All Christmas decorations are out in Paris at the moment. I used one of them to take this "theme day compliant" photo! For you may not remember but today is December 1st and like every month it's a theme day within the City Daily Photo community. Today's theme is: "Circles/Spheres". If you look carefully, the little man in the middle, is... me! If you want to see how the other 187 participants to this theme day managed to photograph circles and spheres around the world, please visit the community portal.
This is so funny -- I took a picture today almost exactly the same -- except my ornament is purple.
ReplyDeleteLove this, like-minded Eric!
Of course, since your photo is B&W, who knows -- this ornament might be purple too!
ReplyDeleteMust stop monopolizing my hosts' computer now and go help them decorate their Christmas tree.
I like the effect of it when we enlarge the picture. It's... funny knowing it's you standing there so tiny in the middle of it!
ReplyDeleteEric, today is Dec 1st. Remember your promise chandelier! chandelier! chandelier!
ReplyDeleteExcellent!
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant illustration of the theme month. So clever. So tempting.
How fun! I hope this means the holiday season is off to a very good start.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, Paris for Christmas. . . maybe I should be looking for air fare!
Perfect! Your sphere of influence is worldwide, Eric, and we thank you for it!
ReplyDeletegreat idea Eric...as usual!
ReplyDeleteI predict there will be a lot of balls in the theme day today. Pretty shiny French ones are of course alway a pleasure to view, especially Parisian ones.
ReplyDeleteOne might be able to decorate a tree with Christmas bobble photos from around the world.
ReplyDeletePerfect entry for this month's theme day. I like it in B&W too.
ReplyDeleteDazzling!
ReplyDeleteYou are at the center of that small universe....fun.
Non mais quel zoom!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome picture, that's silver more than black and white and it's really pretty.
It smells Christmas!
Is it a park behind you?
Michael, about yesterday's comments, I understand now! You were probably right.
Palais Royal?? Lovely image Eric.
ReplyDeleteV
A lovely sphere and perfect for the season!
ReplyDeleteSilver balls, Silver balls;
ReplyDeleteits Christmas time in the city...
See the bling, zing-a-ding;
December 1st's Eric's day!
Nice photo, Eric! I can't figure out where it is either!
Yesterday was an easy day - I'm winding down and saying goodbye to Paris. Tomorrow I fly...
ReplyDeleteI strolled thru the farmer's market at the Place Monge just in front of the Police Constabulary where the mounted police who parade on the Champs Elysee are located, then walked to a nearby Mosque, the largest in France and a very serene place.
It had been raining. The wet, white and sea green marble floors reflected the very beautiful white arches and dark, dark cedar of lebanon cielings. The openwork, Arabic calligraphy and multicolored tiles were gorgeous. Pools and greenery were everywhere.
Afterwards, just around the corner, I had a hot glass of mint tea at a tea shop run by the Mosque. The apartment building across the street was also unusual - done in red, blue, white, and yellow brick with open balconies and an unusual shape.
Then, I took up the role of flaneur (in SoCal, that's "one who makes flan"!) and walked to the enormous Hospital and Church of La Pitie - Salpetriere, an area almost as large as the Luxembourg Gardens with its own gardens and a cavernous church that had one of the Mois de la Photo exhibits inside. It dates back to Louis XV, I believe.
On the way I passed intersection with a statue of Joan of Arc on the Bd. St. Marcel and I ran across the Anthropology Institute, dedicated by Prince Albert of Monaco. I didn't have time to go in, but it has an amazing exterior with a bas-relief stone frieze running the length of the building depicting man and apes in all kinds of activities.
Then I made my way back to the rue de Rivoli to look through the etchings in the Department of Chalcographie du Musee du Louvre (per the information I was given, their website is: catalogues-rmn.com.rmn.fr). I left satisfied having found a wonderful view of Paris that will meet me at home!
Just behind the Louvre, I went into St. Germain des Auxerrois, and found a 15th C. carved and painted tryptich that took my breath away and a dark wood, floor to cieling seating box for the royalty who worshipped there that was truly majestic.
