Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Karma Kameleon


Keep cool! I came across this cameleon (I'm not actually certain he's a cameleon to be honest...) on the Quai de la Megisserie, a place by the river where they sell plants, flowers and... pets. You find more puppies and pussies kittens than giant green cameleons there ;) but they do sell small crocodiles, reptilians and all these creatures that we call NAC (for Nouveaux animaux de compagnie - new types of pets). I'm sure hey would be better off in their homeland than in a cage in Paris, but that is another story. Anyway, do visit this place if you happen to be in Paris, the set is gorgeous.

61 comments:

  1. Puppies and WHAAAAAAT?

    Eric! Remember your American audience.

    If this is a costume, it's fantastic. I love the "look" he's giving you. Like he's saying, "mess with me and I'll pounce on you."

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  2. There's always a danger of "over-collecting" exotic animals from the wild, and the underground market for the most unusual is a huge money-maker. Unless there's some captive breeding program for lizards, etc, I would avoid buying them anywhere. With the disgraceful evidence of puppy-mills coming to light in recent years, I'd rather go to an animal shelter to adopt, or to a reputable breeder where I could see the parents and living conditions myself.

    But concrete air-brushed statuary is harmless enough. 8^)

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  3. Eric, I thought we discussed that already, and you promised not to put my picture on your blog!!! OK, but just this once, OK?

    This is a politically correct creature, too, very green!

    PS> I haven't heard anyone say "keep cool" in a lot of years! You're taking me waaaaay back! ;)

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  4. Whoaaaaa!Is that thing real?!!!

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  5. This lizard is very 'vert'ical.

    Maybe we should move the next picnic here: do you think people would confuse us with the things for sale? I think if you gave the lizard a PDP pin, he'd be smiling!

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  6. Hey Jeff, give us a witty caption for this photo!

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  7. How funny.. thank you, Eric, it is something I've added to my Paris to-do list.

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  8. Looks like a movie set, Eric! You show us the craziest things sometimes...thanks.

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  9. Okay, this is NOT something I would want for a pet!! I don't do well with creepy crawly things, anyway, but to have ne in my house, Nope! I'm all for a nice little fishie. :)

    Nice color shot, though, Eric!

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  10. Gotta say, my favorite part of this whole post is the title!

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  11. I think I walked past here once. (I get lost in Paris and walk past a lot of places! lol)

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  12. The fair Virginia(hello v) of "Birmingham Daily" Alambama is in Paris. I don't think this is her ideal frenchman though! Depends on how many glasses of red she has had though. Is this you in disguise Eric hiding from your St Trinians fanclub? Night all.

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  13. Suzy~~~Congratulations GF. and I'm still chuckling about your reminder telling Eric to remember his American audience..lol..

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  14. suzy --GF! You go, girl!
    I realize you asked Jeff for a caption, but I think this groovy lizard is saying, "Yo! You talkin' to me?"

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  15. P, you wanna say iguana? Well, fine. Looks like he's waiting to hear you say it. He's pretty annoyed about the whole K/C-word thing. The P-word doesn't faze him a bit.

    I don't suppose they sell beavers at the shop, do they?

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  16. Oops --Carrie fell asleep on the couch last night 'cause she was too tired!

    I'll just say: Clear weather and closed museums meant I walked to the beautiful Hotel de Soubise, housing the National Archives (but it was being worked on) shopped and mailed and discovered ancient clockmaker's shops; walked the quiet and quaint Buttes aux Cailles (see Eric's photos); went to the top of the Tour Montparnasse (I've been in Paris so long now, I was just too, too irritated at seeing it all the time and had to be inside it so it wouldn't be in my view!); went to Montmarte and found windmills, vinyard's, ancient alleys, art (see Eric's photos) and more views as well as a guy, I kid you not, who wanted me to see his chandelier! (No photo from Eric.)

    Well, at that point, I just had to go inside Sacre Coeur and gather myself for a minute and after that I had to try a gaufre, just because I've never had that kind of thing before -- a gaufre, that is!

    ....Lets see what today holds.

    ....Hint: Its rainy and the museums are open!

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  17. Carrie, my god, you can pack a lot into a day. It sounds amazing. Oh, I'm dying to be there and do all that! Keep telling!

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  18. Petrea, the chameleon is standing next to the iguana, but of course you can't see him.

