Now this is a fireplace! The guy, me, is 5'10". Just to give you an idea of porportion. The photo was taken in the cheminee a la sallle des gens d'armes at La Conciergerie. I've always been intrigued by fireplaces of all kinds. I can watch the fire flicker for hours. I find it quite relaxing.  

Notre Dame de Paris This is a DVD you don't want to miss. Based on Victor Hugo's classic, the music, dancing, and singing is marvelous. Garou and Helen Segara do a terrific job of acting and singing in this. The CD is wonderful, too. Be sure to get the French version because in English some of the dynamics gets lost.  

Love Music? Love Singing? Love Opera? Love Dancing? Then this is the DVD for you. The "purists" claim it isn't opera but for me, a real opera fan, this is a terrific work of art starring Garou and Helen Segara. It is powerful and riveting. I wish it would be revived and tour the United States. I play the CD over and over, too. The English version loses something in translation, so I prefer the French version. I think Victor Hugo would approve of this version of his classic. 

Rooftop of Samaritan This was a sad day. Just the day before this wonderful old store was closing its doors forever. We were lucky to explore it and have lunch on the rooftop. I wonder what happened to it? How will that marvelous location be utilized? I must investigate. What a wonderful view it had! 

TicToc, Tic Toc! Can't you hear it in the caverns of your mind?
This is the biggest, most beautiful clock I have ever seen. It is housed at the fabulous Musee D'Orsay. I have never seen, nor have I ever heard of a more absolutely gorgeous Horlage anywhere on earth. I am sure it has a long history. 

Temple a La Loi sur l'hygiene de 1902

We got such a kick out of the title of this building. We had just disembarked from a Bateau Mouche and headed for the bus stop. I looked up and saw this sign printed on the series of toilettes building. Maybe in French it would have a different meaning. Only in Paris could you find an outhouse so elegantly glorified. Temple of doom, Temple of Isis, even Temple of the Virgins, but Temple of Toilets! Anyway, I loved it and the whole concept. Functional, too.  

Mazeltov, Y'all!!

This big mural was on the outside wall of a little Jewish restaurant located on a square in the Marais. The perimeter of the square was comprised of at least twelve different restaurants with plenty of seats al fresco. It is located just off Rue Rivoli. We dined there often. Young folk came around sunset to entertain with dancing and fire baton twirling. The mural always brought a smile to my face. Naturally, I thought of "Fiddler on the Roof". What else? 

We found this interesting sculture outside the cinema near Les Halles. We saw the movie, "Cold Showers". We had fun snapping pictures with a group of teenager that were having a grand time with the sculpture. I felt like Fay Wray being held by King Kong in that huge hand. The church nearby was under renovation. I hope it is finished by Spring 2007. 

This tiny sign marks the entrance to the place where "TETU", without a doubt, the very best magazine for men in the entire world, is produced. The new issue features an article on Danielle Darrieux, one of my favorite actresses who now is approaching 90. On our visit to Paris, we went to visit Nicolas Davio, the subscription manager, with whom we had contact a few years back when we first subscribed to the magazine. The staff treated us royally even though we are two Americans with limited skills in speaking French. 

Ah! The man with the golden toe resides here. This statue is of Michel Eyguem de Montaigne. He resides near the Sorbonne. His shoe toe is golden because students (and others) rub it for luck. He was a great French Renaissance thinker who wrote volumes of essays. Born in 1533, the child of an extremely rich family, he writes in a non technical style. His biography is fascinating. Wouldn't it be grand to rub the toe just before exams? It would build confidence and arm you with powers beyond belief. Dave looks a bit skeptical but I think the sun was in his eyes. 

This play was brilliant. With our limited French being stretched to the limit, we attended this play. We enjoyed it immensely. I am not sure if it is still running in Paris. It might be on tour. Who knows? The actor who played Victor Hugo was so utterly believeable that the viewing experience was almost chilling. It was an enjoyable evening experiencing French theatre at its very best. 

Wow!! I'd love to have a big bed under this magnificent ceiling at the opera house. I could just recline and gaze at the blazing chandelier and soak in all the colours of the painting. The building just astounded me. I'll be sure to visit it again when I return to Paris.  

We couldn't resist taking this photo. After a howl and a hoot, we shot this one. I had known of Hippodrome, Aerodrome, and various other "dromes" but a "Sexodrome"! It was near the Moulin Rouge that we spotted this palace of ??? Anyway, we found it quite funny. 

Think of Salvador Dali! You bet! Melting clocks, right? Well, in the Montmartre We explored the Dali Museum. I found some fantastic works of art. This snail and a winged angel, (no, they don't all have wings) captured my heart. It was so beautiful. I wish I had the technology to block me out but my cropping skills are minimal. 

