~Christmas~

Christmas is just around the corner, so I must take a break.  I've found a few Parisian Christmas photos on the internet....I've "heard" over and over that December is a special time in Paris.

Galeries Lafayette

Place Vendome

 Notre Dame

Wishing everyone a 

Joyeux Noel  &  Bonne Annee!

~Just Walking Around~

I did have a few days to stroll around by myself....

Quai de la Megisserie~ "cats, dogs, rats,birds" (on the awning).
This is whole block of pet stores and garden shops~a favorite.

4th floor looking down~Galeries Lafayette~one of the grand magasins
We shopped here last year for about 5 minutes...
another one of those crowded places that I had to get out of.

But I've heard about and seen pictures of this incredible ceiling; 

I wanted to see it for myself~so I stopped in on one of my 'alone' days.

Just incredible! It's hard to believe this is a department store.

St. Augustin

I had noted this church on one of our previous outings; so I decided to check it out.

I must learn how to take pictures in virtually no light.  

These stained glass windows were beautiful.

I love these old world churches; beautifully ornate, high vaulted ceilings, stained glass, side altars~everything about them makes them feel like sacred places.  

Vivid blue stained glass windows.

Madeleine

This building has such a long complicated history that I am not even going to try to describe it. It is a church now, has an incredible organ and there are frequent concerts.  There is also a flower market on the Place de la Madeleine.

On to the Ile de la Cite...

Conciegerie

Located on the Ile de la Cite, the conciergerie was part of the palace of the Kings of France (10th-14th centuries).  It was then used as a prison. Prisoners would be held here before being taken to the guillotine for execution (including Marie Antoinette).  The 3 towers remain from the Medieval structure.  (Do you see that part of the building is covered with a netting? It has been painted to look like the actual structure...this is what they are doing all over the city on buildings that are being cleaned or restored.)

The day I visited was on the weekend of  Heritage Days when all the museums and government buildings are open and free.  There was no line outside and when I entered the Great Hall, which is the lower level of the building, it was not crowded either. I thought, "this is my lucky day".

The construction amazes me~this is a medieval structure.

There were 4 of these large hearths used for cooking.

Salle des Gens d'Armes (Cavalryman's Hall) 14th century.

The oldest surviving medieval hall in Europe.

This is where all the people were; waiting to enter the upper level where the prison cells and torture chamber are located.  The line was so long, I did not wait. 

So the conciergerie will remain on my "to see" list.

Check out the door. How many locks?

Place Dauphine on the Ile de la Cite.

This is a beautiful little park.  There were some people doing tai chi and sometimes
you can watch men playing boules.  It's very quiet considering that the Cathedral de Notre Dame is only a few blocks away.  There are quite a few cafes around the place.

Charlemagne

  When I see Charlemagne I think of Miss Soufer, my high school history teacher.

Henri IV

One of the most popular of the French kings.  Before his coronation he switched his religion from Calvinism to Catholicism. He issued the Edict of Nantes in 1589 which guaranteed religious freedom for the Protestants. He showed great care for the welfare of his subjects.  He was assassinated in 1610 by a Catholic fanatic.

Notre Dame Cathedral

The construction of this Gothic cathedral began in 1163 and was completed in 1330.

It stands on the site of a Roman temple.  In front of the Cathedral is the Crypt Archeologique.

In this underground museum you can view the remains of foundations and walls of buildings that pre-date the cathedral by hundreds of years.

The west facing Rose window.

The gargoyles (water drainage spouts).

The spire reaches 295 ft.

 The south facing Rose window.

The "flying buttresses", arched exterior supports, around the choir and the nave.

Square de l'Ile de France

This is the western tip of the Ile de la Cite.  This park is across from the Notre Dame.

At the very tip is the Deportation Memorial dedicated to the memory of the 200,000 French who died in concentration camps during World War II.

I think it must be time to stop at a cafe to rest and have some chocolate chaud .......or vin blanc.

~Sweets to Tempt You~

I think I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves. The patisseries create works of art.  I must be honest~I have never had one of these glorious little gems.  They sure are a pleasure to look at though.

I love how the decoration on top describes what's inside.

The hazelnut and chocolate ganache makes my mouth water...

Your own little piece of heaven.

These breads were so plump and delicious looking~ apple and chocolate, berry and fig...

Muffins and tartlets.

The window of Laduree & their famous macarons.

Even the packaging is beautiful.

This is Stohrer's the oldest and most famous bakery in Paris on rue Montorgueil.

When I took this photo, there was a large group of German tourists standing in front of the shop.

What caught my eye was the label~these 'treats' are made with corn flakes.

These little bite-size miniatures were at the charcuterie that we frequented.

I love window shopping!!

~What's in a Name~

During our month's stay, my name kept popping up.  My name is not especially common, except it seems, in Paris.