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  19. It's exactly like if i knew you for ages. But I am always stunned by you (positively)! I love you, I can say it peacefully. No matter to worry about.
    Suzy, congrats!

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  20. This photo is a real "Barney"

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KYJpdDoung&feature=related

    for those who don't know who Barney & Friends are.

    Suzy, You wear a crown everyday. That Eiffel crown really is YOU.

    Carrie, Merci for the walking tour of Paris. You are so visual -- just love it.

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  21. He looks like an iguana. Ugh. I hate creepy crawlies of any shape or size. Something pleasant tomorrow, Eric. Please.

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  22. Sue. I have replied. She said cryptically. lol.

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  23. Lynn, better be careful... you never know, Eric might decide to photograph something like this tomorrow

    ;)

    I think this guy is pretty colorful. Cute and cuddly, I don't know, but colorful, yes!

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  24. Oh Tomate.. how could you DO that to me? How could you? ;)

    I have just noticed the editing going on at Eric's post. Pussies? Oh goodness Eric, I do believe I feel a swoon coming on.

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  25. Kittens! HA! Thanks, Eric. Love you lots.

    I avoid saying the French word for cat as much as possible for the same reason. Apparently, I say it the wrong way.

    Lois Simon, thanks! I love my crown. The chin strap hurts sometimes, but it's tres chic so I leave it on.

    Thanks for the GF congrats...I don't try, it just happens sometimes.

    This photo makes me smile and LOL, Eric!

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  26. Lynn - Indeed,we will never know ;-)

    'Pussies?' Naughty Eric, being quietly provocative again.

    babooshka - 'Is this you in disguise Eric hiding from your St.Trinians Fan Club?'. lol!!

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  27. I keep remembering Mrs. Slocombe (from that hilarious BBC 70's show "Are you being served" ) saying to Captain Peacock that she can't stay after hours because she has to go home and take care of her Pussy.

    Are you still watching that show in England? They're still showing it here in California, on PBS, now and then, if you can believe that.

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  28. Tomate - no we don't still have 'Are You Being Served' here. Not on terrestrial tv anyway. Possibly repeats are shown on Sky. It was very funny, and quite saucy for the time.

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  29. Carrie - what's this about the guy at Montmartre who wanted to show you his chandelier? do tell!

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  30. Iguana...I believe,and you can keep it!! They have beautiful colors, but it still amazes me that people want them as a pet!! Especially when you can have a cute "puppy dawg"...or a nice "puddie-tat"!!! Oh, and what about kids with hamsters and gerbils?? People and their pets..very interesting!! Moi..I prefer a doggie!! LOL!!!

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  31. tonton_flaneur, you forgot to mention guinea pigs! J'adore mon cochon d'Inde. He's got long black hair that spikes up like a mohawk on his head. His name is Prince Caspian.

    Actually, he looks a little like the back of a Jonas brother's head.

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  32. Personally I always avoid the Quai de la Megisserie and deliberately cross the road. I adore animals and hate to see them caged and out of their natural habitat. I can't bear to hear the dogs barking and the various other sounds that come out of these places, it upsets me for the day. But that's just me, guess I'm too much of a softie as far as animals are concerned.

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  33. Wellll, Sue-- its funny you ask! (I thought by now, Lynn would have had a couple of cracks in about it - I'm glad someone's there to take up the slack!)

    Pretty simple - he wanted to show me; so he did: he walked up to me as I stood there - all touristy with camera bag and map in hand, reading the City of Paris historical marker right outside the Lapin Agile, and asked for directions and silly me I tried to point out where we were on the map until my attention was suddenly drawn downward to his chandelier!!

    I've been laughing to myself all day because I thought how nonplussed I could have made him if I'd met his effrontery with my own touristy brand and just stepped back a foot or two and whipped out my camera and started trying to focus it. (I don't know, maybe he wouldn't have thought it was funny, but I sure would have.)

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  34. Hey Suzy - you turned around again -- is this some sort of ritual?! : ) Is it to keep your chin strap from hurting too much?

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  35. In fact I sort of imagine myself having a look somewhat like the Karma Kameleon in Eric's photo. You know - you always think of what you could have said when its too late! :)

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  36. Tomate that show is still running old episodes on certain channels I believe but I don't have them. Funnily enough, I didn't like it, but it was hugely popular!

    Got in cracks about what, Carrie? I've obviously missed the opening, and I do like to take up a crack when I see one.

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  37. Carrie - hahahaha!! I have to ask, would you have needed the wide angle lens?

