Bonne Année 2013 !

Non Madame, pas de photos!

Yesterday, some of my readers asked me if I'd ever been refused photos in Paris.  Today seems like the perfect time for this story.


I arrived in Paris last January with "my list" clenched in my fist.  I had researched several specialty shops in Paris Made By Hand,  that I was dying to photograph.  Alexandra Sojfer's parapluie shop was at the top of the list.  After a very long first day in Paris, we finally arrived on the doorstep after dark.  I walked in, greeted the gentleman at the counter and asked to take a few photographs.  He apologetically  told me that I could not take any photos inside the shop. With that, the designer herself breezed in from the back and made it very clear that there would be none, although I pulled the "I'm here from the U.S. to take photos" card. Sadly I was then forced to press my lens against the glass and get only passable photographs.

Since 1834, this family has handcrafted exquisite umbrellas. If you get caught in a Paris shower without your umbrella, expect pay the price for one of hers!

Alexandra Sojfer

218 Blvd. Saint Germain

75007Paris

Métro: Sèvres Babylone

Trois Amis

I love it when I ask to make a photograph and I get this reaction!

Paris Rouge - Damman Frères Thé

Thé shops can be found all over Paris.  Located on rue Mouffetard, it is one of three Paris stores.  Damman Frères has been in the tea business since 1692.  

Trop Fatigué

I have felt like these tourists at the Panthéon many times.  I think if I didn't travel with such energetic friends I would have done this very thing!

A la pêche aux euros

We happened upon Monsieur, dangling a line in the water below the Daniel Buren's Les Deux Plateau at the Palais Royal.  Pourqoui??  Peter has a few words with him, and he explained he was catching euros on a magnet.  He did not share how many he's captured.

L'ange - Sainte Trinité

This beautiful papier maché angel stood beside the altar at Sainte Trinité church.  The créche was off to one side. The crates used here were also stacked on the altar. Lovely

Joyeux Noël à toi et toute ta famille

You'll find...

Père Noël hanging around all over Paris!

M Is For...

Merry Christmas from Merci and me!

Merci

111 boulevard Beaumarchais

75003 Paris

Métro: Saint Sébastien Froissart

Signes du Samedi - Ladurée

Don't you wish you could pop in Ladurée for your last minute gifts and stocking stuffers!

Noël à Paris - Hôtel de Ville de Paris

In addition to the large skating rink that is set up in from of the Hôtel de Ville de Paris, this beautiful double decker carrousel adds to the magic.

La crèche

This crèche at the Basilique Cathédrale de Saint-Denis is one of the most unusual I've seen anywhere in Paris.  If I didn't know better, I'd think les petits enfants had been rearranging the figures.

Paris Rouge - Coeurs rouges

Lest you think all Christmas trees in Paris are fabulous, over the top creations, meet the dear little tree that greets you in the courtyard ouyside Moulin de la Galette restaurant in Montmartre. I think the rouge hearts are the perfect choice.

83 rue Lepic

75018 Paris

La Grande Roue de la Concorde

Place de la Concorde's obelisk  with the Grande Roue de la Concorde in the background, decked out for Christmas.  It went up 16 novembre and will come down 13 janvier. Prix 10 euro, and worth it for the views of Paris from above.

Les Décorations

Last January I noticed that many of the cafés and restaurants had added festive decorations over their signage.  Today, I'm sharing not ONE but THREE photos. Consider it an early Christmas gift, or  perhaps a  Christmas miracle!

Sunday Church Series - La Chorale

Late one afternoon, we wandered into the Église Saint-Merri and found this group practicing for an upcoming concert.

Signes du samedi - Pas de chiens

There is a dear little playground adjacent to the Église Saint-Médard on rue Mouffetard.  Good things these petits garçons didn't bring their chien along!

Jingle les cloches

Père Noël better have some mighty hefty elves to jingle these bells!

Les petits écharpes

Even les petits enfants wear their scarves with a flair!

Lumières de Noêl

It seems each neighborhood has it's own light displays during the holiday season.  This one by St. Germain des Pres reminded me of those on the Champs Élysées several years ago.

Simple et festive

The Panthéon decorated with trees simply dressed with festive red bows.

Café avec amies

Friends enjoying a sunny afternoon for a café.  

The Village St. Paul

Sunday Church Series - Basilique du Sacré-Coeur

Basilique du Sacré-Coeur

Scandaleux à Paris!

Sometimes Paris windows just make me laugh out loud as I pause to snap the photo! 

Les lumières de Noël

Even in January, you can still enjoy the festive lights strung across so many Paris streets.

For more lights of Christmas in Paris, visit My French Life. They have published the second in the series Postcards From Paris featuring my photographs right here!

