Faces!

Tomorrow will be a theme day. I won’t have the occasion to post a typical New Year photo so let me do it today. I took this photo near my place and I thought I’d keep for today to put a - little -smile on everybody’s face (after all is there a better way to start the year?). You may have recognized (from left to right: Michael Jackson, Nicolas Sarkozy (current French President), Ségolène Royal (ex Candidate to the French Presidency) Carla Bruni (current wife of Nicolas Sarkozy) and Johnny Hallyday (famous French singer). As for me, I'm sending you all my love from Boston, where I am currently eating Foie gras (again!) and drinking Champagne that I specially imported for the occasion! And remember, if you want to follow the New Year's eve events live from where you are, here is the link to follow.

Vitrine de noël

I did not show you any Vitrine de noël (Christmas window display) this year, so before they remove them, here is one. I took it outside Le Printemps where they have little stands for kids to climb on, so that they can see better. It's always so cute to see how fascinated the children are, up to a point that they never want to leave. It's a shame we become easily blasé when aging and that displays for adults (I mean television(!)) have to be much more eye catching than this! By the way, if you want to follow the New Year's eve events live from where you are, here is an interesting link.

Christmas Trees Forest

Funny the way the wrap Christmas trees in these nets nowadays. You see them absolutely everywhere in Paris, even in Supermarkets. I photographed this forest at Monceau Fleurs in the 17th, probably the largest florist chain store we have in France (and Europe actually). The price of a Christmas tree varies from one store to another and from the kind you want. The "Nordman" is the best - it lasts longer and does not lose its pines - costs about 50 €

French Television

I happened to have a meeting near the first French TV channel (TF1) recently (technically they are not located in Paris, but in the suburbs) and I took advantage of it to take this photo. We have 6 main channels in France plus a about 12 other ones of lesser importance. On top of that we also have Cable television (which is more DSL television) and more and more video on demand, which I'm very fond of. I like the French TV system actually as there is a wide range (from the very cultural public channels to the very commercial ones). If you want to improve your French while watching TV, have a look at this and this. You won't be able to watch everything (for rights reason), but some of it.

Paris snow scene

This is not what's happening right now in Paris. It's just another photo I took during the snowy days we had before Christmas. I took it on Le Pont Nôtre Dame and I actually like the light effects coming from the street. I also like the blinking Santa hat of the guy in the background. Very appropriate! I'm currently in Boston for the day, it's not sowing, but it's cold!

Gee, what a day. After 24 hours of stuffing myself with Christmas food(!) I came back to Paris and rushed to the Olympia to attend a show by Dany Boon. Dany Boon is a French comedian well known for a movie I already told you about: Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis. This time he was alone on stage and it felt good to laugh after so much family gathering (not that my family is not funny!) Now I have to rush again, this time to pack, for I'm going away tomorrow for a week. Where? You'll find out tomorrow... And last but not least. Thanks a million for all you Christmas wishes. I love you all.

Joyeux No "L"

It's today! When this photo shows up on PDP, I'll be unwrapping my presents, feeling sorry for having eaten too much and not looking forward for more food tomorrow! But every year it's the same and I'm actually happy it is. So let me wish you all a merry Christmas. FYI, I took this photo in one of the windows of Le Bazar de l'hôtel de ville (BHV).

Santa is on his way!

That's it, I tracked him down! He was probably coming from the mountains of Korvatunturi in Finland (You have to say flying reindeer really help when you need to travel fast!) OK, I stop, or this time you really are going to think I'm on drugs! In fact I took this photo near the Grand Palais, off Les Champs Elysées, where they installed a small amusement park for children - I think it's the first time I see it there. In France - well at least in Paris - we don't have Santa Claus, but we have Father Christmas and every year we hear this on the radio (I'm sure this will remind a few things to my French visitors...). I'm off to Trouville today, to meet with my family. But it's not time yet to wish everyone a merry Christmas. Wait till tomorrow's photo ;-)

Christmas is close...

Yes, Christmas is close, as you can see. There are already cadeaux (gifts) everywhere in Paris waiting to be picked up (this one probably belongs to a giant ;-)) No I'm not on drugs, I'm just happy today is my last day at work until January 6th and I'm really looking forward to having some rest. BTW, I photographed this huge canvas on the facade of Le Louvre des Antiquaires, a shopping mall dedicated to antiques, opposite to the Louvre Museum. They obviously are renovating the building (yes, like in yesterday's photo!)

