Paris Day 21 – Saying goodbye and the flight home

Tags

2014, April, Greenland, Hudson Bay, I missed my wife, Iceland, Mt. Shasta, Mug Shots, my knees were barking at me, not a hard thing to do, Oroville, Pacific Ocean, Paris, Point Reyes, seeing what was salvageable, SFO just minutes away, throwing everything out the 4th story window, tired and worn out, Welcome to California

Saying goodbye to Paris at this point was not a hard thing to do, I was tired and worn out from all of the stairs, my knees were barking at me with every step and I missed my wife! I was able to get help from the owner of the apartment to help me get my two carry-ons and my two pieces of luggage down the stairs and up to the curb to meet my driver for the ride to the Charles de Gaulle Airport. Without his help, I was left with only the thought of throwing everything out the 4th story window and going down the stairs and seeing what was salvageable to take home!

I was looking forward to the actual flight home because on the two trips in the past I had great views of Iceland, Greenland and the Hudson Bay out my window on those flights! With a little luck with the weather I might get a third chance to view these three land and water features.

CDG escalator, bumpy and fun!

Very unique to the Paris CDG airport, crossing escalators in glass tubes!

We have lift off!

Our first look at Iceland, camera in hand this trip!

Iceland from 35,000 feet!

Over ice covered Iceland!

More Iceland from 7 miles up!

These Iceland shots were taken with my iPhone 4!

Hello Greenland’s West Coast, too cloudy until now to see any land mass!

Greenland now with a Canon point and shoot camera with a fifty times zoom lens! #1

Greenland now with a Canon point and shoot camera with a fifty times zoom lens! #2

Greenland now with a Canon point and shoot camera with a fifty times zoom lens! #3

Greenland now with a Canon point and shoot camera with a fifty times zoom lens! #4

Greenland now with a Canon point and shoot camera with a fifty times zoom lens! #5

Greenland now with a Canon point and shoot camera with a fifty times zoom lens! #6

Greenland iceberg!

Hudson Bay under ice!

Hudson Bay ice flow!

Welcome to California, a view of Mt. Shasta rising above the clouds!

Point Reyes and and the Pacific Ocean with SFO just minutes away!

Lois and I wish all of you a wonderful life with many adventures and safe travels! Well in real time, it is now the end of May, 30 days since I left Paris and my wife and I cannot wait to go back to the City of Lights! It will be two or three years from now, but we will get back, heck we only did one day trip completely and we have 17 more to do! And we are no way done posting to this blog as we have to process the 29, 685 images we took plus the seven plus hours of video to go through and post some videos of fun and entertainment! There is scheduled at this time, a reception to be held at Mug Shots in Downtown Oroville on July 9, a Wednesday night from 5-7pm to showcase new Paris photos that will be hung on Mug Shots’ walls for the whole month of July 2014. More posts will be made as we get closer to that date! Thank you all very much for taking your time to look at and read our blog, it has been a fun and challenging experience for us and we appreciate your support! As they say, watch this spot!

 

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Paris Day 20 – A late afternoon walk in the 4th Arrondissement

Tags

2014, 4th Arrondissement, April, Arts et Metiers, Arts et Metiers Metro!, Centre Georges Pompidou, Centre Pompidou, decorated art canvas in 3-D, Fontaine Stravinsky, Hôtel de Ville, IVe arrondissement, Metiers Art Museum, Paris, Paroisse Saint Merry, Paroisse Saint Merry Church, place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, Place Georges-Pompidou, since 1357, Street art

This walk starts at the Arts et Metiers Metro. The Metro is the main metro stop for the Metiers Art Museum, and is an industrial design museum in Paris that houses the collection of the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers. The museum was founded in 1794 as a repository for the preservation of scientific instruments and inventions! The Metro stop is a decorated art canvas in 3-D, a must see if you get the chance to make a change or just visit the Metro on it’s own. From here I walked to the Centre Pompidou at the Place Georges-Pompidou to find out that it is closed on Tuesdays, another lucky break, not!

