Rue Cler - les cafés

le serveur

Paris is a large city. 

However, when you frequent a place like Rue Cler, 

it seems smaller when you "run into" the same waiter on several trips. 

Do not miss Rue Cler, 

particularly for people watching from the terrace of its many cafés.

Rue Cler

75007, Paris

Métro Laumière

The seats were too far apart for these lovers

Ah, c'est Paris, n'est-ce pas?

Métro Laumière

75019, Paris

Canal Saint Martin - l'artiste

Sitting on the bank of the canal

A sunny spring day will find many Parisians 

sitting along the bank of Canal Saint Martin.  

Working with pen and ink, 

she scarcely noticed the passersby 

or the photographer.

Quai de Valmy

Canal Saint Martin

75010, Paris

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris - un grand lustre

Notre Dame

This is only one of the grand chandeliers of Notre Dame 

seen up close and in detail as it was lowered last year for cleaning.  

The 850th birthday celebration of this renown cathedral 

called for some major housekeeping and renovations (the bells).  

I would say that this grand dame has held her age well.

bon dimanche

 

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

6 Parvis Notre Dame

Place Jean-Paul II

75004, Paris

Marché d'Aligre

Marché d'Aligre

This is not the expanse of goods 

that you might find at one of the renown flea markets of Paris, 

but I have never come away empty-handed, 

nor left the area hungry!

Marché d'Aligre

Square d'Aligre

75012, Paris

Square Trousseau - un kiosque à musique

Bandstand

Square Armand-Trousseau

This square is just a little park off the side of Rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine, but in many visits, we have seen Tai Chi excercises, an old men's club, ferocious snowball fights, very fast bikes and scooters (trottinettes), mamas and nanas, children of all ages, boules, and ping-pong games.

When you go, do not miss Le Square Trousseau, a café on the corner, 

and Blé Sucré, pâtisserie (Madeleine, financier, pain au chocolat, and more!)

Square Armand-Trousseau

Rues Antoine Vollon et Rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine

Métro Ledru Rollin

75012 Paris

Palais Garnier - XIII

Palais Garnier

On every visit to this Beaux-Arts opera house one can make new discoveries.  

Just look at the art and detail applied to the lamps surrounding this building.

I think that the Phantom would be pleased 

to see the repeating patterns of music symbols.

Palais Garnier
Place de l'Opéra
75009, Paris

Parc de Monceau - XXXI

Parc de Monceau

Rotunda

This rotunda at the main entrance of Parc de Monceau 

is in the form of a classical Doric temple.  

It is known as the Pavilion de Chartres 

and was designed in the late 18th century by Claude Nicolas Ledoux.  

The ground floor of the temple was used as a customs house, 

while the upper floor was an apartment with a view of the garden 

reserved for Phillippe d'Orléans, Duke of Chartres, 

a wealthy cousin of King Louis XVI.  

Unfortunately, the Duke was guillotined during the Reign of Terror 

in 1793 and the park was nationalized.

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard de Courcelles

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau

à Paris par avion!

On my way!

It is time--

I have prepared my posts but will be updating you daily 

about our Paris adventures in the comments section.

  

When I return there will be 

new stories, familiar themes, 

and thousands of photos to share with you.

à bientôt!

Café le Nemours - Place Colette

la terrasse

Before the streets are busy and this becomes a gathering place, 

the chairs and tables at Café le Nemours sit waiting in the early morning light.

I plan to be here on Wednesday...

Café le Nemours

Place Colette

75001, Paris

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Notre Dame

This 850 year old icon on the Paris landscape has greeted worshipers and tourists for centuries.  For all of 2013 there will be special concerts and celebrations for this auspicious and grand cathedral.

bon dimanche

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

6, Place du Parvis Notre-Dame,

Place Jean-Paul II

75004, Paris

Marché de Saint-Denis

Marché de Saint-Denis

The Saint-Denis Market is located just a few moments 

outside of Paris and is one of the largest in the greater Paris.  

Few tourists make a stop here, 

but it is rich with international flavors, lively and bustling.

It was closed on the day that five of us visited the Basilique Saint-Denis, 

but I am thinking that it would be worth another trip 

to the end of Métro Line 13 for the colorful market.

