French Indochina rememberance monument

Here is a pretty odd "monument" that I found in the 12th arrondissement; it's dedicated to the French veterans of the Indochina wars. Indochina was the South Asian area where France had colonies (namely in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia) and fought to keep them (hence this monument). I think it's pretty ugly, to be honest, but historically interesting (they even planted palm trees even though the Paris weather is not exactly palm tree friendly LOL!).

Memorial Day in Paris

Yesterday was Memorial Day in the US and I thought that since I have many visitors from North America I would take this opportunity to show you one of the monuments that was erected in honor of all the Americans who died during the WWI in France. It's located at Place de l'Amiral de Grasse in the 16th arrondissement. Of course I don't forget that Americans were not this only ones to die for France, Canadians, Australians, English, Scottish... and many more also came to our rescue. May this never happen again.

2013 Veterans' day

Today is November 11, the date we celebrate the end of WWI even though there are no more alive veterans from that war. The previous years, I posted several times about Maréchal Foch, the one who signed the armistice with Germany on November 11, 1918, but this year I chose to show you the Pathéon  in front of which they hung French flags. As you can see, it was a beautiful day in Paris...

Golden door!

You must think I have a door fetish(!) for I posted several ones on this blog already, but what can I say... Paris has a lot of beautiful doors and I can't help noticing them! This one belongs to the Hôtel de Ville (the Paris town hall) and I was lucky enough to photograph it while there was a cool reflection on it (I doubt it was the sun though for it's been a long time since we've seen it here! Anyway, have a great Sunday everyone (it's the museum feast in many countries this weekend, so how about a little visit to your favorite museum?)

Good old French politics!

Here is another of my discoveries in the Tuileries gardens (if you notice the trees in the background, you will see a certain similarities with yesterday's photo!): 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. He was a "Républicain libéral" and he managed to form a government (at that time you needed to make a coalition to form a government  and to make it last... 3 years, which was some kind of a record then. But the real reason why he was granted the honor of a monument was that he introduced the right of association, giving way to trade unions. Update: look at what I found; a photo of the inauguration day!     

Invalides, last evening...

I thought I had shown you the Invalides so many times over these past - almost - 8 years, that it was not worth giving it a new try. And though, on the way back from a goûter (snack) at friends yesterday, I stopped and took this shot. I know it almost looks like I took it at day light, but I did not; the light in the foreground is 100% artificial and the blue sky is probably due to the fact that I had to lighten the whole photo a bit. Anyway I like the final result.

A view on the Arch...

In December you generally have lots of company parties or so called "end of the year" celebrations. I went to one of those parties yesterday evening, the one of the Internet Manager club, the only French club I belong to! It took place avenue Mac-Mahon, one of the large avenues that go around the Arc de Triomphe. I could not help but taking a photo of course... Notice the ray of light, I think it belongs to the Eiffel Tower even though it's pretty far.

Palais du Louvre

I spent the whole day at "Nikon's school France" to learn how to finally master my D7000(!) and I discovered a whole new world. Unfortunately it was too dark when I went out to put everything I learned in practice! So in the meantime, here is a shot I took last weekend, after I noticed the beautiful light on the Palais du Louvre. You probably all heard about the Palais du Louvre, which was once a royal  residence, until Louis the XVIth decided to move to Versailles in 1682. Part of it was detroyed, what was in it was stolen, but some of it is still standing and shelters now what you all know as the Musée du Louvre. Read more about it if you have the time, it's fascinating... 

Murder they judge...

I don't know if you remember the photo of the front of the Palais de Justice de Paris, the "headquarter" of the French justice system. Well, today here is the back, where the entrance of the Cour d'Assises (criminal trial court) is located ! I don't know why I never showed it to you as this is really a magnificent building - apparently inspired by the temple of Denderah in Egypt, if what they say on this site (in French) is correct. As you can see the weather has slightly improved in Paris, I even managed to attend a little picnic today!

Arc du Carrousel

I just bought myself a brand new camera and of course I could not help but trying it right away! So I went to town and took a few shots. The first place I ended up in, was the Cour du Louvre where the Arc du Carrousel, that I already showed a few times here (the best one!) and here, is located. This arch was built between 1806 and 1808 to commemorate Napoleon's military victories. Once again the sky was clearing up after a long day of rain. It allowed me to take that cool shot, but I dont think the new camera has anything to do with it! 

