La trottinette

Patiently waiting for his tiny owner who I suspect was busy inside the toy shop!

En Seine

Today I share another image from our trip to Paris in January, 2010.  It was bitter cold this day but loved seeing Paris with a cover of snow for the first time. 

La Neige - les colonnes de Buren

Here at home, we have had an unexpected snowfall with extremely cold temps.  It reminded me of the unexpected snowfall in Paris, January, 2010.  That was a  magical morning for me.  The Buren Columns had been enclosed for renovation for several years and magically that morning, the walls had come down and I saw them for the first time ......with snow.  Another Paris Moment I shall not forget.

Attendre

What can I say, luck was with me as we walked across the street at Ma Bourgogne. 

Ma Bourgogne

19 Place des Vosges

"La neige, Maman!"

I'm pretty sure this petite jeune fille was as ecstatic as I was!

Sunday Church Series - Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

A lovely view from just across the Seine.

Paris Rouge - Coming and Going

Hiver à Paris

This marks the first January that I've not trekked off to Paris in four years. Flying standby, I'm always searching the best chances of winning an empty seat, so I've made the best of the cold, damp, gray days in Paris, year after year, always keeping in mind that BEING in Paris was the prize, not the weather.  January, 2010, we woke up to Paris under a light blanket of snow. Somehow it made the freezing temps and gray skies worth every minute.  Today, looking from Place des Vosges to the Hôtel de Sully, which houses an extensive bookstore.

Le vélo

Sometimes you peek into a courtyard and find a vignette just waiting for your camera.

Fun On The Buren Columns!

Get ready....

Get set...

GO!!!

( And she didn't drop her lapin!)

Madame et les portes bleues

I spent a lot of time waiting and fuming at people who walked into my shots, until I realized that the human element adds another dimension.  I draw the line with tacky tourists however.  ( And how about those hot pink bags!)

The Métro Grip

Genie and Alexa, a sight I saw a lot in November!

Joie de Vivre II

Caution. I've been devouring David duChemin's marvelous book, Within The Frame, The Journey of Photographic Vision, and am feeling empowered to post this photo that I would honestly have deleted. For those of you who love travel photography, run, don't walk to Amazon.com and buy it.

Signes du Samedi - Au Vieux Paris

Au vieux Paris d'Arcole, depuis 1594 certainly lives up to the "vieux" in its name.  Located just a block from Notre Dame, I photographed it first here in 2010. It's had a new paint job outside but still remains one of the most charming restaurants you will find in Paris. This last trip, I was lucky enough to photograph the owner and the inside of this beautiful old place. I will share a small series during the upcoming week.

24  rue Chanoinesse

75004 Paris

La Petite Meeps

Last November, shortly before I left for Paris, I hatched a grand plan ( wild idea).   I've been working on a presentation for French students in the upper grades and decided doing one for K-2 students might be fun as well.  I asked a dear and talented blog friend in Vermont if she could knit me a Meeps look alike on short order and ........voilà, la Petite Meeps was born... along with 3 other scarves for the trip.  I tucked her in my tote, and she had a romp in the new children's area of the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth concourse, and then breezed right through TSA.  From time to time, I will share Meeps' amazing adventures in Paris right here.

X Rated à Paris??

Gare d'Austerlitz (Métro Line 5) was one we frequented this trip. I had some fun with the architecture and the billboards.

Café des Chats - Shhhhhh

This last trip, I was lucky enough to swing a reservation for Le Café des Chats in the Marais.  Yes, you heard me right, a reservation. This place has taken Paris by storm and there are often lines outside waiting for their turn to sip a café or a divine chocolat chaud and have the pleasure of stroking one of the twelve rescue kitties that roam freely.  Three of us were "cat people" and Peter came along and proved to be a very good sport.  The resident chats can be found upstairs and down,  finding many places to curl up, nap, or just hop in the lap of a willing patron!  I found this sweet kitty enjoying a nice velvet chair for her nap.  More photos to come bien sûr!

