Tax evasion...

Like in many countries at the moment, there is a big debate in France about tax evasion... It is said that every year the French government loses about 80 billion euros in unpaid taxes, mostly because of tax havens. Up to a point that several insiders (mostly people who used to work in banks) have decided to disclose key information to the authorities (read more here). Why I am saying all this? Because, by pure coincidence, I happened to have a meeting in front of the Brigade financière (a sort of  French IRS) today and that is where I took this photo! Pretty cool isn't it? (And before you ask, NO, I did not go there because I cheated with my taxes!)

Playing with water

On the "new" Place de la République, there is a sprinkler fountain (I don't know how to describe it exactly) coming up from the ground and children love it! Yesterday I was passing there and I saw two kids dressed in flashy raincoats playing in the water and I could not help but running and taking a photo. I hope that this will put a smile on your face, like it did on mine!

18 June Appeal/Call

In France the 18th of June is a very famous anniversary date that everyone knows about. It celebrates l'appel du 18 Juin (The Appeal - or is more a call? - of 18 June) when, in 1940, Charles de Gaulle, the leader of the Free French Forces, addressed the French people on Radio London to let them know that the war against the Germans was not over and urged everyone to resist the occupation. This is why this famous speech is also often considered to be the origin of the French resistance. Since today is June 18, I thought I would tell you a bit of our history, while showing you this magnificent statue of de Gaulle that I featured several times already (not with this sky in the background though!).

The mayor of Paris...

I very rarely showed you the mayor of Paris for I thought you probably weren't that much interested in French (local) politics, but for once I'll make an exception. First because, he was this morning at Place de la République for its reopening (it's been totally renovated, I'll show it to you later...) - he's the man in the grey suit shaking hands (he a politician, remember?) - and because he'll leave his office next year which gives way to a new race between two - or three - female candidates (and if you want to know how I took this photo, visit my Facebook wall!)

Almost summer!

The statue of Henri the IV on the right, typical 18th century buildings on the left... This must be le Pont neuf on the l'île Saint Louis l'île de la Cité! I was there yesterday, the weather was so beautiful I almost went on a cruise on the Seine (the boat departure is on the right, by the statue. If only this weather could last...

Cool tunnel!

I know it's not the most glamorous scene you can think of when thinking about Paris (there are no white dinner parties everyday!), but it's also part of Paris! It's a brand new tunnel I came across with in the 13th arrondissement, in the brand new area they built recently over there. I love the street lights they used. That is all. Have a good weekend everyone. Sun is supposed to shine in Paris...

Dîner en blanc 2013

Like every year around the 10th of June, Paris had its diner en blanc (white dinner Party). And like every year I went there to take a photo (several actually!). I posted this one because it allows you to see the amount of people that were there (obviously at the Louvre!) - even though this year the bad weather (it rained all day and it was pretty cold) probably discouraged a lot of guests. I get more and more message asking me "how to attend", but like I already explained, you have to know someone, who knows someone, who knows someone... and I don't have contacts anymore! 

Industrial buildings of the past...

I doubt very much that, when Joseph Leclaire conceived this building in 1890 he imagined that in the 2000's his building would be listed among the protected buildings of Paris! And though it is and I can understand why, because it's a real masterpiece. Originally it was a compressed air plant that would power many things in Paris including what I once introduced you to as the Paris Wide Web! They apparently closed it in 1994. now it's an architecture school and a public library. I must visit the inside... 

Théâtre du gymnase

Here is a theater I've been willing to show you for a very long time. But each time I tried to photograph it, they had scaffolding on it! Yesterday evening, I finally managed ! It's called Le Théâtre du Gymnase and it's a beautiful little theater. It was inaugurated in 1820 (it's located in the theater district, along what is usually called Les Grands Boulevards) and its facade has recently been totally renovated.

Escargots!

Last evening I had a drink outside near the Eiffel Tower, at La terrasse, a restaurant at Place de l'Ecole Militaire. Not only were the waiters extraordinary nice, but on top of that the food was excellent. We had a little bit of everything, including foie gras of course, and... escargots (well "they" had escargots, of which I'm not a big fan!). I could not help but taking a photo. And if you're tempted... Here is a recipe. 

Vide grenier !

