Monday, September 30, 2013

More rain!


I got stuck yesterday evening in a heavy rain, while I was going to a dinner party in Le Marais. Not very pleasant of course, but it allowed me to take some cool photos, including this one that I love. You can see all of Paris in a nutshell ;-)  

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Gorgeous door!


Don't go thinking this is a drawing - even though it looks like one - it's a real door that I photographed yesterday on my way to the gym. It's located at rue Richer, and the reason why it's got uneven reflections is that it is currently being repainted. This is typically what we call a porte cochère, that is a door that leads to a courtyard where Parisians (the ones that could afford it) use to park their horse carriage during the 19th century. The two metal "balls" on each side  are guard stones (chasse-roues); all portes cochères have them because they prevent the walls from being damaged by carriage wheels. 

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Colorfull sitting


I have so much work at the moment that I've had absolutely no time at all to go out yesterday! Fortunately I had a little photo stock ;-) Here is one I took near La Villette a few days ago. There is not much to say about it and I don't particularly like it(!), but since we're going to have a little sun today I thought it was appropriate ;-) I'll probably have lunch outside, in the sun. I hope you'll do the same and will enjoy your weekend as much as I will!  

Friday, September 27, 2013

Place de la République


I passed by the brand new place de la République last evening and it was really beautiful so of course I stopped and took a photo! Like I already mentioned, this Place was totally renovated this year (well it lasted two years, but it was inaugurated this year) and it's a total success. The statue in the middle shows "Marianne", the young woman we usually represent the French republic with.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Perched!

































Like you probably guessed I took this photo in the Palais Royal courtyard where the Buren columns are located. If some grown ups still find them horrendous (and expensive! their renovation cost 5.3 million euros!), most kids love them for they make great poles to climb on...  

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

The weirdest monument in Paris...


On the right side of the Champs de Mars (when you look at the Eiffel Tower) there is what I would call the weirdest monument in Paris! It's dedicated to human rights and it's made of several elements of debatable taste and of  Free masons symbols. I chose to focus on this statue of a woman with a child which main garment is... a high hat with reliefs of printed newspapers! Like I said: weird! More (in English) here.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

The Pursuer!

I know that a lot of you will prefer what's in the background in this photo (the beautiful Place Vendôme at sunset), but... I'm sure you also like modern art! So here is one of the twelve statues by Taiwanese artist Li Chen (李真) that are currently on display all around the Place. This one is called The Pursuer and believe me it's really beautiful (and difficult to photograph!) Have a look at some other ones here...

Monday, September 23, 2013

Not ready for winter!

It was supposed to be hot and sunny yesterday and it turned out to be... not so sunny! Worse, I'm that close to turning the heating on! As much as I love the principal of seasons (especially the ones we have in Europe) and spring in particular (when everything comes back to life), I really hate fall/autumn, when it starts raining a lot, when the temperature drops and when it starts getting dark before you stop working! I took this shot on the Champs Elysées, BTW.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Paris wine!

Every year, since my friend Roniece made me discover it, I go to the Vendanges du "Château Charonne", a fun event organized by the Café Mélac, named after its (former) owner. Of course the whole thing is just an occasion to party, drink a lot of wine and eat typical food from Aveyron (a region of France). And there is no such thing as a "Chateau" at rue Charonne, just a few grapes that some familiar faces (to PDPers!) have tried harvesting with style! These legs however belong to no one I know, just some random girl who wanted to experience the feeling of crushing grapes! And before you ask, no, we did not drink anything from that bucket!

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Sunny side of the street...


I went back to La Défense area today and I could not help it! From the 17th floor where I was, I took this photo, which is pretty similar to the one I already posted a few weeks ago, but not quite ;-) I really love the way the sun creates these shadows on the ground. There should be more, as the weather in Paris will improve dramatically over the next days. I hope it's going to be the same for you; have a great great weekend.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Like a tourist in your own town...


I had a meeting near the Champs de Mars today, so I could not help but driving a little further and taking a photo of the Eiffel Tower. It was fun to see all these people from all over the world enjoying the scenery. I laid in the grass too, but only for a few seconds to take this shot. Then I went back to work... I wish I were one of these [young] tourists... 

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Movie set?


Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of having lunch with Peter and his wife Jo who usually live in Australia... These names may not be familiar to you and though they are very important to the CityDailyPhoto blogging community... Peter in particular, for he is the one who rescued the CityDailyPhoto portal after the first one crashed! After lunch, I walked a few steps and discovered a street that I had never seen before: the rue Legouvé, which, to me, really looks like a movie set!  Of course, I stopped and took a photo...

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Et's woodywood sister


Like every year the French wood industry goes on a promotion tour and brings a whole forest to the Parisians. It's planted at place du Palais Royal until September 22nd and there are no less than 20 000 (small) trees on display (well, so they say... I did not count them all myself!). I'm not so much a tree person, but I thought that their idea of building a wood ET was kind of funny. So here you go... Enjoy! (This one cannot be visited though...)

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

La Parisienne (in the rain)


Things are really improving! I even drove my scooter today. And on the way back home I stopped because I thought this restaurant under renovation was photo worthy. Then when I pulled the trigger I realized a typical "Parisienne" was in the picture!  Well, what can I say, I simply love this photo ;-) 

Monday, September 16, 2013

Opera music!