We attended a concert and several pieces featured an instrument we had never seen. After some investigation, I found it was called a "Johnny Jingle" It had several other names but "JJ" was the only one I recall. Two months later we were in one of the fabulous museums in Paris. There one appeared though it had a few less bells. Coincidences do happen.  

Whether you live in Paris or are just visiting, don't deprive yourself of a grand night out. The Lapin Agile, located in Montmartre on Rue Des Saules will provide you with an evening of songs, poems, music, and humor. It debuted in 1890 and is still going strong. Celebrities of all kinds have performed there. Books and plays have been written about the place. Juliette Binoche is starring in a movie, "Picasso at the Lapin Agile", that will soon be released. It is customary for the staff to serve you a little drink with a prune in it. If you don't speak French you can chime in on a song or two with Qui or Non. Lots of fun is in store for you at the fabulous Lapin Agile. 

This was taken on a glorious day in the Bois de Bologne. We managed to make our way to the little lake in the Bois. There we rented a boat and rowed all around the tiny island. We were pleasantly surprised to find this statue of the embracing lovers. We didn't go ashore so I don't have a clue about the artist. As always, I wish I knew so much more than I do. I bet Haxo Station knows about the lovely work of art.  

We passed this often during our stay in the Marais. I thought it was strange to see this old building material just "abandoned" near a much newer structure. Upon investigation we found
Enceinte de Philippe Auguste Restes de la tour Montgomery de la polerne Saint-Paul, constuite du XII siecle. This is all that was left of the ancient structure and I am happy that it was preserved. Paris is full of many marvels from the past. I wish I knew of them all. 

The glass makes it impossible to avoid reflections. However, you can still see the boat building in progress. The sketches of the trees in the right background show where the wood was found to make the hulls of the boats. The Y shape was the natural growth of the trees used for that purpose. We found this fascinating bit of information at the Musee de la Marine in Paris. 

Dave, my partenaire, was fascinated by this emblem that was on the palette of the bronze statue of a painter that we found on the grounds just outside the Rodin Museum in Paris. I, too, found it an object of intrigue. Of course, I don't have a clue as to what it represents. It looks almost Celtic. Qui sait? What is worse is that I don't know how to find it on the grand treasure trove called the "Internet". That day in May, 2005, was glorious for the both of us even though the place was crawling with tourists. 

Here's my new picture folks!

I discovered this in the Marais not far from our apartment. There are supposed to be fifty of these drinking fountains scattered about Paris. They were a gift from a wealthy Englishman who loved the "City of Lights." Somewhere in my huge box of memorabilia from the 2005 trip, I might have more info. The fact is that I collect so much stuff to place in a scrapbook that I find the task overwhelming. It ends up residing in a special plastic tote with the year marked on it.
 

We saw this robe in a store in Paris. Our French friends might not have found it fascinating but we did. Do lawyers and judges really have to wear these heavy robes in court? The specialty shop was crammed full of items such as these.

The last time I saw an outfit like this was on Louis Jourdan in a period film when he played a French judge. I am sure this red robe isn't trimmed with real ermine but it is quite elegant especially if it is worn with the fashionable cap.

Then I wonder if the lawyers (solicitors) in London still wear those majestic wigs! 

This visit to Edith's resting place was very important to us. We love her voice. I was a teenager when I discovered the music of this great talent. There I was in a little hick town in Ohio when I just happened to hear her sing on the radio. She gave me goosebumps like no other songstress I had ever heard. That was around 60 years ago. I still play her recordings. We have attended many plays about her life in Winnepeg, Paris, Marseille, Montpellier, and even in Quebec.

We tried to visit her museum (by appointment only) but it was closed in Spring, 2005. In 2007 we are going to try again. Hopefully it will be open at that time.

 

If this works, you and I can thank HAM who responds to Eric's Paris Dailey Photo. He told me how to download Picasa 2. Using that free program, I have been able to easily see the hundreds of photos that were taken on our trips to France during the last three years.

This photo from 2005 has a story:

Dave and I were startled by the painting of Clemenceau when we saw it at the Louvre. We think so much alike, it is scary sometimes. He insisted I stand by it while he snapped the photo. When he was about to shoot, a group of more than 20 Japanese tourists gathered around me. They were laughing, nodding, and smiling at me. Their cameras clicked away taking photos like this one you see. Who knows, maybe I am a distant relative of the grand personage. 

This is the first time I've ever tried to make a blog. I am unsure of what I am doing but I find it fun anyway.

This photo was taken in Canada when we stayed on an island in a cabin very near the water. We spent most of our time fishing and canoeing. Since then all our vacation time is spent in glorious France. Each year we stay in a different area and explore the environs. I can't wait until May 2007 when we will take a trip to Grenoble. We spent two days there last year and were enchanted by the place.