Pine tree at the Eiffel Tower

Between the last minute gifts to buy, the "stuff" from the pharmacy that you can only find in France!, the unavoidable trip to Ikea (to see what kind of kitchens they have!) and the family gatherings, I haven't had a single minute to take a live photo (no kidding!). Today I managed to take a one hour break and since I was passing by the Eiffel Tower, I noticed this weird and sudden pine trees field underneath it ;-) So here you go! Cute... 

Taxi strike (Part 25!)

I just read that Parisian taxis would go on strike this Monday morning to protest a recent judgement that DID NOT prohibit Uber! I know they have a lot of constraints (including the fact that they have to buy the "right to be a taxi" (a licence) for about 300 000 €), but still... I don't think they will will in the end for the population is clearly in favor of alternative solutions; not only because of the price of course, but also because of the poor level of service that regular taxis deliver. I took this photo in 2007. 

To work, or not to work (on Sunday)!

Yesterday, a very controversial law was discussed at the Assemblée Nationale (the French Parliament) presented today to the Conseil des ministres (the government). Why? Because it would allow certain stores to open on Sundays and late at night. This would be limited to touristy areas, but for France it's a serious breach in the "rest on Sunday" habit - even though already 30% of the people work on Sundays (hospitals, firemen, gas/petrol stations...). To illustrate this big debate, I found a photo that I took in La boutique de l'Assemblée Nationale (where the law is going to be discussed in January), a store where you can find many many blue/white/red objects! 

Lost cause...

It's funny to browse through my old photos because it reminds me of many events that took place in Paris during these past 10 years. Hence this demonstration against the anti smoking in public spaces law from 2006! Tobacconists were not too happy about it because they thought it would harm their business! In fact it did not really unfortunately; after a slight drop after 2005, the number of smokers started to increase again...

Feels like summer!

False alarm! I told you two days ago how cold and rainy it was in Paris, well, the weather gods disagree! Yesterday was a gorgeous day and everybody was out in the sun. In Nice, where I was in the morning, it was even too hot! Incredible... Maybe I should stay in Paris, after all ;-) Have a great week, everyone, I'm moving on Saturday, so mine will be quite intense!

Veterans day

For once allow me to repost a photo for today is November 11, the day we celebrate the end of WWI, which, even though we no longer have alive veterans from that war, is still commemorated. I thought it was a good occasion to remember Maréchal Foch, the one who signed the armistice with Germany on November 11, 1918 and who's statue is at Champs de Mars, near Ecole Militaire. Maréchal Joffre, a French general known for regrouping the allied armies to fight the Germans during the famous Marne battle in 1914.

Winter is coming...

We had a wonderful "arrière-saison" (post summer period), unbelievably warm, but now is the time to enter the pre winter period, which is never very pleasant. It rained all day yesterday (unlike Sunday, when, I took the Sunset on the ET photo!) and it's super windy too. Unfortunately, I had to go out! But it allowed me to take this... very seasonal photo.

Pretty sky

I passed by the Ecole Militaire last evening and stopped to take a photo thinking the sky was really nice. I took it from the Mur pour la paix, a monument that was inaugurated in 2000 and is now in a pretty bad shape (most of the glass is broken). The whole area looks like a war zone actually, I really wonder what they are doing. The view is still cool though ;-)

Playing hide and seek with ET

I had a "dinner party in town" yesterday evening and I passed by the Pont Alexandre to go to it. The sky was beautiful, the weather very nice and I really wondered how I could take another photo from this bridge without repeating myself... And then I thought of lowering my camera and shoot from in between the bars. I kinda like the result even though the photo is a bit blurry!

Trapped tree!

I stopped and took this photo in this little street in the 7th arrondissement called Cité Vanneau, because of the superb tree that you can see at its end. I often wonder how plants and trees can grow so well, totally trapped in concrete! I looked up the Cité Vaneau on the Internet and I found out that it's the only street in Paris where all porches are similar - which apparently is very rare... Have a great Saturday everyone, I'll be going to the Melac Vendanges, like every year!

The canons of Les Invalides

In front of Les Invalides, there are several canons that are either French made or that the French took from their enemies during the many wars that we participated in throughout the years. These ones, for instance, are precisely Turkish. FYI, In France, whenever we have a new President, the Invalides canons are used for a 21 canon salute. 

Victory and willpower!

I already said it several times here, I love it that in Paris you can casually come across beautiful pieces of art in many streets. Hence these two sculptures by Emile-Antoine Bourdelle that I found at rue de Lille, near the back entrance of Le Musée d'Orsay. The first one is called La Victoire (the Victory) and the second one La force de la volonté (the strength of willpower). Quick photography remark; I always find it hard to shoot statues, because they always seem to absorb the light. These ones were even harder, as they would blend in the background!   

A market with a view

Here are two Paris clichés for the price of one: the Eiffel Tower and a street market! Well it's rather the installation in view of a street market for I took this photo yesterday evening and, of course, the market was long time closed. It makes a cool photo though ;-) BTW the market is on avenue de Saxe, not far from Place de Breteuil

Landing at Les Invalides

Yesterday evening there was a demonstration ending at Les Invalides Esplanade (still about the events in the Middle East). I went there hoping to take good photos, but I'm pretty disappointed with the results. Fortunately, while I was leaving, I took this one, which has nothing to do do with the demonstration (even though you can see marchers in the background, if you look closely). It's the one I prefer! 

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).

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!

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!).

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...

Trapped in the city

In front of Le Musée d'Orsay, there are 3 magnificent animal sculptures. I already showed you one of them once (a horse if I recall), which used to be on my way to school when I was a little boy. I used to climb on it, for I thought it was just a game for kids!). Now that there are in front of the Musée, I know that they are real pieces of art! Like this stunning "trapped Elephant" made by Emmanuel Fremiet, a French sculptor who was obviously very gifted.

Gare d'Orsay

Yesterday, I passed by the Gare d'Orsay round 2 pm and realized that I had never taken a photo of it from this side! So here you go...  For those of you who don't know it, this building used to be a train station (that is why it's called La Gare d'Orsay) and became a - must see - museum in 1986. The building, is stunning whether you're inside or outside. As you can see the sun is back is Paris and people are out!