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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.
December 25 2011
Merry Christmas 2011!
Original? Nope! Seasonal? After all traditions aren't that bad, are they?! While you see this photo I'll be filling my stomach with unnecessary fattening food and exchanging gifts with people who already have everything! But I'll also be surrounded with a lot of people I love, so it's well worth it! Again, have a great Christmas eve everyone (for those of you who celebrate), watch for your stockings (if you haven't been naughty of course...) and come here and let us know what Santa brought you;-) I will... BTW I took this photo at the entrance of my gym. If you notice, someone stuck a "Merro" on top of the "Merry" sign. I really wonder what that means...
November 10 2011
11/11/11!
Today is November 11, the day we celebrate the end of WWI (this year it's also a palindrome date, but that's another story). We have no more alive veterans from that war, so in theory no more reasons to continue celebrating its end, but I think it's good we still do so. 1) because it's a holiday ;-), 2) because it reminds us that about 100 years ago (and 60 if you consider WWII) there were still wars between European countries. Something that is now totally unthinkable. This, by the way, is a statue of Maréchal Foch, the very one who signed the armistice with Germany on November 11, 1918. You can see it at Champs de Mars, near Ecole Militaire.
October 30 2011
Trick or treats?!
It's not really a French celebration (here we celebrate the dead on the November 1st), but... since it's a good business booster (for restaurants and shops that sell scary costumes like the one where I took this photo), you can see a lot of calls to attend Halloween parties everywhere in Paris right now (no trick or treats though...). So I thought I would play the game... On a different note - and believe me, with absolutely no relationship with scary witches! - I had the pleasure to have breakfast with Kim from Seattle Daily Photo this morning (see for yourself ;-).
September 10 2011
Opening of the 2011 Rugby World Cup!
Not many reasons to rejoice these days... so here is one (for those who love Rugby!). The 2011 world Cup opened yesterday in New Zealand and since you may know I have a soft spot for New Zealand and New Zealanders (remember this street Haka and the opening of Koko?), well I took advantage of the presence in Paris of Roniece, a true PDP follower Kiwi (wearing orange in this photo), to go to the Freedom Pub, off Les Champs Elysées, to attend the opening and the first match. I will still support the French team though ;-)
July 14 2011
Bird's-eye view of the arch....
Thank you so much for your nice wishes yesterday ;-) Like last year I don't resist showing you an image that I grabbed from the television and that you will rarely see (it is normally forbidden to fly over Paris). The Arc de Triomphe in the middle of La Place de l'Etoile from the sky... I love it. Did you notice the red trucks? They belong to the firemen brigades that marched, like I was telling you yesterday.
July 13 2011
200 year anniversary
Today is Le 14 juillet (Bastille day), the day France celebrates its revolution... Like every year there is going to be a huge March on the Champs Elysées and like last year it seems it's going to rain! This year theme will be "overseas" (we have several troops stationed in the West Indies and other French territories). The firemen will also honored as they celebrate their 200 year anniversary this year (I wonder who put out fires in Paris before?!)), hence this photo that I took from my window a few days ago, when my boulangerie was on fire!
July 06 2011
Ham and cheese party
I may have been blogging about Paris for several years now, I'm not the only one! Last evening I attended the anniversary party of Eyepreferparis, the blog that ex New Yorker Richard Nahem has been managing for 5 years now! It took place at O Chateau, a place I already mentioned a long time ago (they do wine testing seminars in English). As for me, I only took photos as I don't drink wine and I'm trying to loose weight!
July 03 2011
Happy Independence Day
Since I have a lot of American visitors, let me dedicate today's post to them as it's the 4th of July! Thanks to PDP friends (Guille, Michael, Stuart and Elizabeth), I had lunch at Blues Bar-B-Q, yesterday (Sunday). Co owned by delightful Diana from Texas, it is a real American restaurant where I discovered pulled BBQ pork, corn bread, genuine coleslaw and of course, an ice cream float! Now that's a festive occasion!
March 11 2011
PDP belated anniversary
Shame on me! I forgot to wish PDP a happy 6th anniversary, can you believe it?! I don't know why I had March 19 in mind, so I was not too worried about finding the perfect photo.And if it weren't for some of my very observant visitors (hey Monica!) I would have totally forgotten it. That's what happens after 6 years of daily posting, it's become like brushing my teeth or getting dressed in the morning, a habit! A nice habit though ;-) Big kiss to everyone from Paris and let me offer you this sunset view of the Metro taken from the rue Saint Saëns in the 15th arrondissement.