Wedding Dress

Something more fun today... I took this shot in front of a wedding dress shop which building they are obviously renovating. I found it funny to think of the plastic tarpaulin as an extension of the dress. I know it's silly... FYI, there are a little less than 300,000 marriages per year in France (and about 150,000 divorces). The average age of the groom is 31 and the one of the bride is 29.

Sooooo Paris!

How about a classic view to start this Christmas week? I took it last evening (Sunday) around 6 pm while I was going back home after having brunch at a dear friend's. It shows two typical things in Paris: the Eiffel Tower and Les Bateaux Mouches entrance - Les Bateaux Mouches are boats that carry passengers on the Seine and that are named after old boats that used to carry goods. As you can see the snow is gone now and the sky is clear. Perfect for some last minute shopping!

I want this for Christmas!

This? This is called Powerstriders and they are a new kind (well not that new...) of stilts specially made to jump around cities, like Paris ;-). They were making a demonstration in Le passage des Princes where I took this photo, near the Grands Boulevards and it was fun to see (in fact it's really not that easy to use at first). Well anyway, I was kidding when I wrote "I want this for Christmas" in the title of this photo, I just read it's extremely tiring and that you can spend up to 600 calories per 10 minutes!

Warm Metro

I'm sure you could feel the cold from yesterday's photo so today let me offer you an indoor one ;) Like I said I took the metro to work today which is almost like an adventure for me as I rarely take it! I took this photo at the Strasbourg Saint Denis station (a station that was opened to the public in 1908) where they have an odd partition between the two lines. You feel like you're spying on people on the other side while you're waiting for the train! The coming weekend will be cold again which is bad because I still have Christmas gifts to buy!

Velib in the snow

Giant snowfall this morning over Paris. The whole city was a mess - including me on my scooter and people on Velibs! I took this photo around 8:45 while the roads were still clear (well sort of!) but a few minutes later it was all slippery everywhere. Funny as hell (except for those who had an accident.). Tomorrow is going to be worse apparently so I think I'll take the metro to work. That means less photos for you, I'm sorry...

The Lutetia is 100 years old

In Paris, most of the luxury hotels are located on the right bank. On the left bank, the most famous one is called the Lutetia and it was the first Art Deco hotel in Paris (the facade is absolutely stunning). It was inaugurated in December 1910 so quite logically they are currently celebrating its 100th anniversary (check the web site if you want to know more about its history). And BTW, if you want to stay there for 3 nights between December 1st and December 31st, you will get a 100 € voucher!

Happy recyling!

Apparently only one of two plastic bottles are currently being recycled in Paris. To draw people's attention on this major situation(!) the city of Paris, the Coca Cola company and the Designpack gallery have teamed up and built several Christmas decorations out of plastic bottles. I chose to photograph two of the four big Christmas trees they installed at Place André Malraux in the 1st arrondissement. 1,300 bottles were necessary to make them. Really cool.

Frozen Wheel

Come on, don't you act surprised... You knew I would show you the big Ferris wheel of the Jardin des Tuileries one of these days... ;-) Well, now is the time. Why? because I just passed by it a few minutes ago and because due to the cold the Neptune fountain is all frozen (click in the photo if you want to see better). Really nice, I'm sure you're going to love this photo as much as I enjoyed taking it (well I'm glad I had gloves on though...)

Cold Attack!

I knew the weather could not stay that mild for long... Now we're going to have to play by the rules of Mr Winter! According to the forecasts, the cold is going to fall over Paris this week with temperatures between minus 1 and minus 6 (on Thursday). Minus 11 is even expected for next Saturday. I think you're going to see some Metro photos pretty soon because I don't think I'l bear riding my scooter with temperatures like that! About this photo: don't get too excited, this is fake snow! I took it in the 5th arrondissement, rue Galande and the church behind the palm tree is Saint Julien Le Pauvre.

A stunning show

I'm usually very picky about shows, but tonight I can tell you that I attended a really delightful one. It's called La Clique and it runs at the Bobino theater, in the 14th arrondissement. It was witty, funny, creative, unexpected, daring... Well, really good. Have a look at some of the numbers if you want to have a better idea. I took this photo at the intermission from the balcony.

Saint George Tavern

How about a little concert for today? This band was actually playing at the Saint George Tavern, an English pub located next to my home. I did not go inside the place, I just passed by it and heard the music through the window on the way back from Le General Lafayette, a restaurant where I had dinner with Lucio (a regular visitor to PDP who normally lives in Melbourne). A delightful moment. BTW, back to this photo: I took it from the street, which gives it this "backstage" effect. Have a wonderful Weekend, it's going to be cold here (not Minneapolis cold, but Paris cold!)