The ice rink opens today!

After almost 9 years of daily posting in Paris, I realize how the same events come back every year and how we take for granted things that once were very innovative... Take the ice rink in front of the Paris town hall that I showed you many times. When they installed it for the first time in 1997 it was a real big deal, but now we're so used to it, it's part of the winter scenery! Anyway it opens today (Friday) and it's still very nice to skate (for free!) in front of the Hotel de ville with Notre Dame in the background (yes you can see it in this photo!)   

Paris on ice...

I went to the Bazar de l'hôtel de ville (a department store famous for its hardware department!) yesterday and I passed by the ice rink they install every year in the front of the nearby town hall. I then realized I did not show it to you this year. So here it is, with a nice sun effect (I took it around 4 pm) and a bit of Notre Dame in the background. Hurry if you want to ice skate in Paris, it'll remain there until March 3 only ;-)

Christmas market

I think I have never shown that many times the Eiffel Tower on PDP than this past month! This time it's from the side of the Trocadero, where, on top of the ice rink, they also have a marché de noël (Christmas market)  where you can find anything from Russian dolls to gluewein and French cheeses! Always a great success, and the presence of the iron lady in the background adds a little flavour to it. Last days to complete your Christmas shopping everyone... Mine's completed (99% online this year!)

Skating by the Eiffel Tower...

Paris is really beautiful at the moment, I wish you all could be here! Last evening I discovered by sheer coincidence that they installed an ice rink by the Trocadero, facing the Eiffel Tower (a nice change from the one at Hotel de ville that I photograph every year). Huge success! And what a scenery for a PDP photo!

Ice rink 2011!

I know you probably have the feeling you already saw this photo on PDP last year - and possibly the year before - but I swear, this is a brand new photo ! I took it at the Hotel de ville where they installed the ice-rink like every year. I took this photo through the transparent plastic walls they have around it. Cool effect.

Ice rink closing soon

Hurry, hurry! There are only 10 more days before you can enjoy a nice ice skating in front of the Hotel de Ville. The ice rink will close on March 6 and, as usual it's been a big success. I love the way this lady keeps her handbag no matter what... Like, she did not know she was going to ice skate on that day - Well, maybe she got dragged into it, like some people recently!

Back to the rink!

I have a special guest from Ohio at home at the moment and last night... she absolutely wanted to "go to the ice rink located where the famous kiss photo by Doisneau was taken!" So we went. I did not really feel like skating, so I remained on the side of the rink to play paparazzi! I had a blast! My dear visitor is going back to the States tomorrow morning so I just wanted to give her a little tribute on PDP to thank her for coming. BTW, most of you also know the second skater in the photo...

Ice Hockey in Paris

Every year they install an ice rink in front of the town hall (and in front of the Montparnasse station). I passed by it tonight hoping and noticed that they saved some of it for hockey players. Quite impressive I must say. Ice Hockey (le Hockey sur glace in French) seems to be pretty big in France, I had no idea...

Jardin Ephémère 2009

Amazing what they do in front of the Hôtel de ville (town hall)! You may remember the French tennis Open recently, or the ice rink last winter, now they installed a giant temporary garden (un jardin éphémère) like last year, and the year before. This time, I found it a little less impressive (there is no pond!), but I suppose it's still interesting if you're into all these gardening stuff  (I'm not, I'm a city boy, LOL!). Everyday you may even want to talk to some Paris gardeners (there are many many!) as they organize little gatherings to answers Parisians' questions. Isn't that cool?

French Tennin Open?

You think I received one of these fancy invitations to the French Tennis Open at Roland Garros stadium like in 2006? Not at all! I simply went to the Paris Town hall where, during the whole open, they installed a giant screen (to follow the matches) and a tennis court (just like they install an ice rink in winter!)! I think the idea is pretty cool and very realistic (they even have ads around the court.). There is a lot going on in Paris at the moment, I will share all this with you, even though I have a tough week.

2008 Ice Rink

Like every year, they just installed the ice rink in front of the town hall. It's always a huge success (it's free if you bring your own blades). I already posted two shots of this rink on PDP, so for a change, this year, I tried the blurry effect ;) Don't forget to come back here tomorrow BTW, I've got a special message for you, around midnight!

Hotel de Ville Ice Rink

Every year around the same period (December through March), they install a huge ice rink in front of the Hotel de ville (Town hall) where Parisian can skate for free (providing you have your own blades of course, otherwise you have to rent some) until midnight. I love the idea, even if I only tried it once!

Ice skating in the middle of Paris

In front of the Paris Town Hall (Hotel de Ville) they not only installed "bobsled tracks" for kids like I showed you earlier in February but also, a free ice rink. Although it is freezing cold these days in Paris they still have to freeze it artificially.