Champs Elysées et La Grande Roue

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVx1WQmmkaSoDUT7MI0cBtTaDF7d-BKBof3ULEoZ8VmL8ho_krjNhvpaSg5JWka9OjoJqaC7EPjhSmXNHHKskH2SgB-RMtU4tiekY2fWYpGjrE6TEwZi0qOUWAKkTXS7C3PFZ1X8pOj-E/s1600/2013+Nov22+Paris+_20131122+891+DSC_3573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVx1WQmmkaSoDUT7MI0cBtTaDF7d-BKBof3ULEoZ8VmL8ho_krjNhvpaSg5JWka9OjoJqaC7EPjhSmXNHHKskH2SgB-RMtU4tiekY2fWYpGjrE6TEwZi0qOUWAKkTXS7C3PFZ1X8pOj-E/s1600/2013+Nov22+Paris+_20131122+891+DSC_3573.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Champs Elysées and the Big Ferris Wheel</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">La Grande Roue becomes an iconic landmark </div><div style="text-align: center;">between November and February each year.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It sits in Place de la Concorde at the foot of Avenue des Champs Elysées.  </div><div style="text-align: center;">An adult can ride for 10€ and see all of Paris.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Avenue des Champs Elysées</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">75008, Paris</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></i></div>

Champs Elysées et La Grande Roue

Champs Elysées and the Big Ferris Wheel La Grande Roue becomes an iconic landmark  between November and February each year.   It sits in Pla...

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Avenue des Champs Elysées

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWAOIEbNK9w1TbTwOvlQxDpWriUF0pJJggK6ygCmZY7tWS7w6POGjWDtIs5TlQMCtlBCuOCG572P_CqZRmM8TvMsewB4IssF6RZA6GlyHlAu0o_469dSwWfhAm8LkhyoNjVDIEQoWoIQ/s1600/2013+Nov22+Paris+_20131122+896+DSC_3578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWAOIEbNK9w1TbTwOvlQxDpWriUF0pJJggK6ygCmZY7tWS7w6POGjWDtIs5TlQMCtlBCuOCG572P_CqZRmM8TvMsewB4IssF6RZA6GlyHlAu0o_469dSwWfhAm8LkhyoNjVDIEQoWoIQ/s1600/2013+Nov22+Paris+_20131122+896+DSC_3578.jpg" width="645" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Avenue des Champs Elysées</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dressed for the Christmas season</div><div style="text-align: center;">the "avenue" is awash in alternating shades </div><div style="text-align: center;">of blue and purple</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ave des Champs Elysées</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">75008, Paris</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>

Avenue des Champs Elysées

Avenue des Champs Elysées Dressed for the Christmas season the "avenue" is awash in alternating shades  of blue and purple Ave des...

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Le Défilé Militaire - des pompiers

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwyFLtq2xZRuJpK2NhCdtF6mb6qACFsVlZETKeWfD6L0BwBdJLuqtypbtm0USR4xAZlDkHh6rm60NxSyC3TnDu5JaqsEHU_5aLzTSsBAgBFkfpnlnNi_HGJV5ccy3tF5D5iqUAl9TjT4/s1600/2008+July+14+DSC_0315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwyFLtq2xZRuJpK2NhCdtF6mb6qACFsVlZETKeWfD6L0BwBdJLuqtypbtm0USR4xAZlDkHh6rm60NxSyC3TnDu5JaqsEHU_5aLzTSsBAgBFkfpnlnNi_HGJV5ccy3tF5D5iqUAl9TjT4/s1600/2008+July+14+DSC_0315.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Les Sapeurs-Pompiers</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One of many groups in the Military Parade of Quatorze Juillet...  </div><div style="text-align: center;">On the eve of the Bastille Day celebrations the pompiers have parties </div><div style="text-align: center;">all over Paris that do not end until the sun comes up.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">All of the arrondissements have Bals des Pompiers </div><div style="text-align: center;">and by some count it may be as many as 60 (!) in Paris and the near suburbs.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Have you been to one?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Avenue des Champs Élysées</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">75008, Paris</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">  </span></span></i></div>

Le Défilé Militaire - des pompiers

Les Sapeurs-Pompiers One of many groups in the Military Parade of Quatorze Juillet...   On the eve of the Bastille Day celebrations the pomp...

