Monday, June 30, 2014

Vive la France !

Tonight (Monday) at 6 pm France is going to play a very important soccer/football game against Nigeria. If we fail, we'll be out of the competition. I'm not a big football fan, I already said it, but I like it when France wins! Not too mention that winning at football is also a very good mood enhancer! I photographed this young lady during a previous game, cute, isn't it?

Sunday, June 29, 2014

It looks like rain...

After I photographed the Eiffel Tower two days ago, I went down the Trocadero stairs, turned my camera the other way around and... took this shot! As you can see, the weather is not very picnic friendly at the moment in Paris and though I'l going to have another barbecue at friend's today (it's definitely the season!). FYI, this is Le Trocadero - or rather the Trocadero gardens that were made by Jean-Charles Alphand for the "Art and Technology in Modern Life International Exhibition" that took place in Paris between May 25 May and November 25 1937.

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Still there!

I had dinner at Café Kléber near the Trocadero with a group of student from Miami University and on the way out, I could not help but taking a walk on the esplanade. Of course, I took a photo ;-)

Friday, June 27, 2014

Painted ad

I love it that in Paris, in some places, you can still see old painted ads like this one for "Bouillon Kub", a dehydrated broth formed into a small cube (hence the name Kub!). I took this photo in the 11th arrondissement, but you find these ads everywhere (I already showed you one, once). 

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Watching the game...

There was an important football/soccer game yesterday evening (France against Ecuador) and about 2/3 of the French population must have been watching it! Since the weather is really nice at the moment a lot of restaurants and cafés have installed big screens and chairs on their terrace, like in this photo that I took on the Grands Boulevards around 10:30 PM. I love the old guy on the right, taking advantage of the screen while leaning on a garbage can! Only football can bring so many people that much together. 

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Demonstrations season

I had a lunch in the 15th arrondissement yesterday and on my way I passed by Les Invalides and saw lot of smoke. I first thought of a giant BBQ(!), but in fact it was a demonstration. France is going through a tough economical phase at the moment and people are afraid to lose their benefits so they try to draw the government's attention! It's complicated... If you want to understand better, have a look at this excellent article (in English).

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Swimming pool time!

There are no less than... 38 public swimming pools in Paris, of which 4 open air ones where you can swim and get a tan for only 3 € a day (even for less if you buy 10 tickets at once!). Of course, if you go during weekends they are pretty packed, but during the week (except Wednesdays when kids don't go to school) it's OK. You can also go to private swimming pools, if you can afford them, like this one, the piscine Molitor, I already told you about about a month ago. BTW, last month I had the great honor of being interviewed by Ibarionex Perello, for a famous photo podcast called The Candid Frame, if you want to know more about the "PDP story", well listen to it ;-)

Monday, June 23, 2014

Paris upon Canal Saint Martin!

I really wish you were in Paris at the moment (well, maybe you are!) for it's one of the best moments to be here. The weather is fantastic, like I said yesterday daylight lasts until almost 11 pm and everybody is out picnicking, BBQing, celebrating (the soccer/football games)... I took this photo last evening on the Canal Saint Martin  around which there were a zillion people having a good time. A nice break from the usual Parisian attitude these days! 

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Good night Paris

Last evening was the longest day of the year (I took this photo around 10:30 pm!) and it was also a beautiful day (the sun shone all day and the temperature was ideal!). I went to Les Buttes Chaumont to see what the sunset was like and I did not regret it. I know this photo almost looks unreal (even from another galaxy!) and though I promise, I did take it last night in Paris. Today should also be a nice day and I'll be attending a barbecue with a few friends. 

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Kissing by Saint-Etienne du Mont

I took advantage of my being at the Pantheon, to visit teh Saint Etienne du Mont church, a church that is located right behind Le Pantheon and that I had never visited before. On the way out, there was this couple kissing like crazy and I thought it would make a great photo if I was quick enough. I did not grab the exact moment that I wanted to grab, but it's not that bad ;-) Have a love-ly Saturday everyone.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Watching the sun go down on the Seine...

How romantic? Do I really need a larger caption? I did not think so! Just one precision though, in the photo the sun is just right of Le Grand Palais.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

The largest renovation work in Europe!

This is Le Panthéon, a building I showed you many times, only usually without this "little white hat" nor the black and white frieze composed of faces (don't forget that a pantheon is a building where famous people are buried). The thing is... that it needs to be totally renovated and it will take no less than... 10 years and cost about 100 million euros! Right now they're working on the upper section which should be finished by 2015. And if you still want to visit the inside, no problem,  it's still open! Have a look at the "trailer", if you're interested.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Soccer mania

In case you don't know (that is if you live in the States or in the Far East!) the soccer world  cup has started a few days ago in Brazil, which means half of the world is revolving around a little round ball. France is a big soccer nation, so you can imagine what importance it has in our daily life at the moment; there is not a single TV program, a single magazine, a single website that does not deal with soccer! But it's probably advertising that makes the most extensive use of this cup! Hence these little Smart cars all dressed up for the occasion, that promote betting on sports. I found them on the Grands Boulevards and thought they were pretty cute.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Eiffel lace

I think I already posted a similar photo of the Eiffel Tower a long time ago with the exact same title, but what can I say, I find this ridiculously beautiful even though it's just a bunch of iron beams and a few rays of sun!

Monday, June 16, 2014

Strategic forest!

I passed by the Hotel de Ville (Paris town hall) yesterday and saw that they had planted a huge forest in front of it. I thought it was meant to promote the "greeness" of Paris or raise awareness on the need for more trees and less concrete in Paris, but no... It's to help Parisians remember the role played by the forest during WWI! Far fetched?! Totally, but still nice to see, especially since this square is generally used for much less greeny business than this!

