Sunrise on the Tour Saint Jacques

The Tour Saint Jacques is a Paris landmark I often posted on PDP. When I started this blog it was closed, then under repair, then it reopened and now it's fully "operational". Like I already said, this tower is all what remains of the Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie ("Saint James of the butchery") church, which was leveled after the French Revolution. But the most interesting part, if you're a visitor is to visit it and enjoy a view that most Parisians are not even aware of! Check this.

Good lighting!

I don't know of they changed something in the lighting of La Conciergerie, but it was really stunning last evening when I passed by it. With the Gare d'Orsay, it's in my opinion the most beautiful building along the river banks.

Another sky view of Paris

There are many high points and roof tops from where you can admire Paris. Recently I showed you the one of Galeries Lafayette or Printemps, today here is the one from the rooftop of L'Institut du Monde Arabe. It's located on the Eastern part of Paris, where there are slightly less monuments to see, but you can still enjoy a nice view on the Ile Saint Louis and on the back of Notre Dame (in the background in this photo). The entrance is free and if you feel like having a drink, there is, of course, a little Lebanese café/restaurant at your disposal...

The back of...

Here you go, let start the week with a classic - well not so actually for generally you see the front and not the back... For yes, this is famous Opéra Garnier from the back (and from the rooftop of Les Galeries Lafayette of course) - Sorry if I'm not too informative with my captions lately, but I badly cut one of my fingers (not too serious though) and I have to take car of that asap. Will be back on track soon.

Galeries Lafayette rooftop

Believe it or not, I've been several times to the rooftop of Le Printemps, but I had never been to the one of Galeries Lafayette. And yesterday - because I was early to a meeting - I did! Wow! It's certainly a place not to miss. First of all because of the view (I'll show it to you soon, but it's very similar to the one of Le Printemps of course (the two stores are next to each other), but because it's enormous and arranged like a little prairie with cafés, ice-cream parlors and couches! I could not stay very long, but I'll definitely go back. BTW the immaculate blue sky in the background is 100% real!

Holy cow!

In one of the most beautiful covered passages of Paris, the Galerie Vivienne (not to mention the one where I live of course, the Passage Verdeau, which to me is the most beautiful one LOL!), I found the store of Emilio Robba, a florist that specializes in "permanent botanicals and landscaping environments.". You may dislike the idea of "fake flowers and plants", but not after you've seen the ones of Emilio's! He even uses them to make beautiful scupltures, like this one of a cow that I could not hep but take a photo of. A must visit place, for sure.

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.

A church not to miss in Paris

Not all Paris churches are made of beautiful stones with golden fixtures and stunning sculptures! Some are simple, yet worth the visit, like Notre Dame du Travail. This amazing church can be found in the 14th arrondissement at 59, rue Vercingétorix. It was constructed around 1900 for the workers who used to build the pavilions for the world exhibition that took place in Paris during this period. It is fascinating indeed, because it looks like a regular Roman church, except that its frame is made of cast iron.

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! 

Striking installation!

The Louvre Pyramid has sheltered the work of artists many times. At the moment, it's a piece by French artist Claude Lévêque who installed a huge red lighting from the top to the bottom. Very impressive and beautiful. I went last evening to photograph it, especially for you! If you want to see it for real, you still have some time... It'll be there until 2015!

Winter sun

I'm just back from Nice where it rained a lot! (a big storm crossed Europe during Christmas), so surprisingly there was today more sun In Paris than when I left the French Riviera! I took a photo of a very typical café : le Café de l'Île Saint-Louis, which is perfectly located - just across the Île de la Cité and where they have a very nice - and quiet!- terrace. Now is the time to prepare the new year!

Fontaine des innocents

"This" is, la Fontaine des Innocents, a very famous fountain located in Les Halles that I have never showed you before because I never found an angle that I liked! This time I used a piece of urban furniture (a temporary "house" that shelters the mockups of the "new" Les Halles). This fountain was built in 1548, was moved twice (it was part of an old church that has been distroyed in 1785) and completed by famous architects and sculptors. A real masterpiece (but not very useful now that everybody has running water!) 

