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August 14 2011
Ferris Wheel at dusk
It's a classic, but it's still nice to see, especially at dusk. During the summer time, this Ferris Wheel is part of a small amusement park located in the Tuileries gardens, on the Louvre side of rue de Rivoli. I went on it once (in the winter time, when it faces the Champs Elysées) - I don't know if you remember, I already mentioned it here - but I suffered from a terrible vertigo and did not enjoy it, at all! We're still on a long weekend here (Monday is the 15th of August, a day where the Catholics celebrate Vrigin Mary), so let me tell you, Paris is very very calm right now!
May 13 2011
Getting a tan in Paris
Amazing! I just looked at the weather report in Paris and the sun is still shinning like crazy. No wonder some people are taking advantage of this very unusual situation for the season (I actually took this photo at Parc des Buttes Chaumont right before my departure). FYI, it appears that it is forbidden not to wear a shirt in Paris, even if it's very hot (only seaside cities allow it), but I suppose that in this kind of situations (a park) there is not risk of getting a ticket.
April 06 2011
What it takes to garden in Paris!
Funny how even in the middle of concrete, in the least expected place, people still manage to grow plants and trees and turn them into a real garden. That is what I discovered by pure coincidence yesterday morning at the end of a dead end in the 18th arrondissement (impasse de la Chapelle). This garden is part of the "shared gardens initiative" which aims at promoting "urban ecology" apparently (well so the web site says...). Well, not sure I would feel very green in this environment, but I'm glad it exists!
February 05 2011
Paris Greenhouses
Paris is not all about concrete and Haussmannian buildings... There are also many gardens and... greenhouses! This one is located in the Bois de Boulogne (which technically belongs to Paris) but easy to get to by Metro (stop Porte d'Auteuil). There are 6 000 different kinds of plants, but you can also see mascaron ornaments by Rodin, a stunning fountain... All this was really put together during the 19th century, but was really initiated by Louis the 15th back in 1761!
January 17 2011
Aging in Paris
I came across this charming little lady in a garden in the 18th arrondissement. She was coming in my direction and I knew right away I wanted to take a photo of her. So, I waited for her to walk away a little bit and took this shot. I just learned a few days ago, that the oldest French person lived until the age of 109 (and 146 days!), not far from Paris. He was born in 1901 and I often wonder what people who were born that long ago think of today's world ;-)
November 06 2010
Autumn leaves
Yes, I know, every year I post a photo that looks more or less like this one, around the same time of the year...But autum leaves make good photos and when they are taken in Paris, it makes a big difference ;-) I've taken this photo, in a little garden near the rue de la Madone, in the 18th arrondissement where I went shopping for Chinese food (there is a litlle Chinese quarter over there). That's all, have a nice fall/autumn Sunday everyone, except for those who live in the South hemisphere who are gently entering Spring...
October 22 2010
Playing Football
I took this photo at the Reuilly gardens in the 12th arrondissement. They have a little field in which young - and less young! - people can play football and ball games in general. There is not much to say about it, I just like the color effect behind the grid. Have a good weekend everyone. Mine will be "connected" as I'll be attending the Webdeux Connect gathering (a geeky meet up!).
September 22 2010
Classic view
It's been a while since I've shown you a classic Paris view, so here is one... I took it from the inside of Le Jardin des Tuileries, facing the Place de la Concorde. This statue was made by Antoine Coysevox in 1699, it shows Mercury on Pegasus. And let me disclose a little secret: this one is only a cast; the real one is in Le Louvre...
August 13 2010
Resting in the grass
What to do on a summer Saturday in Paris? Rest on the grass of course... It is not always allowed (because the grass also needs to rest from time to time...) but it most gardens it is now permitted (I also took this photo at Parc Monceau like yesterday). FYI, here is the gardens and parks of Paris portal (only in French, unfortunately).
August 12 2010
Roman remains
There are many Roman remains in Paris even though the Romans left a long long time ago ;-) (the end of the 5th century). Most of them are to be found on the left bank, where the Romans actually settled down originally (that is why a part of it is called the "Latin quarter"). These remains I found in Parc Monceau, in the 17th arrondissement, on the right bank, very far away from where the Romans used to live. No wonder then, that they are totally fake and just part of the garden decor made by Louis de Carmontelle then man who designed the garden back in 1778!
July 17 2010
Sailing...
