I'm Melting

You'll love this story.  Several weeks ago I received an email from Austin watercolorist Richard Ewen.  Richard reads this blog and requested permission to paint one of my Paris windows.  He loves capturing Paris shop windows along with their reflections and after visiting his website,  my answer was of course, "YES!"  We chatted back and forth and I dug around in my archives and sent him a few more photos.  This one today caputured his fancy as a nice partner to the first photo.  He will exhibit this piece which he has titled  I'm Melting, in an Austin gallery for their upcoming show entitled 100 Degrees. Very fitting I'd say.  And as a side note, a large part of the U.S. is experiencing similar weather this week.  Feel like you're melting???

Porte vert, les roses rouges

Jardin d'Acclimatation at the Bois de Boulogne, is a great place to take children in Paris. The little amusement park is great fun and there's a playground, small farm, and a train ride, as well as lovely gardens to stroll through.  I'd take this over Paris Disneyland ANY DAY!

Bon souvenirs

Most of you know by now that I often travel to Paris with my dear friend Mary Gilbert.  She and I met via Virtual Tourist after my first trip to Paris in 2007.  Since then, we've met in Paris twice and traveled (via standby) together 3 times.  She is the best travel bud in the world.  She has a built in GPS that gets us anywhere I want to go and she keeps an eye on me when I wander off in search of a photo.  She's learned how to keep  me walking by holding the "carrot"  of a really good place to shoot just a few blocks away, and miraculously,  despite knee issues,  I keep up, although I've accused her of trying to kill me on many occassions !  We laugh a lot, eat and drink a lot, but most of all, we just enjoy discovering the city we both love... together. Thanks Mar. Here's to many more trips and many more fond memories.

Tanning In Paris I

I don't know why I've waited so long to share these.  Tanning in Paris seems to be the French national past time.  Today, Jardin du Luxembourg, but I have others!

Le Carrousel

On a very chilly and damp March day, Eva had her pick of the seats on the carrousel in Tuileries.  

Rarissime

Located directly across the street from our apartment, Rarissime ( rare)  is the tiniest of shops nestled into the side of the beautiful Église Saint-Roch.  Founded in 1638, it's no larger than most American walk-in closets,  but is filled to the brim with antiques and collectibles.

18 rue St. Roch

75110 Paris

Sunday Church Series - La chambre

I have visited the Église Saint Paul- Saint Louis in the Marais, more times than I can count.  This first trip, as we were leaving,  I spotted this small office and decided to have a quick look and one photo!

Église Saint Paul-Saint Louis

99 rue St. Antoine 

75004 Paris

Métro: Line 1 St. Paul

Madame et le moto

rue de Rivoli, bien sûr !

Le quai

Les fleurs dans la fenêtre

Shabby in a chic sort of way!

L'homme et la bouteille

Early evening I was doing a walking photography tour on the Île Saint-Louis with Meredith Mullins.  We stopped to look over the wall and this is what we found.  We debated about the wrapper on the bench and Meredith offered to run down and move it, but we decided the moment would be lost. To quote Meredith's wonderful book....another  Paris Moment!

La Cour

Walking up the hill in Butte aux Cailles, I poked the camera through the gate. What a find!

Les chapeaux

At the Marché Art et Création Bastille, I found these girls looking like a scene from days gone by... except for the McDo's cups!

Boulevard Richard Lenoir

75011 Paris

Métro: Bastille

Sunday Church Series - Allumez une bougie

Église Saint Paul-Saint Louis

99 rue Saint-Antoine

75004 Paris

Metro: Saint-Paul

Beaucoup de chaussures

Louis Vuitton does it again with another show (shoe?) stopping window!  Merci to my new reader and talented watercolorist  Richard Ewen who kindly asked to paint the Vuitton window I posted here!  Richard's paints the most marvelous watercolors of store windows ( and other sights)  in Paris and while digging around for more photos to share with him, I uncovered this one on Avenue George V/ Champs Élysées, their flagship store.

And without further ado.... I  join James' Weekend Reflections. 

All Paris Métros Are Not Alike

I'm learning that each and everyone has their own special flair.  Assemblée Nationale knocked my socks off!

L'escalier - Musée Carnavalet

Musée Carnavalet in the Marais chronicles the history of Paris. It's a beautiful places, and free to the public. Don't miss it if you're in the Marais.

23 rue de Sévigné

75003 Paris

Metro: Saint-Paul Chemin Vert

Les réflexions

Art Symbol Gallery

 21 Place des Vosges

75003 Paris

Falafels

Apparently the shop that sells falafels in the Marais, does a booming business.  Students especially queue up halfway down the street waiting their turn at the window to order.  We spotted this group who decided to just picnic on the sidewalk late one afternoon.

Musée Rodin - la fenêtre

On a cold, rainy Sunday in Paris, the Musée Rodin proved to be the perfect place.

Musée Rodin
79 rue de Varenne
75007 Paris
Métro: Varenne ou Invalides


Anita's Paris Party is still in full swing. Hop on over to her blog and see all of the blog offerings from around the world!

Sunday Church Series - Cathédrale royale de Basilica Saint-Denis

Afternoon shadows

Basilique Saint Denis

1 Place de la Légion de Honneur

St. Denis, FR

Métro- Basilique St. Denis 

La Fontaine - Place de la Concorde

 One of two fountains in the Place de la Concorde. One devoted to the Rivers and the other the Seas.  In the evening, they are quite spectacular!

Today I join dear Anita's ( Castles, Crowns, and Cottages)  PARIS SIMPLY IRRESISTABLE PARTY.  She has gathered bloggers from near and far who are featuring what they love about Paris. I'd say this was right up my alley.

Waiting

A pretty typical scene in the Paris Métro, except for the bass! 

Moment Parisien ( complet)

Place des Vosges

The tale of my very special Paris moment began with the talented harpist playing L'hymne à l'amour, the the view through the arches, but wait....one more.  As I turned to my right, there on the wall was M. Hugo himself - " créer c'est se souvenir" ( create is to remember).  The memory was complete.

Moment Parisien (suite)

As we stood listening to the harpist, I turned and spotted this couple framed in the archway.  My Paris moment continues.  Come back tomorrow for the end of the story!

Mai à Paris

Église Saint- Medard

53 rue Censier

75005 Paris

Metro: Censier Daubenton

Un autre moment à Paris

From time to time, I have what I call a Paris moment *.  A very special experience that reminds me of just how much I love this place.  This afternoon as we were walking through the colonnade of Place des Vosges, I heard a  harp being played and I knew just who it was.  This harpist I photographed two years ago and shared here, was in the very same spot.  As we stopped to listen, he played l'Hymne a l'amour ** and those of you that know me well,  know that I teared up.  Je suis sans espoir bien sûr!

*  In a Paris Moment, by my friend and very talented photographer Meredith Mullins, was my inspiration!


** Today I'm giving you France's beloved and a much younger Johnny Hallyday's version. Your thoughts??

Au bord du lac

If you have the time while in Paris, put the Bois de Boulogne on your list. This lovely little lake was full of Parisians paddling canoes this Sunday afternoon.  The restaurant,  Le Chalet des Iles,  looks very charming for another trip perhaps.

Paris Rouge - Le cerise

Louis Vuitton knows how to decorate a window. This one looks good enough to eat!

Louis Vuitton

6 place Saint - Germain des Prés

Paris 75006

Afternoon Sun, the Comédie Française

I love this view with the Louvre at the very end!

la Comédie Française

2 rue de Richelieu

75001 Paris