la ruche

This beehive can be seen on the building
at the northwest corner of rue Rambuteau and
rue Pierre Lescot.  If you look, that is—
because this spot is kind of overshadowed by
the construction of the new incarnation
of Les Halles going on directly across the street.

It was  a "sign" for a honey shop;
the shop is gone, but I hope
the hive remains for a long time.

[Linking back to Monday Mellow Yellows
and to Macro Monday.]

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

This 61-acre, entirely-made-by-hand park was
opened in 1867.  Although I was living in Paris 100 years
later, I never set foot here until last September.
Whatever you want to say about Baron Haussmann,
I have to give him credit for looking at an ugly,
smelly, barren hill on the outskirts of the city and
having the vision to see it turned into one of 
the loveliest spots in all of Paris.

{And Happy May Day! If we were 
in Paris, I'd offer you a brin de muguet.}

[Linking back to Weekend Reflections and to
The Weekend in Black and White.]

Le Louvre: Pei's pyramid

And we're up to the letter L for ABC Wednesday.
I did "Louvre"  last time too.  But that was indoors 
and this is out, that was daytime and this is late at night, 
that was then and this is now . . . (besides, I've 
been playing along with this meme for a long time!).

[To see more ABC shots, go here.]

Ask Allan

This is the grave of the teacher and spiritist
Allan Kardec.  While I was here, someone 
told me that his grave has more flowers than 
any other in Père Lachaise.  That's because folks
come here to ask for something, and reach up to 
rub his shoulder to help their wish along.
Then if they get what they wanted, they come 
back and leave flowers to say "Merci."
(By the way, I tried it and it worked—so now I"ll 
have to come back here with my offering.) 

[To see more of Today's Flowers, go here.] 

Saint-Antoine-des-Quinze-Vingts

This is very much a "local" church, catering
to its parishioners in the 12th arrondissement.
However, it does have two beautiful organs; the main
one, built by Cavaillé-Coll, is considered one of the
best examples of symphonic organs in Paris—and some
powerful music has been recorded in this church.

[Linking back to inSPIREd Sunday and Shadow Shot Sunday.]

Sur les Champs Elysées

I probably wouldn't go out of my way to stroll
up this commercialized and overcrowded
avenue these days.  However, when it's all decked
out for the holidays like this . . . well, it's still
too much, but in a fabulous French way,
and if given the chance (as I was
last November) I wouldn't miss it.

Happy New Year/Bonne Année à tous!

le coucher du soleil

Took this shot of the sun setting behind the 
Eiffel Tower and the Grand Palais a little over 
a year ago.  I'd love to take more sunset shots from
the rooftop terrace of the Galeries Lafayette
in warm weather, but by the time the sun sets in
the summer, it's close to 10 p.m., and 
that terrace has been closed for hours already.

[Linking back to Monday Mellow Yellows
and Mandarin Orange Monday.
And you know I'm Dreaming of France.]