L'asperge -- Colors of the MarketThe street markets of Paris have fresh, regional produce -- beautiful! I love shopping the thrice-weekly markets, selecting just enough for the evening meal, exchanging a greeting as you make the purchase. Steamed asparagus and a few slices of Comté or Morbier with a drizzle of vinagrette, a baguett…
Carrousel AbbessesAs you exit Métro Abbesses onto Place des Abbesses you are greeted by this colorful carousel. It has a canopy painted with children's faces and some unusual vehicles to ride like a Scooby Doo bus, a pirate's ship, and a pink pumpkin carriage. On a beautiful day this June the carousel was in high dem…
Must Be a French Girl IIWell, let's look at the check list... High heels en bleu (chaussures à talons)? check √Skinny black tights on skinny long legs? check √ and check √Shopping bag from Fauchon? check √Zippers at bottom of skinny black tights? check √Oversize accessories (red sunglasses and huge hoop earrings)? check √B…
La Madeleine -- Tournez vers le cielJ'adore, j'adore la Madeleine! Are you not just in awe with the juxtaposition of the angles and the carvings as you look up? There is so much to see and you could spend many hours here and still not absorb it all.If you missed it, here is a previous post with another photo and some background inform…
Paris Travel Tip IIHow do you get into Paris from CDG (Charles de Gaulle Airport)?It depends.... Take a taxi if:You are in a group of 3 or 4 people,You bring more than you can carry (tsk, tsk)*, You are directionally challenged and prone to getting lost, You are willing to spend €65+ There is a grève (RER/Métro strike…
Fountains of Pol BuryThe Fountains of Pol Bury are found in the Gallery d'Orléans which separates the courtyard of Palais Royal from the garden. Since 1990, the traditional noon-cannon sounds every day.…
Le photographe -- Fabien BreuvartInside le Marché des Enfants Rouge is this delightful and talented photographer, Fabien Breuvart.To see more of Fabien Breuvart enjoy this video in which he spoke of his art in 2007. He has been supportive of the sans-papiers using his art medium and it was reported here (in English) in septembre 20…
Marché des Enfants RougeMuch has been written by others about the oldest of the Paris food markets, le Marché des Enfants Rouge, first established in early 1600s (dates vary). The name originates with the red uniforms worn by the children of a nearby orphanage, created in 1534. (Virginia of Paris Through My Lens had anothe…
Oh la la! So lovely and so very French!There are no nuns driving blue Citroen 2CVs......but, Keith, this one's for you!Many thanks to Keith Eckstein who honored my blogwith a wonderful, kind review on A Taste of Garlic! 1er arrondissement, Rue de Castiglione…
Citron Vert, Citron, Pistache! -- Miam-Miam!Citron vert, citron, pistache! Citron vert, citron, pistache! Citron vert, citron, pistache! Miam-miam! Say it three times quickly and while you do, I will eat as many of these macarons as I can. My guess is that there are more than 60 of these little beauties and that we'll still have plenty to sha…
Église Saint Paul Saint Louis -- ConfessionalThe sun shining radiantly through the church windows highlights the confessional in Saint Paul Saint Louis in the Marais. I previously showed you the organ pipes in this 17th century church here.Église Saint Paul Saint Louis99 Rue St-Antoine75004 Ils-de-FranceParis, France…
Shoes not required!Shoes are not required on this park bench in Place des Vosges -- Just an easy going afternoon in Paris.... le sigh…
Ces chaussures étaient faites pour marcher...Not for moi! Not sure that these are my style but these chaussures à talons appear to be très cher! We spied these in a window walking along Rue de Poitou en juin. (Ouch!) …
Le Défenseur du Temps -- l'automateOkay, this is not exactly a secret place but when I ask people (Parisians and tourists) most have never heard of it. The first time I saw this horloge by Jacques Monestier, sculpteur d'automates, Le Défenseur du Temps was fully functional and just amazing.You can find the whole story in the imbeded …
Quelle est la température?Il fait 20°C donc bon. The working celsius thermometer on the exterior wall, première étage, affords the entire street a handy means to tell the temperature. The beautiful window boxes along this street in the Marais just add to the scene (36, rue du Poitou). The thermometer dates prior to 1948 when…
Paris travel tip IThis is not a very sexy post and there is probably nothing in here that a seasoned traveler does not know, but just in case...Whether I am gone for a week or a month (I wish), I take no more than a carry-on suitcase (less than 6 pounds empty). However, I always pack two or three plastic plates, plas…
