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January 23 2012
农历新年 (nónglì xinnián)
So it's the Chinese new year... and it's the year of the water dragon apparently, a symbol of strength and power. Since I've started learning Chinese (with a wonderful - and very patient! - teacher), about a year ago, I learned a lot about the Chinese culture and language differences (and God knows they are numerous!). FYI, marches and celebrations will mostly take place during next weekend, but I won't be in Paris, so I'm posting this photo that I took during a previous new year celebration at Hotel de Ville.
January 14 2012
Mole art...
I took this photo at the Hotel de Sully, a stunning hôtel particulier (private mansion) that was built between 1625 and 1630 and is now the French historical monument center. It's worth a visit in general, but it's even more worth a visit right now, as they currently have an artist (Ghyslain Bertholon) performance in the gardens. What is it about? Moles... Yes, giant moles, like the one you can see in the foreground of this photo. It's odd, but pretty unexpected, therefore creative...
January 09 2012
Last Christmas decorations...
Pretty soon all Christmas decorations will be gone, so let me show you one last one. I found it at the Hotel de ville (town hall) - and not in the court yard of the Louvre Museum, where they also have pyramids! - Beautiful isn't? Nothing else to add - except that maybe I should think of taking down my Christmas tree now... ;-)
December 22 2011
One horse town (hall)!
I'm so behind on my work right now, that I really did not have any minute to horse around today ;-) Except for a short visit to the gym at dawn this morning (yes, people!), I did not go out at all... Therefore I did not have the chance to take my photo du jour. So let me use this one, that I took about a month ago at the Paris Town hall and that I really like. I never posted it because I have no information what's so ever about this stunning sculpture.
December 12 2011
Press conference
Today I attended a press conference at the Pavillon de l'Arsenal - a must visit museum dedicated to the Paris architecture. The purpose of the conference was to announce the launch of a very innovative digital map (a team work of Google and Paris), in which you can see "the future Paris" in 3D. How is that possible? Simply because some of the main architectural projects have been digitally embedded into the giant interactive map that can be seen in the Pavillon. It was really fascinating, but, call me weird, I was even more fascinated by the glow in the dark green shows of Ms Dominique Alba, General Manager of the Pavillon who introduced the project to us ;-) Make sure you also see the making of.
December 10 2011
Christmas (de)Lights
I love the Christmas period. Not only do you have lights and decorations everywhere in Paris, but also - and specifically! - into churches too. Hence this photo I took inside Nôtre Dame (the same church where I took this photo). Now is the time to think of buying your Christmas gifts everyone, you don't want to find yourself in the middle of the crowd on the very last day, do you?!
December 04 2011
Season Classic!
I know what you're gonna say... Again! Yes again, every year it's the same, but it's still beautiful. In case you would not know what it is (which I seriously doubt!) , this the famous Notre Dame Cathedral, located in the middle of l'île de la Cité. Every year towards the end of November they erect an enormous Christmas tree in front of it (of course it's does not look so big in this photo ;-) and it's always breath taking. Last year, at the same time, it was super cold and snowy. This year, it's extraordinary mild.
November 19 2011
Sex in the city
Sex in the city is not the title of a television series, but... the name of an exhibition that just opened yesterday (Saturday) in Paris. Like you can see, it's already very successful (sex is always a good sales boost - even though this exhibition is actually free). What's can be seen inside? Well I don't really know as I did not visit it, but a little bird told me you can see all sorts of sex toys, games, lingerie... you name it! All this to raise Aids awareness (yeah, right!). More in these videos.
November 18 2011
Without a shadow of a doubt
I took this photo at the bottom of Tour Saint-Jacques, the tower they renovated recently and that I showed you several times (here, here, here and here!). You'd think this would be a statue of Saint Jacques, but... it is not. It's the one of Blaise Pascal, a famous French mathematician and philosopher who, among other things, invented in 1642, the first calculator (mechanical at that time, obviously...). Why is here there? Because he is said to have prevented the destruction of a church that was previously on these premises. BTW, around this tower, there is a little square, which apparently was the first square in Paris (1856).
