Plein de couleur

Saint-Germain-des-Prés—begun in the
6th century as a Benedictine abbey—is the 
oldest church in Paris.  The current 
renovation has restored this once 
dark and dingy church to its colorful 
and light-filled glory.

[To see more churches from around the
world, visit inSPIREd Sunday.]

Photo Op

Don't know whether these are professional
models or just a couple having their
picture taken by a pro (and me).  The latter,
I think; there were several couples posing by the
lit-up pyramid at the Louvre that night.

Pomp and Circumstance

One day last September, I was about to
have lunch across the street from the
Palais du Luxembourg (home of the French
Senate), when this colorful crew
showed up.  Found out that they accompanied
the new president, Emmanuel Macron,
as he came to address the chamber.  

Saint-Sulpice

At this 17th-century church—the
second-largest in Paris—you
can see something beautiful
everywhere you look.

[Linking back to Macro Monday.]

pyramide

Have learned to like the inside-out Pompidou,
but don't get me started about the
hideous Tour Montparnasse (I cried the first 
time I saw it).  However, I've always 
loved Pei's pyramids—how about you?

[Linking back to Weekend Reflections.]

ABC Wednesday—Q = "quai"

. . . de la Tournelle, that is.  Can you
imagine a more romantic place to stroll—
or a more fantastic view?

[To see more ABC posts, go here.]

{I'm scheduling this to post, but I might not be able
to link back to ABC Wednesday.  At the
moment I'm on a ship off the coast of Argentina,
and may or may not have any Internet.}

Les ombres du Louvre

I appreciate that these sumptuous carpets
and gorgeous painted dressers are
still here for us to admire.
The chairs aren't too shabby, either.

[Linking back to Shadow Shot Sunday.]

aux puces

I could spend days at the Marché aux Puces,
even if I were just looking—though
buying (and haggling over the price) is more fun.
I was tempted by this pretty silver pot
the last time I was there.

[To see more Weekend Reflections,
visit James's meme.]

dans le métro

Every time I'm in Paris, I find an ad
(or two or three) that makes
me smile, or frown, or shake my head
—or all three.

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

c'est triste

It makes me so sad to see what's happened
to some of the gravesites at Paris's
most famous cemetery, Père Lachaise.

[To see more b/w photos, visit
Dragonstar's meme.]

bienvenue!

Sign outside Cosi's tiny flagship sandwich
shop on rue de Seine.  (There are
Cosi shops in NYC, but it's just not the
 same here.)  BTW, I like to think
I'm one of the nice ones.

[Linking back to Signs, signs.]

in Père Lachaise

A detail from one of the thousands 
of family crypts in Paris's
most famous cemetery, final resting 
place of Abelard and Héloise
(together at last), Colette, Chopin,
Stéphane Grapelli, Molière . . . and a few
people I actually knew.

[Linking back to Blue Monday at Magical
Mystery Teacher and to Macro Monday.]

Le Weekend en Noir et Blanc

A runner in the Parc des Buttes Chaumont, 
which looked like this before the
far-sighted Baron Haussmann decided that
the people of the newly annexed
19th and 20th arrondissements needed
a beautiful green space.

[To see more b/w images, visit
Dragonstar's meme.]

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.]