra Bastille


Last June 2010, I stayed in the Marais, just blocks from the Place de la Bastille.  One day I came up from the Métro and looked the Opéra square in the face.  I will admit that it has never been a favorite of mine, but I'd hoped it would "grow on me, in time.  Well .... it   hasn't.  It's sleek, curvy and to be honest, not all that well cared for in places.  I have photos but decided to leave that alone.  Maybe if I had been inside for a performance,  I would feel differently. This bright sunny day, I did my best to put a good face on it.

Opéra Bastille
Place de la Bastille
Métro- Bastille

Friday, October 7, 2011

La Fenêtre Ouverte


If you can squeeze yourself through the throngs at Shakespeare & Company, and wind your way upstairs, you will discover some wonderful finds!  I will admit it took me three trips here to finally discover the back stairs.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Remembering


A sad day for everyone at Apple and for all of us who admired what Steve Jobs created in a life cut short.  As a former Apple employee I can say it was the finest company I've ever had the pleasure of being part of.  He will certainly be missed.   Last January, our first day in Paris, we headed to the Apple Store Opéra.  It was a thrill to see it first hand. 

Apple Store Opéra
12 rue Halevy
75009  Paris

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

L'artisan Ceinturier - Les Ceintures



It's a banner day here on my blog.  I'm so stingy with my photographs that I RARELY post more than one. ( Humor me, I fear my photos will run out before I can return to Paris!)  That said, I thought these two told the story so well. Look at these fabulous belts.  How would you choose?

Now do you see what the jars held yesterday?

Tomorrow: Les boucles!


Tuesday, October 4, 2011

L'artisan Ceinturier - The Workbench


Just inside the doorway, the artisan's workbench. Of course the red bucket of roses was the pièce de résistance!  Only in Paris......

Monday, October 3, 2011

L'artisan Ceinturier - The Look


I've been saving a small group of photos from this belt shop in the Marais since June, 2010.   I love the small specialty shops I find in Paris.  The craftsmanship is remarkable and made and displayed with such care.  Losco carries only handcrafted leather belts and buckles. Today my archive photo.  What I didn't realize was that I had piqued someone's curiosity!

I think it might be nice to keep this group of photographs together in a series,  so come back tomorrow to have a look at his workbench.

Losco
20 rue de Sévigné
75004 Paris
Métro- Saint Paul

Another boutique is located at 5 rue de Sèvres
75006 Paris
Métro- Sèvres- Babylone

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Une Autre Croix - Cimetière de Passy


I've found these lovely porcelain crosses and wreaths at each and every cemetery I've visited in Paris. I think they become even more beautiful as they weather.  Last January, after a rainfall, I thought this one very special, with the fallen leaves.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Look But Don't Touch!



Didier Ludot's vintage Pucci collection is quite safe!  Here at the Palais Royal and all over Paris, the shops  lock it up nice and tight at night.  I have always been fascinated by this because I probably feel safer in Paris at night than anywhere! Anyone have an opinion to share?