November 16 2011
Golden Blog Awards night
I'm just back from the... French Golden Blog Awards night that was taking place at the Hotel de Ville (city town hall). Huge event, very successful, so successful I had to wait 3 quarters of an hour outside before entering (see the little red square at the end of the line? The entrance was way beyond that point!). It was worth it though, the event was nice, the scenery was too (remember the ceiling?) and the company even more. Did I win an award? Nah, I did not, but the competition was really tough, so it's fair. Sorry I cannot show you the winners yet, because they haven't been posted on the Golden blog awards site yet, but I will (yeah, cause that's the kind of guy I am ;-))
September 18 2011
Before and after at La Conciergerie
La Conciergerie is a very famous place in Paris. Not only is it one of the most beautiful monuments in the city, but on top of that it is known for having "sheltered" Marie-Antoinette for several months, before she was beheaded on the Place de la Concorde (Place de la Révolution at that time). La Conciergerie is also constantly covered in scaffolding (I suppose that's the price to pay for a monument that was built around the 12th century! Anyway, right now, Samsung commissioned French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac to make a huge fresco on it. I took these photos a few days apart from each others. See more here and in this video.
September 16 2011
Sunset on Notre Dame
Another of this September evening light that is so beautiful in Paris. I passed by Notre Dame last evening around 7:30 on my way to my brother's and I could not help but admiring this stunning Paris landmark. Besides, for once that it's not covered in scaffolding... Have a great week-end everyone. I hope the weather is going to remain as clear as this!
September 13 2011
Sunset over Tour Saint Jacques
On my way to dinner last evening, I passed by the Châtelet area while the sun was going down on Paris. The light was absolutely stunning... This tower - that was recently renovated as you may remember - is the only remain of a former church dedicated to Saint Jacques precisely! (See the whole story here). The other landmark you can see here is La colonne du Châtelet (The Chatelet column).
August 30 2011
Back to my dear bridges!
That's it, after a - very - long weekend near Nîmes in the South of France, I'm back to my dear old Paris. The weather may not be as nice and the air quality may not be as good, I always enjoy going back home ;-) This is Le Pont Marie, a bridge that goes from the right bank to the Saint Louis Island, it was built by Mr Marie (Christophe was his first name) and it's one of the oldest bridges in Paris (it was built between 1614 and 1635). I think the slogan "built to last" could apply to this work of art LOL!
August 23 2011
Dinner outside
Here is where I had dinner with a few friends to celebrate a birthday! The weather was gorgeous, the scenery (well, see for yourself!) and the food exquisite - Not to mention that since it's a no car street, it was very quiet . On the cultural side, you should know that this is the Gervais-Saint-Protais church, an exceptionnal place, both outside and inside. Now, are you jealous of me?!
August 22 2011
Massage, really?!
Nothing to do with the recent charges being dropped in the DSK case, but with a very common practice in Paris: massages with a happy endings ("avec les finitions"), if you see what I mean... Actually, most of the time, you hear about a Chinese salon that was closed by the police for - no, not massage malpractice! - but for prostitution. I must say this is the first time I came across such an advertisement; hard to think real massages happen at the end of this line...
August 03 2011
Paris Plage sprinklers
Yesterday, an anonymous commenter requested Paris Plage photos... And since your wishes are my command(!), well, here you go ;-) Besides, can you picture a summer on PDP without a shot of the Paris Plage sprinklers? Enjoy (especially if you live in a hot country!).
August 01 2011
Yummy!
It may not be the perfect summer dish, but since it's not really summer at the moment in Paris, well, there are no rules any longer! That is why I did not hesitate to choose this Mille feuilles de Poire au foie gras at the restaurant where I had lunch, at Place du marché Sainte Catherine. Yummy! But not really light... If you want to try this (or almost) on your end, here is what I found for you (in French)!
July 28 2011
A real diner in Paris
A-ma-zing! if you're American, if you're in Paris and if you feel a little home sick, I have the perfect place for you! It's called Happy Days diner, and as its name let's you guess, it's a diner! But just not like a French imitation, a real one: with Formica tables, pastel colors, an old jukebox, an old US gas pump... You expect Fonzi to walk in any minute LOL! I know that you don't come to Paris to eat at a diner, but frankly this place is really worth a visit (there are actually 3 in Paris so far, I took this photo at the Hotel de Ville one).
July 25 2011
Paris Plage at night
Since the weather is a little better at the moment, I went for a walk at Paris Plage last evening. Very nice! And yes, there is - or there seems to be - much more sand this year. I saw the famous Sleeping beauty castle provided by Disney Resort Paris and a few other things, but I did not go all the way to the end. I will. The bridge in the back is Le Pont Marie, a superb bridge that goes from the Ile Saint Louis to the Quai de l'hôtel de ville.
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