~Bonne et Heureuse Annee a tois!

~Autumn in Paris~

Autumn is a beautiful season no matter what part of the world you experience it.

Place de Vosges

Bois de Boulogne

Eiffel Tower

10th Arr. Rue Rene Boulanger

Place Igor Stravinsky

Bois de Vincennes

Cimetiere du Montmartre

Fontaine de Quatre Patries du Monde

Jardin des Tuileries

Place Marche St. Catherine

Petit Palais~inner garden

Jardin du Luxembourg

Montmartre Vineyard

Place des Vosges

Parc de Belleville

Grand Palais along the Seine

Place de la Contrescarpe

Place des Vosges

Place des Vosges

Pere LaChaise Cimetiere 

Looking from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower

(These photos were taken from Wikimedia Creative Commons)

~Theme: Marquises et Auvents~

Marquees and Canopies

These iron and glass canopies first appeared during the late 19th century Art Nouveau period. Many of these might be original but it is a popular design feature that can be found all over the city. We found many over the doors of hotels and entrances to apartment buildings and restaurants.  Finding them was like a treasure hunt.

Both of these photos are of the Musee d'Orsay which used to be a train station.

This is the small hotel where we stayed in Tours. Hotel du Manoir

The prestigious Tour d'Argent restaurant.

I never really noticed these fancy wrought iron and glass canopies until I became interested in Art Nouveau architecture. Then, they showed up everywhere.

~The Banks of the Seine~

The Seine runs through Paris dividing Left Bank from Right and carving out the 2 islands~Ile de la Cite and Ile St. Louis.  It is so vibrant and diverse; a neighborhood in itself.  It flows through 10 of the Paris arrondissements.  Most of the iconic sites can be found along the river including the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral and Musee d'Orsay just to name a few.

The tour boats "bateaux mouches" are running constantly.  There are several different companies, so you will see long glass-enclosed boats as well as those that are open-air.

There are 37 bridges that cross the Seine in Paris. You can see many in a days leisurely walk.

We were walking on the Right Bank near the Grand Palais and noticed the walkaway littered with leaves and branches.  Then we came upon this interesting piece of equipment.  Now we know how they keep the trees trimmed so perfectly.

The barges moored along the river are varied, unique and interesting.  I wish someone would come up with a "Barge Tour".  I would love to see these up close.  Some are working barges, some are restaurants or belong to the police and fire departments; most are someone's home.

This is the beautiful entrance to the Quai Branly.  It is a wide open walkway.

This is a children's play area along Quai Branly.

 ( I think next time, I should take pictures of the "Playgrounds of Paris")

 

Les Berges de Seine  (click on the link to read about the new look of the Banks of the Seine) is the newest project going on in Paris.  This segment on the Left Bank when finished (which it probably is by now) will be a "floating park" as you can see on the sign. It is 2.3 km of interconnected islands. This is only one part of the huge renovation of the quais along the river.  The pedestrian walkways have been widened and are more accessible, more benches and plants have been added, safer crosswalks have been created and there has been a restructuring of the traffic patterns.

It's one of the best things about Paris, they are always trying to make it even more beautiful and accessible to all; and when they do it, as the article says, "they get it right".