16 Michel le Comte

75003 Paris

Amour

at Shakespeare & Company

Ethan

It's no secret that I dearly love photographing children in Paris.  Meet Ethan.  Ethan and his family are Birmingham friends who just happened to be in Paris while we were there in June, 2009.  Their flat faced the gardens of the Palais Royal ( jealous???) and this summer afternoon we joined them there.  Eva, Davis, Katherine and Ethan had a grand time building a village in the white powdery dirt, marching around the Pol Bury Fountain, poking sticks in the fountains and racing through the allée of trees, just like so many Parisian enfants have done.  Oh, and the grownups took pictures and drank wine of course.

Sunday Church Series - Les chaises

I spent a good a amount of time photographing these chairs and shadows at the Église Saint-Paul-Saint-Luis in the Marais.  This one of my favorite churches in Paris. I rarely visit the Marais without stopping in.

Today I happily join Shadow Shot Sunday right HERE!

La harpiste dans le Métro

Winding your way up through the halls of the Métro, it's always a delight to be greeted by beautiful music.  These musicians audition for the permit to play in the Métro, so I try to stop and listen, give an appreciative smile and a euro or so.

L'artiste et l'espresso

L'espresso kept this artist warm at Place du Tertre, as only the heartiest of souls were out this cold, damp day.  During peak tourist season I stay clear, but in the colder months, I've enjoyed strolling this area of Montmartre.

Pourquoi ...

does shabby seem chicer in Paris?

where shabby is always chic!

Le marché

Église Saint- Eustache enjoys a splash of color on Thursdays and Sundays!

 Marche Saint Eustache-les Halles

Thursday  12:30-20:30

Sunday       7:00-15:00

Rue Montmartre

75001 Paris

Selfie à Paris

Rue de Rossiers

This could be my fav shot of the trip!

Poussez!

Peter Olson has taught me many, many things about Paris, but one of the first things was "pushing doors", as he calls it.  The huge double doors usually lead to interesting courtyards and are most often locked. He and I have slipped in a few after a postman or resident has punched the code. If you are very lucky, they have been left unlocked.   This day, as we strolled along Place des Vosges, I was the door pusher and........voilà!  We had a grand time snapping away until a housekeeper spotted us and asked us to stop. I took this one as we scooted out the door!

Sunday Church Series - La fenêtre

Notre Dame de Paris is so often photographed from every imanginable angle, it's always a challenge to find a secret spot.  Last November, on a gray afternoon as I walked along the Seine,  I spotted this lovely window. The autumn leaves around the church, were the perfect addition.

La chaise

This time last January we arrived to find Paris under a melting blanket of snow. It had started raining and as Peter and I made our way to Tuileries, it was quickly turning to slush. I took a few shots from the perimeter. This trip, the Parisian Snow Gods were not smiling on me.

Le boulanger

Although we didn't shop inside  la Grande Épicerie de Paris, it was fun watching this young man make bread in the window.....and we could take all the photos we wanted from street side!

la Grande Epicerie de Paris

38 rue de Sèvres

75007 Paris

Today I proudly join Jame's Weekend Reflections right HERE!

L'escalier

The Mona Bismarck American Center for Art and Culture

34 Avenue de New York

75116 Paris

City Daily Photo Theme Day - The Best of 2013

Oh January's theme is usually easy for me as I always have one special photo from the year but this time I was torn. I decided to choose this image of the Louvre. That morning in Paris, the wind  had blown and poured rain.  The forecast said rain. all. day. long.  As Mary and I were having lunch, I looked out the café window and saw blue skies and the sun shining. A magical Paris moment. We hurried to the Palais Royal first and then the Louvre. My offering as my favorite photograph for 2013.

If you want to see all the other fabulous images chosen by my City Daily Photo friends around the world, click HERE!