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Quatorze Juillet! - Bastille Day

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfB9Tlp4m4xjlMakbmCtxQUo67F4UU7K20c603gNjzoquq1o0-lQ7pplA3wQZUpu-UbMwcwgjva06hUPRG80qjl0Qsk0y6chH9ZBdywdPzvcR6iECURJt3hLWA2ZkmuULIuOR_Q1ZNy4/s1600/2008+July+14+DSC_0253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfB9Tlp4m4xjlMakbmCtxQUo67F4UU7K20c603gNjzoquq1o0-lQ7pplA3wQZUpu-UbMwcwgjva06hUPRG80qjl0Qsk0y6chH9ZBdywdPzvcR6iECURJt3hLWA2ZkmuULIuOR_Q1ZNy4/s1600/2008+July+14+DSC_0253.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Military Parade</div><div style="text-align: center;">of Bastille Day</div><div style="text-align: center;">2008</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The parade involves around 7,000 soldiers </div><div style="text-align: center;">(5,000 on foot, the rest are crew members or cavalrymen), </div><div style="text-align: center;">300 vehicles, 240 horses and more than 80 planes and helicopters.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And, a celebration for me as today makes </div><div style="text-align: center;">4 years of daily photos on Paris and Beyond</div><div style="text-align: center;">without missing a day!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A special thanks to all of you who follow my blog </div><div style="text-align: center;">and to Virginia (Paris Through My Lens) </div><div style="text-align: center;">who helped me "birth this baby" four years ago.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Avenue des Champs Élysées</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">75008, Paris</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></i></div>

Quatorze Juillet! - Bastille Day

Military Parade of Bastille Day 2008 The parade involves around 7,000 soldiers  (5,000 on foot, the rest are crew members or cavalrymen),  ...

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Réflexion - Avenue des Champs-Élysées

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiOveO9ouTe0luuHAkeVbu0MbNQCq_2Iwxhj9z2MgDLvWdnavEDTuu5Kvp6HphYPG3Vpk1TLUV6pwO37Zymq46udS5xZWx1irZ5VKlYbH1ZKV_KBDHdrn-KV4piNu4mLxbUvHVLgecSg/s1600/2013+Nov22+Paris+_20131122+882+DSC_3563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiOveO9ouTe0luuHAkeVbu0MbNQCq_2Iwxhj9z2MgDLvWdnavEDTuu5Kvp6HphYPG3Vpk1TLUV6pwO37Zymq46udS5xZWx1irZ5VKlYbH1ZKV_KBDHdrn-KV4piNu4mLxbUvHVLgecSg/s640/2013+Nov22+Paris+_20131122+882+DSC_3563.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Avenue des Champs-Élysées</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">...a delicious panoply of lights</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Christmas in shades of blue, white, and silver</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ave des Champs-Élysées</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">75008, Paris</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Métro Franklin D. Roosevelt</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>

Réflexion - Avenue des Champs-Élysées

Avenue des Champs-Élysées ...a delicious panoply of lights Christmas in shades of blue, white, and silver Ave des Champs-Élysées 75008, Pari...

