Open air toilets

I know it may not be the best taste graffiti I ever published here, but it's undoubtedly the funniest (that is, providing you noticed the drain pipe on the right!). To be honest I did not find it myself, but noticed it first on the excellent blog I love Paris then went to La rue du Colisée in the 8th arrondissement. If you're a true PDP reader, you will probably have noticed that the author of this graffiti is is Miguel Donvez, aka "Mimi the clown", whom I already featured in this post. You can also check his website.

Alice in wonderprintemps...

It's been a while since I've shown you the windows of Le Printemps... I passed by this department store Saturday and saw that they dedicated their windows to Alice (Alice in Wonderland of course). All this in association with Disney who produced this new version of Alice made by Tim Burton ( I can't wait!). A lot of designers and clothes manufacturers participated in the event and the windows are really cool. Check the other ones directly on the Printemps' site and the movie trailer in French.

Guitar Player in the Metro

I happened to find myself at the Champs Elysées Clémenceau Metro station last evening and I came across a pretty unusual scene. The Paris transport authorities (RATP) had invited 5 musicians (I could only photograph 4 of these musicians, see them on the making of) to perform in the station just before their "real" performance at the Grand Palais (see more here), right outside the metro station. Interesting, and pretty unexpected I must say...

The home of the homeless?

I think it takes much more than an exhibition to eradicate the homeless issue, but this morning, when I heard about the photo exhibit that the NGO Médecins du monde (doctors of the world) had just installed at Place de la Bastille, I felt like checking it. It takes place in the little glass house you can see in the background in this photo and it gathers several photos by Olivier Jobard that depict the life of immigrants who come to Europe and don't manage to live anywhere else than in the street. It's not exactly the merriest exhibition in Paris at the moment, but it's worth the look. More on the website.

The Grand Rex is more than

I already showed you Le Grand Rex, a famous movie theater located on the Grands Boulevards in the 2nd arrondissement. Well, since last November it has changed a great deal as they added a huge digital wall on its facade, kinda like a small Time Square in New York. Very impressive and very unique for Paris, it's definitely worth the look. It's also much more than a movie theater... Last evening the famous Pr. Muhammad Yunus, the famous economist from Bangladesh who developed the concept of microcredit made an appearance there. I wish I had seen him.

Pont Alexandre III

It's a classic, but I'll never be bored with it... It's the Alexander 3rd bridge, a bridge that was built between 1896 and 1900. Tsar Alexander III of Russia (to which it was dedicated) laid the foundation stone in October 1896. It was inaugurated, like many other structures nearby, in 1900 for the World’s Fair. I had dinner on the left bank tonight and I took this photo on my way back home (to the right bank!), about 30 minutes ago.

La République

This is "La République", the statue that symbolizes the French republic which is, quite logically, located at Place de la République! It was built between 1880 et 1883 after the work of two brothers: Léopold and Charles Morice. The red "scarf" does not belong to the original work! It's made of plastic and was probably put there by a bunch of demonstrators (this location is very often used by protesters) just before I took this photo (on Sunday). I found it funny (the blue sky is real, but it's long time gone now!).

Paris Blizzard!

No, I did not take this photo in Montreal last weekend, but from my office in Paris this morning! It' was really impressive, even though it did not last very long (about 15 minutes). That's it, nothing much else to say... I just love it!

Bubble Wood

Today is the first of the month and therefore it is a theme day... I  found out that the theme was "Wood". In Paris we have two woods (the Bois de Boulogne on the west side and the Bois the Vincennes on the East side) but I did not really feel like photographing a forest! Instead I chose to show you a "concept store" as we call it in "French", incidentally called Bubble Wood. I know it's a little lot far fetched but I like the photo... If you want to know more (providing you understand what you'll see!) check their stunning web site. Also check what the other City Daily Photo bloggers have come up with for today's theme day.

Stupid is cool!

It's a weird advertising campaign I came across today at the Palais Royal (well, Place Colette, to be more accurate). It promotes... Stupidity! Well apparently it's a little more subtle than that of course (according to what the messages say, stupid people take more risks than smart ones, which is seen as a positive thing). Intriguing and original. BTW, the clothes brand Diesel is behind all this (check this little video).