Hurrah, I managed to go out one hour yesterday! Long enough to witness "O Lavagem de La Madeleine" a Brazilian march, that apparently originates from Bahia and that has been imported in Paris in 2002! Lots of drums, fancy costumes and fun. I took this shot while they were passing by the Opera House on their way to La Madeleine, hence the title of this post! Have a great week everyone.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Rainy days


First of all, let me thank you all for your get well messages, they went straight to my heart even if for the time being I cannot answer everyone. In fact, I misjudged this operation (gallbladder removal); I thought I would get back on my feet the next day after the surgery, and, well, I simply can't! All I managed to do today was to go out around my pâté de maison (which literally means "apartment buildings pâté" - that's what we call  a "block" in France) and take this photo. As you can see the rain has returned!   Have a great Sunday everyone.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

There's not place like home...


I know, I've posted this point of view a dozen times already, but that is all I have handy right now! And since I'm not in good enough shape to go out yet, you'll have to live with that ;-)

Friday, September 13, 2013

Hotel de Sully


I'm just back from the hospital, I did not think it would take that long and that I would be so spaced out. So for once, let me post a random photo (one that I took three days ago in the Hotel Sully. Beautiful, but I don't have the strength to investigate any further. I'm sure someone will come up with the answer for me;-)

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Less clouds on the horizon!


I don't know if you remember, a few weeks ago I had to stay at the hospital for a few days because they discovered stones in my gallbladder. Well, when you read this - providing everything went well! - it should be history for I had it removed yesterday (Wednesday). I scheduled this photo on Tuesday evening, thinking I would be two spaced out to sit in front of a computer and post something today, so hopefully, there should be no interruption on PDP. I thought a photo of the magnificent Place des Vosges was appropriate. Now, en route for new adventures!

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

What makes a typical old Paris apartment...


Like I told you two days ago, yesterday I had a meeting in Le Marais (one of the oldest areas in Paris, that was previously a... marais (swamp)), in a short term rental apartment, to interview the owner (I'll show you the result later!). I tried to take several shots of  what makes a Marais apartment so typical and I could not resist taking one of the staircase! I love the perspective effect and the color of the stairs wood!

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

More graffiti


OK, you're probably fed up with my graffiti by now... but it's not so much for the graffiti that I like this photo (I took it at a contest), but for the global framing. Tomorrow I have a meeting in Le Marais, so I should change topic LOL! 

Monday, September 09, 2013

Lonely reader...


Of course you won't see much of Paris in this photo (even though it was taken in Paris!), but I really like it; for many reasons: the way she sits, her shoes and even the pigeon! That is all, have a peaceful Monday everyone, life is too short to be stressed ;-)

Sunday, September 08, 2013

Royal graffiti


I love this graffito; like you may have recognized it, it shows Prince Charles and Princess Diana from England in a pretty disrespectful way; on Prince Charles it's written "un con" (a jerk) whereas on Lady Di it's only written "a princess"! The drawing is really cool, but I have no idea who made it.

Saturday, September 07, 2013

Game of shadows


Often constraints help you more than they stop you. Like in this photo, for example; since I cannot show children without authorization on this blog, I looked for an angle where I could take a shot of this small amusement park without showing any children faces! In the end, I kinda like the result, because of the composition and the mix between the shadows, the color of the playground and the grid in the foreground.  

Friday, September 06, 2013

La Géode, Part II


I rarely post about the same area/topic twice in a row, but for once I'll make an exception so that you can see where the Geode I took yesterday is located. And also to let you enjoy the wonderful weather we have at the moment in Paris (it won't last, don't worry ;-))

Thursday, September 05, 2013

Moony blue... at La Géode


Don't go thinking I bought myself a photo telescope and started taking shots of the planets, I'm a far too down to earth person for that ;-) Nah, I took this shot at La Villette, the huge park/exhibition area that is located in the North part of Paris and where they have a big dome called "La Géode" in which they show 360° movies. Well, as you can guess, the "planet" on the right in this photo is precisely a bit of La Géode. Cool effect, isn't it?!

Wednesday, September 04, 2013

Electric car...


It's been a long time since I've wanted to show you these odd little electric cars that have started invading Paris since last year, but I never managed to take a sexy photo. This one is not super sexy, but at least it's intriguing ;-) (the ray of light comes from a car that passed by while I was waiting to push the trigger). I took it by a charging station that is normally designed for Autolib, but is also available to everyone who has an electric car (there aren't that many, so they don't take much risk!). Anyway, It's a Renault Twizy, a two seat vehicle that is small enough to park, almost everywhere. It costs about 7 500 € and has a 80 km (50 miles) range.  Not bad, but I'll stick to my scooter...

Tuesday, September 03, 2013

Rising stars...


Look what I found in the 19th arrondissement : a whole street covered in cool graffiti (and they don't damage anything since they are just on a wall). But the reason why I stopped and took this photo is because of the pink stars that seem to crawl from the pavement to the sky... It's silly I know ;-))

Monday, September 02, 2013

Vive Ganesh!


While some in this world are celebrating Labor (by not working!), some other celebrate Ganesh, the God that helps removing obstacles and who's also the patron of arts and sciences, and the god of beginnings. No wonder he is one of the most worshiped deity in India and... in Paris! For we do have a pretty large Indian community in France (about 30 000 in Paris in particular), mostly located in the 10th arrondissement, near the Gare du nord and in the Passage Brady. I took this photo at La Chapelle which technically is in the 18th arrondissement, but very close to the 10th. I have never been to India yet, but I hope to go soon...

Sunday, September 01, 2013

Pink!

Today is September 1st and it's not only the last Sunday before pupils go back to school in France, but it's also a theme day within the City Daily Photo blogs community. And since I'm a good "pupil", here is my contribution. Not that pink I agree, but that is all I found "pink worthy" in Paris today! I actually love this photo, even if it's not perfectly in tune with today's theme. See what's pink today in the rest of the world here