Monday, January 31, 2011

Free-zing!


The cold is back again... Of course in January it's pretty normal, but since we already had a cold wave in December - which is rather unusual - I was hoping January would leave us alone! Anyway, I thought this photo was and excellent illustration of winter. I took it avenue Monceau where they have a huge air grating, probably leading to the Metro. It's much less sexy than Marylin Monroe's famous photo, but that is all I could find in the middle of winter!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Delightful moment


Great, delightful, fantastic, witty, funny, spectacular, inspiring, subtle, stunning... I don't know enough English words to express what I feel after having seen the Voca people, a group of accapella singers that are really extraordinary. You've probably heard of them already (if you don't visit their website or Youtube), but I did not - and I'm really fortunate to have seen them live on stage at the Bobino theater yesterday. If you come to Paris rush to Bobino before the end of March, or else wait till they come to you.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Upstairs, Downstairs...


So here you go! This stairway belongs to... the Plaza Athénée Hotel, where I also took yesterday's photo. I spent a few hours there, and was lucky enough to visit some of the best parts of the hotel, including the bar, the Dior institute, the wine cellar and... the kitchen (I did not get to meet 3 star chef Alain Ducasse though, but head chef Christophe Saintagne...) an its dozens of cooks. It was a delightful moment needless to say, especially since it weren't for Paris Daily Photo (and you, my dear visitors!) I would have never had the chance to see and experience all this. As always, when I visit an exceptional place I took several photos, you can see a selection of them in the little Animoto at the top of the right column of this blog. Have a great weekend.

Friday, January 28, 2011

A room with a cool view!


Here is a little teasing... Once again I was lucky enough to visit one of the finest hotels in Paris. I'll disclose which one tomorrow, but in the meantime (and to give me enough time to select the best pictures among the zillion photos I took!) I thought I'd make you guess which one it is. Like I said, it's one of the top palaces in Paris. Little hint: the King of Pop enjoyed this view last time he was in Paris...

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Here comes the rain again...


I know this photo is pretty similar to the one I took about 2 weeks ago, but it's very appropriate. The weather forecasts leave no doubt: today it's going to rain! I took this photo from the balcony of the Swiss Bank, located on the Place Vendôme, where I had a gathering with one of my geek clubs (the Internet Manager Club!). Quite interesting actually and a super location to take photos...

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Champs Elysées


I had lunch with a friend near the Champs Elysées yesterday (Tuesday) and before I went back to work I walked a little bit on the avenue. I saw this lady with this purple umbrella and thought immediately it would make a very Parisian photo (even though I believe the young lady might be Japanese - she was waiting in front of Louis Vuitton!). I was not too happy about the guy walking by on her left hand side, so in the end I cheated a little bit by turning the photo black and white, except for her!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Off to Brighton!


I was on my way to the Beaubourg area this afternoon to buy some paint and, on the way, at rue de Turbigo, I saw this shop which looked funny. First because it's called Brighton (after the name of a famous British seaside resort), and second because all the mannequins are naked (probably because of the sales). That's all, nothing extraordinary, I agree, but that is all I have been able to dig out for you today in Paris ;-)

Monday, January 24, 2011

The naked truth!


Let me introduce you to... Jean Baucher. Or rather his replica, as the real one died in 1995... He was - among many other things - the head of Le Moulin Rouge for sometime and he is now buried in the Montmartre cemetery in a grave, that, to say the least, is not exactly discrete! I thought of posting this photo because I just read Le Moulin Rouge is on the verge of being totally transformed; there will be a new glass entrance, a brasserie on the rooftop, a new, smaller cabaret spaceinside... These are the plans of Jean-Jacques Clérico, the new owner. I don't know if he already reserved a slot at the Montmartre cemetery and if he had his statue already made ;-)

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Last leaves


Funny how nature works. I went to visit a friend in the 18the arrondissement and in the courtyard of her building I took this photo. We're in the middle of winter, but some leaves are still on trees or just on the verge of falling. Don't ask me why, I just thought it would make a nice Sunday photo. And I think it does ;-) Have a nice Sunday, I'll be staying inside for the cold is back again in Paris. Thank you all for your nice birthday wishes BTW ;-) Aging with you all is much less painful!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Choosing a book


The temperature has dropped again in Paris, so I'm a little reluctant to going out too far. That is why I took today's photo in one of these covered passages close to my home (this one is called passage Jouffroy). I saw this young lady picking up a book at this bookshop and I thought she could belong to an old painting or something. I debated whether to keep the black part on the left (it's actually the door to the passage) and finally kept it to emphasize the depth effect. Have a great weekend everyone. Stay warm ;-)

Friday, January 21, 2011

Become a stewardess!