It had started raining again, so I stopped and had a vin chaud at a cafe. I lingered a long time over it because it came with a view of the Institute Francaise across the Seine. Finally, it was time to go, and I wandered up past la Samaritain and found the exhibition of baby photos which Eric posted the other day. It reminded me that I don't think I included an earlier walk down the rue Quincampoix - ancient, narrow and filled with art denizens today - with a detour off onto the Passage Moliere where I found a foot and hand massage shop with the most amazing display of casts of hands - the youngest 12 hours old. (Eric - if you get the chance - take a look - it may interest you!) Then, off I went to my little apartment, to rest my feet.
Speaking of feet - one of my abiding memories of France is the sound of gravel crunching under them. I always think of it and, like a certain madeleine, it brings back a whole world of memories.
ReplyDeleteAmazing, I thought December 1st theme day was of another sort…
ReplyDeleteVery very nice shot anyway and the wet greys make it sooooo parisian ! Bravo
I love the reflection. Very nice choice!!
ReplyDeleteWell I'm not on the list, but I've made a very late entry to Theme Day - for good reason!
ReplyDeleteI love your perspective through the Christmas ornament. Great panoramic view!
ReplyDeleteA lovely choice and a super reflection - and enormous reflection!
ReplyDeleteI just have a few minutes to post because the internet went down at my apt. Today I said goodbye to my neighborhood, to the waterfall in the little park, to the grand statue in the Place de la Republique, and to the post office (where I mailed some things home to myself!).
ReplyDeleteI went to see an area I didn't think I'd get to - the Buttes de Chaumont in the 19th - a beautiful green haven with a deep gorge on one side and a very hight rocky abutment that has a round greek temple affair crowning it and overlooking a lake far below. Off in the distance you can see the towers of Sacre Coeur.
I also took a walking tour of the streets around the rue de Mouzaia in that same area - where people actually live in houses! With yards! In Paris!! There are charming little cobbled walk streets and steps leading around corners to other narrow lampposted walk streets. I sat in a cafe on the Place Rhin et Danube and waited for photos to appear in front of me - many did. Then I walked all the way home through Belleville and got a little lost. Chagrined because I had wanted to walk home on the side streets,
I remembered that everything ends up with some gift in it - and as soon as I did, around the corner I came upon the fantastic sculpture that Eric posted on PDP of two men hanging a poster on the side of a building. Right there in front of me!
Well, I'm out of time, but I'll talk to you all soon - and I'll always have Paris!!
Is Babooshka a devil or is that just my twisted mind?
ReplyDeleteEric, we always like photos of you.
ERIC!
ERIC!
ERIC!
Carrie, for a long time I took notes of the places you visited, but I finally stopped. I will have to be a flaneur on my next trip, and follow where the streets and alleys lead me. I hope I find as many interesting things as you have. In Paris, I don't see how I can fail.
Joyeux Noel!! Happy Christmas!! Merry Christmas!! I'm not quite ready for it yet, I have to go to the Petoskey Downtown Open House to have it be the Christmas season. But since that is this Friday, I should be good to go this weekend!
ReplyDeleteVery nice picture, Eric! Looks like you don't have any snow though. If you would like, I can send some of our extra -- we have about 18 inches already!
Carrie, bon voyage!!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Only just discovered your blog, i'm visiting Paris this weekend for 3 days - not much time but can't wait. So looking forward to seeing the Christmas lights and everything else! Have you any information on flea markets please? Off to read the rest of your fab blog now :)
ReplyDeleteLove the perspective!
ReplyDeleteJust stopping in quickly to say - wonderful photo, Eric! You look as handsome as ever.
ReplyDeleteHey Biba. Eric has pinpointed these flea markets here - Flea markets
ReplyDeleteBiba: only three days? Don't waste them in flea markets. Walk Paris!