In France we don't have garage sales, we have... Vide greniers (clean your attic sales), but the principle remains the same: try to sell for the best price the junk that you have accumulated over the years. I'm not a big fan (I prefer new stuff!) but a lot of people are and it's always a big success. Yesterday (Sunday) there was one at rue Cadet which is right by by home, so I had a glance... And here you go; I found this little no head mannequin that I thought was pretty cool. Did I buy it? Hell no! FYI, if you're interested to visit one of these Vide greniers the next time you're in Paris, here is the list!

Not the last tango in Paris!

Along one part of the embankment in the 5th arrondissement, there are several amphitheaters that are used for several purposes (exhibitions, picnic areas...) including, in summer - and providing it does not rain ! -  dancing sessions. All sorts of dance are represented including the Tango, like in this photo that I took just before my departure to Nice. All this is entirely free, of course. More info (in French) here.

Riciotti's nest

I really look up to architects. Not only do they have to know what is physically feasible when they build a building, but on top of that they have to make it original/nice/creative... Hence this one, called Le nid (the nest), a stunning building designed by Rudy Riciotti which is soon going to be completed (the building, not Rudy!). I really fell in love with it and I can't wait till it's opened to the public, for, I read, the inside is going to be as spectacular as the outside...

Stack overflow!

This may look like a fake or like a mockup, but I promise, it's a real building that I photographed along the embankment on the left bank. Like you probably already guessed this building is meant to be destroyed soon and a few people took advantage of this to paint it and turn it into a giant paint bucket! Funny as hell...

Cool!

There are days like this. I'm currently in Nice for the week and I'm trying my best to keep up with PDP while I'm gone. But... the electricity in the room I rented just went off, therefore I have no wi-fi and I have tried all possible networks around me to connect, nothing works! Last, I tried what they call "tethering" with my phone and it seems to work. Only it's very very slow... SO I hope you'll this photo on time. I took it near the rue d'Eupatoria in the 20th. cool isn't it?!

Farhat Hached square

I'm sure you all know who Farhat Hached is... Yeah... I did not think so! Well, I did not know either. I only found out recently after I took a trip to the brand new quarter they built in the 13th arrondissement, next to the Très Grande Bibliothèque. It turns out that he played an active role in the decolonization of Tunisia (the French colonized Tunisia until 1956) and several other things . Anyway, the Paris authorities decided to honor him and named a square after him. They also asked Mehdi Bouanani, aka DaBro to paint this giant portrait on the side of a building. Su-perb!

Notre Dame de la Gare

Here is another Paris church I never showed you, even though it's interesting. It's called Notre Dame de la Gare, after the area it's located in (the Gare - station - d'Ivry)It was built around 1850 when this area was still pretty poor (the East of Paris has always been poorer than the West). That is why they say that this church would specially take care of the poor (they must have succeeded, because now the area is definitely richer!). I like it because its shape is really different; it looks like a church you could find in South America almost...

National Library of France

Believe it or not there are still printed books nowadays (hence this one, that has just been published by one of the most loyal visitors to PDP, aka Petrea!). Almost all French books (14 million in total) are kept in La très grande bibliothèque (also called the BnF, for Bibliothèque nationale de France) that  I photographed yesterday (there are actually 4 of these buildings in total). Every year 150 000 new ones add up to the pile because of a law that makes it compulsory to give a sample copy of anything that is published in France to this library. If you like to read in French, you can also browse through 1,8 million French publications of all sorts, directly on line and for free...

A day at the Spa

There are now many spas in Paris. I'm not talking about hammams, like the most famous one at the big Paris Mosque, but real spas, like this very famous one in Le Marais, precisely called Les Bains du Marais. Very cosy, beautiful, and, of course, relaxing, it's a real nice place to take a break from the busy streets of Paris. Avoid weekends if you want to try it for it's really busy.

Beauty of decay

Today's theme day within the City Daily Photo community is "The beauty of decay". I must say that I really did not know what to post! I thought of digging something into my street garbage cans(!), but I quickly gave up! Instead I chose this shot that I took a few months ago that shows a "decaying" building somewhere in Paris. Whenever this happens graffiti artists take advantage of this "open air canvas" to turn it into a fancy (well sort of...) painting. So here you go... (I know it's a little far fetched!). Check other "decaying scenes" throughout the world!

