L'Aube de la nouvelle annéeWith the dawn of a new year, this photo of daybreak on a December Paris morning fills me with optimism for 2011.The best of wishes to all of you that I have met in less than six months of blogging. Many thanks for all of your support... I look forward to the coming year and all that is ahead for us …
Bon homme de neigeThe Jardin des Tuileries had many surprises on our recent visit with several snowmen and other icy creations. However, this fellow, short in stature, seemed to have the most artistry and character. As I snapped this photo other paparazzi moved in quickly.Bon homme de neigeTemporary residence: Jard…
Ma Bourgogne, Place des VosgesThis post is for Virginia who will be arriving in Paris in just a week... I know that this is one of her favorite places and they will be attending her every wish with wine and laughter. I wish that I could join her and Mary and Peter and.... …
Cold and lonelyIn Jardin des Tuileries, we found this group of chairs and made a few observations... It appeared as if a group had recently gathered here amidst the snow. Had they shared a frigid picnic of sorts or an apéritif de la neige? There are two other interesting details. See if you can find them.In the ba…
Three Paris landmarksFrom this perspective it seems that you could almost reach out and touch the obelisk... and perhaps the Grand Palais.…
Un sac à main en cuir?Would you believe these are chocolate? Chocolat Michel Cluizel201, rue Saint-Honoré miam-miam…
Église Saint-EustacheRays of light filtered through the majestic windows of Saint-Eustache. During my recent visit to Paris, there were only about three hours of sunlight and shadows... I am glad that I was able to visit St-Eustache during this brief period of filtered light and capture a few photos of this magnificent …
Joyeux anniversaireNot from a pâtisserie, not made by the hands of a baker, not in Paris (but "beyond"), made and assembled by little hands in love and celebration.Joyeux Noël, Merry Christmas…
Architecture on Rue de GrenelleThis is a different vitrine de noël display with its elegant lines and exquisite miniatures. I do wish I knew something about this detailed model found in the window of a Rue de Grenelle bookstore in the 7ième arr. I love how the glass bubbles delicately frame the scene…
Les vitrines de noëlThe windows will hold you and draw you in... crystal, des bijoux, silver, fine fabrics, and not the least of these...a tower of macarons... pistache to be exactmiam-miamC'est mon péché mignon …
Saint-Ouen - Marché BironA trip to Paris is never complete without a visit to Marché aux Puces at Saint-Ouen. I love the look of winter and it had just snowed that Saturday morning leaving the tree decorated with a dusting of white. The long allée of Marché Biron with its glass-front display rooms was nearly deserted... the…
La Maison du ChocolatIn a search for the perfect chocolate eclair, we hurried to La Maison du Chocolat at the instruction of Carol (Paris Breakfasts) for the best in Paris. (More on that story later with photos)... After making friends in this chocolate heaven, we stopped to take a photo of the chocolate tree in the w…
Église Saint-Roch... NativityWe have visited this church previously, but this time it was much more personal. Each morning we woke to the sounds of the church bells at 8 with their evenly paced 3 rings, 3 rings, 3 rings, and then 47 rings... no snooze alarm either.Our apartment faced the side of this beautiful and active church…
Taking home the tree...In Paris, this is a huge tree and it probably was quite heavy to carry. This gentleman put it down as he waited for the light to change at Boulevard Diderot. Perhaps he was carrying it to the barracks of the Sapeurs-Pompiers just across the street.Caserne de sapeurs pompiers26, rue de Chaligny…
Bunnies in the Champagne - reflectionThese bunnies playing in the champagne fountain (and splashing, drinking, and swimming) were a treat for children and adults alike. The window-viewing of les grands magasins is quite crowded, particularly when there is so much activity in one window!Here is a video by HollyFor more reflections look …
A little chocolate, my dear?At A la Mère de Famille on Rue Cler, this large chocolate deer drew quite a crowd. Miam-miam!A la Mère de Famille, est 176147, rue Cler (and other locations)…
What a party that was!Well, I was not invited to her party, but probably just as well...... another example of the luxurious windows at Galeries Lafayette.…
Paris Illuminates Paris -- très vertThis plastic bottle installation is part of an operation called “Paris Illuminates Paris”, which mixes the recycled green Sprite bottles and LED lights to create the Christmas lights down Rue Richelieu (near Palais Royal). This was the creation of Fabrice Peltier, a gallery designer, for 2009. I sna…
Procession aux flambeaux -- 8 decembreThe churches of Paris gather for the Fête de l'Immaculée Conception every December 8th at Saint-Nicolas du Chardonnet. Each of the participating churches brings its banner to be carried by its members. After Mass the families and persons of all ages light the candles and sing while walking through …