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Cartier - la panthère

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1cDjQd0iq54Ejfr_HTDoh6ddRmSbxuTpZ1IxCQzS1Lgjz2y4KY7VI25ysqss2HS5PUw6mpdmCYY2jzm-3yNH_UKn8tlF_MQT26ahVj3DYr01J6yHT9JFwHYgXlemgRuUgt7KOG2IoDI/s1600/2013+Nov22+Paris+_20131122+822+DSC_3502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1cDjQd0iq54Ejfr_HTDoh6ddRmSbxuTpZ1IxCQzS1Lgjz2y4KY7VI25ysqss2HS5PUw6mpdmCYY2jzm-3yNH_UKn8tlF_MQT26ahVj3DYr01J6yHT9JFwHYgXlemgRuUgt7KOG2IoDI/s640/2013+Nov22+Paris+_20131122+822+DSC_3502.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Cartier</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This jeweler has an over-the-top display for the holidays.  </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The building is washed in red light </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and one expects that the panthers will leap at any moment.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This well-known street was unusually quiet </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">which suits me just fine.  </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It could be that the intermittent rain </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and frigid wind kept the shoppers at home.  </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">No, I did not do any shopping here.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cartier</span></span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">154, avenue des Champs-Élysées</span></span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">75008, Paris</span></span></i><br /><br />

Cartier - la panthère

Cartier This jeweler has an over-the-top display for the holidays.   The building is washed in red light  and one expects that the panthers ...

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Les Vélibs

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RY_5CDVwbofAhMllCiE4lTNgBXmk5XBZafZFsXyBDK5fIeSD94n0dMFRllsJzxU0Jx2oXMfuDDsn-c63jl79par0GWBY5K70GlvhlMBgnVk0B3r7X6zU2fddRJml6-CO_bBB0FjpObI/s1600/2012+Oct+5+Friday_68DSC_8550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RY_5CDVwbofAhMllCiE4lTNgBXmk5XBZafZFsXyBDK5fIeSD94n0dMFRllsJzxU0Jx2oXMfuDDsn-c63jl79par0GWBY5K70GlvhlMBgnVk0B3r7X6zU2fddRJml6-CO_bBB0FjpObI/s640/2012+Oct+5+Friday_68DSC_8550.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Try it!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well, Holly has a big smile because we were having so much fun riding around Paris on the Vélibs.  The cost can be a little as $2.20 to ride for the day.  If you return your bike to one of the 1,800 stations within 30 minutes, there is no additional charge.  We rode for two days all over Paris, mixing it up with the traffic.  On my recent trip, I spent one day riding alone, crossing the Seine bridges and riding as far as Jardin des Plantes from the 2ème. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There are 20,000 bikes ready to ride, waiting on you.  Check out <a href="http://en.velib.paris.fr/" target="_blank">the site here</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you are hesitant, start away from congested traffic areas (Place Charles de Gaule for sure!) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">On our first 30-minute ride we bumped across the cobblestones of Champs Elysées, passed between Grand Palais and Petit Palais, and then crossed Pont Alexandre III.  What a rush!  </span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(Learn the words - It will make you feel so cool - </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>do not forget to ring the little bell as you sing, too)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Je m' baladais sur l' avenue<br />Le coeur ouvert à l' inconnu<br />J' avais envie de dire bonjour<br />A n' importe qui<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">N' importe qui et ce fut toi<br />Je t' ai dit n' importe quoi<br />Il suffisait de te parler<br />Pour t' apprivoiser<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Aux Champs-Elysées<br />Aux Champs-Elysées<br />Au soleil, sous la pluie<br />A midi ou à minuit<br />Il y a tout c' que vous voulez<br />Aux Champs-Elysées!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Les rues du 15ième</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>75015, Paris</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>

Les Vélibs

Try it! Well, Holly has a big smile because we were having so much fun riding around Paris on the Vélibs.  The cost can be a little as $2.20...