Sunday, June 15, 2014

No Darth Vader!

Very near the Invalides church, I came across the statue of Hubert Lyautey, a famous "Marshal of France" who played a large role when France was a colonial power (he played a large role in the invasion of Madagascar, he managed Morocco from 1912 to 1925, etc. - read more here, if you're interested!).

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Super heros!

Look what I found at the Eiffel Tower! From what I understood theses guys are rugby players and they won the Brennus Shield, a trophy awarded to the winners of the French rugby union domestic league. So I take it they were so proud of it they had to celebrate and show off in front of ET! I had a good laugh anyway. Have a great Saturday everyone, I'll be making a little Animoto with my white dinner party photos.

Friday, June 13, 2014

White dinner party 2014

This was probably my last Paris dîner en blanc (white dinner party) and it was a really good one! The weather was fantastic, the scenery was too (the pont Alexandre III) and the atmosphere extremely festive. I've taken a ton of photos, but I'm too tired to publish them tonight. I'll do that tomorrow... In the meantime, enjoy this one...

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Sweet melody...

I had dinner at Maison Blanche last evening, a delightful restaurant on top of the Théâtre des Champs Elysée where you can enjoy one of the most breathtaking views of Paris (yes I'm lucky!). On top of the delicious food and stunning view, there was also a small trio playing music for the audience. A magical moment... I ended up talking to them and it turns out they are really nice. Let me introduce you to Jacques Bonvallet (violin), Eric Lancelot (bass) Cécile De Hann (cello).

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Big head!

I don't know if you remember this post, but if you do, you may recognize this head! It belongs to a monument to the glory of Pierre Waldeck Rousseau, a French Politician who was appointed Président du Conseil (the equivalent of a Prime Minister) of France in 1899 and introduced the right of association, giving way to trade unions. Talking about unions, there is massive train strike today in France, but I don't think it will last very long... 

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Stormy weather over Paris

France suffered terrible storms last night (with hail the size of a golf balls in the North!) and Paris was no exception, as you can see here. I did not take this photo, but a friend of mine who happens to have an apartment in front of Le Sacré Coeur (occasionally for rent BTW!) did. In fact it's not really a photo, but an image taken from a little film he made. Impressive, isn't it? 

Monday, June 09, 2014

Zen day...

Today is Le lundi de Pentecôte, a Christian feast commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles - among others. And for the 4th time within the last 40 days, French people will enjoy an extra holiday (in May, France is pratically closed!). I took this photo near the Polish church in the 1st arrondissement and I love the way this guy is enjoying a little rest in the sun... Perfect for a quiet day like today.

Sunday, June 08, 2014

Back to Paris

So many things have happened in Paris, while I was away, including the visit of the Queen of England (after the commemoration of D-Day in Normandy) -  see stunning photos here, that I have to go back! I was in Malta, a small island in the South of Sicily and I had a wonderful time - I'll be back for sure. You know how I like to show something typical Parisian like the Eiffel Tower, after I've been away for a while. So here it is, with two lovers being photographed in front of it!

Saturday, June 07, 2014

Sunny walk

I know I've taken several photos with this same angle several times, but I could not help doing it again! It's a pedestrian crossing at rue de Rivoli, and like you can see the sun was shining. As it should today again if I trust the weather forecast. I'll be back to Paris in two days now...

Friday, June 06, 2014

D-Day remembrance

Exactly 70 years ago many soldiers from all over the free world took part in D-Day, aka the Normandy landing which aim was to free the French - and all occupied countries - from nazi Germany. It was also the largest seaborne invasion in history. All this week there has been several events to commemorate this historical day, but tomorrow is, of course, the highlight of the week. I anticipated it, so I took a photo of the unknown soldier before my departure. They already had flowers around the tomb that they normally don't have outside commemoration periods.

Thursday, June 05, 2014

Chinese weddings

I'm always impressed when I see these group weddings that take place (well they don't actually take place in Paris, but their photo shoot does) in Paris. Are there wedding tours in China? What do the newly weds tell their family when they return home? Anyway it allowed me to take a funny photo, so I'll quit wondering! 

Wednesday, June 04, 2014

Cleaning the Gare Saint Lazare's clocks!

You may remember this piece of art by Arman called "L'heure de tous" that has been in front of the Gare Saint Lazare since 1985. I already photographed it in 2008, but at that time I had to make a close up for it was really dirty and full of pigeon droppings! Recently it was totally cleaned and it's really much nicer.

Tuesday, June 03, 2014

The sunny side of Paris

I checked the weather in Paris yesterday and it was mostly sunny, so I picked this photo for today - another one that I took last Saturday when it was super sunny. I love it, because you can really feel how this man is enjoying a little rest in the sun. I took this photo in the Tuileries gardens.

Monday, June 02, 2014

Art Nouveau Paris metro entrance

Here is one of the last "édicule" (that is an Aedicula - I'm sure you all know what it is ;-), but just in case, here is a link to Wikipedia!) from the famous metro stations designed by Hector Guimard, the famous French architect that was a big Art Nouveau player. I photographed it at Porte Dauphine (the other one is at Abbesses) last Saturday, while it was sunny. It's a real work of art and a definite must see.

Sunday, June 01, 2014

Zest!

Yeah! It's a theme day today and the theme is... Zest!  In French, we use the word zest, but mainly to designate the skin of a lemon: "un zest de citron". Apparently in English it means many things including: energy, exhilaration, vitality, enthusiasm... so I thought a photo of these very energetic street dancers would be perfectly suitable for today's theme. Huge success on the Champs Elysées yesterday, as you can see! As for me, I'm off to an island somewhere in the Mediterranean sea... Check what zest means for other CDP bloggers throughout the world.