There are many ads that people post on street lamps and furniture in general in Paris(I posted several here already) ; one has lost his cat, the other offers massages and the third is looking for baby sitting! This one originates from a stewardess school (so it says) and I immediately thought of a very famous visitor to this blog who, I'm sure, will recognize herself (providing she's not stuck in a plane at the moment of course!) As for this school, I'm not sure I would trust it too much, as this does not really seem like a serious way of advertising ;-)

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Odd...


I had to pick up something near my home last evening and on the way I passed by this pretty odd scene. This guy was having a gourmet McDonald's meal at this bus stop while these sheep were looking at me. I suppose it's an ad but I didn't go around the bus stop to check what they're selling! I know I'm baaaaaahd ! Anyway, this photo won't win a prize, but I kinda like it ;-)

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Winter sun


In Winter (and not only in winter!) the sky is often grey in Paris. It does not necessarily rain, but it's often covered. And then, one day, out of nowhere, you wake up to a blue sunny day, like yesterday (2 days ago actually), when I took this photo near Bercy in the 12th arrondissement. Easy shot, of course, but once in a while it does not hurt ;-) The bridge in the background is the Passerelle Simone de Beauvoir, the latest one that was built over the Seine

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Aging in Paris


I came across this charming little lady in a garden in the 18th arrondissement. She was coming in my direction and I knew right away I wanted to take a photo of her. So, I waited for her to walk away a little bit and took this shot. I just learned a few days ago, that the oldest French person lived until the age of 109 (and 146 days!), not far from Paris. He was born in 1901 and I often wonder what people who were born that long ago think of today's world ;-)

Monday, January 17, 2011

Sunny Paris


This weekend I went to buy sport shoes at Decathlon, near La Madeleine church and when I came out of the store, there it was, all  golden because of a ray of sun  so you know me, I pulled my trigger! It's a classic, I know, but that's also what PDP is about : a scary tunnel one day and a magnificent building the next day! BTW, did you know that it took 85 years to build this church (it was completed in 1845) and that it was almost turned into a railway station in 1837! (More here, if you're interested). Have a great week everyone, mine will be pretty busy, but I'll still be here ;-)

Sunday, January 16, 2011

The Jasmin revolution


I don't know if you've seen on the news that the Tunisian people have made their revolution these past days and thrown their President (Ben Ali, a dictator that remained in power for 23 years!) out of the country (he is now in Saudi Arabia). Well, we have a lot of Tunisians in France (it's a former French colony) and today they organized a big demonstration to celebrate the event (I took this photo at rue Beaubourg). Now the big question is "who is going to replace Ben Ali?" and that is not easy to answer...

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Scary tunnel!


No, Paris is not all about luxury shopping areas and chic little concealed passages! You can also come across dodggy tunnels like this that probably take you somewhere if you're lucky enough to make it through the other end before getting stabbed or robbed! I found it in a pretty residential area though, in the 15th arrondissement  (at rue Jacques Baudry). It goes under a bunch of railway tracks that originate at Gare Montparnasse. I hope this is not too creepy for you to start the Weekend!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Dead hostages return


Two poor young French guys got killed last Saturday in Niger after they were kidnapped in a bar by what is believed to be Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim) - see more here if you're interested. Why them? For no reasons, they were simply picked up by chance... I had no intention of mentionning this sad episode as, unfortunately, tens of people get abducted and die everyday in the world, and then I saw this paper in the middle of the street, just like this (I did not touch anything), partly wet because of the rain. It simply moved me.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Les Soldes 2011


I don't know if the sales are an important event where you live, but I can tell you that in France it's a major one! The 2011 winter Soldes (sales) started yesterday morning (Wednesday) and no less than two Ministers (Christine Lagarde and Frédéric Lefebvre) gave the first Go this morning at 8 o'clock at the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. FYI, there is a controversy whereas the Soldes should be feminine ("la" Solde) or masculine ("le" solde)... The correct gender is "le", but most people say "la". So if you're learning French and fight with genders, you should know that the French do too, sometimes ;-) BTW, I took this photo at rue de Passy, well known for its shops.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

A tribute to the land down under


The Seine is overflowing at the moment (there are benches near the trees normally), like I already told you before Christmas, but compared to the terrible images I saw today about Australia and the region of Brisbane in particular (see this video) it's really nothing. I exchanged emails with people who have family over there today and they really seemed devastated, so since I have a fair amount of visitors from "the land down under" I thought I pay my tribute to them by posting this photo.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Ice rink 2011!