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Métro Champs-Elysées Clemenceau

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OKF5Qb5NCL5GANoiBxya0FMLmW-4vXe6eLjqdNw_toZlI48dO_mk75jBM7QF9oOnW7xXvgexnQT9uyOPBQFOMSZRP65mNZ0colb3VdaiUX2JxSxIWZVRaaNoOJrwPR7uEDgV_xD4dx4/s1600/2011+april+2+DSC_0555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OKF5Qb5NCL5GANoiBxya0FMLmW-4vXe6eLjqdNw_toZlI48dO_mk75jBM7QF9oOnW7xXvgexnQT9uyOPBQFOMSZRP65mNZ0colb3VdaiUX2JxSxIWZVRaaNoOJrwPR7uEDgV_xD4dx4/s640/2011+april+2+DSC_0555.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In Lisbon the Metrolitano Picoas station has a very French Guimard entrance, a gift from RATP.  In exchange, the Portuguese ceramist and painter Manuel Cargaleiro created these tiles, giving the Métro Champs-Elysées Clemenceau station a unique atmosphere. </span>  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Merci à <a href="http://paris-bise-art.blogspot.com/2009/06/champs-elysees-clemenceau.html">Paris-bise-art</a>) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Métro Champs-Elysées Clemenceau</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Avenue Winston Churchill et</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Avenue des Champs Elysées</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">75008 Paris</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>

Métro Champs-Elysées Clemenceau

  In Lisbon the Metrolitano Picoas station has a very French Guimard entrance, a gift from RATP.  In exchange, the Portuguese ceramist and p...

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Il est très sérieux

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTCXnSNonnEhDmIV7cxlCEQNFfwRdMXKOnOY-jhRSNaplEJUMIgtgazJGVlPIOlbnKkHa8yTkN7D_0fzjDd7_-LiVqTjpEMLHSIkSQPWhaDtTC0BD22Qn_W5jzbdli7u4otr-W7bCkT4/s1600/DSC_0242c.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494334222119807346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTCXnSNonnEhDmIV7cxlCEQNFfwRdMXKOnOY-jhRSNaplEJUMIgtgazJGVlPIOlbnKkHa8yTkN7D_0fzjDd7_-LiVqTjpEMLHSIkSQPWhaDtTC0BD22Qn_W5jzbdli7u4otr-W7bCkT4/s640/DSC_0242c.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: ; DISPLAY: block; ; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>One more photo before we leave le quatorze juillet -- There was a whole batallion of these guys with big guns, some with bayonets. I have never seen so many tanks, trucks, and weapons in a row, ever! The uniforms range from the simple as seen here to the elaborate. This guy was the only serious one in the crowd waiting for the parade to begin. Maybe he was Big Cheese's lookout.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>From what I saw, every soldier, sailor, wheeled vehicle, horse, weapon (tout) that is part of the French military was there on Champs Élysées. The crowd was well behaved -- bien sûr, with all of that weaponry present!</div>

Il est très sérieux

One more photo before we leave le quatorze juillet -- There was a whole batallion of these guys with big guns, some with bayonets. I have ne...

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Hail to the Chief!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtvx_Nn4CZs66UDOKhSoyg5imDJW_82cqEzxqaT7n0hulVFvH-b7KKfzv0km6km28HP2wCdY67nFvkAIxC3b714EBH0991Z_LS1WDd6nnbxTulHXSWcCwF7cuRO4QPWIvyb1MRg-aMIQ/s1600/DSC_0268.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493814778197487746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtvx_Nn4CZs66UDOKhSoyg5imDJW_82cqEzxqaT7n0hulVFvH-b7KKfzv0km6km28HP2wCdY67nFvkAIxC3b714EBH0991Z_LS1WDd6nnbxTulHXSWcCwF7cuRO4QPWIvyb1MRg-aMIQ/s640/DSC_0268.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:;" /></a><br />The procession begins with President Sarkozy who stands tall (?) as he rides down the Champs-Élysées, <i>la plus belle avenue du monde</i>. Obviously, this year's weather does not match the blue skies of 2008 -- I stood alone making friends at the barricades for 4 hours to see the parade from Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde. Quelle bonne fête nationale!

Hail to the Chief!

The procession begins with President Sarkozy who stands tall (?) as he rides down the Champs-Élysées, la plus belle avenue du monde . Obvio...

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