November 26 2010
Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!
Of course in France Thanksgiving does not really mean anything, but I know I have a lot of American visitors on this blog. And since you guys are probably enjoying a nice family weekend I thought a nice turkey photo was appropriate for today... I took it during my own Thanksgiving celebration in Paris, that American friends of mine organized a few days ago. Always a fun moment. So let's see, what are you thankful for?!
July 15 2010
And now the fireworsk!
Don't pretend you're surprised, you knew it was coming LOL! I've said it several times, I generally don't like fireworks, but this one, never ceases to amaze me. Of course, the fact that it revolves around the the Eiffel Tower must play a role! I'm not the only one... According to the official sources they were 300 000 parisians on the Champs de Mars to watch the show...
July 14 2010
Wet march
Yes people, I know every year it's the same: bal des pompiers on the 13th, March on the 14th in the morning and fireworks on the 14th at night... But this year, during the march, something was different! The sky was full of threatening clouds that poured tons of rain from time to time. Look at these poor guys who had to play music in the rain! And yes, the blurry shape in the background is... l'Arc de Triomphe! Not to mention the planes that were barely visible in the sky! Fortunately the sky cleared up for the fireworks...
July 13 2010
Bal des Pompiers!
So most of you guessed what yesterday's fireman was doing! He was installing the little blue-white-red flags in view of tonights Bal des Pompiers (firemen ball)... I did not photograph the same fire station last evening, but one along the Canal Saint Martin on the Quai de Valmy (caserne Landon). Huge success, not only because of the stunning location, but also because of the weather that was really fantastic yesterday evening.
July 03 2010
Happy 4th of July!
I know some of you will find it unfair that I celebrate the US Independence Day and not other countries' national day. I have an overwhelming amount of visitors from the US, compared to the rest of the world. According to Google Analytics, over the last 30 days I have had 19,283 visitors from the US! France is second (4,810) then Canada, UK, Australia, and the list goes on. Within the US California is first (4,016 visitors) then NY, PA, TX, FL, MA, IL, OH, WA and NJ. Now you know (almost) everything! And I'm sure you will all understand why I can wish to all my American visitors a happy 4th of July. BTW, this photo shows a little bit of the US in France; it's the American Embassy in Paris, at Place de la Concorde.
June 18 2010
Appel du 18 juin
Today was a celebration day in France. We celebrated L'Appel du 18 juin, a call that General de Gaulle made to the French in 1940 (read all about it here) to urge them to resist to the Nazis instead of surrendering. And last evening, by sheer coincidence! I happened to have dinner at Le Café de l'Esplanade, a restaurant located just at the corner of Les Invalides where they were having a "Sons et lumières" (audio and lights) to celebrate this famous episode of the French history. I took this shot during the show.. pretty scary.
May 15 2010
Fête du Pain 2010
Like every year since 1996, we are celebrating "Le Pain" (bread). It always take place in May because according to tradition, the 16th of May is the day of Saint Honoré, the Saint of... bakers! In fact the main reason for this celebration is that French people only eat 165 g of bread each year and that this is not good enough for the bakers' business! Problem is: bread makes you gain weight... But shush! Website: la fête du pain.
May 12 2010
Ascension
Today (Thursday) is a holiday in France because the Catholics are celebrating L'Ascension, the day - according to the Christian doctrine - where Jesus ascended to heaven following to his resurrection. It always takes place on a Thursday (that is exactly 40 days after easter Sunday) and most people take a day off on Friday to either go away of take some rest. I'm one of these people! I took this photo in Saint Sulpice and, well, I thought it was most appropriate for today.
May 10 2010
Flower Power for Joan
I pass by this statue of Joan of Arc every evening to go back home and last night I saw it was all covered in flowers. Apparently a Catholic organization marched for Joan Sunday and left a few bouquets around the statue to celebrate the day she freed Orleans in 1429. I understand their agenda was more political than really to keep her memory ;-) BTW, as I already mentioned it here, there is a similar statue in Philadelphia in the US that I had the chance to photograph - and post on PDP - in 2007.
April 12 2010
Poland grieves
You may have heard that the Polish President, his wife, a large number of ministers and key members of the military have died in a plane crash last Saturday. We have a lot of Polish citizens in France and a lot of people of Polish origins whose grand parents (500 000) came in the 30's to work in France. No wonder then that the Polish embassy, where I took this photo last evening, was all covered in flowers and little notes. I don't know if I have many Polish visitors, but that'll be my tribute to their country today!
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