You may think that since there is no sea in Paris, it is difficult to sail... Well, it's not true! There are about 10 recreation centers around Paris where you can enjoy sailing, windsurfing, kayaking... One of them (located in Choisy-le-Roy) is only about 15 minutes away from the center of Paris (check the list - in French only - here). Of course, I did not not take this photo there... But at the Tuileries gardens, where they also offer sailing... but with toy boats that they rent by the hour (for 4 euros)! God did I love that when I was a child LOL!
July 07 2010
Love in the air
Besides jogging along the Seine, another favorite summer "sport" of a lot of people is... cuddling on a bench in a public garden. Don't go thinking this has any influence on the "baby season" (that is, the period of the year we, French, have the most babies). A study revealed today, that there is almost no more baby season, unlike 30 years ago... BTW I took this photo at the Luxembourg Gardens and I was afraid to point my camera at them. You never know, they might be an illegitimate couple!
May 30 2010
Soon, the world cup!
Unless you live under a rock (or maybe if you're American and don't really follow everything that is soccer related) you probably know that the World Cup will soon start in South Africa. To be honest I don't think the French team will stay in the tournament very long... To much money and sex and not enough soccer I'm afraid ;-) There is even a supermarket chain who recently advertised saying "You TV set refunded if the French team wins the cup!" That says a lot. In the meantime I found this young, promising player training hard in the Jardin des Buttes Chaumont. So cute! BTW, if you want to follow the World Cup, go to Footbalistic, they are friends of mine.
PS : don't forget the PDP picnic this Sunday (June 6) at 1 PM. More details on this Facebook Page. The weather is going to be gorgeous.
May 17 2010
Paris, the city of love!
Paris, the city of love? Well, isn't that obvious, when you see these two "tourtereaux" (turtledoves) that I photographed in front of Rosa Bonheur? "Rosa" is a former Guinguette located in the Parc des Buttes Chaumont and it is currently one of the most successful bars/restaurants in Paris. At night (not everyday, you need to check on their site first) the terrace is overcrowded and you'll be lucky if you can grab something to drink. But isn't that all the fun? I guess, for I only experienced it off peak hours!
May 09 2010
Green Paris
You may think I took this photo at the country, where I was this weekend, but no... I took in the middle of Paris - well almost in the middle, that is at Les Buttes Chaumont park, a park located on a hill in the 19th arrondissement. It was inaugurated in 1867 during a world exhibition (you can see old photos of the area here) and since then it's always been very popular (about 3 million people go though it every year). Probably because it's one of the rare gardens where you're allowed to walk on the grass, have a picnic, lay it the sun, enjoy a nice spring day... and sometimes enjoy a beautiful light.
April 22 2010
April in Paris...
I'm not a big fan of flower photos, but when I saw these ones in the Luxembourg gardens this evening, I could not help but taking a photo. I also thought of the unforgettable song April in Paris (click here to listen to the Ella Fitzgerald version). As a matter of fact April in Paris can be pretty cold (10° C or 50° F on average) and rainy (14 days of rain on average!). So I don't know really why Paris is supposed to be so wonderful in April! More about Paris Climate on Wikipedia.
April 21 2010
Motherhood
Of course I took this photo because of the lipstick touch that I found pretty funny. But I also think this sculpture is pretty interesting. It's called "L'éducation Maternelle" (Maternal Education, or something like that...) and it was made by Eugène Delaplanche, a French sculptor from the 19th century (this sculpture was made in 1875). If you want to see it for real, it's located very near the Sainte Clotilde church of Tuesday, in a little garden called Square Samuel-Rousseau. BTW, talking about children in Paris, don't forget the book of Sheridan Becker (and 2 other co-authors) that I photographed here if you come with your little ones...
February 12 2010
Puppets Show!
A lot of big public gardens in France have a Puppets show. No miss Piggy, nor Kermit in there, but Guignol, a on Wikipedia)! Almost all French kids have attended a Guignol show at least once in their life ;-) One of the main Guignol Theater in Paris is located in the Luxembourg Gardens. And don't go thinking that there is no performance during winter... The theater is heated and there are performances on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays (more - in French - here).
February 10 2010
More snow...
I know the snow we have currently in Paris is nothing like the one that is currently falling in Washington DC (I just saw the images on the news...), but for Paris it's quite unusual. So yes, it snowed again today and despite the terrible cold I handed out my camera and pulled the trigger with my frozen finger! This is "La Nuit" a statue by Charles Alphonse Achille Gumery, located in the Robert Cavelier-de-la-Salle gardens, right next to the Luxembourg gardens.
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