Monday, August 11, 2008

Velo !


I waited some time to take this one! The red sign says "Vélo", which is short for Vélocipède, the first name given to bicycles in French. Of course, when I saw this sign, I immediately thought to myself "It would be cool if a bike would go by when I take the photo..." So I waited! And here you go!

69 comments:

  1. Of course a bike would go by on cue Eric!!! You have the power!!

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  2. Eric, your patience paid off. Bravo! If you look carefully, you can even see two kids walking on the other side of the cyclist.
    VE LOve it! :-)

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  3. Coltrane, I see you and Michael vying for the punniest guy award!

    The man riding the bike is on one of those you can rent from the city( one way you can tell is from the handlebar area for those who haven't seen one).

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  4. PHX - If you're correct, and the city rents out nice looking young men, I'm going to have to accelerate my savings plan for my first trip over. Do many of them speak English?

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  5. Your patience paid off, Eric, but mine did not. . .I refreshed and refreshed waiting for your post, went and grabbed a cup of coffee and came back to find today's GF honors go to Louis LV. Congrats Louis!

    I ditto Coltrane's comment and love the shot! I hope to make good use of those public bikes the next time I get to visit. Hope you enjoy a good beginning to the week!
    -Kim
    Seattle Daily Photo

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  6. Ah! I get it now. Missed the word "on". But I'll still work on my savings plan.

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  7. Good grief, 3 people posted in the time it took me to write my comments!

    LOL!!!! US Elaine, I hope you and I can travel there together sometime. Even if he doesn't speak English, I'm sure it would be fun! ;^)
    -Kim
    Seattle Daily Photo

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  8. He looks so casual riding his bike, minding his own business, not realizing he is about to become the subject of much discussion. Fun!!!

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  9. Kim is right Uselaine, language won't be a barrier. So I've heard. ;-)

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  10. uselaine considers her assets and liabilities more carefully... decides a diet and exercise plan is in order as well...

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  11. Kim, Although Louis LV is first, he is required to write at least "two sentences about the photo" in order to have the honors of wearing the GF Crown.

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  12. Yes, but Lois, consider how difficult it must be for Louis to tap out a comment. We should at least have a GH (golden hoof/hooves?)award. What say you, Madame Phx?

    Congrats to GF Coltrane. Will you add drumsticks to the crown?

    Uselaine: LOL. It's been quite some time since my assets and liabilities have been considered . . . by anyone!

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  13. I wish I knew who said, "All good things come to those who wait."
    very nice work Eric!

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  14. How can I take the GF crown away from that cute face? That snoot gets me everytime. Louis la Vache, "your patience was rewarded" too. I bow to the GF cow! [...and just for the record, I don't play on calfskin drumheads, either];-)

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  15. Cali, "golden hoof/hooves" That's beautiful. I'd like to see that.

    Coltrane, You the man! I realize many feminine touches have been added to the Crown. I don't think you will have a problem adjusting to that. Since you live in a house full of girls.

    So I guess the word "bicyclette" came after "Velo". I have a friend in Paris and when I say "bicyclette"; he says, "bike" is fine. He has never been to the US; he just likes the word "bike" better.

    Eric, Catching the children in the background is a nice touch. Children are all over Paris. That is one of the things that makes Paris so special to me.

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  16. A true photographer, Eric. Some pro shooters will wait hours for a shot; for the light to be right, for a person to move just the right way, for animal behavior, you name it. I love (anagram of velo) that you planned this one and waited for it.

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  17. Lois...I do look forward to the day when I can take my two little girls to France. Though they will certainly love Paris, I'm thinking a Normandy beach would be magical. Children and sailboats in the jardins, eh? That is also magical.

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  18. I don't know if I laughed harder at USelaine, misreading my comment and making it better, or Cali's logic in giving a golden hoof(!!!!!!) to my favorite bovine, Louis la vache.

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  19. Well done, Eric - I hope you didn't have to wait long for him to ride by!

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  20. "Louis" thanks you, Cali! It is a bit difficult hammering out letters and words on the keyboard with hooves and lacking opposable thumbs....

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  21. Well done, it definetly adds to the photo!

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  22. How clever! You always take such care with your photos :)

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  23. Hi there!
    I am here to introduce myself. I am new to the Blog community and would like to meet new people. Your blog attracts me, so I posted a link on my site. Stop by and say hi sometime~

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  24. Eric -- your timing is impeccable, comme toujours! It looks like you're out in the country, though, not in Paris proper.