Marché de Saint-Denis

92 Bis Rue Gabriel Péri, 

93200 Saint-Denis

Hôtel de Béthune-Sully

The Orangerie

or second courtyard

The Hôtel de Béthune-Sully is a hôtel particulier, a private mansion, 

in the Louis XIII style, located in the Marais.  

If you enter from Rue Saint-Antoine and walk through the first paved courtyard, 

you will enter the formal garden of this 17th century home.

On this bright day we found a pleasing arrangement of architectural details, 

a blue sky, and a fading contrail.

look up

L'orangerie, Hôtel de Béthune-Sully

62 rue Saint-Antoine

75004, Paris

Palais Garnier - Repetto

What little girl would not want the 

beautiful tuille attire of a French ballerina?

The gift shop at Palais Garnier is one of my favorite stops, 

for taking photos, for people-watching, and for dreaming of sugar-plums.

Palais Garnier

8, rue Scribe

Place de l'Opéra

75009, Paris

 

Musée du Louvre - Escalier Mollien

The Mollien staircase

For anyone who has ventured into the Louvre, the size of this museum is staggering.  This staircase situated in the center of the Pavillon Mollien was built by the architect Hector Lefuel and inaugurated on August 14, 1857, along with the other buildings comprising Napoleon III's Nouveau Louvre.

On my first trip to Paris this ironwork was a subject of sketches 

as I tried to take in all the architecture Paris could deliver.  

Much of my time in Paris now is spent behind a camera lens, 

but I plan to sketch again on my next trip, 

taking the views and details at a slower pace.

Escalier Mollien - Pavillon Mollien

Musée du Louvre

75001, Paris

Boulangerie Pâtisserie Huré - cake vanille chocolat!

Delicious French Pastries

They are adorned with fruit and must, therefore, be very good for you.

If you prefer something savory, they have a selection of delicious baguette sandwiches.

miam-miam

Boulangerie Pâtisserie Huré

18, rue Rambuteau

75003, Paris

Palais Royal - Ce doit être une fille française

Palais Royal

This young woman walked on the wet pavement

in front of Le Nemours as she chatted on her phone.

Must be a French girl

(love those red boots!)

Palais Royal

75001, Paris

Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs - l'orgue

Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs

The organ is Cavaillé-Coll from 1877, 

and on this dreary, rainy day Yannick Merlin 

was rehearsing for a concert.

If you want to have a sample of the sounds and a video of the church, 

follow this link. 

bon dimanche

Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs

92 bis, Boulevard du Montparnasse

75006, Paris

Jardin des Tuileries - une petite grenouille?

une petite grenouille?

No, but this young fellow was quite comfortable 

playing in the rain-filled puddles of Jardin des Tuileries. 

The flâneurs and others in the park gave him a wide berth 

as there was much water flying.

coa-coa

or should that be ribbette-ribbette?

(ribbit!)

Jardin des Tuileries

75001, Paris

 

la Deuche - 2CV

Quatre Roues sous un Parapluie

"Four wheels under an umbrella" is one of the nicknames for this iconic French car.  

Last spring we saluted a trio of 2CVs as they rode the streets of Paris. 

It is difficult to see a 2CV without thinking about all the French movies

and the tree-lines roads of Provence.  

This is dedicated to my dear friend Véronique (French Girl in Seattle) who has written at least two posts with many photos on these cherished vehicles.  She has a dream to take a tour with her son and this may be the very car of her dreams.

Quatre Roues sous un Parapluie

dans les rues de Paris

Joyeux anniversaire, ma chère Lauren

Musée de l'Armée - Habit d'officier de la gendarmerie de France

Officer's uniform

XVIIIe century

The Musée de l'Armée was originally built by Louis XIV 

as a hospital and home for disabled soldiers.  

This officer's uniform is part of the extensive permanent collection 

of over 500,000 artifacts.

The historical sense of style by the French 

can be seen in the elaborate details on this bright jacket. 

 I could imagine this on the fashion runways today...

...minus the sword

Musée de l'Armée

129, rue de Grenelle

75007, Paris

Métros Varenne ou École Militaire

Siegfried Courteau - Percussionniste

Siegfried Courteau

To say that he is a percussionist is a gross understatement.

He is a musical artist, pushing the limits and producing delightful rhythms and sounds.

He is versatile as seen here arranging his "instruments" of tone.