Salon de Thé -- Le MussetThe bright, oversized decorations of Le Musset can be seen from a block away. No reason to be chased inside with inclimate weather... just duck into the heated area protected from the wind and order the Berthillon ice cream for dessert... brrrrrr!Le Musset5, rue de l'EchelleM. Palais Royal-Musée …
Les Grands Magasins - ReflectionsOh my! This was our first stop after arriving in Paris...Can you blame us? The windows of Printemps and Galaries Lafayette were calling....and I caught the first snowflake on the tip of my tongue... what a moment!For more reflections go to James' Newtown Area Photo. …
Jardin des Tuileries... la neigeAnd the snow came, just as I had wished for in Paris! We saw snowmen and snowball fights... We saw bundled little children and les chiens in their sweaters... The cold air makes your face sting and the Christmas lights make your eyes shine brightly...I loved it all!…
Parc de Monceau ... en hiverI am headed back from Paris with many photos and stories... Can't wait to share them all!…
Snow in Paris... sur le toit de l'Eglise Saint RochThis morning when we woke up, this is the view from our apartment window looking out on Saint-Roch. The many surfaces of the roof were coated in white. What a beautiful winter scene in Paris!Bon dimanche...…
Petits sapinsFor those with only the very smallest amount of space, here is a Paris option for your petit sapin de noel.Paris is cold but only delightfully so with sun and no wind today. I feel very fortunate to have met both Laurent of Daily Photo Paris and to see again Peter of Peter's Paris. How wonderful to …
The color of the season... orange?Hummm... Different, creative, colorful, le sapin de noël...I'm fine with this!…
Transporting le sapin de noëlSo, when in Paris, how do you get the little Christmas tree home?Sometimes, it is necessary to improvise with un petit sacrifice. …
Rue Cler -- an array of treesParis streets are full of les sapins de noël... in the street markets such as this one on Rue Cler, à la marché alimentaire, and in front of the many florist shops. As we took a moment to look at these petite trees, some actually resembling a "Charlie Brown Christmas tree," we marveled at the "sta…
Dans les yeux d'un enfant... noëlTo date, this is my favorite year of les vitrines animées de noël, but I will be reporting shortly on the 2010 impressions in Paris. The winter theme for these Printemps windows was totally in white with the same little funky tune for all windows. Here is a good quality video of several of the win…
Paris, city of lightAt the corner of Rue Rambuteau and Rue du Temple, near Centre Georges Pompidou, the streets are decked with lights …
Eglise de la Sainte-TrinitéThis church is known simply as La Trinité or Sainte-Trinité, built between 1861 and 1867 as part of the beautification and reorganization of Paris by Haussmann. It was designed by the Théodore Ballu taking inspiration from French and Italian Renaissance architecture. Prior to the construction, …
Une couronneHow lovely this wreath would look on my front door, but I like the whole set including the box and the price tag. Crazy? Perhaps, but it just says "Paris" to me.…
Riding toys -- ReflectionOn a side street in the 5ième, these riding toys made a tantalizing reflection on the rain-slick sidewalk. During the holiday season, children's toys fill the windows and sometimes spill out onto the street.To see more reflections, go to James' Newtown Area Photo here.…
Le PoissonnierI am thankful for an abundance of food, for friends and family, for an ability to travel to faraway places, for a job I love, for blogger friends around the world.... Happy Thanksgiving to all my USA friends and expats everywhere!Oh, and I am thankful that I will be in Paris very soon!…
La Maison du MielLa Maison du Miel, founded in 1898 by Charles Galland, has been in this shop on Rue Vignon since 1905. Even the floor tiles pay homage to the incredible bee. If you have never been here, the shopkeepers are very friendly (yes, indeed they are) and you can sample the honey before you buy. There are …
Rainy day in Jardin des TuileriesThis photo was taken on a gray December day in Jardin des Tuileries near l'Orangerie, and there was no need to present it in black and white as the weather had reduced the landscape to monochrome tones. This white marble statue is one of over a hundred found in this park, bordered on one end by Plac…
Église Saint-Germain l'AuxerroisWhen the Louvre was still a royal palace (Palais du Louvre), Église Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois was its church, the former parish of the kings of France. The unusual bell tower seen here was constructed in the 12th century and is the only remaining element of that early church. It was transformed in t…
Saturday marketThe usual crowd shopping in Place Maubert includes pets and acquaintances, exchanging pleasantries. This pup and his family are regulars in the neighborhood. May you enjoy your weekend comme ce monsieur et son chien.…
