Monday, January 28, 2008

Me and my shadow...


Let's start the week with a photo I took last Saturday at Saint Sulpice (Saint Sulpice is a very famous church in Paris, now world famous because it was part of the Da Vinci code plot). The church is currently closed because it's being redone, but I managed to take this shot on one of its sides. I was attracted to this mysterious shadow; a statue undoubtedly, but I don't know which one...

45 comments:

  1. Beat you Lynn if I can press "Enter" quick enoug...

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  2. Love how eerie this photo is Eric. Just like the book!

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  3. Hi Michael, this is the other Lynn..he..he.
    Very eerie photo. I hear ominous organ music in the backround.

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  4. A bit of my mystery in a photo tends to enhance it!

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  5. ...or .......was it...a.........GHOST!? HAHAHAHA (that's my scary laugh)

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  6. We went to Saint Sulpice on the first full day we were in Paris last May; we were staying nearby(across the street from the Jardin de Luxembourg, now my favorite place in the world I think)and trying to make our way to the metro--any metro stop. ; )

    Anyway, we wandered inside and we were entranced by St. Sulpice, alright; I know nothing about eh Da Vinci Code(thank goodness)but the light, the dimness, the ancient smell, the clamshell font(!)-and I believe a Delacroix on the wall-!

    There was no one else inside although it was almost noon. The entire mood was so French and dramatic--a far cry from most of our Los Angeles churches though we do have a few special ones.

    In any case--this is a great photograph(as usual). Thanks!

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  7. I just got back from dinner and a movie with some friends and we were talking about scary movies. And now I come home to this.

    That is spooky Eric!!!! I don't think I want to find out to whom that shadow belongs. I'm hiding under my duvet now.

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  8. Oooh, I love this one! Eric, when you get a chance, please tell us why you chose black & white for it. It's terrific.

    I read DaVinci Code and I don't remember it. I guess I didn't find it very interesting. We wandered many places on our Paris trip in May '06--as many places as we could ,in 7 days. But we didn't go into Saint Sulpice.

    This, as all your other photos, Eric, makes me desperate to return to Paris!

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  9. You may not know...but "the shadow knows". (Ok, this is a pretty obscure American reference...but you're so anglo savy, you probably have heard it. If not you can Wiki it.)

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  10. I didn't get to go in when I was there two weeks ago because of the construction but hopefully it will be open when I make my way back. Great pic!

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  11. I love St. Sulpice. Yes, there are several Delacroix frescos, and a number of other gems. I stayed across the street one year and from my hotel room could hear the choir practicing.

    Stuart: There was a band in Minneapolis called Lamont Cranston, a fabulous blues band. They're still around, but nothing like before. The label was Shadow records. From the old radio show: 'Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows.'

    I'm checking into hotels and flights in Venice. Then we'll make it to Paris. I have some new photos of Impressionist paintings of Paris, the locations of which I will hunt down. Our goal is Paris about May 8th. Still researching.

    I suppose between trysts with pharmacy snakes, wild dance clubs, and wild women from England and Brazil, maybe Eric and Michael will make some time on their dance cards! Oh, the humanity!

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  12. Hey Jeff, I've been meaning to write you. I can't say for sure where I'll be in May, but if I'm here we'll definitely meet up on the Seine somewhere. Did you start a place on the PDP Forum to gather dates together? Wouldn't want Lynn to miss out you know.

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  13. Of course, I meant BOTH Lynn's. (Sheeesh, I don't want them getting into a fight you know!).

    Also, I found this article, 20 ways to stretch your dollars in Europe, that might be of interest to those planning a trip to Europe this year. At work, my colleagues are starting to call my homeland a "low cost country".

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  14. Wonderful atmospheric photo, Eric! It could be on the cover of a suspense novel, or the opening shot of a film noir...
    St. Sulpice does have three murals by Delacroix, according to my Paris travel guide. (For now, I must experience Paris vicariously through PDP, all your comments, and my travel guide)
    Ms M

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  15. What a catch! A holy night watchman )

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  16. I visit this blog to refresh wonderful memories I had when I was in Paris last November...how time flies! My friend and I were like two bumblebees making our way around the beautiful city (we stayed near Place d'Italie) and how I cherished those lazy mornings with a cup of cafe, a croissant and jus d'orange!

    We already have plans to re-visit Paris next year in Spring so I'll have to be happy with Eric's photos till then. Now, I'll just need to brush up on my French!

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  17. I do hope i can make it, Michael! There will be no fighting though - how unladylike; the very thought!

    Monica: Boo!

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  18. What has the figure got in his hand? It looks like a knife...spooky!

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  19. ohh you scared me Lynn!

    Can't wait to see pictures of all of you in the picnic. And hear all the sordid details from Lynn later...

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  20. merci de ta visite sur DP Évry (a quand une visite de la Cathédrale d'Évry ?). je ne savais pas qu'il y avait des fantômes a l'église St Sulpice ;o)

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  21. Brrr...scary.
    It looks like a satanic mass during the night when everybody is asleep... :)-

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  22. Rose it does look like a person with a knife. I hope it is not looking for me to kill me after what I said yesterday...
    I know you know I was joking!
    You never answered the question though. Was it intentional? Are you competition too?