During the visit to the Passy Cemetery I came upon the Tomb of Suzanne.  It was enormous, I wondered who she was in life.

Then in the Church of St. Roch.

This is titled " The Death of St. Suzanne".  St. Roch  is supposed to have been built on the site of the chapel dedicated to St. Suzanne.  I read that she was the daughter of a priest and niece of Pope Caius. Diocletian, the emperor (284-305 Ad) known for his persecution of the Christians, requested her to marry his son.  She refused because she had a made a vow of virginity and then was beheaded when it was found out about her religious beliefs.


When we visited the Louvre and viewed the apartments and furnishings of Napoleon III, this Gobelins tapestry was hanging in the throne room.  On the bottom of the frame is the name, Susanne. The title of the scene depicted is "La Chaste Suzanne".

In another area of the Louvre we saw these 16th century sculptures. They were taken from the chapel of the Chateau de Chantelle, located in the Renaissance town of Chantelle, in the central part of France.  Very little remains of the chateau today.

"St. Suzanne, St. Peter and St. Anne and the Virgin"

Walking around Paris we saw these Big Blue buses quite often.  The only identification was the name "Suzanne". I couldn't find out anything about them; perhaps it's a charter company.

This is more like it, Suzanne on the go.

~Place de la Bastille & Port de l'Arsenal~

It's Saturday and our destination is the Richard Lenoir Art Market near the Place de la Bastille. The Bastille Creative Art Market (Marche de la Creation) takes place every Saturday on Boulevard Richard Lenoir; it is the largest art market in Paris with over 200 artisans participating.

So we hop on the #1 Metro and head out to start our day of exploring the area around the Bastille.

The Bastille Metro stop.  The walls are a tiled mural telling the story of the French Revolution and the "storming of the Bastille".

Place de la Bastille.

This huge roundabout is the site of the Bastille, the prison which was torn down during the French Revolution in 1789. In it's place is this monument, the July Column, which commemorates the July Revolution of 1830 (the overthrow of Charles X and the end to constitutional monarchy).

The new Opera Bastille.

The beginning of the art market on the north side of the Place~lots of food in addition to the art.

This is truly an 'art' market ~no crafts here.  All of the artisans are accomplished professionals.

Hats~the Parisians do love their hats!

In hindsight I should have bought one of these~the little fat blue one caught my eye immediately.

Boulevard Richard Lenoir

We walked down one side and up the other.  It's a beautiful and lively place. I did buy a pair of earrings and a little leaded glass box to put them in.  The stained glass was beautiful! 

(Unfortunately for us, all the wonderful things we coveted would cost one arm to buy and two legs to ship home.)

We stopped for a bite to eat, then headed passed the Opera toward the Promenade Plantee.

The Opera Bastille (French President Mitterand is responsible for the new opera).

The building was inaugurated on July 13, 1989~the 200th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille.

Both the Viaduc des Arts and Promenade Plantee are located along Ave Daumesnil.

Entry to the walking path (Promenade Plantee)
This walkway is the first elevated park; built on an abandoned railroad viaduct.

Plantings were wild and varied~a very natural setting.

"The last roses of summer"

View of  St. Antoine des Quinze-Vingte from the walkway.

I was curious about the name; quinze-vingte translates to 1520. Could that be?  It turns out that it really relates to the number of beds (300) in the original facility which cared for the blind. 
(quinze-vingte= 15 x 20=300)

Joggers stretching.

An enormous (!) clump of lavender and quite aromatic.

Ah yes, you are in Paris.

A public water fountain~ we saw these in other parks also.

A view from the Promenade.....(note the graffiti)...I like the rooftops.

From the Promenade, we walked back towards the Bastille along the Viaduc des Arts, artisan shops built under the walkway, (click on the link to see web photos) to the new marina, Port de l'Arsenal.

The marina is actually a man-made lake created to connect the Canal St. Martin (beyond the Place Bastille) to the Seine River.

This was fabulous.  Another one of the places that I can't believe we've missed all these years.
Some of these boats are pleasure boats and some people actually live on full-time.

On the walkway beside the marina we saw this open-air photography exhibit.

Can you detect the 'theme' of this exhibit?
It was great! These photos were both provocative and funny.

Remember this? Jack Nicholson in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".

The lovely park and cobbled walkway along the water.

Sculpture and rose garden.

Pedestrian bridge over the marina.  In the foreground is a kid's play area filled with things to climb on and play in...the pirate ship was popular that day.

Here you can see the variety of boats; many houseboats.

We crossed over the pedestrian bridge and walked back to our apartment through the Marais and passed the Pompidou center.  I wish I had had my pedometer, it was a long walk and my feet told me all about it.

The area around the Bastille has so much to see.  

We loved our excursion and  the art market and would definitely do it again; maybe in springtime when the flowers along the Promenade are in bloom.