Arts et Metiers Metro!

High tech art lines the ceiling of the Arts et Metiers Metro! #1

High tech art lines the ceiling of the Arts et Metiers Metro! #2

Le Centre Pompidou

When the Centre Georges Pompidou was completed in 1977 initially, all of the functional structural elements of the building were colour-coded: green pipes are plumbing, blue ducts are for climate control, electrical wires are encased in yellow, and circulation elements and devices for safety (e.g., fire extinguishers) are red. However, recent visits suggest that this color-coding has partially lapsed, and many of the elements are simply painted white.

Street art at the Centre Georges Pompidou!

Fontaine Stravinsky and the Paroisse Saint Merry Church!

Fontaine Stravinsky and the Paroisse Saint Merry Church with some wall art and the air intake pipes for the George Pompidou Center!

Paroisse Saint Merry Church and wall art!

Hôtel de Ville is a building housing the city’s local administration. Standing on the place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville in the city’s IVe arrondissement, it has been the location of the municipality of Paris since 1357.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paris Day 20 – A walk in the 9th Arrondissement

Tags

2014, 9th Arrondissement, April, Église de la Sainte-Trinité, Church of St. Augustine, Clock, Cupola, Eiffel Tower, Galeries Lafayette, Gare Saint-Lazare, Jardin de Tivoli, Joan of Arc, La Defense, Opera Granier, Opera Granier ceiling, Paris, Passage du Havre, Printemps, Rooftop Cafe Deli-cieux, Sacre-Coeur, Square Marcel Pagnol

Starting at the Église de la Sainte-Trinité church I set out to finish one of my Day Trips that was two thirds of the way completed.

Clock on the Trinity Church!

The Église de la Sainte-Trinité or Trinity Church, a building of the Second Empire period, built between 1861 and 1867 at a cost of almost 5 million francs.

Gate to where gardens built in 1766, known as the Jardin de Tivoli, once grew!

Another passage, Passage du Havre!

Passage du Havre’s beautiful interior!

Hanging glass art exhibit in the Passage du Havre!

Nothing says shopping mall like a Parisian Passage, not!

Gare Saint-Lazare, second busiest train station in Europe with 100,000,000 passengers transiting every year, Gare du Nord at 450,000 passengers per day takes the number one spot!

Gare Saint-Lazare!

Square Marcel Pagnol and the beautiful Church of St. Augustine!

Statue of Jeanne (Joan) of Arc and the Church of St. Augustine!

Jeanne (Joan) of Arc Statue!

Heading towards the Printemps Department Stores!

Lunch time at the Rooftop Cafe Deli-cieux! 360 degree view of Paris and it was an outstanding day to be on the roof!

Sacre Coeur and Église de la Sainte-Trinité to the north!

Church of St. Augustine and La Defense to the west!

Eiffel Tower to the South!

The Galeries Lafayette and Opera Granier to the East!

The Cupola inside the Galeries Lafayette!

A walk over to the Opera Granier!

Interior shots of the Opera Granier using wide angle lens! #1

The Opera Granier seating!

Interior shots of the Opera Granier using wide angle lens! #2

The Opera Granier ceiling!

Interior hall of the Opera Granier!

1st mezzanine of the Opera Granier!

Interior shots of the Opera Granier using wide angle lens! #3

Interior shots of the Opera Granier using wide angle lens! #4

 

Paris Day 19 – A morning walk around Montmartre

Tags

2014, April, Cafe Montmartre, Dongen, Eiffel Tower, Galerie Montmartre, Gris, La Bonne Franquette, Le Bateau Lavoir, Le Consulat, Modigliani, Montmartre, Moulin de la Galette, Oliver, Paris, Parisian sky, Picasso, Place du Tertre, Rue des Saules, Rue Foyatier, Rue Lepic, Rue Muller, Sacre-Coeur, Square Nadar, Vaillant

After being out and doing a night shoot in Paris, I couldn’t sleep and awoke to the birds chirping outside my window and set out to see if I could capture a great sunrise!