Snake preview: Hotel Banke!

Last evening I attended a little party for the birthday of someone that true PDP followers know well ;-) It took place in the beautiful bar of the Hotel Banke at rue Lafayette. Of course I could have shown you the actual bar or the stunning hall or the silky entrance, but no... I couldn't resist posting a photo of their bathroom! Truly amazing... (And in case you're wondering, no, it's not real snake!). I know, it's weird ;-) 

Place Saint Georges

I managed to go out a little today. I had to buy a microphone so I went to what I call "microphone street"! No kidding, this street is located in the upper 9th arrondissement where you find a lot of audio equipment stores, don't ask me why! Anyway, next to this area, there is a beautiful square called La Place Saint Georges. In the center there used to be a fountain where horses could drink. It was replaced, at the turn of the 20th century (in 1911) by a statue of Paul Gavarni, a famous French drafter specialized in the drawing of carnival characters. I just love this square!  

Paris Skyline

I'm so busy at the moment that I barely have the time to go out. In fact today I did not! So here is a photo I took last year (when we had more sun!) from a terrace on the Champs Elysées (that used to be called La terrasse Maritini). I love the view!

A dry day!

Hurrah, we managed to see the sun for almost a whole day yesterday! It felt nice, so I went out near the Montorgueil area and too this photo at rue Réaumur, a typical street of the 2nd arrondissement. Nothing much to add, I just like the light in this photo ;-)

Beautiful Beethoven

It's been a pretty busy weekend in Paris (demonstration wise...) and there is nothing like a little music to soothe everyone (well I'm not so sure it works with ALL Beethoven's pieces, but that's the only music related photo I have in stock at the moment!) I took this shot at the Luxembourg gardens in which you can come across many sculptures and busts. This one is by Bourdelle, a very famous sculptor (which museum I strongly encourage you to visit if you come to Paris). Last piece of info: the European National Anthem is by Beethoven...

Buy French!

You know how I like to support young entrepreneurs! Well I found two of them on my street yesterday... They opened a brand new shoe store (Thomaas & Nicolaas) where they sell French manufactured (or at least designed) shoes (which is really not common these days...). But the real plus of this store is that you will find there models that you won't see anywhere in the world like in chain stores! Besides, let me remind you that on this very same street, you can also visit another extraordinary shoe store that I've already featured on PDP. I wish them a lot of success!

Cloclo for sale!

If you're not French - or haven't lived in France in the 70's! - you probably did not understand the title of this post... Cloclo is the the nickname of Claude François, a very famous French singer who lived between 1939 and 1978 (he accidentally electrocuted himself in his bathtub). You surely don't know him (even though he wrote and composed Comme d'habitude, the original version of My Way and Parce que je t'aime mon enfant, the original version of My Boy), but here he was extremely popular and still his... To a point that today they are selling some of his stuff at Drouot, one of the main auction houses in Paris. I live right next by it, so I did not resist going there and take a few shot. The place was packed with old fans!

Rotten spring!

You may think this is an old photo that I took last winter, but no, I took it very recently, while I was having dinner at a friend's house in the close suburbs of Paris. It was sooooooo cold, that my friends decided to start a fire! I just read that today, we're going to break a cold record for this time of the year! This terrible weather also has a tremendous impact on the economy; not only are the terraces empty, but there is not even a line in front of Berthillon!

Let's get married!

"Hurry honey, we don't want to be late, do we?" I can think of a zillion silly caption to go with this photo that I took yesterday around six on the the Pont Louis Philippe - a bridge that goes to the Ile Saint Louis. Of course this couple was not on their way to the church or the town hall, but in between two photo shoots with their photographer! But I thought it was a cute, funny scene. 

Soon, the new Les Halles !

Those of you who came to Paris surely remember Les Halles, this large area in the very center of Paris that novel writer Emile Zola once called "the belly of Paris" (it used to be the wholesale market of Paris). Well, in the 70's they closed it and replaced it with a huge shopping mall that is now closed again and is in the process of being replaced by a brand new project still including a shopping area of course, but also a huge garden covered by a canopy. Well, that is precisely this canopy that I managed to catch on "film" from a restaurant. Not the most glamorous photo I posted, but interesting! Have a look at the final project here.