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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... ;-)
January 07 2012
Invalides in black and white
I went to a Galette Party today (a galette is a cake that people eat to celebrate the Epihany (a Christian feast) after Christmas) and on the way back I passed by Les Invalides. It was a beautiful evening (it's still warm in Paris at the moment here) and I felt like taking a photo. I made a black and white one, for a change...
November 11 2011
Sacré Coeur in the mist
Those of you who have been following PDP for some time now will probably remember the Eiffel Tower in the mist photo (big hit!), well, now look at what I saw yesterday evening on my way to dinner at Montmartre... It was really stunning. Let's us not forget that the Sacré Coeur is located on a hill (130 meters - 426 feet). Not very high, but it does play a role when it comes to "'touching the clouds...". Have a nice weekend everyone.
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 14 2011
Porte Saint Denis
The big arch in the middle of l'Etoile, on top of the Champs Elysées is not the only one in Paris. There are many other arches, like this one I photographed in the 10th arrondissement at the crossing of rue Saint-Denis and Boulevard Bonne-nouvelle. It was built in 1672 in replacement for a medieval gate in the city walls built by Charles V in the 14th century (read the whole story here if you're interested). It's a stunning monument, and the blue/cloudy sky makes it even more beautiful.
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 11 2011
Sunny break at the pyramid
Hurrah, it's been at least 2 days in a row that the sun has been shining in Paris! Not for long, tough, when you read these lines, the rain will have returned ;-( Anyway, here is a view of today, from the inside of the Louvre Pyramid, a glass an metal pyramid located in the middle of the main courtyard of the Louvre Palace. Very controversial in its times, this very modern structure is now extremely popular and was even duplicated in other places, like the Museum of Science and industry in Chicago. A definite must see if you come to Paris...
August 02 2011
Where is everybody gone?
Those who have already been to Paris will probably have recognized the Assemblée Nationale, the French Parliament, one of the chambers where laws are discussed and voted (and where our representatives sometimes behave like 4 year old kids... but that is another story!) It is located in the middle of Paris, right by the Pont de la Concorde, near the Champs Elysées. Needless to say that normally there is a huge traffic on this bridge. But not in August... Paris is almost empty at the moment and that is why I love this particular moment of the year!
July 18 2011
Rotten July!
People often ask me what to pack when coming to Paris? I never know what to answer as the weather is always very unpredictable... Hence last April and May, when we suffered an unusual and terrible drought and now July which is really windy, rainy and a little cold too (and probably not good for business). Only positive point: nice weather to take pictures ;-) Need I introduce you to the Arc de Triomphe? I did not think so!
June 27 2011
Paris pollution
Pollution is a topic I rarely talk about, or it's generally not too much of a concern in Paris, except when it's hot and there is absolutely no wind, like yesterday (Monday). Airparif is the office that controls the air in Paris and, well at the moment, the various indexes (don't ask me too much about them, it's pretty complicated) that they produce don't look too good. Parisians should avoid going out, running exercising... You can see it in this photo I suppose, which is a little yellow and foggy... I've seen worse though! But God was it hot...
April 23 2011
The golden arch
Yes, I know, you've it a thousand times, but not that close! I took this photo from my scooter, while I was driving (but not very fast ;-)) It was two nights ago, at sunset, and the light was really beautiful (the weather in Paris at the moment is amazingly nice). That's it, not much more to say. Have a nice weekend (and happy easter for those of you who celebrate Easter). We have a holiday on Monday here, but I'll stay in Paris to catch up on things and take a few shots!
April 15 2011
Fontaine Saint-Michel
I already posted a photo of the Fontaine Saint-Michel here a few years ago, mentioning that it's a very common meeting point in Paris (especially for students), but I never posted a close up. Recently I went back there (yes, to meet someone!) and took this photo (not easy to take actually, because of the light - the fountain being always in the shade). For the record, this fountain was completed around 1860, it was made by Gabriel Davioud, a pretty famous architect who lived under the reign of Napoleon the 3rd, and its main purpose is... to hide a facade! More on Wikipedia, of course!
April 03 2011
'Facade lift'!
You may find it hard to recognize this very famous Paris landmark and though, yes, this is La Conciergerie, the same building I photographed here, in 2009. Much less breath taking, don't you think?! Alas, due to the pollution in Paris, buildings need to be cleaned regularly, and there is no other way than hanging a huge scaffolding against them. Now, the big controversy is: should they but this giant ad on it while they're doing the work? Highly controversial of course and political too: the green party wants to ban them, the government does not because it helps contributing to the renovation costs. I personally like them when they are creative, like the one I photographed here. In this particular case I think Dior could have done better!
April 01 2011
Sacré Coeur at dawn
It's been a while since I've shown you Sacré Coeur. I swear it's not a mock-up, although it may look like one ;-) I took this photo from far away in the 18th arrondissement and I don't think I've ever photographed it from that side. Anyway, by now, you probably already know this church by heart. It's located on top of Montmartre, was built around 1875 and 1914, and it's one of the major landmarks of Paris (and apparently the 5th most visited place in France. I bet you cannot guess what the top 4 are!)
November 23 2010
Palais Garnier in the light
You may think this is the normal lighting of the Opera, but it's not. They probably had a special night or something, when I passed by it a few days ago. The quality is not very good (it's really time I change my camera!) but... you get the picture! FYI, this the Palais Garnier, after the name of the architect who built it and it's a beautiful building both outside and inside (you can visit it daily from 10 am to 5 pm for 9 € and it's worth it...
November 22 2010
The birds!
No, these birds did not dive on me like in The birds, the movie by Alfred Hitchcock, but I've found the scene pretty scary. I took this photo near the Châtelet, by the Tour Saint Jacques, that has recently been renewed (see this post and this post). You can also have a good look at the weather we're experiencing in Paris at the moment. Grey and cold - and even colder soon... I'm off to Lille today, in the north of France, it'll be even colder!
October 11 2010
Wish you were here
We're having a wonderful weather at the moment and it's really cool. I had my weekly meeting at La Défense today and on the way back I could not help but taking a photo of the arch with the clear blue sky in the background. I know you've seen this arch a few times on PDP, but there is always something to learn about it... Did you know it's 160 ft (50 m) high, that the large vault is 95.8 ft (29.19 m) high and 48.0 ft (14.62 m) wide and that a plane managed to fly through it once (in 1919)!
July 25 2010
L'étoile !
OK, I won't even think of pretending I took this shot! Besides, it is highly prohibited to fly over Paris unless you have a good reason... No, I stole it from the television on the occasion of the arrival of the Tour de France on the Champs Elysées (that is actually what I like about this event each year: they show breathtaking views of Paris). Now, look more closely (click in the photo to enlarge it). Do you see the little "arms" around the Arc de Triomphe, embedded in the pavement? Very few people know they are there, because you can only see them from above. Well, they are star arms and that is why before being called the Place Charles de Gaulle, it used to be called "L'Etoile" (the Star).
July 18 2010
Classic view
I spent Sunday afternoon at Le Vésinet, a nice suburb of Paris, in the sun surrounded with friends. On the way back I passed by Porte Maillot, at the bottom of l'Avenue de la Grande Armée, from where you have the best view of L'Arc de Triomphe (in my opinion). The French French flag between its "legs" is usually not there. They hang on special occasions, like the recent 14 juillet / Bastille Day. That's all. Have a nice week everyone!
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