    Louis -- pretty good w/o fingers. GH it is! Guess your crown should be the requisite daisy chain.

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  25. What a great idea for a photo Eric and such a good way to get exercise Uselaine if you want to. I think that Coltraine would prefer this method as opposed to the one that soul singer Isaac Hayes chose. He was found dead next to his treadmill yesterday, at 65.

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  26. Wow, it's tough when you're upstaged by a...a cow. Now I know why actors really don't like working with animals. "La Vache, I've got a cowbell that would look good on you! Hey,what's that over there, Louis? I think I see an alfalfa field in Stromsjo's Swedish blog! Mooove over you rover." ;-)

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  27. Kim - I wonder if you interpreted the visual the same way I did at first, being a Pacific coast type. I thought that white background was a foggy field with some sort of wire framework in the near ground. But Paris isn't next to the ocean, so wouldn't get that summertime marine layer moving in like a cool blanket. So I enlarged it, and realized it's a big white building!

    I need to get more blood pumping to my brain. Where's my treadmill...

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  28. Michael...the "Soul Man" indeed was found dead as you put it by his treadmill. It is a "life check" to read of his passing. Perhaps Lois or Alexa knew him. I can hear the music to "Shaft" entering the scene.

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  29. Oh, geez! I meant Alexa, and she's an Atlantic coast girl! I need yesterday's rounds of drinks again...

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  30. Alexa - Just so you know how very screwed up my head is, for the longest time I thought your picture showed you sitting on the ground, legs straight out to the right, arms propping you up in back on the left. Sort of like one of those mudflap girls, without the knees up. Everything else the same.

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  31. Funny photo, and you planned it this time, Eric.
    Why does it say VELO on the fence ? Is it a bike rental place or a shop ?

    Welcome Ana Carini :) I will look over at your site. See You !

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  32. Great catch!

    If the price of gas keeps creeping up, we'll all be riding our bikes.

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  33. Coltrane, Coltrane,
    Give us your answer do!
    You're half crazy,
    Upstaged by a cow are you!

    No one can replace your humour,
    'cept la Vache with a chic new groomer
    But you've pizazz with all that jazz
    And Louis can only moo!

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  34. exellent done .. right moment as when you.. go

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  35. An English phrase: All comes to he who waits...!

    Glad it paid off, Eric. Why is the sign there anyway? Is it where bikes are parked? In which case, why not plural. Sorry...being pedantic today...!?

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  36. Oh Michael how great
    That Eric would wait
    To capture for us a great view
    The velo came by
    In the blink of an eye
    Even making Louis make a 'moo'.

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  37. Lynn and Michael...you both are full of all that jazz today! Bravo!

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  38. [...dedicated to La Vache]

    Isn't it rich?
    Aren't we a pair?
    You here at last got the crown
    Put me in my chair
    Don't send in the cows

    Isn't it bliss?
    Though I don't really approve
    Your constant roving around
    You're the one who can moo
    Where are the cows?
    No, don't send in the cows

    Just when I stopped, I stopped trying for GF
    Finally knowin' the one that I had in my grasp was yours
    Making my entrance again and again with my usual flair
    Though not sure of my lines, no one is there [except you]

    Don't you love the PDP crown? Eric's fault I fear
    I thought that you'd want what I want
    Sorry my dear
    But where are the cows?
    No, don't send in more cows?
    Don't bother they're here

    Isn't it rich, is it a steer?
    Losing my timing this late in my PDP career
    And where are the cows?
    They are all to be cows?
    Well may be next year, isn't it rich?
    Please I say, "no more cows!"
    I've had enough of the cows!

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  39. You are KILLING me with cleverness and laughter...Michael, Coltrane and Lynn(and as always, Louis, but you knew that).
    Now, if I ever meet Sondheim or Glynis Johns in my travels, Coltrain,.........boy, have I got a song for them!

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  40. P.S, Coltrane, Your song is on par with Michael's reworking of "A Night before Christmas".

    Hmmm, since I am in the award business on PDP, I now have to think of the name of the award to give to both of you for these academy award winning moments.
    Don't forget, Michael's was captured not only on the blog but on tape(because I FORCED him to read it at the picnic!).
    Any help for me out there , guys? How about the Pure Darn Pleasure award? Am open to other suggestions.

