Sunday Church Series - Église-Saint- Étienne-du-Mont

This beautiful church contains the shrine of Saint Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris. Located just beside the Panthéon, yet another church in Paris that should not be missed.

Saint Étienne-du-Mont

Place Geneviève

Paris 75005

Les Poneys

Eva and Davis enjoyed pony rides here at Luxembourg Gardens and also at Tuileries that summer of 2009.  That's Davis on the right, Eva is hidden behind the Pony Guy!

Paris Jaune

 

As we made our way through the Marais in search of Le Café des Chats, I spotted one of my favorite doors to photograph, the Hôtel de Châtillon, a hôtel particulier.  I made a mad dash and thankfully Madame was walking just past the entrance to make the photograph complete!

Le chat noir

Taken from a bus window, hommage to my sweet chatte noire, Meeps.

La Brouette

This charming, hand painted cart lives at Cimetière de Passy.

Charmantes Filles

As Meredith Mullins and I stepped outside Le Reminet after a delightful lunch, she spotted a family
that she knew.  They were visiting Paris again,  and I was the lucky one.  I was able to snap these two
delightful girls!

Les Mêmes

Complet

Sunday Church Series - Église Saint-Julien-le Pauvre

This Gothic church built in the 13th century began as a Roman Catholic church but was granted to the Eastern Catholic Melkite community in 1889.  Just across the Seine from Notre Dame de Paris, it shares the block with the lovely Square René Viviani.  This simple church, by Paris standards, would be a a nice addition to your tour of the larger chrurches and cathedrals in the city.

75 rue Galande

75005 Paris

Métro: Maubert-Mutualité

La Tour Reflet

 Who could ever tire of this view!

Today I join James' Weekend Reflections right HERE!

Matin sur Mouffetard

What a nice surprise to find this gentleman playing for passersby while enjoying his coffee and pastry on rue Mouffetard!

Parfait

I can't remember walking into a shop in Paris where everything wasn't in perfect order.  There is great attention to detail and pride in the displays.  Here at Michel Cluizel, Madame is keeping the chocolats just so. Parfait!

Michel Cluizel

201 rue Saint Honoré

75001 Paris

Hommage

I have been fascinated with the details of la Tour since my very first trip to Paris.  Gustave Eiffel paid hommage to 72 scientists by including their names in the original design.  Sadly they were painted over at one time, but were restored in an 1986 repainting. To see the entire list of names, click HERE.

Un, deux, trois

at the Palais Royal

Poussez!

I am always attracted to the detailed door handles on the enormous Paris doors.  This especially caught my eye!

Sunday Church Series - Saint-Germain-des- Pres

I think this gentlemen sits there almost every day. He has a little cup for coins but rarely even looks up as I pass as he is usually reading a book.

" Be kind for everyone you meet is involved in a great struggle."

Louvre Traffic Jam

For friends traveling to Paris for the first time, my advice is,  if you are only visiting the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa and Winged Victory.......skip it.  This is all you'll see of Mona, a sea of tourists with iPhones taking photos.  Thanks to my travel amie Mary Gilbert for lending this photo to illustrate my point.

UPDATE: Thank you dear reader Vreni for pointing out that on Wednesday and Friday evenings, the Louvre is open till 10 p.m. and is not crowded. I also hear from friends that they offer docent led tours in the evenings that just hit the high spots of the museum which is a good use of time spent there.

Tout Seul

Taken at Jardin des Tuileries in November, when one can actually find some alone time.

L'escalier

Last November, Peter, Genie and I struck off on what seemed like the potential of a wild goose chase, in search of a new rooftop bar, Le Perchoir.   After a good bit ( a LOT)  of walking we found the street, wandered through some industrial doors and looked up. I'll admit, I was already exhausted and the thought of climbing these stairs was more than I was willing to tackle. I didn't say so, but was thinking that if I had a drink, Peter Olson would have to bring it to me as I sat on the bottom step. Luckily, oh so luckily, we spotted an elevator so we all went up.  The view from the rooftop, and the Jack Daniels bourbon made for a fine ending to the day!

Le Perchoir

14 Rue Crespin du Gust

75011 Paris

Beurre à l'ail

With these two ingredients, les escargots are quite delicious!

Tanning In Paris

  Tanning in Paris is serious business.  Madame even brought along her small towel so she could slip off her shoes!

Jardin des Tuileries

Ahhhh Pigalle

something for everyone in the family!

Le fenêtre de cercles

 

 The Musée Caranavalet, the history of Paris museum, is located in the Marais and free except of course,  for special exhibits.  It's a lovely museum with beautiful gardens. 

Musée Carnavalet

16 Rue de Frances Bourgeois

75003 Paris

My next Travel to Paris talk will be this coming Thursday evening at 6:30 P.M. at the HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY! Please join me.

Les volets noirs

Très charmant!

Ladureé

The name Laderée always brings a smile to my face. Their charming shop on rue Bonaparte was a must stop for a few macarons and photographs.

Les nécessités

People often ask me why I return to Paris over and over. They assume that I've seen it all many times by now.  That couldn't be farther from the truth. There is so much of Paris I've yet to savor, my list is still a mile long.  Last November, Peter took us up Rue de Belville for a look at an area I'd not seen before.   Belville, which includes parts of the 10, 11, 19 and 20 arrondissements, is quite colorful in many ways.  It is a rich mixture of many cultures, especially Asian, Arab and Jewish.  This grafitti wall was most certainly not to be missed by our band of three photographers!

Football à la fontaine Stravinsky

The plaza around the Stravinsky Fountain at Centre Pompidou is usually full of Parisian school kids just having fun in the afternoons.  I love the backdrop of the beautiful old Saint Merri Church.

Pont des Arts Avant

 

This taken in June, 2010, you can see a few locks behind this musician.  Now......there is no space left as the locks of love have covered every single inch of this lovely bridge.  Hopefully,  the city of Paris will soon remove them all as they pose a huge weight on the bridge and also block the view of the Seine.  I vote to have them gone!

Très charmant!

Bertie's Cup Cakery is I think the first cupcake shop I've seen in Paris, Just steps from Notre Dame, it's easy to find.

Bertie's Cup Cakery

26 rue Chanoinesse

75004 Paris

Dimanche

Dimanche à Mouffetard is one of the many special happenings I've discovered in Paris and return to time and time again.  Danielle is a dancer I've photographed so many times. This Sunday, she had yet another dance partner.  I think her dance card is always full!

Le sourire

French waiters get a bad rap.  They have a reputation for being snooty, unsmiling and just in general "FRENCH"!  I beg to disagree.  If you greet them with a cheerful , "Bonjour Monsieur"(and a smile), I have found that they are more than agreeable and efficient,  if I offer just a bit of my Alabama laced French!  One thing they won't do is hover and ask you continually throughout your meal how everything is, if you need more water etc. like we have come to tolerate in the U.S.  Parisian waiters are professional, efficient, but most certainly will allow you to linger over your meal, or even cup of café, or glass of wine as long as you like. They won't shoo you off to make way for more guests until you catch their eye and ask, "L'addition s'il vous plaît". This smiling waiter was shot through the glass at the pricey Café de la Paix. 

CDP Theme Day - Take Away

In Paris, the ultimate take away has to be from a boulangerie.  There is nothing more fabulous than getting the delightful baguette or pastry wrapped just so, for you to hurry home to enjoy!

All of my City Daily Photo friends around the globe are sharing their Take Away photos today. Go have a look right HERE!