Tromp l'oeil

The elegant Hôtel de Crillon at Place de la Concorde, has been undergoing extensive renovations. Built in 1758, it has been a luxury hotel since 1909. It closed it's doors in 2013 for the renovations and is scheduled to reopen in 2017. During this restoration process, this lovely tromp l'oeil screen was erected to hide the day to day construction from view.

Hôtel de Crillon

10 Place de la Concorde

Paris 75008

Homme au travail

Pasting new advertisements at Concorde

Noël Arrive!

La Grande Roue de Paris at Place de la Concorde is nothing less than spectacular. I took this photograph in November, 2008 and this year I passed by during the day and it appeared the lighting etc. was a bit different. Several years ago Peter Olson and I went up and although it was a drizzly day, the view of Paris from above was spectacular.

CDP Theme Day - Landmark

I have no one to blame but myself for this month's theme, yet questioned myself last night as I was perusing my zillion Paris photos, trying to choose A landmark for a  city of landmarks, I chose..... the 3,300 year old Luxor Obelisk at Place de la Concorde.  Although in this photograph, it appears to be made of gold, it is actually yellow granite.

Today I join all of my fellow CDP bloggers around the world who are sharing their city's landmark. Please have a look HERE!

La Grande Roue de la Concorde

La Grande Roue stands at the edge of Tuileries facing Place de la Concorde from November till early January.  A symbol that Noël has arrived!

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.

Paris Rouge - L'autobus

Sometimes you just can't have enough Paris Rouge in one week!  Today a shot Peter has perfected on his blog header.  We were having a look at The Welcoming Hands at Tuilieries,  and he kindly pointed out this vantage point, capturing these three in one shot.  The red bus was the cherry on the sundae, so to speak.

Having watched the ending of le Tour de France ( thanks Genie for the heads up) as the bikers pedaled up and down the Champs Élysées yesterday, it made me homesick for this special view.

As an added bonus I include a special tune for you today!

Place de la Concorde en noir et blanc

Paris Through My Lens en colour et noir en blanc weekly planners are now ready for sale on BLURB.
Also available, Paris Rouge Through My Lens.

La Grand Roue - Je n'ai pas le courage

As the Christmas season begins, Paris does what she does best, dresses to the hilt!  First she decks out the store windows in every imaginable delight, then she drapes herself with a zillion strings of lights .  As if that weren't enough, up goes the grand roue at Place de la Concorde.  I will share more photos in the weeks to come.  For now, try to imagine taking a ride and seeing Paris from above. Some of you might ask if I've had the pleasure. Well non, non et non.  There have been those that have tried to persuade me.  Je n'ai pas le courage!

Bustling!

Well Genie at Paris and Beyond started it here.  Then Laurent over at Daily Photo in Paris turned on the lights here. Today, I can't compete with their gorgeous perspective, but I thought I'd show you what it's like at the Place de la Concorde after dark from another direction.  Even at night,  the traffic is still whizzing by, but I love it.  The obelisk, the fountain, the lights... it's magical.   Oh and that's the Hôtel de Crillon to the left. I wouldn't mind a glass of champagne there one day........

Place de la Concorde

I'm pretty sure this could be used as the classic, predictable "Paris tourist" shot,  but I'm sharing it anyway! I was probably risking life and limb by standing in the street trying to capture the Champs Élysées while dodging cars!

Blog Update

In a valiant effort to make my photographs last till I can return to Paris, I will now be posting lundi- venredi.  I hope you won't desert me.

Bon weekend everyone.

12.24.08

 Cheerful French waiter??? Mais oui!!

" Le Nemours Cafe Bar"

Place Colette

Place de la Concorde

12.9.08

"Les Secrets"

" Porte Verte"

Montmartre

"La Fontaine"

Place de la Concorde

"Shackled"

(What's with the rusty pipe on the ground???)

11.29.08

"Time For a Smoke"

Le Marais

"Table Pour Une"

Place des Vosges

"The Last Roses"

Le Marais

" Grande Roue' "

Place de la Concorde