Avenue Luis de Camões

Do you know Luís Vaz de Camões (also known as "le Camoëns"), the most famous poet and writer of Portugal? I did not! But now that I have seen the monument dedicated to him off the boulevard Delessert in the 16th arrondissement, near the Trocadero, I do. He was the "Shakespeare" of Portugal and lived approximately between 1525 and 1580. "His avenue" is beautiful, and obviously a pedestrian area (as far as know it's the only pedestrian avenue in Paris) as you can only walk the stairs in it. 

Tour Saint Jacques

I already posted several photos showing the Tour Saint Jacques, before and after its renovation, but it never ceases to amaze me, especially when the sun adds a little "salt" to it! FYI the tower Saint Jacques was originally a bell tower that belonged to a church built between 1509 and 1522 then destroyed after the French revolution. Have and excellent Saturday everyone.

Last Christmas decorations...

Pretty soon all Christmas decorations will be gone, so let me show you one last one. I found it at the Hotel de ville (town hall) - and not in the court yard of the Louvre Museum, where they also have pyramids! - Beautiful isn't? Nothing else to add - except that maybe I should think of taking down my Christmas tree now... ;-)

Invalides in black and white

I went to a Galette Party today (a galette is a cake that people eat to celebrate the Epihany (a Christian feast) after Christmas) and on the way back I passed by Les Invalides. It was a beautiful evening (it's still warm in Paris at the moment here) and I felt like taking a photo. I made a black and white one, for a change...

Sacré Coeur in the mist

Those of you who have been following PDP for some time now will probably remember the Eiffel Tower in the mist photo (big hit!), well, now look at what I saw yesterday evening on my way to dinner at Montmartre... It was really stunning. Let's us not forget that the Sacré Coeur is located on a hill  (130 meters - 426 feet). Not very high, but it does play a role when it comes to "'touching the clouds...". Have a nice weekend everyone.

Château de la Reine Blanche

If you've been to Paris several times and want to visit something very old, very original and that very few people will have seen, here it is! It's called Le Château de la Reine Blanche (The white queen's castle), it was originally built in 1290! but what you can see now is actually a "new" building that was erected around 1500, following to a giant fire. This "castle" which is more like a big mansion really has a stunning history - linked to the Gobelin family (which is very famous in Paris) among other things. It has been recently renovated (as you can see) and can be visited. Of course, it's not in the center of Paris (it's in the 13th arrondissement), but sometimes, it's worth going away from the beaten tracks, isn't?

Russes

Yesterday I walked by the Pont Alexandre III and found out that they had installed a new monument not far from it (on the place du Canada)! It was made by Russian artist Vladimir Sourovtsev, it's dedicated to the Russian soldiers who fought with the French against the Germans during WWI. I must say I did not know they did (5 000 of them died actually...). I love the perspective with the fall /autumn colors.

Before and after at La Conciergerie

La Conciergerie is a very famous place in Paris. Not only is it one of the most beautiful monuments in the city, but on top of that it is known for having "sheltered" Marie-Antoinette for several months, before she was beheaded on the Place de la Concorde (Place de la Révolution at that time). La Conciergerie is also constantly covered in scaffolding (I suppose that's the price to pay for a monument that was built around the 12th century! Anyway, right now, Samsung commissioned French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac to make a huge fresco on it. I took these photos a few days apart from each others. See more here and in this video.

Sunset on Notre Dame

Another of this September evening light that is so beautiful in Paris. I passed by Notre Dame last evening around 7:30 on my way to my brother's and I could not help but admiring this stunning Paris landmark. Besides, for once that it's not covered in scaffolding... Have a great week-end everyone. I hope the weather is going to remain as clear as this!

Porte Saint Denis

The big arch in the middle of l'Etoile, on top of the Champs Elysées is not the only one in Paris. There are many other arches, like this one I photographed in the 10th arrondissement at the crossing of rue Saint-Denis and Boulevard Bonne-nouvelle. It was built in 1672 in replacement for a medieval gate in the city walls built by Charles V in the 14th century (read the whole story here if you're interested). It's a stunning monument, and the blue/cloudy sky makes it even more beautiful.