I'll get the wine glasses....This beautiful (and large) glass bottle is found in the lobby of the building for Carré des Feuillants, a luxury restaurant rated highly by Pudlow and Frommers. The chef is the well-known and highly regarded Alain Dutournier, who sadly has not seen me at his table. Tant pis.He also has a less extrav…
Église Saint-Denys-du-Saint-SacrementÉglise Saint-Denys-du-Saint-Sacrement was the first parish church built during the Restoration (after the French Revolution). The interior works of art make it worth a visit -- The most prestigious is The Pieta which was painted by Eugene Delacroix in 1843 in a mere 17 days.The ornate ceiling in the…
Orange scooter!An orange scooter? And where is it's owner?Quelle chance! It is Virginia's and she is ready to take off -- zoom zoom! Today is the beginning of my second month with Paris and Beyond -- Many thanks to Virginia who helped birth "the baby" guiding me through the steps. Thanks also to JB who distracted …
Lonely Carrousel -- Square BoucicautWaiting for the opening of Bon Marché we sat in Square Boucicaut, the garden honoring the memory of Aristide Boucicaut, le créateur du célèbre grand magasin du Bon Marché.This day in June the garden is empty except for the gardener and the operator of this carrousel -- no riders, large or small. …
Solitude -- Under the crown of "night"Métro Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre is probably the most photographed Métro entrance in Paris. It was redesigned by Jean-Michel Othoniel in 2000 for the centennial of the Métro as the "Kiosque des Noctambules" (Kiosk of the night-walkers). There are two crowns constructed of glass and aluminum -- one…
Paparazzo? -- Aujourd'hui c'est moi (shhhhh)Oh, they're getting away! Must have that photo shot... hurry, hurry, quickly around that column! Allons-y!That's it... line up now, get in sync. Left, right, left, right -- That's it! Lean together -- hold hands. Perfect!! --Click!-- Whew, I got the shot!Merci, vous deux! Shhhhhh …
The Escalator Happy DanceThis adorable child is laughing with me! Of course, there is a story....The background: As you may know, there are many steps in the Paris Métro -- up, down, around... Some Métro stops are huge and have many iterations of "up and down and around" before it is possible to either transfer or to exit t…
Église Saint Paul Saint Louis -- organ pipesThis 17th century church in the Marais has a beautiful interior with a dome that rises 180 feet (55 m.) above the crossings. If you visit be sure to note the Delacroix painting and the interior of the dome which is sky blue.I love church organs and the creative woodwork in which the pipes are housed…
Pain au chocolat -- Tu en veux?By habit, a health-conscious breakfast eater it only takes me a nano-second to get into Paris mode with café au lait, pain au chocolat, pain au chocolat....Did I mention.... pain au chocolat? (Oh, and I know that a Parisian would not have one of these for le p'tit déjeuner)Have a great weekend, all!…
Must be a French girl....How can you tell this is a French girl?1) Brunette? check √2) Bulky neck scarf? check √3) High-heeled pumps? check √4) Chanel bag? (look at the chain) check √4) Skinny black pants on skinny long legs? check √ and check √Must be a French girl!…
Quai Malaquais -- des espions?The nearly deserted and wet Quai Malaquais, entre Pont du Carrousel and Pont des Arts, makes you think about December or January. This photo was taken early in the morning en juin while most of Paris is sleeping. At 6:30am, most of the tourists are asleep too!(Do you think that these two are spies a…
Sacré Coeur -- King Saint Louis IX, a different viewIf you have been to Sacré Coeur en juin then you have an understanding of the crowds of people in/around this beautiful basilica. In reviewing my photos after the trip I realized that I opted to take the odd angles and small details rather than capture the rapping street dancers and the replica key …
Pâtisserie Hunt I -- DalloyauSeveral weeks ago I mentioned the hunt for new pâtisseries, not new to Paris, but ones that my daughter Holly and I had not tried. When you find a wonderful pâtisserie it can become a habit that prevents you from branching out. How sad would it be to miss the most incredible pastry because you are s…
Paris Market I -- Place MaubertIn the 5ième arr. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays beginning at 7am the street market at Place Maubert is open for business. If you come in late the night before a market day, you can see the bones of the tents ready for the morning opening. One comes to expect the regular merchants, one of whic…
