Pink!

The tulips are out at the
Brooklyn Botanic Garden—
another spectacular display!

Skywatch Friday

The dawn of a new day (in this case a foggy one in Ipswich, 
Mass., where I visited friends recently).  Speaking of which, 
(dawn, that is) I'm off now to set the DVR for 4 AM. 
Here's wishing Will and Kate a very happy life together!
[See more Skywatch here.]

Spring Has Sprung

And the flowering trees are bursting into bloom all over 
town—hope you're enjoying the show where you are!
[Today's Thursday Photo Challenge is "spring." See more here.]

abc wednesday — O is for "organ"

This over-the-top organ is in the church of St. Etienne
du Mont (once upon a time, my parish church).
I just wish you could hear it!
[You can see more abc wednesday posts here.]

Who's Listening?

The very young Parisian on the left seems
interested; the older one on the right, 
cigarette in hand—very much less so.
I hope the musician made a few bucks this day!
[This post is part of That's My World. To 
see more of the world, go here.]

A Place for Everything

Love these cute "boites" for almost anything you can
think of: flour, pasta, coffee, bouillon cubes, packets of
sugar, and even (vraiment trop chouchou/really too
"teacher's pet") hair accessories! But, no, I didn't buy any of them.
What do you like to buy when you travel?
[Today is Mellow Yellow Monday. See more yellow here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

We were coming in for a landing at DeGaulle . . .

. . . as you can see (and—oops—once again, I
forgot to turn off all my electronic gadgets).
[You can see more shadow shots here.]

Dusty?

The category for today's Photo Hunt is "dusty."
I'm not saying these books are—but just
going by how often I have to deal with my own
bookshelves, I'd have to say the potential is there.
I could farfouille (rummage about) in here
for hours—how about you?
[See more "dusty" posts here, at tnchick's meme.]

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.]

Thursday Photo Challenge: "Complex"

When I pondered the idea of "complex," I thought of the 
design of the interior of Ste. Chapelle (especially the upper
chapel, which I've shown before for another Thursday challenge).
Even these columns (and there must be dozens) are incredibly intricate.
Each and every one is painted with a different pattern . . .

. . . and each of the capitals features
a different type of plant or animal
in its design.  It's amazing that this
place took only five years to build.
[To see more "complex" things, go here.]

abc wednesday — N is for "Napoleon"

He may have been banished in the end,
but the emperor still looms large (so to speak)
in French history and culture—and I can think of
at least one person right now who may have
what we call a Napoleon complex.
[See lots more of the letter N here at abc wednesday.]

Paris in Living Color II

These are the beautiful doors of the church of
St. Gervais and St. Protais. There's been a church at
this spot since the 4th century, and it's looked like
this since the 1600s. Wish I could have gone inside
to see the gorgeous organ used by the Couperins.
[I'm linking back to That's My World. 
To see more of the world, go here.]

rue des Rosiers

``````````````````````````````

La boutique jaune—and is it ever! This place,
across the street from our recent Paris digs, has lots
of yummy stuff. Have to stick with NYC bagels,
however—but who goes to Paris for bagels?
[See more mellow yellow here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

I've featured shadows from the beautiful
Palais Royal before. The perfectly
trimmed trees in the gardens provided
some dramatic ones this time. 
[See more shadow shots here.]

Photo Hunter — "road"

Here's your road right here!  My daughter Lila took this shot
when she and her sister, Kate, drove this most famous
American road between Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.  
[See more roads here, at tnchick's meme.]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Skywatch Friday

Took this from a car the other day.  Don't think it really conveys 
the majesty of this sky—but I've never seen one quite like it.  
These amazing clouds were followed an hour or so later by the most 
spectacular thunder-and-lightning display I've ever seen.  I'll bet 
that plane that's just visible up there was experiencing a 
bit of turbulence. Welcome to global warming? 
To see more Skywatch, go here.

Thursday Photo Challenge: "Happy"

Why is this woman so happy?  Well, let's see:
She's in Paris, enjoying a gorgeous spring day in
the Luxembourg Gardens—and she's savoring a Ladurée
macaron (caramel au beurre salé, the best flavor, IMHO).
Happy? Actually, this looks more like sheer bliss to me!
[For more happiness, go here, to today's Thursday Challenge.]

abc wednesday — M is for "metro"

This is the fantastical Paris metro station you come
to for the Louvre and also for the Palais Royal—
seriously, you won't see this anywhere else!
[To see more posts for the letter M, go here.]

Musée Carnavalet

This cool sign is in the museum of the
city of Paris, a wonderful repository of
all things Parisien, including recreated
rooms, building models, and shop signs
from a time when most of the population
couldn't read. Some of them are fairly obvious
(see below), but I have no idea what this is
supposed to signify. Any ideas? 

I'm linking back to That's My World Tuesday.
To see more of the world, go here.]

The Hotel Chopin

. . . in the Passage Verdeau—
and if you recognize this famous perspective
you'll know who lives above this lovely passage.
[It's Mellow Yellow Monday.  To see more, 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.]

Trees

Credit for this goes to my daughter Lila,
who took the picture somewhere in Paris.
(For some reason, it makes me think of Baudelaire.)
[To see more trees, go to tnchick's meme].

Les Toits de Paris . . .

. . . over  a very "typique" Haussmanian building
and under a clear blue sky—perfection!
(I'll take the corner apartment, merci.)
[Today is Skywatch Friday. To see more, go here.]

La Madeleine

I just love the soft light of these candles burning in the
church of La Madeleine—and knowing that each one
represents someone's good wishes and positive
thoughts (like mine for my father and grandmother,
the people I think of when I light a candle).
[See more things that are soft here at the Thursday Challenge.]

abc wednesday —L is for "Ladurée"

A Paris pastry shop where you can find macarons,
that meringue-y, jammy, buttercreamy concoction
that the French do SO well.  Pierre Hermé has arguably
Paris' best, but Ladurée provided our fix more than once.
[To see more of the letter L, go here.]
 

Le Français

We were have a little "wine-nic" (i.e., bottle
of red) along the banks of the Seine and
this guy parked himself next to us.  Aaah, the
scruffy hair and beard, the red foulard, the mégot
(ciggy butt)—could he BE more French? 

Hotel de Ville Carrousel

The Hotel de Ville (i.e., city hall) and its spectacular double-decker carrousel—
plus a bonus pretty Parisienne (actually, she's a chic New Yorker).
[I'm linking back to Mellow Yellow Monday. To see more, go here.] 

Shadow Shot Sunday

Found these in St. Médard, a lovely old church
at the far end of the rue Mouffetard market.
[To see more shadow shots, go here.]

Paris in Living Color

I was on the hunt for colorful café chairs—and
I think I found some. Bon weekend to you!

Skywatch Friday

How about these puffy Parisian clouds (over the
solid towers and graceful spires of Notre Dame)?
They waited patiently for most of the day, then brought
a brief but torrential rainstorm. (I was safely indoors with my
 old/new friend Marylene, enjoying a nice cup of tea, thank you!)
[To see more Skywatch, go here.]