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  38. Oh there was a mention of a chandalier. Eric is still invited to swing on mine.

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  39. Lynn -- I think by the end of that conversation -- Jeff saying he didn't want to see Eric's chandelier -- it had taken on another meaning. Just read my earlier posts in that light (ahem, so to speak) and you'll see what I was looking at.

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  40. Sue -- you mean to get the smile on his face into the photo, right?

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  41. Somebody asked for a caption:

    "M. Eric, je ne suis pas un chat, merci beaucoups!"

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  42. Well, I was going to post this after Eric put up the new photo, but I can't stay up too much longer.

    Today was a wonderful trip into the Paris past. The National Archives were open and have amazing treasures - ranging from a scroll signed by Clovis II in 654 to statuary, DVD's and all kinds of other documents.

    Strolling from there past a 4 story tall mural and through the winding medieval streets full of cafe aromas and workmen's cries, I stopped to take photos every 15 feet it seemed. I walked through the rain drenched Place de Vosges, where Victor Hugo lived and died. At the other end of the park, a doorway leads directly into the gardens of the Hotel de Sully, with a fantastic bookstore under hand painted beams and fascinating photjournalism by Erich Saloman, who was one of the first to sneak candid shots of politicians - until he was gassed in WWII.

    Going north again along the cobblestones of rue Elzevir I came to the Musee Cognacq-Jay with it's excellent collection of decorative arts. Canalettos and a Rubens appeared among the many paintings.

    Then, going south and west on the rue de Roziers I scored my first of the very famous fallafel sandwiches from L'As du Fallafel (The Fallafel Ace!)and it was definitely yummalicious! The metro whizzed me over next to the Place de Concorde which, under the leaden skies, was boasting a ferris wheel gleaming with white light. Just behind it lie the Jeu de Paume and the Orangerie.

    The Jeu de Paume had photos by Lee Miller, model turned surrealist artist, muse to Man Ray, photographer in her own right and finally photojournalist covering the end of WWII, including three photos inside Hitler's last apartment, in one of which she bathes in his tub. Every other year Paris celebrates the Mois de la Photo in November, so I'm lucky enough to see many such exhibits.

    As darkness fell, I tried to get back to the other side of town before a certain store closed, but to no avail. I'm learning that there is an alternate geography to Paris. One learns the surface all over again with the metro map under it that becomes part of the landscape. So, jumping back on the metro again, I joined the after work crowd and jumped out at the Champs Elysee, now being all lit up for Christmas, and headed to the Instituto de Cervantes for a free piano, violin and cello concert in the most comfortable chairs ever. Listening to the murmur of French and Spanish around me, I relaxed and waited for the music. And then I relaxed some more.

    And finally,an hour and a half later, still wishing I could afford a little Bulgari something, I huddled under my umbrella and took off to learn a little more of the new geography, making my way home on a new metro line.

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  43. Wow - I thought for sure Eric's photo would be up by now, but no go - he must be out getting us another cool nitetime photo!!

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  44. Yeah, I wonder if that iguana (?) ate Eric's camera? Sure looks like it could do something like that ;)

    (thanks, Lynn and Sue)

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  45. It is really difficult to have a conversation with an Iguana. All native creatures are best left in the wild - domesticated pets are the only ones really content with human company. Very interesting post though Eric and quite amusing - small crocodiles tend to grow up and a fully mature croc can be 10 or 12 feet long. I can't imagine why one would be proud to own one when inevitably it must either be returned to the wild or killed when it outgrows it's tank.

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  46. I think Eic maybe tied up - well he would be if some of the ladies here - the St Trinians Sixth form fanclub had their wring leadeicked way. Lynn obviously the ringleader. Ah well night all, have to catch the image tomorrow.

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  47. I hope he's okay. He wasn't feeling well a couple of days ago.

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  48. I keep telling myself, "He's a very young man, only 48. He's fine. Nothing happened to him."

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  49. Hi! This happened once before, and I'd figured it out (ahem). He'd gone into the office early, and hadn't checked his blog...or maybe now he's overslept?

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  50. Not something I would like to encounter on the street! ;)

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  51. Keep it up Carrie, I'm loving it! It seems you're free to follow your nose all over Paris. What a dream trip.

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  52. Head Girl here. I didn't do it Babooshka, honest. Thooooo and I were in Thixth Form Thtudy Woom.

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