He appeared this day at an exhibition opening for artist Xavier Rémon-Beauvais, a goldsmith.  The exhibit and acoustic performance were found in a gallery in the narrow pedestrian street, Cour Damoye.  

The percussionist's tools are the art of the goldsmith.

You must pay attention as you never know what greatness you will discover:

two artists at the top of their fields... in the same gallery.

(small gallery)

Cour Damoye

75011, Paris

This is my contribution the the City Daily Photo Blogs 

Theme Day for May

"The Creative Artisan" (x deux) 

Here is the link to view all the participants for Theme Day

Les fleurs de Paris

Les fleurs de Paris

From the elegant flower boutiques to the simple corner fleuristes, 

nothing says Paris in the spring like flowers.

Even a casual placement of flowers on the sidewalk has 

a recognizable flair.  In trips to Paris I have given flowers 

and have been gifted with bouquets. 

There is nothing better...

and there are no calories in this feast!

Avenue Rapp

75007, Paris

Rue Cler - un café et beaucoup de chaussures

A café on Rue Cler

This delightful café on Rue Cler is a scene repeated all over Paris.  

I love to people-watch and wonder about their "stories."  

Perhaps the shoes will give us some clues...

Rue Cler

75007, Paris

Église Sainte-Marguerite II

Église Sainte-Marguerite

The layout of the sanctuary is that of the cross in the classic style of the Seventeenth Century.  This church is best known for its cemetery which was closed in 1804.  During the French Revolution, the bodies od three hundree people guillotined in the Place de la Bastille and the Place de la Nation were buried here.

The more I read and research,
the more intrigued I am by the history of this city, Paris.

 

bon dimanche

Église Sainte-Marguerite

36, rue Saint-Bernard

75011, Paris

Cour Damoye et La Brûlerie Daval - café et thé

Café et thé

On Cour Damoye is a delightful shop for an afternoon tea or coffee,

patiently brewed by the owner of La Brûlerie Daval. 

Take a stroll down this quiet impasse,

free of cars and reminiscent of years gone by.

 

Stop off for an expresse or a cup of tea.  
The memories will linger...

La Brûlerie Daval
Café Thé

Cour Damoye

75011, Paris





la cocotte - objets gourmands

*la cocotte*

How appropriate that a street of restaurants and bistrots
would also display a boutique of "objets gourmands." 


In looking for the translation of "la cocotte" I found:
darling, honey, love


Based on the website for *la cocotte* the word "hen" seems appropriate.



bon weekend



 

la cocotte

5, rue Paul Bert

75011, Paris

La petite bicyclette

Petite bicyclette

Complete with kickstand, hand brakes, and sturdy lock, 

this little bicycle holds its own amid the full-size bikes.

Oh, and do not forget the necessary bell.

zoom-zoom!

Rue Keller

75011, Paris

Rue Paul Bert - un bâtiment en rouge et blanc

Rouge et Blanc

This Haussmann era building at the corner of Rue Paul Bert and Rue Cesselin 

has four floors above the street level with wrought iron grills 

and pleasing patterns of red (painted) brick and white stone.  

In the warm months of the year 

almost every window is adorned with plants and flowers.  

I would add herbs to that list.

8, rue Paul Bert

75011, Paris

Métro Faidherbe Chaligny

L'Ecailler du Bistrot - poissons et fruits de mer

L'Ecailler du Bistrot

Situated next door to Bistrot Paul Bert, this restaurant of huîtres (oysters), gambas (prawns), crevette (shrimp), homard (lobster), and many types of fish won my heart.  It is decorated with large wooden boats, maps and painted murals of shellfish.  The blackboard menus feature the daily catch and have a large selection of named oysters. 

 I learned from my experiences at Le Baron Rouge that you order oysters by the number which indicates the size of the oyster and by the beach, such as Omaha Beach.  There are too many choices so you order some of all of them and savor the individuality of each.  Just as the French cherish their baguettes, the oysters are serious business and not to be rushed.  They have a nice selection of wines, and a glass of Sancerre is a perfect accompaniment.

Living most of the year on the Gulf Coast of the US and traveling to other coastal oyster regions (Seattle, Vancouver), my tastes are discerning.  The oysters that I enjoyed at L'Ecailler du Bistrot were perhaps the best ever tasted.  One could close the eyes and be transported to Brittany.

miam-miam  

L'Ecailler du Bistrot

22, rue Paul Bert

75011, Paris