An unobstructed view of La Bonne Franquette & Le Consulat; taverns that Picasso and other artists routinely visited!

The side cafe seating of La Bonne Franquette looking down Rue des Saules to La Masion Rose at the corner below!

Eiffel Tower and street lamp from the Square Nadar!

A rare scene of no one walking the stairs of Rue Foyatier!

Street lamp and the stairs leading down Rue Muller at sunrise!

Sacre Coeur waiting for the first sunlight!

Street lamp and the beautiful gardens of Sacre Coeur overlooking Paris!

Some sunrise color over Paris at the footsteps of Sacre Coeur!

Sunrise hitting the Parisian sky!

Cafes starting to open for the day at Place du Tertre!

Another day for the Galerie Montmartre!

Cafe Montmartre still in the shadows as the sunlight starts to hit Paris!

From Rue Lepic the Eiffel Tower is now basking in sunlight!

The Moulin de la Galette on Rue Lepic is still in shadow as the taller Montmartre buildings catch the sun!

The windows of the Le Bateau Lavoir showing the reflection of sunlight from across the square. Picasso had his studio here, from 1904 – 1909, with other artists including Fernande Olivier (whom he met there and had a relationship with for 7 years), Kees Van Dongen, Juan Gris, Amedeo Modigliani, and Jacques Vaillant, among others. Many called this the “birthplace of cubism”!

 

Paris Day 18 – Night walk along the Seine from the Pont Alexandre III to the Pont au Double

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2014, April, Eiffel Tower, Fontaine Saint-Michel, Grand Palais, Horse Chestnut Trees, Ile de la Cité, Institut de France, Night, Notre Dame, padlocks, Palace de Louvre, Paris, Petit Palais, Pont Alexandre III, Pont au Double, Pont des Arts, Pont Neuf, Pont Saint-Michel, Pyramide du Louvre, Seine River, Square du Vert-Galant, the Seine River, Winston Churchill

Going back to the Petit Palais, I wanted to walk along the Seine River and try and capture some nice night shots along the river, I did make a peek into the Louvre also!

The Grand Palais at dusk!

The Petit Palais!

Statue of Winston Churchill and the Petit Palais!

Pont Alexandre III and the Eiffel Tower!

Pont Alexandre III, the Seine River, Horse Chestnut Trees and the Eiffel Tower!

Invalides, Pont Alexandre III and Seine River

Pont Alexandre III, Street Lamps and the Eiffel Tower!

The Palace de Louvre, Pyramide du Louvre and Street Lamps!

The Pyramide du Louvre!

The Fontaine Saint-Michel!

Pont Neuf, Seine River and Square du Vert-Galant!

Pont des Arts and the Institut de France and Padlocks!

Pont Neuf and the Seine River!

The Pont Neuf and the Seine River!

The Ile de la Cité, Pont Saint-Michel and the Seine River!

The Seine and Notre Dame!

The Seine, Pont au Double and Notre Dame!

 

 

Paris Day 17 – A rainy day visit to the Paris 1900 exhibit at the Petit Palais

Tags

"Armchair called voluptuous or love of the Prince of Wales", 2014, Abbesses Metro, April, Carl Larsson, Every master bedroom parlor should have one of these! Translation of sign, fashion of the 1900's, hair pick, Hector Guimard's original Art Nouveau, Marble Stairs, Monet, Paris, Paris 1900, Petit Palais, rainy day, Renoir, rockin' shoes, Toulouse

I saw a poster in the Abbesses Metro tunnel that a 1900 Paris exhibit was happening at the Petit Palais and this sounded like a good fit for a rainy day! So off I went!

Walking up to the Petit Palais!

Checking out the current exhibit signage!

Great, a two for one, Carl Larsson exhibit going on at the same time! Dig that artwork in the background on the Pont Alexandre III.

Waiting in line in front of the Petit Palais!

Entry into Paris 1900…

First stop, the beautifully designed Hector Guimard’s original Art Nouveau entrance for the Paris Metros!

The fashion of the 1900’s.