Invalides Dome

I'm just back from a dinner at dear friend's who live in the 7th arrondissement. On the way to their home, I passed by the back of the Invalides and I noted these green statues just to the right of the dome. It's probably a monument dedicated to the WWI soldiers, but I'm not sure. Anyway, I could not help but taking a photo. I love this place at night.

Metro out of the metro!

Most of you may know the daily paper Metro for, according to its publisher, it is distributed in over 100 cities throughout the world. We have a French version in Paris, of course, and quite naturally you can find it every morning outside many metro (underground!) stations (that is where I took this photo). This is the Wednesday issue, the day new movies are out - that is why the cover story is about Up in the Air, the latest movie with George Clooney.

A Ministry with a view

Yesterday morning (Wednesday) I attended a presentation of the new blog of Anne-Marie Idrac, the French Minister in charge of foreign trade at the Ministry of Finance, also referred to as "Bercy", because it is located in an area precisely called Bercy! It's a magnificent building, very modern and very impressive, on the edge of La Seine. The presentation took place on the 7th floor and you know me... While I was waiting for the Minister, I took my camera and started shooting! It's not every day that you get to overlook Paris from that part of town.

Inside Repetto

Do you remember this photo? I took it at Repetto a famous store at rue de la Paix, where they sell tutus and ballet stuff. This time I took the inside of the shop, where they have their ballet shoes (well so I suppose, as I'm not really ans expert and I took the photo from the outside). I really love the display. BTW if you're into classical music someone passed me a link today that is really fantastic. Check it, it's called Medici.tv and it allows you to see, live, concerts, operas and, I suppose... ballets.

Back to the rink!

I have a special guest from Ohio at home at the moment and last night... she absolutely wanted to "go to the ice rink located where the famous kiss photo by Doisneau was taken!" So we went. I did not really feel like skating, so I remained on the side of the rink to play paparazzi! I had a blast! My dear visitor is going back to the States tomorrow morning so I just wanted to give her a little tribute on PDP to thank her for coming. BTW, most of you also know the second skater in the photo...

Thomas Jefferson in Paris

This statue of Thomas Jefferson has apparently been here (in front of the hotel de Salm, by the Seine banks) since 2006, but I only noticed it recently... It was made by French sculptor Jean Cardot’s and it shows him holding a quill pen in his right hand and a drawing of Monticello in his left one. The statue was donated to the city of Paris by the Florence Gould Foundation and art dealer Guy Wildenstein. Have a good week everyone. I should have more time for more photos this week...

Rainy Paris

I went to the Galeries Lafayette Maison (the part of the Galeries that is dedicated to house stuff) and, like you can see, it was raining. On the way I passed by a hotel (I think the Hotel Ambassador) and I took this photo. Nothing extraordinary, just a casual Paris scene...

Party

Remember the Institut Français de la Mode this fashion school located in the Docks en Seine building, a brand new dary building byDominique Jakob et Brendan McFarlane facing the Seine in the 13th arrondissement that I already mentioned on PDP? Well, I went back two nights ago for a company party (Intel), this time on the floor above the school. It was a little empty but quite impressive. Especially the top floor where they are a huge terrace. I hope I'll be invited there next summer! Once again thank you very much   for all your messages and have a nice weekend.

What can I say?!

For once, you won't have a proper photo today, but a big Merci instead! Believe me this has been a long day, as I am very busy at my office at the moment and as I also had to attend a business dinner tonight. That is why I did not yet manage to answer everyone on Facebook (I will...) and I will not even start here! I'm always amazed and touched by the number of people from all over the world who wish me well on January 21. Like I said many times here, it's because I feel I'm surrounded by lovely people that I continue this blog. So, don't stop! Next anniversary... in March, for the 5 years of PDP! Love you all.

Birthdays and anniversaries...

Today is January 21st and on top of it being my birthday (and a VERY important one !!) it's also the anniversary of the death of Louis the XVIth. He was guillotined around 10 am on January 21st 1793 on Place de La Révolution (Revolution Square) which was renamed Place de La Concorde in 1795 (read the whole story here). So guess where I went to take a photo last night?! It's not very good, but at least it's appropriate!

Holy Address!