I know you probably have the feeling you already saw this photo on PDP last year - and possibly the year before - but I swear, this is a brand new photo ! I took it at the Hotel de ville where they installed the ice-rink like every year. I took this photo through the transparent plastic walls they have around it. Cool effect.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Rain


It's raining a lot in Paris these days and since it's pretty "warm" (10°) there is no risk of ice, nor snow. FYI, like I already mentioned here once I think, it rains on average 171 days per year in Paris (including16 days of heavy rain), that is roughly once every other day... I took this photo from a balcony, where they still have Xmas decorations on. I kinda liked the two little figures in the background of this photo ;-) Have a nice week everyone, whether it's going to be raining, snowing, blowing, shining... in your area ;-)

Sunday, January 09, 2011

Soooo 70's


This could be somewhere in Silicon Valley (it reminds me a little bit of The Tech Museum in San Jose!), but no, it's an apartment building hallway in Paris - rue Cardinet to be precise - where I went yesterday (Saturday) for tea. Like quite a few buildings in Paris, this one was obviously built in the 70's when the trend was to get rid of the traditional Paris architecture and to step into a more daring, modern one. As always this was highly controversial, but whether you like it or not, it was a attempt to renew the city, exactly what Haussmann did in his times...

Saturday, January 08, 2011

Quand l'appétit va...


We have a famous saying in France that goes "quand l'appétit va, tout va!" ("when your appetite is fine, everything else is") and, well considering the huge "Gauffre" aux marrons (chestnuts waffle) that I had today, well, there is no doubt: I'm perfectly healed ;-) My God was it yummy... Now I can go back to working like normal ;-( ! Have a great weekend everyone, it's 15 degrees C in Paris (60° F) right now, not a single chance of snow.

Friday, January 07, 2011

Meeting at Place Vendôme


For my first real trip outside after my flu, I was lucky! I had a meeting at Place Vendôme in the 1st arrondissement. A really nice location, especially since the Christmas lights (the little yellow spots you can see in the background) are still on. I took several photos, but I chose to post this one which includes the nice window railing of this 18 century building I was in... Like I said, I was lucky!

Thursday, January 06, 2011

Paris recycles Christmas trees


Remember a few years ago when I told you that a lot of Parisians would throw their Christmas tree out of the window after Christmas?! Well now it's very badly considered! Now, if you want to be a good Parisian, you have to take it to one of the 95 Christmas tree recycling stations, that the Paris town hall installed everywhere in the city. I sound like I'm joking, but in fact I think it's a pretty good idea (providing you have a collection station near your home of course...). BTW, I went out today, not very far, but I went out. The wicked flu will soon be history (for me!)

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Almost healed...


Thanks a million for all your get well messages (and grog recipes!!). I don't have the strength to reply to each of you individually, but I'm sure your nice word  played a large part in my - coming soon - recovery. The only attempt I made to go outside today was to reach my mailbox (which was empty!), so needless to say I did not take a photo today either. There is this one I've been willing to use for some time, though. I took it at Trocadero during one of the snow episodes last December. Tomorrow, I'm sure I'll be able to go out. One thing is sure, I must not be the only one in bed at the moment in Northern France. See the red parts in this map...

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Sick day!


If you think I'm awfully quiet these days, well you're right! the thing is that I caught a very bad flue in Chamonix where I was spending a few days of vacation over new year's eve. I'm back in Paris now, but spent 99% of the day in my bed, sleeping... Needless to say this photo is not fresh of the day, as I did not even think of going outside today! I hope I will recover soon, for my sake of course and to take new Paris photos ;-)

Monday, January 03, 2011

Man Door



In the 13th arrondissement again when I came across this man in the doorway. I really don't know what he is doing or why he's dressed that way, but he looks like a cross between a motorcyclist and, if you look closely, maybe a roller-derby player. Anyway, I really liked the shot.

Sunday, January 02, 2011

I'm feeling lucky



With all the complaining about the cold, when I came across this homeless person, I stopped to think how lucky I, and many of us, really are. I know it's not the kind of photo that postcards are made of, but it's a fact that there are still many unfortunate people in the city of Paris. I do hope that someone took him or her in for a hot meal and some dry, warm clothes and that 2011 turns out better for them.

Saturday, January 01, 2011

Best 2010 photo


Every year, when I turn back to my 365 photos, a few memories come to my mind: "this one I took on this very cold morning" or "for this one, I've been really lucky to be in the neighborhood"... so I like some of my shots for more than aesthetical reasons! Which makes it hard to choose the "best photo of the year". So this year I chose a pretty consensual shot, for I think many of you liked it. Let me wish you all a wonderful year, full of joy and happiness. That's what we all need (and yes, a booming economy too!).