Thursday Challenge—"best"

And because today is also National Limerick Day:

I know of a city in France
That's the best place for finding romance.
In a café or strolling the quais
In the Grand or the Petit Palais—
I'd be on the next plane if I had the chance.

[To see more of the Thursday Photo
Challenge, visit Dale's meme.]

The Weekend in Black and White

Paris—looking a tad telescoped because
of the zoom lens, with the Pont du Carrousel
in the foreground and left to right
behind it the spires of the Sainte Chappelle, 
Notre Dame, and the dome of the Institut de France
(home of the Académie Française).

[To see more b/w pictures from around the
world, visit Dragonstar's meme.]

inSPIREd Sunday

Notre Dame is gorgeous in all seasons,
of course—but for me maybe most of all in
the fall.  Here it's seen through the autumn
leaves along the Quai de Montebello.

[To see more churches from
around the world, go here.]

inSPIREd Sunday

I took this shot of Notre Dame from the
Pont de l'Archevêché last time I was here, in September.
We get it: You're in Paris and you're in love (with each
other or maybe just with the city itself).  Mazel tov—really.
But how about showing some love for the bridges
of this beautiful place (and not cluttering up
the view of this gorgeous cathedral)?
The locks that made part of the parapet on the
Pont des Arts collapse were removed in early June
and I hope these are gone by now too.

[To see more churches from around the world, go here.]

inSPIREd Sunday

Yes, it's Notre Dame again—this time
from the vantage point of the little garden
behind it.  To be honest, I probably
have enough photos of this classic cathedral
to fill up a month of (inSPIREd) Sundays!

[To see more churches from around the world, go here.]

inSPIREd Sunday

I'm taking the meme quite literally today.
Here's the elegant spire of Notre Dame 
cathedral peeking from between 
the buildings on either side of the narrow
rue des Chantres, on the Île de la Cité.

[To see more churches from around the world, go here.]

ABC Wednesday—N is for "Notre Dame"

I know—this picture is such a cliché.  But
you know what my favorite part* of
this huge church is?  Those little red doors
on either side, right at the roofline.
I would love to know what's behind them.

*Okay, my second favorite. First are the bells;
I don't like the climb but I love to
be right next to the belfry when they toll.

[To see more ABC posts, go here.]

Autumn in Paris

Two days ago, I was moaning about the
end of a beautiful summer.  Well, now that
fall is officially here, I think maybe I
should just enjoy it!  (Wouldn't be too hard
to do in this particular place, would it?) 

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

inSPIREd Sunday

These are apostles (I believe).
They're just three of the many personages
who populate the façade of Notre Dame in Paris.

See?

[To see more churches from
around the world, go here.]

Tina's Picstory—"bottom up"

I was told that medieval cathedrals were
decorated to edify and instruct the illiterate
faithful.  In that case, they could "read"
a lot just on Notre Dame's façade alone—
as here above the center door, known as
the Portal of the Last Judgment.

[To see more of Tina's Picstory, go here.]

Notre Dame at Night

All lit up like this, against the dark sky—
it takes my breath away every single time!

[To see more posts that feature the
letter N, visit Tina's Picstory.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

Even if I was 90 and my knees were shot,
I think I'd still find a way to climb up
like Quasimodo to the top of Notre Dame,
to visit these fantastical creatures
and listen to the bells up close.

[To see more Shadow Shot Sunday, go here.]

Traveling Tuesdays

See the Eiffel Tower way back there? This creature
had already been staring out over the rooftops
of Paris from Notre Dame's south tower for more 
than six centuries before it was ever built—and 
he's been there for more than another century since!



[To see more Tuesday travels, visit Sandi's meme.]

Traveling Tuesdays—Paris at Night 4

Not sure I've ever come here late at
night on purpose, but I've found myself
here lots of times on my way "home"—and
it stops me dead in my tracks every single time! 

Traveling Tuesdays

This is Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral very early
in the morning, before the tourists showed up.
I guess you might say I'm a tourist too, but I'd
much rather be considered a visitor—it's
a fine distinction perhaps, but an important one.
Anyone who loves to travel knows exactly what I mean!
[To see more from Traveling Tuesdays (or to join in), go here.]






 

Monday Doorways

Last week I promised a more famous church
with a colorful side door—how about Notre Dame?
[To see more doors, or to add one of your own,
go here, chez Louis la Vache.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

Back to Notre Dame, where I found lots of lovely
shadows—including this one near the main altar.
[See more Shadow Shots here.]

Paris at Night

For a big city, Paris can be surprisingly
quiet at night (or maybe I'm just used to
living in "the city that never sleeps").

[This is part of That's My World Tuesday.
To see more of the world, go here.]

Skywatch Friday

How about an overcast but pretty Parisian sky?
The rain had come and gone and the sun
had just set over there behind Notre Dame.
[To see more Skywatch, go here.]

Notre Dame Shadows

I was the third person to enter Notre Dame on a recent Saturday morning
(before 8 a.m.). These shadows were the least of the wonders I found there
(and without the usual hordes, I was actually able to appreciate them)! 
[It's Shadow Shot Sunday. To see more, go here.]