Monday, March 22, 2010

Ile Saint Louis


A recent study ranked Paris the most expensive city in the world to live in (which I seriously doubt really), but when you see this scenery, you don't regret spending a little more than in other big capitals! This is actually the skyline of a part the Ile Saint Louis, a very old part of Paris that was built during the 17th century (you can see how crooked the buildings are!). Most of these buildings where originally Hotels Particuliers, that is private houses belonging to one and only one family. Things have changed now, but for the price of real estate. Not only is it very difficult to find an apartment there, but when you do, prices have no limits! More detailed info here.

40 comments:

  1. Ok, you're all going to laugh....I didn't look at the pic...I am here to see Sunday's.

    But when I saw no comments I had to since I have never been first!


    Sean

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  2. OK let me try that again!
    I have been gone for a few days, but I have found something tres wild on the fly over Paris link. (Hopefully I am not repeating someone else's comment!)

    If you drop down all the way towards the bottom, directly between the i marks for Sacre Coeur and the Louvre, you will find a small rooftop terrace, nearly at the bottom, with a blue chair and two white chairs and a table. Directly in the center of the table is what appears to be...a cheese! It is in a green and white package and says Fermier Reblouchon de Savoie. !!??

    When you get to the bottom, you have to put the picture on full screen and zoom in to see it.

    I love it!! Did the photographers leave it there? Was it serendipity? We'll probably never know.

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  3. I'm dreaming... just dreaming. I'm living in one of those rooftop flats, overlooking Paris and it's breathtaking skies. My cotton dress is hanging on a line to dry, my baguette is still warm, and the coffee is brewing on the stove. There are pink tulips in a clear vase and a huge smile on my face.

    Dreaming is gratis!!

    Ciao
    Eleonora xx

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  4. This is one of your best Eric. It looks like a miniature replica even. A Zazzle calendar "MUST"!

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  5. Eric, I love the shadows of the buildings that are opposite. Thanks for the great shot. Ah, Paris. . . I miss the family there most of all.

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  6. The photo is really lovely, really charming.

    Good call on the shadows, Deb! Now, someone who's more familiar with the precise location of these houses can tell us, by the direction of those shadows, what time of day Eric took the photo!

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  7. Ahh, all your wonderful contributers - you've gotta love 'em... Carrie, obviously completely mad, EuroStyle, out there somewhere, Eleonora - a dreamer and nothing but a dreamer (and I love her already..), Deb, a shadowy opposite chic.., and finally Michael, ever complimenting, ever loving, ever besting, ever being... we need more people like you, Michael..!

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  8. I love this, Eric! Thanks for posting it. My husband and I stayed in a little apartment on Ile Saint Louis when we visited Paris about five years ago. I have a great fondness for that place!

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  9. L'Île-Saint-Louis is one of «Louis'» favorite spots in Paris, and not only because it is the home of Berthillon!

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  10. I know *exactly* where you are standing. Love the shot!

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  11. That is a beautiful skyline. Paris has always been one of my favourite cities especially around the opera. Stayed there on several visits. As for expensive, I would say London is more expensive, especially restaurant food.

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  12. Oh. Wow. Breathtaking.

    I would love to casually wander past a scene like this every day...

    http://maybrady.blogspot.com/

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  13. Great Photograph Eric, it's fresh, atmospheric and suggestive! It set me thinking, if this wasn't the Paris Daily Blog and was simply called the 'Anonymous City Blog', would your readers know it was Paris? Cleanse your minds and be honest!

    Dermo

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  14. I love the light in this photo, beautiful!

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  15. This is one of my favorite spots in Paris!

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  16. So beautiful (the photo) and so depressing (the post)—by the time I'm able to have that apt. in Paris, I won't be able to afford it! I remember looking in the window of a real estate agent on the Ile St. Louis (in 2002). They had postings for properties on "les Iles" (Cité and St. Louis) and also "Le Continent" (the rest of Paris)!

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  17. I am dreaming of this spot tonight in my sleep. I'm going to think about this beautiful shot as I'm falling asleep and I really really hope for a magical trip.

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  18. Amazing!! Absolutely Amazing!! I have stared at the same block of houses many times and in different seasons. Like Lydia I will now go to bed and dream of this post and this beautiful "Spring Spot", anticipating the next time I will walk those streets.

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  19. It's true, one of the most expensive districts, along with any of the Quais and the Triangle d'Or in the 8th - I've heard numbers of 20k/m2!!! Which I thought was insane until one realtor told me of a recent listing for 40k/m2!!!!!! Ah, real estate in Paris. A girl can only dream.

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  20. I love the photo! ♥
    I just recently discovered this blog and I'm really amazed! Five years posting Paris photos,... Respect! I so much love Paris, and I already love this blog, that I'm seriously thinking about starting my own blog about Zagreb.

    Best wishes!
    Helena

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  21. Very charming though, if one can afford it!

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  22. Michael's right of course. This is stunning. Love the shadows on the wall. It's another keeper Eric!
    V

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  23. This seems almost unreal -- like a naif painting. It's gorgeous and as others have said, dream inspiring. Thanks, Eric, for starting my week on a up note.

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  24. What a lovely capture of light, textures and contrasts in this beautiful architectural photo.

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  25. You have to make a postcard out of this one Eric! It's a lovely picture.
    L'île Saint Louis is one of the places you can't miss if you're visiting Paris, beside a wonderful church (rue saint louis en L'île) and the best ice cream place in Paris (Berthillon), there is also one of the best spot to sit and watch the Seine...

    I doubt that Paris is the most expensive city in the world! There is no way. What about London, Tokyo and NY??

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  26. Actually, once you've purchased your apartment, Paris is one of the least expensive cities in which to live.

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  27. Alexa, I love your story of the rentals on 'the continent'. Maybe someday I'll be lucky enough to follow in Kelly's footsteps. There are so many things I want to do in Paris! Last night I saw Le Jour Se Leve (dir. Marcel Carne, scr. Jacques Prevert, star. Jean Gabin & Arletty.) I'd love to create my own little tour and see what movie locations, like the apt. building in that film, can still be visited.

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  28. Gorgeous - I love the higgledy-piggledy roofline.

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  29. I'm with Starman here "Actually, once you've purchased your apartment, Paris is one of the least expensive cities in which to live." !

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  30. i love this photo. the colors and the geometry are really lovely. i just made it my desktop photo at my work desk. It made me smile, and I can use that during the day!

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  31. Thank you for this wonderful photo and the fantastic link (more detailed info) about Ile Saint Louis.

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  32. Wondeful, absolutely wonderful. Love that place, the ambiance is extraordinaire!

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  33. Wow. How beautiful. It is amazing and amazingly expensive too! I forget how expensive housing is in other places and the sticker shock would probably flatten me in a matter of seconds. I live in a beautiful area, and there are plenty of high end houses here, but for the price of one of those apartments, you could almost have a huge waterfront home here. Thankfully, I'm content with my home and look forward to a visit!

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  34. I adore Ile St. Louis. I know it might not be very original, but it is my favorite area in Paris. I once stayed at Hôtel de Lutèce on the island and very much enjoyed being there. But the apartments on that site! Just dreamy. I'll continue to dream!!!

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  35. Lovely image, as always. But this is actually the western end of the Ile de la Cité.

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  36. I like the colors and design of the buildings.

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  37. Bertillon? I remember when...

    lovely photo, by the way...

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  38. Oh wow, this got every one going - fascinating input mixed with a good read.

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