ReplyDeleteCarrie: Bon voyage, I'm glad you enjoyed your visit, I'm jealous of so much time, and thank you so much for your comments.
I start thinking about Christmas on December 10. I have great fun with it for 15 days, and that is enough: any more is drudgery, stress, and debt, which take the fun out of it.
Fun photo.
See that does worry me a bit about a visit to Paris, Jeff! Eek! I'm with Biba, having done the sights, or some of them, years ago, if I visited Paris now, I would want to be relaxed, see some flea markets, have coffee on the pavements and get to know some locals. I certainly wouldn't want the fast-trek, blistered feet route! Not for me at all.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lynn! Like you, i've visited Paris before years ago but am now after a less touristy break. Hard to know where to start though!
ReplyDeleteLovely photo & I'm always impressed how you incorporate Paris so well into Theme Days.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting. It looks like people are giving you plenty of room to take the picture, Eric. They're all standing around you in circle. Optical illusion, mabye?
ReplyDeleteVery original shot.
Happy Holidays to everybody around the world from the San Francisco Bay.
Happy December all! Blown up, this is spectacular. Eric, I can see that you had a ball taking it. ;-) Best in the coming month...hey is there any Beaujo Neauveau left? Just asking... lol
ReplyDeleteCarrie...safe travels and great reporting too. Merci. You have a way with words...glad you had a splendid trip.
Wow..fantastic shoots...
ReplyDeleteWe add you to our favourites.
Well done..
Walking Paris certainly does not mean fast-trek, blistered feet, and touristy. I do not know why somebody automatically assumes that. Walk to see what you want to see, take your time, stroll, have a café, ou un verre du vin. Don't sweat it. My point is flea markets are pretty much the same everywhere other than the acreage (size matters?). I don't understand going to a different city and doing the same thing you do at home. Why bother leaving home? Are you going to carry that (French) armoir you found on the plane home?
ReplyDeleteIf you are visiting, you are a tourist. Anything you do is as a tourist. Don't be ashamed of that. Meeting local people, having a picnic, a drink, dinner, is great. You are still a tourist.
And that's...okay.
ReplyDelete(Franken may be our next Senator, I have a right!)
I agree we are all tourists unless we live there of course. However, I was just saying that, although of course I'd like to see the Eiffel Tower again, I've no wish to see the sights particularly. I just like the French way of life and would be happy at cafes, bookshops and yes the flea markets. It is not the market which is the same as at home; it is the contents, which are French! The books are French, for a start. It's a personal thing, of course, just saying which would be my choice. It's not the only thing I'd like; I'd like to see some design houses, art galleries but the main thing for me would be being IN Paris! I suppose suffice it to say; strolling and looking, rather than searching and rushing. I've certainly enough of THAT at home! lol...
ReplyDeleteLike Tomate, I had the same feeling that people were giving you plenty of room.
ReplyDeleteDid You tell each of them : 'fais moi une place'... or I'll kill you? ;)
Around Midnight I just think Eric is so famous and revered, it must be natural to give him centre stage! And so they should - I would! lol
ReplyDelete> Alexa. Nope, mine was dark brown...
ReplyDelete> Monica ;)
> Sue LOOOOL. I would have done it, but the theme day was circles or spheres, too bad (and don't even dare saying that every chandelier usually comes with a pair of... spheres!)
> Travek Gal "I hope this means the holiday season is off to a very good start. " Yes, providing the crisis does not spoil everyting...
> USElaine "Your sphere of influence is worldwide..." Excellent Elaine, excellent!
> Babooshka "I predict there will be a lot of balls in the theme day today. Pretty shiny French ones are of course alway a pleasure to view, especially Parisian ones." Could not agree more.
> Denton. Hey, long time no see.
> Guille. "Is it a park behind you?" No, it's Les Grands Boulevards...
> Virginia "Palais Royal??" I thought of it actually, but no, not this time...
> Carrie "Yesterday was an easy day - I'm winding down and saying goodbye to Paris. Tomorrow I fly..." I know you'll be sad. So sorry. But you'll come back, I'm sure ;)). Nice to've met you in person.