Now those are rockin’ shoes!

Can’t go out without a beautiful hair pick!

What a century!

Can’t have an exhibit without a little Toulouse!

Or miss a Monet!

Another Monet!

And don’t forget those Renoir’s!

My great-great grandmother would have looked stunning in this dress!

Wall mural depicting life in the early 1900s!

How about an Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec workbook!

Every master bedroom parlor should have one of these! Translation of sign, “Armchair called voluptuous or love of the Prince of Wales”

I just love marble stairs, what an exhibit and exit!

 

 

Paris Day 16 – Pont Alexandre III

Tags

2014, April, Champs-Élysées Port, Champs-Elysees quarter, Dome of the Invalides, Eiffel Tower, Eiffel Tower quarter, frogs and padlocks, Grand and Petit Palais, Invalides, left bank, low light with rain and dark heavy clouds, most picturesque bridge in Paris, ornate beauty, Paris, Pont Alexandre III, Toes and lamp posts, Universal Exposition

The Pont Alexandre III is the most picturesque bridge in Paris, even in low light with rain and dark heavy clouds in the middle of the afternoon! The bridge over the river Seine connects the Grand and Petit Palais as well as the Champs-Elysees quarter on the right bank with the with the Invalides and Eiffel Tower quarter on the left bank. Dedicated in 1900 for the Universal Exposition it was another glorious piece of work introduced to the world at the same time as the Eiffel Tower!

Eiffel Tower and the Left Bank of the Pont Alexandre III on a cloudy rainy day!

Eiffel Tower and the right bank of the Pont Alexandre III.

The Champs-Élysées Port below the Pont Alexandre III and Seine River with the Invalides in the background!

Street Lamps of the Pont and the Dome of the Invalides in the background!

Eiffel Tower in background through one of the ornate statues of the Pont Alexandre III.

A grey and rainy day not spoiled with beautiful views like this!

Toes and lamp posts!

Plaque with date and name!

Even the frogs and padlocks become ornate beauty on the bridge!

Paris Day 15 – Bassin de l’Arsenal

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2014, April, Bassin de l'Arsenal, Canal Saint-Martin, Jardin du port de l'Arsenal, many beautiful walking paths, Paris, Port de l'Arsenal, Seine River, Twelveth Arrondissement

Bassin de l’Arsenal incorporates the Jardin du port de l’Arsenal and the Port de l’Arsenal, all sitting in the Twelveth Arrondissement and along the waterway that starts the Canal Saint-Martin. At the north end overlooking  the Bassin is the July Column and next to the East is the newer Opéra Bastille. I walked from the Column at the north to the south and mouth of the Bassin to the locks that boats use to gain access to and from the Seine River. The beautiful gardens of the port did not disappoint with many beautiful walking paths and flora in bloom!

Street lamp and July Column!

Opera Bastille!

Port de l’Arsenal.

Stairway to the Port de l’Arsenal.

Colorful boat of the Port de l’Arsenal.

A beautiful start to the gardens!

A cafe sits at the start of the garden and overlooks the Bassin!

Easy place to sit and take in the sun!

A look back at where the canal disappears under the July Column and goes into darkness!

Kids enjoying the day in the garden!

Another look back at the column!

Icelandic Poppies, just beautiful!

Ditto!

Purple and Yellow, Mother nature sure knows her colors!

A view from where I sat and enjoyed a coke!

Refreshing!

Enjoying the time of just sitting and sipping on a coke!

The view around me!

Another peaceful walkway!

Look back again at the garden and column!

Beautiful Calla Lily!

Easy place to just wander and take in the peace and quite!

Beautiful views everywhere!

Another great walking path!

Next to the port!

An area map of the bassin and canal!

A street level view looking north up the bassin!

Down the stairs looking for the locks to the river!

The Lock House!

A walking bridge over the lock, beware of the light turning red!

A look up the Bassin de l’Arsenal at lock level!

