les mains du captif

These belong to one of Martin Desjardins'
Four Captives (this one is Holland),
who've been in chains since 1715.
Find them in the Cour Marly et Puget,
in the Louvre.

[Linking back to ABC Wednesday:
H is for "hands."]

un bon dessert

This is un "merveilleux," my fave dessert
at my fave Paris restaurant.  The
restaurant is Circonstances, and this
concoction of silky crème Chantilly, crunchy
bits of meringue, and sweet/salty caramel
is indeed marvelous. 

[Linking back to ABC Wednesday,
where the letter this week is D.]

birds on a wire

Looking up rue Montmartre, with the
church of Saint-Eustache on the left:
This lively neighborhood now includes the
new and improved Forum des Halles, and you can
still find everything yummy—from snails at
l'Escargot Montorgeuil (founded in 1832) to baba
au rhum at Stohrer, Paris's oldest patisserie (there since
1730)—on the market street of rue Montorgeuil.

[Linking back to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.]

Chez Repetto

Repetto—purveyor of toe shoes and tutus
to the dancers at the Opéra Garnier
since 1947.  Just peering into this place
makes me want to step up to the barre and
do a plié or a rond de jambe.

[Today is Pink Saturday. To see more, go here.]

la fontaine . . .

in front of Saint-Sulpice church.  It was built
in 1833 as part of a big program to
improve the city's water supply.  Each of the
four statues is a religious figure who was
known for his eloquence—this one is a preacher
with the appropriate name of Esprit (Fléchier).
I love this fountain but I wish they hadn't
plopped it down right there where it kind of
blocks the front of the church.

un citron pressé

The pause that refreshes in Paris:
When you ask for lemonade here, you get
freshly squeezed lemon juice, sugar,
and water—c'est tout.  You don't get a whole lot of  
ice (which I could have used on that day last 
July when the temp hit 99°F/37°C), 
but I was happy with my no-chemicals-added
drink on the shady terrace of a Paris café.

[Linking back to Monday Mellow Yellows.]

des jeux d'artifice

This was Bastille Day last year, when I
was lucky enough to be right
there on the Champ de Mars—with
several hundred thousand
other lucky folks, but still . . .

It was spectacular—and as much as I don't
like crowds, I'd do it again (might get 
there a bit earlier though).

[Linking back to Skywatch Friday.]