Christmas Shopping!

I was looking for a photo to illustrate the chaos of last minute Christmas shopping (the one I always get trapped into!) and I came across this shot, that I don't believe I ever used. I like it because it could have been taken 60 or 80 years ago, in winter, somewhere in Paris (I believe I took it near La Madeleine). I hope you've done all your shopping, if not, good luck!

Nativity scene

Christmas is approaching as you all know and it's not all about buying gifts and eating like a pig!! For the Catholics, it's the celebration of the birth of Jesus. That is why in all churches in the word you find a "Nativity Scene" (une crèche, in French). There is one at the very end of this church (Jean-Baptiste de Pigalle)! A photo I took long ago, so long I don't even remember taking it! Here in Malta, a very very Catholic country, not only churches have Nativity Scenes, but you can also see many everywhere on the island (in people's windows, at roundabouts, etc.)

Packed metro!

In 5 days I'll be back to Paris (yes, already!) to spend Christmas with my family. I won't stay very long, but long enough to experiment a few Metro trips (I have no more scooter in Paris now!). Not exactly what I'm really missing, but I guess it comes with the package. Sorry for the delayed posting again, I had to take my computer to a repair store today and only got it back late...

Macho Paris!

It's a funny bit of news I came across today: a computer guy from Bordeaux, analysed the street names of several cities focusing on the names of them (their first name in particular). He found out, what will probably won't come as a surprise to you: in Paris 90% of the streets that were named after a person were actually attributed to a male!  To illustrate this I found this old photo that I never published (and I understand why when I see how bad it is ;-)) But I had no choice...

Eau de Paris

Funny how the things you now take for granted like water and electricity in a big western country are not that granted everywhere! To be honest, I never paid that much attention to the price of utilities when I was in Paris, because from the very first times I moved into my own place I knew it was something you had to pay and that it was not very expensive. Now that I am in Malta, I had to look into all this with much more attention for they have a different system here: the more you use electricity and water, the more you pay - that is the more each kwh and cubic meter is expensive. This to encourage households to be "reasonable". These bottles are part of the Eau de Paris collection, that you can find at the Pavillon de l'eau in the 16th arrondissement.

Rush hour!

I remember very well when I took this photo. I was on my way to work, it was winter, I was cold, but the sunrise was so beautiful that I stopped for a while and took a few shots. 

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. 

Paris giant has left...

Browsing through my old photos, I just came across this one! I originally posted a photo of him in January 2008 and went back recently there to see if he was still hanging, but he had left (he left in June 2010, in fact)! Why did they hang this guy on this school? Because of a legend: a giant called Isoire (or Isoré, or even Issoire which is now the name of the street) used to rob people there in the old times. Someone (Guillaume d'Orange) is said to have chopped his head off, and buried the rest of the body on site! I wish I knew the real story behind this one!

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.

Freeze!

No the title of this photo has nothing to do with the current Paris weather (even though I hear it would be appropriate!), but with a big "street freeze" I photographed at the end of March 2009. It was fun, shame they don't do that anymore... Sorry for the late posting these days, but I've had to get my local Internet subscription, and it was not easy to choose!

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...

Driving the metro

I used to very rarely take the metro (I had a scooter in Paris - which is now hopefully on its way to Malta!), but I did from time to time. For me it was almost like a game, especially when I could take the first car and see through the driver's door, like I did in this photo, as you can see! At that time I have a very basic camera, not very good with low light environments, obviously...  

Return to the Kube bar

I hear it's very cold in Paris at the moment, which made me think of a "free will" freezing experience I had once in Paris. I was invited to Le Kube bar, an ice bar located in the 18th arrondissement (but not at all in the touristy part of the 18th arrondissement, which made me doubt about its viability at the time, but I check, they are still in business!). Quite impressive and fun (to do once, in my opinion, but not twice!). Read all about it here.

Croissant anyone?

Before I left for Malta I had to make a movie about the working conditions in bakeries! I then was lucky enough to shoot images during a whole morning in a boulangerie. Here is one of the shots I took. Quite appetizing isn't it?

Courting in the sun!

A few years ago I used to work at the top floor of a large building. On the ledge of my office window, I could often see pigeons "flirting"... Once, I managed to catch a pair on "film". Cute! Even though some people consider that in a city pigeons are no better than rats! Enjoy your weekend everyone, even though for most of you it'll be cold!

Chai 33

I totally forgot about this series of photos that I took at Chais 33, a restaurant located at Bercy Village, an area located in the Eastern part of Paris I already told you about several time. A "chai" is the place were wine is made and stored  (winery in English) and there were lots of them at Bercy in the old days (hence the name of the restaurant). Stunning location.

Winter sky

I hear it's very cold in Paris at the moment... It might even snow a little bit! I thought a typical winter sky was appropriate! I took this photo from les Tuileries if I recall,  

Marché Beauvau

There is a famous market in the Eastern part of Paris called Le marché d'Aligre. Most of it is in open air, but part of it is also sheltered in this covered hall called La Marché Beauvau. Definitely worth a visit, for the market and for the inhabitants of this neighborhood!

Cold and rain!

I took this photo from the first floor of the musée des arts et métiers, a great museum located in one of the Louvre palace wing. Not to be missed if you come to Paris. But the reason one I picked it today is that I looked at the French news today and saw that it was going to be 4°C in Paris today. I thought this was the perfect illustration!