Paris Day 15 – The Fourth Arrondissement Marais

Tags

2014, April, Bassin de l'Arsenal, Café Français, Cafe Victor Hugo, Colonne de Juillet, Fourth Arrondissement, Hotel Sully, Les Amis du Musée Carnavalet, Marais, Musée Carnavalet, Paris, Place des Vosges, Red White and Blue

Hoping that spring had actually sprung, today I was headed to the Marais and the Musee Carnavalet or the official name, Les Amis du Musée Carnavalet, beautiful gardens and museum! After that a walk over to the Place des Vosges and maybe lunch at Cafe Victor Hugo. After lunch pass through the Hotel Sully and then over to the Bastille area!

Entrance to the Musee Carnavalet.

The gardens from ground level!

Beautiful intricate designs!

A gardener’s job is never done here!

Beautiful from all angles!

Gardener finishing one design!

On to another!

The Statue of Victory overlooks the gardens!

The gardens from the second floor!

The Statue of Victory overlooking the gardens on the ground floor!

The gardens from the second floor!

Beautiful rooms filled with treasures from a bygone era!

Marble stairs to exit by!

Place des Vosges!

Place des Vosges!

Place des Vosges!, All four sides of the square have these beautiful walking arcades!

Place des Vosges! Another arcade view from around the square!

Place des Vosges!, All four sides of the square have these beautiful walking arcades! One of them even has a cafe in the middle of it!

Cafe Victor Hugo!

Cafe Victor Hugo!

Entrance to the Hotel Sully via the arcade of Place des Vosges

Hotel Sully.

Hotel Sully.

Red, White and Blue chairs at the Cafe Francais!

Colonne de Juillet, The July Column (French: Colonne de Juillet) is a monumental column in Paris commemorating the Revolution of 1830. It stands in the center of the Place de la Bastille and celebrates the Trois Glorieuses — the “three glorious” days of 27–29 July 1830 that saw the fall of King Charles X of France and the commencement of the “July Monarchy” of Louis-Philippe, King of the French. It was built between 1835 and 1840.

A view onto the Bassin de l’Arsenal.

 

 

Paris Day 14 – Saying Goodbye to my Wife!

Tags

2014, April, bad taste in my mouth, beautiful walk up the 140 stairs of the Abbesses Metro, Gare de l'Est, Gare du Nord, got a sick feeling, high speed train from London, how could I leave my wife, I did not like this scenario, Jardin Villemin, Paris, Saint-Martin Canal, stairs are also in the Amelie movie, tenth arrondissement

Today was the day I had to say goodbye to my wife Lois! Her visit to Paris was over and she had to return to home and work. Leaving her at CDG was an awful feeling. I took the train from the airport back into Paris and was going to get off at Gare du Nord and check out the tenth arrondissement. As the train left CDG I really got a sick feeling, how could I leave my wife and let her fly home without me, I did not like this scenario that was planned many months ago! As the train moved into the city my thoughts fought off the bad taste in my mouth and I started thinking about the week ahead, alone in Paris and work to do!

Watching Lois leave me at CDG airport!

Watching the train schedule board change at Gare du Nord.

At Gare du Nord we used the high speed train from London in on our 1998 trip to and from Paris, in 2003 we used the high speed train to and from Amsterdam!

Exterior shot of Gare du Nord!

A short walk gets you from Gare du Nord to Gare de l’Est! We love these stairs!

These stairs are also in the Amelie movie!

5 minute walk from Gare du Nord and you are in Gare de l’Est! We used the Gare de l’Est in 1998 to transfer out to the Champagne Region and return.

Beautiful interior of Gare de l’Est.

Exterior of Gare de l’Est. Nord means North and Est means East, the direction these trains head from their stations!

Across the street is the Jardin Villemin, a beautiful short cut to get to the Saint-Martin Canal!

A beautiful sunny day with white puffy clouds at the Saint-Martin Canal. In 2003 we cruised the canal from the Seine on a two hour relaxing journey.

A walk back through the Jardin Villemin to the Gare de l’Est to catch a metro ride back to Montmartre!

The beautiful walk up the 140 stairs of the Abbesses Metro!