Yes, this is graffiti, but it's not just any graffiti… I took this photo at 5bis rue de Verneuil in the 7th arrondissement which happens to be the former home of Serge Gainsbourg, a very famous French singer who died in March 1991. His fans contributed all of this graffiti (see this stunning video to watch the evolution over the past 5 years). Serge Gainsbourg was very talented, but he was also an alcoholic and alcohol, sometimes, made him say stupid things to say the least… A movie about his life is released today which is why he is in the news a lot.

Ice Hockey in Paris

Every year they install an ice rink in front of the town hall (and in front of the Montparnasse station). I passed by it tonight hoping and noticed that they saved some of it for hockey players. Quite impressive I must say. Ice Hockey (le Hockey sur glace in French) seems to be pretty big in France, I had no idea...

Top of the Eiffel Tower

Few people know that on top of being one of the most visited monuments in France (about 7 million people on average, that is the 9th most visited monument in France) the Eiffel Tower also has a very practical usage: it's a huge transmission center. No less than 120 antennas are installed up there and most of the TV channels (and a few FM stations) broadcast from there. That is also at this level that the first telegraph transmission (with the Pantheon) was made in 1898...

Drink at Café Brébant

When you read this I'll probably be holding a baby over a Baptismal font or something, while eating some dragées (typical French candy you offer at christenings) and admiring the medal the Godmother and I have given to the baby! (See yesterday's post if you understand nothing to what I'm saying!). So let me show you a photo I took last week while I was having a drink with a fellow CDP blogger (Virginia from Birmingham DP - Alabama, not England) and a few other people like Peter (who also has a blog about Paris) at Café Brébant, a nice café near my home.

Air France office

Like I said previously it really was hard for me to readjust to the Paris time. Right now I could do with a quiet do nothing weekend in Paris, but I have to go down to Nice for a couple of days. I should not complain, as Nice will probably be warmer and sunnier than Paris and because I'm going there to attend the Christening of a little niece I'm going to be the Godfather of! By the way, this is the Air France office at les Invalides. It's located in the magnificent ex Gare des Invalides, built for the 1867 world exposition.

Sunny morning

The past days (since my return from vacation) have been pretty hard. I have been extremely tired, it was dark and cold, and I really felt like hibernating! And this morning, when I woke up, the sun was shining. I then went through the Carrousel du Louvre (two 'r's in French to Carrousel!) like every morning and saw this. And "this" put a smile on my face that remained all day... "This" is the arch of the Carrousel, it was built in 1806 to commemorate Napoleon's military victories (more on Wikipedia). It's a beautiful monument and with this light it's even more beautiful. did you notice the Ferris wheel in the back?

The last flakes?

Here you go! I took this photo this morning on my way to work (well I made a little detour because I knew I had good chances of taking a blockbuster shot!) while the snow had not yet melted. You may have recognized the Luxembourg Gardens with its little kiosk on the left, the Senate at the very back and its big trees. The garden is actually private(!), but open to the public - for it belongs to the Senate, which is in charge of its maintenance. It was "built" (or for? I'm not sure) by Marie de Medicis between 1614 et 1631. More here (French) and here.

Marchand de couleurs

In French we call Hardware dealers (ironmongers) Marchand de couleurs (color dealers). It does not really mean anything, but we know that in this particular case color does not really mean color but nails, washers and screws... Today though, I passed by a store called Marchand de couleur, that really deals colors! It's located at rue du Maine, near Montparnasse and what they have in their window is obviously really colorful. I could not help but stopping and taking a photo. Too bad they don't seem to have a website.

Rising stars

I do not like the post Christmas/New year period for all the excitement seems to vanish all of a sudden. This is mostly due to the Christmas decorations being taken down from the streets (they removed the ones of the Champs Elysées 2 days ago...). So before they take ALL the Christmas lights down, let me post a last photo that I took at rue de Rennes, in the 6th rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré in the 8th arrondissement. Remember my favorite quote by Oscar Wilde? "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars..."

The new Buren columns

If you came to Paris you've probably seen the Colonnes de Buren, a piece of art made of several columns located in le Palais Royal. Whatever one may think about these columns (they were - and still are - pretty controversial when they were erected in the first place in 1986) they needed to be redone (as I already mentioned here). And here they are. Brand new! To be honest I did not notice much difference, but there must be one!