> Nasty GG "Amazing, I thought December 1st theme day was of another sort…" Be patient! You know on PDP everything is one day late ;)
> Lynn. We forgive you! Sorry that Henry left already ;(
> Petrea "Eric, we always like photos of you.
ERIC!
ERIC!
ERIC!
LOL!
> Christie "Very nice picture, Eric! Looks like you don't have any snow though." No, we don't. I'd love some though ;(
> Biba "Have you any information on flea markets please?" Not particularly, but they are easy to find. Type flea market in the search box up left of this blog...
Ah, Eric thank you for noticing! Yes it was sad, painful even, but outweighed by the fact he was here! Thank you x
ReplyDeleteYes Eric, one day late because the 1st of December is the day of...(To be continued).
ReplyDelete...of what? lol I can't bear it!
ReplyDeleteOh yes!!
ReplyDeleteWho do I hand my crown over to? Will they look after it, treasure it?
ReplyDeleteThis is one awesome shot! Love that reflection! Happy Theme Day :)
ReplyDeleteOh, dear -- guess what you guys -- I'm like the guest who wouldn't leave!!
ReplyDeleteThe computer's up again and I'm trying to get on SoCal time.Thanks for all the bon voyages! Its 3 am; I just got home - only the US folks will be up. I walked from 9:30 to 12:30, then ate a long meal.
At 7 the concierge came. (He's a guide at Versailles.) He said he used to work at Maisons Lafitte. He always wanted to go into the room with the marquetry I told you of, but was never offered the chance - he was quite jealous, in a happy way. He also said the Boulles School is very famous. Its named for the man who first developed marquetry and made many pieces at Versailles. What a theme! He then told me about a area in the 9th/10th that I'm going to explore before I go!
But, tonight - I walked silent, empty,lamplit streets all the way down to the river, then across to the Place de la Concorde. I saw 3 more houses from the 14-1500's. The Mairie in the 3d was all glowing blue icicles and white light fans for Christmas. In the last two days I've seen greenery, bows and lights - I guess France doesn't start as early as the US. The Hotel de Ville has flashing white strobes you can see from the 16th and the ice skating rink is almost up. I wanted to see the Seine before I went and I got the chance to hear it slapping, slapping gently up against the stone embankments as well, in that dark stillness.
Around 11, nearing the Pont des Arts I saw a crowd silhouetted against bright lights near the Academie Francaise. My breath white as I crossed the river, I saw a film shoot. The crew guy at the barricade said it was an action film. When I asked if it was Academy members dueling, he laughed and said no, it was a John Travolta movie. He let me thru the set and I watched as they shot two men (neither JT) walking towards the Louvre! Hopefully they won't cut that scene, and I'll have another souveneir!! Later, recrossing on another bridge, I met a Japanese art student out with tripod and camera. We talked about loving Paris for awhile, then went our separate ways. I finished the night with choucroute and baba au rhum -- the bed looks good tonight.
Tomorrow, my last moments here. Then off.....
Oh Carrie. You could see the Hotel de Ville from the 16th! And you walked the streets alone at night. There aren't many cities where a woman can do that. Paris is perfection and you tell it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteWill you remind me what day you started? I think I'd better go back and copy all your comments into a document for my future trip. They're so good I have to save them.
Carrie -- bon voyage, and I will really miss your commentaires. I feel almost as though I've been there with you. Merci bien!
ReplyDeleteBTW, this bauble (with Eric included) has been added to the crown.
You're so right about the safety, Petrea - I'm not naive and I know there are parts of Paris that I couldn't have done that in, but so much of it is ok that its just a joy!!
ReplyDeleteHey! Sleep -- who needs sleep???!!!
Now I have to stay awake for another 15 hours.......80
You already posted this picture in the past, didn't you?
ReplyDeleteOne moment, I'll post mine soon. just wanted to say I love your new site!
ReplyDelete