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  41. Michael, Coltrane: brilliant.

    PHX: how about the Louis? Or the Golden Hoof? In tribute to the tributes to Louis, of course.

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  42. Like usual, you make a big effort to please us... and you always succeed!!!

    Great shot! Thanks Eric!!

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  43. I think that everybody here is CRAZY. That's why I love this blog and all the PDPers...
    I want to meet you again. An other picnic,? Eric, do you think that you can do it for me? ;)

    ' tout vient à point à qui sait attendre', that the French sentence for this picture (note it down Alexa!). Well done Eric...

    US elaine, LOOOL your idea to rent a guy (cute and English speaker of course) is such a great idea!! We could call this system CELIB' ('single')!

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  44. Monica! You here! ;) What about your meeting with Rose?

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  45. Celib! Guille, you're brilliant and funny. I love it.

    Yes Monica, Rose, has it happened?

    Lynn, it's good to see you.

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  46. Coltrane & Lynn, you take whatever award PHX comes up with. Far more clever!

    Guille - "Celib" is awesome. Quick! Patent the term before the city of Paris finds out and takes all the credit.

    PHX - you are so creative. I still can't wait to take one of your flights. My travels would never be the same.

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  47. It's done Michael, if you want to use the word (no, the brand!) Célib'® , you have to inform me of it from now. You got it?

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  48. LOL!

    I think YOU should have your own brand Guille:

    Bratlib®

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  49. Célib'®!!! LOL!!!

    It's so democratic, if you think about it. In a country that celebrates love, life, liberty, and the inherent human dignity of an attractive companion for any who need one, I see the numbers going way up for tourist dollars in Paris. They have their marketing job cut out for them, however. As most of you know, "celibate" now means something quite different in English. We want to hold on to our illusions, in any case!

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  50. Welcome Ana Carini!

    Guille -- Celib! Excellent!! Now we do know what they'll come up with next!!! Sign (sigh-n) me right up.

    Michael and Coltrane -- I'm doubled up laughing. (But...and I hate saying this after all the hoopla...but, I don't want to see an injustice....so, what about Sue? Is the second sentence a disqualifier?)

    No matter who our sovereign is today, the songs are moooo-ti-full! :)))))

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  51. You guys are so punny.

    Excellent shot, Eric! Your dedication to PDP is always very apparent.

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  52. Hi Ana and welcome to the Cadlib society. I see by your blog that you and Petrea are in the same hood. Look her up. VE LOve her, too! ;-)

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  53. Altho the Golden Hoof award mentioned by Cali and Petra makes me laugh, there is something I also like about twisting Guille's French celib(single)into the American celeb(rity), and using both for the special blogger.After all, this is a French blogspot dominated by English speakers.
    Unless someone comes up with something else,YOU all DECIDE by the end of tomorrow. My only DEMAND is that Michael has won for the year 2007, and so far this year, Coltrane is up for the gold, followed close behind by Lynn.We shall have a Gold Silver and Bronze winner for the year 2008 because....I said so!LOL. Make sure you remember the blogger who went beyond the the call of cleverness and say something when it happens so we can be aware when it culminates in December 2008. The official ceremony will take place at next yrs. picnic where we will honor the 3 winners. Sa va?

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  54. Yikes! You're all funny (punny) and brilliant!

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  55. Quick answer to one of your questions - Well sort of, because I don't really have the answer!

    Why was there a sign Vélo there? I have no idea, I suppose it's because they rent bicycles ;).

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  56. Wonderful!! What a great reward for your patience. What a great shot!!

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  57. That is an amazing photo. I am sure it took much patience. You should post some of your pictures to baraaza.com it is a travel site where people can review destiantions, upload pictures and other cool stuff. It is still in private beta but anyone can join. It would be cool to showcase all your amazing photos. By the way I'm going to Paris in a few days hopefully I can get some cool pictures too.

    Melissa

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  58. à Coltrane - "Louis" is touched by your having dedicated a song to him!

    (Editor to "Louis:" You're 'touched,' allright!

    "Louis" to Editor: Why do you think that disease is called Vache folle? )

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  59. LLV...We really do love cows! Glad you enjoyed it!

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  60. That was good idea to wait because the photo came out great. Hey, that rhymes!

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