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  23. I'm jealous of your PDP picnic and hoping for a windfall so I can come! Otherwise, I expect many pictures will be posted. Maybe you will all take a night-time trip to St. Sulpice together to hunt ghosts.

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  24. Oh my goodness, you are all so mean!
    You guys are merciless! You know I meant 'it sounds like a good place to eat, Eric!'
    I'm so stupid! Making a silly mistake like that!
    Anne, in answer to your question: No, I'm not after Eric, even though he is very good looking indeed. Have you girls asked him if he is Sin-gle?
    Love to you all

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  25. Ah merci bien Monsieur Eric!
    :)

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  26. lol Rose no we've not asked. At least, i haven't. I knew what you meant, Rose - it was the others. :0 !!

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  27. The others?
    Monica, you should be ashamed of yourself... betraying a fellow Brazilian like this!
    As for the rest of you...well... I will think of a revenge!

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  28. Very nice and mysterious black and white picture. Never got the chance to get inside this church...

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  29. Wait Rose! Whaat? A fellow brazilian?? Did I miss something? Who´s from Brazil too, you?
    I would be so happy to have a fellow brazilian here!!!

    As for being ashamed, well, shame is something I have long lost since I discoverd PDP. It´s just something one can´t help. It´s too much. It´s hard to hold back our feelings here you know!

    Oh and no, Eric´s NOT single. Or at least that´s what my sources informed me a while ago...

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  30. Rose I´m going through your blog and still couldn´t find anything mentioning that you´re from Brazil...hmm I´m very curious now... the only hint I got is that you love Clarice Linspector. So brazilian or not, you´re on my team!!

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  31. Monica
    I m very Brazilian :) I have a profile in Orkut :)
    Yes, I adore Clarice Lispector (look at storiator.blogspot.com)
    Maybe we should not talk about it in here!

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  32. This is really nice shot. In my perspective this photo contains little of thrill and suspension. Without any color and light, its looks awesome...
    car breakdown services

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  33. Great photo, Eric - looks tres retro. He does in fact look like he's brandishing a weapon of some sort. Quelle creeps!

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  34. Hey, thanks for the article, Michael. B & Bs is an option I forgot about. Most of the ones I checked in years past for Paris required a minimum number of days. I'll check again. Anyone have any suggestions for Venice accommodations?

    I checked my St. Sulpice photos and can't identify the ghost.

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  35. Maybe it's a statue of St. Sulpice himself. Archbishop crosier in the right hand, the little hat could be a mitre...

    That could be that?
    Who sacrifice himself to go there tonight and to make a report with pictures?
    I must confess that I'm to tired...and too far from Saint Sulpice Church :)

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  36. I figured it out. This is a silhouette of Eric himself!! He's imitating the Toulouse Latrec poster of the Moulin Rouge, but with a mitre instead of a top hat.

    He's dancing with the devil by the pale moonlight. You see? He is a party animal!

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  37. No Jeff, look attentively, he is hitchhiking!

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  38. I think it's the lady in Psycho personally. But wait, it can't be, she's here!

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  39. LOOOOOOOOOL, you sure all have a lot of imagination (Jeff: "He's dancing with the devil by the pale moonlight. You see? He is a party animal!") still ROTFL.

    Let's give a big round of applause to Guille who, at least tried to provide us with some cultural elements: "Maybe it's a statue of St. Sulpice himself. Archbishop crosier in the right hand, the little hat could be a mitre..."

    Who knows...

    I'm exhausted to night (no Jeff, not because I partied all night by the pale moonlight!!) so let me post my pic and go to bed... I'll see ya tomorrow ;)

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  40. A visit to Paris isn't complete without a visit to St Sulpice, and if you can be there for an organ recital all the better! The organ in this beautiful church is world famous and the organist is also, though I have forgotten his name.

    Michael...in reference to Le Petit Prince de Paris..you asked if they were still open and funny, but I read somewhere on a food blog that a rumor was started that they were closed but in reality they are still very open. I can't imagine them closing as the food is quite good and every time I have been there the place has been packed, and with people always waiting at the door.

    The kitchen is in the basement and the waiters have to run up and down stairs frantically, the owner is very friendly and welcoming. I would be very sad if they closed as I have had many great evenings there.

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  41. Norman! Norman Bates, what were you doing with that woman, young man?

    As noted by numerous people over the past months, the gothic churches must have had incredible psychological impact on the commoners of the Middle Ages. If you were an illiterate, superstitious street sweeper walking home and saw this image, would it not have impressed you with the power of the Church?

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  42. Well, if I wasn't scared enough, Jeff and Michael's mention of Psycho outta do it!

    I can't watch this movie alone, I simply can't. Norman Bates... creepy!

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  43. tonton_flaneur:
    A visit to Paris is not complete.

    That's it.

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