Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Champs Elysees / Elysian fields


You probably all know the Champs Elysees, the most famous avenue in Paris. Most of the people think that all you can find there are a bunch of restaurants, cinemas and luxury shops. Well, it's true on the upper part, but on the lower part, between the Rond point and the Place de la Concorde, you can still enjoy a nice walk in the middle of the trees.

Loading problems. A lot of you kindly reported that PDP does not load properly at the moment. I am aware of that and, of course, I am deeply sorry but there is nothing I can do, it's 100% Blogger's fault.

38 comments:

  1. Hello Eric, last time i let a comment here you had a motorbyke, now i see you blow it, did you carry to much photographic material?
    About the photo i just wanna say all kids draw houses with trees and happy faces around, we need to keep this as reality and not only as a child imagination!

    ps:Congrats with the portal, anything i can help just ask.

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  2. Two comments:

    1) The young women in the background have this "ghost" like quality to them as they are moving between the trees, in contrast to the sitting older man looking into us.

    2) Love the details on the bark of the foreground tree (after clicking and zooming in)

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  3. I love pictures of old people....seems you caught him in mid-chew or was he saying something to you?

    Did you tell him that he would now be famous?

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  4. Today, Eric, it is my turn to relate a strange coincidence. Shortly before checking today's photograph, in the course of doing some research for a future post for my own blog, I came across this painting by Magritte ('Le blanc-seing' - 1965):

    http://www.panoptikum.net/
    optischetaeuschungen/rene-magritte/
    index.html (You'll have to rejoin this into a single string, of course.)

    Sure, Magritte's image is in colour and the cast is different, but you must admit that the setting and composition are spookily similar.

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  5. Good catch Eric.
    I guess the b&w pic of an old man sat on a bench before a handful of tree boles is not exactly what the modern world thinks of the Champs Elysées...
    Yet this image is summing up your entire PDP blog, aka Paris magic, incredible melting pot of contrasts and surprises.

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  6. This is simply quiant and oh-so-romantic. I can just imagine couples walking hand in hand. I wonder what that old man is eating?

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  7. A very nice picture. Did you notice that the old man is actually a tourist??? He has a Sony camera hanging from his neck!

    And BTW, I love the "natural design" the front tree has in its upper part!

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  8. You're right Dio, clicking on the zoom in is worth it for that neat pattern on the tree bark. I love walking between trees, great photo, Eric. That older gentleman looks as if he is either in mid-sneeze or opening his mouth to yell at a certain sneaky photographer, hehe.

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  9. This is in fact my favourite part of the Champs Elysees. Away from the hustle and bustle of the big shops and one can still imagine what it must have been like in earlier times. Fall and Summer beneath the trees...there's nothing like it.

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  10. :)
    white and black view. Hope its only in the photo...great shot!
    i do join with Nuno...
    :D
    ...Jing

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  11. Detail of bark is amazing as well as this man.
    I noticed he's carrying video cam, so may be he's a tourist or may be just had his sandwich there while regular walking route.

    Excellent shot Eric.

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  12. Coincidentally my post of today is with an old man too:D

    Nice B&W!

    http://singapourdailyphoto.blogspot.com/

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  13. I love the way changing the angle can give a whole new perspective to a place! It is particularly true here. You feel it's a huge forest when it's really no more than a few trees... Wonderful shot!

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  14. Working well in the South Pacific and a great addition

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  15. Black and white is perfect for this shot.

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  16. It gives a feeling of peace there... in white and black always is magic

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  17. Non, il n'est pas un tourist. Il est un DP blogger!!

    (I apologize for grammatical errors of which I am ignorant. My French is very rusty.)

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  18. That man looks like you took him by surprise. =)

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  19. >>you can enjoy a nice walk in the middle of the trees>>

    or just sit and catch your breath and watch the passing scene as this gentleman is doing and as I did in this area.
    Love the b+w picture, Eric!

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  20. Love, love, love this photo. Is this the Marcel Proust alley?

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  21. I had no idea there were so many trees!?! Lovely shot, Eric!

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  22. I still love black and white photos, even movies in black and white. This photo is rich in texture and light.

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  23. (Yeah, I'm back!!! Pfeww!! I think Blogger should start offering "Pro" versions of Blogger, where for a nominal fee (let's say $20.00 a month) you'd get a smooth running blog, and a non-pro version (Free) that would run the way it does now. )

    Do they still have the stamp collectors gathering once a month or once a week around there?

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  24. Huh, and here I though tit was just my computer being stupid!

    Michael, too true of anywhere, fall and summer (and spring!) beneath the trees is simply perfect! This is a wonderfully relaxing photo, Eric. A welcome change from my hectic day!

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  25. LOL soosha_q...you must have SOME computer!

    Tomate....shhh....they'll probably start sending bills when they read your comment! And yes, they still have the stamp market, but for some time now, they also trade smart cards (carte puce).

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  26. The Magritte painting indeed is evocative of this photo...or, the other way around, chronologically. About the gear carried by the gentleman in the photo: camera, yes, but what are those cylindrical things. They look like ammunition! No wonder he's yelling at you, Eric, he's about to assassinate the spectral beings in the forest! He's an exorcist! Yiii!

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  27. Michael, I think soosha_q is unconsciously asking for a return of my old avatar!

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  28. Well that's the part I'd want to visit, thanks for letting me know. Portal looks superb, I'm working om my RSS feed and will give you details ASAP! Thanks for your time in setting it up.. keep up the good work, you obviously have a lot of fans! (including me). PS Just picked up my sister in law from the airport who had a lovely time in paris. Do you really eat croissants with chocolate for breakfast!!?

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  29. Oh I love that area, what a charming photo! Isn't that close to LeNotre[the restaurant]-le Pavillon Elysee?? Not far from the future residence of M Sarkozy..or Mme Royal?? ;-)

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  30. I love the old man eating a sandwich...that makes me happy.

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  31. John - Melbourne said... Do you really eat croissants with chocolate for breakfast!!?

    You must be talking about pain chocolate! Oh my yes! What would breakfast be without one? The trouble is finding the baker who makes them with 2 shots of chocolate inside instead of just one! Yummmmm

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  32. it happened to me, too..that I couldnt open your site for a while. But now its available again and I can enjoy your wonderful photos:)

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  33. i was patience , waited , the photo uploaded, clicked for larger view and wow! was it worth the wait!

    ps. i think the problem is particularly with this template. I experienced the same with Tuzla (BH) which uses the same design.

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  34. Bonjour,

    Superbe instant! l'homme assis te regarde, les femmes au fond font une partie de cache entre les verticales.
    Un petit regret, il manque les pieds de l'homme. mais c'est du détail. bravo!

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  35. like someone told me once, "la plus belle avenue du monde!"

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  36. I am really surprised about the excellent job that you have made in this blog, which contains very important and amazing content about Champs Elysees / Elysian fields, it allows everyone to express a variety of opinions.

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