Place Vendôme, the beautiful!

The Place Vendôme is currently not so nice because of all the work they're doing (look at the big white "thing" on the right, where the Ritz facade is normally located), but with the little help of a beautiful sky and a perfectly located sun (just behind the column so that there is not too much light in the lens ;-)), well it makes a pretty decent shot! FYI, I'm sure you know already, but the "Colonne Vendome" was erected by Napoleon in 1810 to celebrate his army and it is made of 1,200 melted canons that were taken from his enemies during his wars.i

Paris Little India

I already told you about the "Indian quarter of Paris", located near the Gare du Nord area on the occasion of the Ganesha Celebration, but that's about it. To be honest, I very rarely go there, because what you can find in the stores is "very Indian" and I cannot really picture myself buying a Sherwani (even though some of them are really beautiful). When it comes to food however, it's a different story. That is how I ended up at Saravanaa Bhavan, a vegetarian restaurant located at 170 rue du Faubourg Saint Denis, where I had this delicious meal! (Sorry for posting late, something went wrong with the post scheduling - maybe it was me who went wrong!)

The Galliera palace has just reopened...

A long long time ago, I posted this photo of the Galliera Palace (after Duchess of Galliera), a stunning building that was built between 1878 and 1894 and that now shelters the fashion museum of Paris. In 2009 it closed for renovation and it just reopened about a month ago. It's an absolute must see if you come to Paris, not only for what you can see inside (at the moment there is an exhibition dedicated to designer Azzedine Alaïa), but also because you can enjoy a nice walk and rest in the garden around it.

A beautiful entrance

This time I'll give you more than just a door... Here is a full entrance to a stunning building that I found at 108 rue du Temple in Le Marais. The ceiling, and the door are real masterpieces. I did some research... And found it was built by architect François Lecœur in 1920. And apparently, it's not an apartment building, but a "semi" industrial building (God knows what this actually means!!). The door in particular is a work of art.

Less clouds on the horizon!

I don't know if you remember, a few weeks ago I had to stay at the hospital for a few days because they discovered stones in my gallbladder. Well, when you read this - providing everything went well! - it should be history for I had it removed yesterday (Wednesday). I scheduled this photo on Tuesday evening, thinking I would be two spaced out to sit in front of a computer and post something today, so hopefully, there should be no interruption on PDP. I thought a photo of the magnificent Place des Vosges was appropriate. Now, en route for new adventures!

Pont Alexandre III, the beautiful

I know, I've showed you Le Pont Alexandre III many times already, but never with this sky (it's a real sky!)and never from this angle ;-) So here you go... I took this photo 2 days ago, when the sky was much less inviting than today, around 9 pm (it gets dark earlier now...). The Pont Alexandre III was built between 1896 and 1900 for the world exhibit of 1900. It is named after Tsar Alexander III, who concluded the Franco-Russian Alliance in 1892, and it's his son, Nicholas II, who laid the foundation stone in October 1896. It's a magnificent bridge; if you come to Paris, you have to see it!

A new summit!

You may have been on top of the Eiffel Tower, of the Arch of Triumph, of La Tour Montparnasse and maybe on top of a few other Paris summits, but I bet you've never been on top of the Tour Saint Jacques, a tower I mentioned several times here. After a long period of renovation, they decided to open it to visitors during the summer (until september 15). No rush though, it's very unlikely you manage to get a ticket as it only takes place during weekends and you have to physically be there to purchase the tickets. Shame though, for I think it's really worth it (and I'll miss it too...)

Back to Le Pont Levant

You may remember my two photos of le Pont Levant from last year (this one and this one). Well, I went back this year! And the scenery is still stunning there. The beautiful building you can see in the background used to be a warehouse where cereal was stored. It apparently burned in 1990 and the Paris town hall decided to rebuild it and turn it into a student residence, a  hotel and also left some room for cafés ans restaurant (it's a must visit place if you want to have a quiet dinner out by the water on a hot summer night...). I love it.