L'Oisneau de Feu

L'Oisneau de Feu

I have a love /hate feeling about the Stravinsky Fountain.  Although I deep down really love the vibrant colored sculptures by Niki de Saint Phalle and her husband Jean Tinguely, the black pieces don't seem to fit there. In addition, I don't think I've ever seen the fountain when all of the sculptures were working and moving as it was designed.  That said, this evening when the Église Saint-Merri was warmly lit, it makes a striking image against this 14th century church.

Hôtel Jeanne d'arc

Well if the mirror is any indication, this must be a delightful place to stay in the Marais.  

Hôtel Jeanne d'Arc

3 rue de Jarente

75004 Paris

Soccer au Palais Royal

Jackets, scooters and skateboards are stashed against a column in the Gallery d'Orléans

Imagine being a young boy living in Paris. On Wednesdays you are out of school,  so you are free to meet up with your friends for a quick pick up game of soccer.  Where do you play? Why the Palais Royal of course.  Be careful that you don't kick you ball into the Pol Bury Fountains!!!!

Nöel lèche vitrine

The shop windows in Paris during the Christmas season are just spectacular.  This day I caught my friends doing a little window shopping at Galerie Vivienne.

Merci MY FRENCH LIFE for featuring a number of my Paris Christmas photos!

Sunday Church Series - Église Saint-Merri

Sitting at a café near the Stravinsky Fountain late one afternoon, the lights caught my eye...the street lights as well as the ones in the apartment windows, illuminating this old church.

Église Saint- Merri

76 Rue de Verrrerie

75004 Paris 

Metro: Hôtel de Ville

City Daily Photo Theme Day - My Street

 The view from our bedroom

For the past two years, my street in Paris has been our fabulous apartment on rue St. Roch. The tall windows overlook the Église St. Roch , and we wake up every morning to the sound of the church bells. Mon amie Mary and I are planning another trip this janvier.  La vie est belle!

Today I join City Daily Photobloggers around the world who are posting photos of their street right here.

L'amour à Hôtel de Sully

These doorways in the courtyard of the Hôtel de Sully at Place des Vosges, seems to always have friends sitting in the doorways.  This couple seemed to be more than friends.  Amour ?

Village de Noël

This shop on rue Butte- aux- Cailles, was still dressed for Christmas.  It was closed that day so we couldn't go in and poke around.

Coucher de soleil

You will probably never see a Paris sunrise taken with my Canon, but I have a few sunsets that I especially love.  This one with La Conciergerie in the distance is a praticular favorite of mine.

Beaucoup de choix

Les Puces de Saint-Ouen, was visual overload for me.  I found too many choices to peruse and to photograph. I loves this old valise and the tango music in this stall.

La grille

Winding our way through this divine little out of the way street ( there was a sign, "PRIVÉ"- phfffttt ) on our way to have a look at  Le Procope, I found so many things to photograph that it took longer than expected!

Sunday Church Series - Basilique Saint-Denis

This beautiful church is located in the suburb of St. Denis, about 9.4 km  north of Paris.  A beautiful church not to be missed.

Basilique Saint-Denis

2 rue de Strasbourg, St. Denis

Mètro - St. Denis

Paris Rouge - Madame et son vélo

Cranking up her iPod and biking off.  I have nothing but admiration.

Musique sur le pont

The Pont des Arts, a pedestrian bridge,  is always alive with musicians, artists and other creative Parisians.  This friendly gentleman's music added to our stroll across to the Left Bank.  

Les préparations

Le Reminet

Today as all of us celebrate Thanksgiving here in the U.S., perhaps my expat friends in Paris will dining on something more French.  Today I am most grateful for my family, friends here and around the world. Bon appétit!

Un blanc, un rouge et un appareil photo

La vie est belle à Paris...toujours!

Mademoiselle Li's

Artist Hippolyte Romain created this lovely little tearoom, Mademoiselle Li, in the Jardin d'Acclimation in the Bois de Boulogne.  As the Jardin's artisitic director, his delightful illustrations are found all over the park, and on the outside walls of the masion de thé.  We had lots of kiddos with us the day we visited so the tearoom was not on the list.  Maybe I'll have another chance one day.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting blogger Janey ( Thick and Thin Air) and husband Tom as the stopped in Birmingham on their way through B"ham.  Janey loves Paris too and we met through this blog.  We had a great time sharing travel stories but of course it wasn't long enough. I hope they will make this a regular stop from now on and we can continue....

Automne à Paris

 Here in Alabama, we call this Virginia Creeper. I would love to know what the French version is called.  In Paris,  it is glorious in the fall when the leaves turn , but I love it in the winter as well,  when only the vines are left, winding their way up the walls.