In Times Square

I actually took this picture a couple of days
before Christmas, at (believe it or not) 2 o'clock
in the afternoon.  There's no rain predicted
for tonight—that's good news for the estimated
1 million (!) people who will be gathering here.
I will most definitely not be joining that crowd,
but I wish them—and you—a very Happy New Year!

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

Monday Mellow Yellows

. . . or you could save yourself a bundle and get
married in a white T-shirt and yards
and yards and yards of bright yellow tulle.

[To see more Monday Mellow Yellows, visit Gemma's meme.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

I looked back and discovered that this is
my 223rd Sunday shadow shot since I first
began this addiction four and a half years ago—
and I'm still on the lookout wherever I am!
(This one was in the kitchen of the apartment
I stayed at in Paris last month.)

[To see more Sunday shadows, go here.]

The Weekend in Black and White

Good food has never been hard to find in Paris,
but these days some priorities may have shifted.  The
first thing this little restaurant, Le Tiquetonne, wants you
to know is that they have WiFi.  (Oh, and you can also
 get a "simple and good" old-fashioned burger. )

[To see more monochromes, visit Dragonstar's meme.]

Weekend Reflections

One more image of the season—this year, Bloomie's
gave their holiday windows an international
flair.  This ode to Italy was my favorite.

[To see more Weekend Reflections, visit James's meme.]

Thursday Challenge—bright colors

They've now been handed out (and much appreciated
by all).  Sometimes, though, I think the packages are
so pretty, it's almost a shame to open them!
I'm wishing a Happy Boxing Day (read about
it here) to all my pals who are celebrating today. 

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

ABC Wednesday—X is for "Xmas"

Yesterday I showed you some Parisian
window dresser's version of Santa.  Now here's 
my idea of a real Santa (though some small
children did cry when they were parked on his lap).
{BTW, I've used this X word in a previous Christmastime 
post—and explained why I think "Xmas" is okay.}
Hope all of you who are celebrating today
are having a wonderful holiday! 

[To see more ABC posts, go here.]

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Santa and his elves (?) made an appearance
in of the Prada-themed windows of
Printemps, in Paris. Tonight, though, he'll
trade that snazzy red leather suit for something a little
cozier, fill those Prada trunks with toys for
good girls and boys, and take off in a sleigh drawn
by eight reindeer . . . or so I've been told.

[Today is also Ruby Tuesday. To see more, go here.]             

Light the Christmas lights!

I love Christmas lights displayed in all kinds of
ways—found these festive lumières at the
Paris boutique Muji, a fun store in the Marais.

[Linking back to Monday Mellow Yellows
and also to Macro Monday.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

The church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés,
the oldest in Paris, was built and rebuilt many
times from the 6th century to the 17th. It's a
wonderfully eclectic mix of several architectural
styles—including Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque.  

[To see more Sunday shadows, go here.]

The Weekend in Black and White

I have a special fondness for the passages
of Paris (and worked in one of them
for several years).  Some have been spruced
up and are filled with colorful shops.
Some are a bit run-down, with more utilitarian
businesses—like this one, Passage du Caire.
It may not be very elegant, but it has good bones.

[To see more monochromes, visit Dragonstar's meme.]

Weekend Reflections

Merci—wonderful name for a wonderfully 
eclectic shop (see here), where they sell 
all manner of interesting and beautifully
designed items. The joint was jumpin' when
we went so we didn't linger, but I will
definitely be back (might even buy something!).

[To see more Weekend Reflections, visit James's meme.]

A chicken in every pot

I don't exactly travel to shop, but on every trip
there's always something I wish I had bought.  This
shop was closed, but I could have gone back.
Assuming they don't cost 10 times more than
an actual poulet, I can think of a few
friends who would love to store their plastic bags
(that's what they're for) in one of these fun, colorful birds!

ABC Wednesday—W is for "whisks"

Welcome to E. Dehillerin, Paris cookware emporium
extraordinaire.  Unlike Julia Child, I did not
stock up on copper cookware.  In fact, I
didn't buy a thing—but I did take tons o' photos.

[To see more ABC posts, go here.]

Un jeune marin

This young Parisien was having a good time (despite
the cold—and where are his gloves?) sailing
his boat in the pond at the Jardin du Luxembourg.

When the boat comes close to "shore," the
stick is used to send it off again.

[To see more Ruby Tuesday posts, go here;
for more of Our World Tuesday, go here.]

9 days 'til Christmas . . .

Most of the cards are written, some presents wrapped,
the tree is up (thank you, Katie, my strong, tall girl!),
and waiting patiently to be trimmed with the
ornaments we've collected over many, many years.
So much to do, so little time!

[Linking back to Monday Mellow Yellows,
Macro Monday, and Mosaic Monday.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

 Place des Vosges late at night:
beautiful and mysterious—
and not another soul in sight.

[To see more shadows, go here.]

The Weekend in Black and White

Once upon a time (i.e., when I lived in Paris),
there weren't this many chairs to be found in the
Jardin du Luxembourg—even on a chilly day.  You were
also expected to pay for the privilege of parking
yourself in one of them (1 franc, if I recall—the
equivalent of 20–25 cents).  The game of "musical chairs"
we played involved trying to stay ahead of the
ladies who collected the fee.

[To see more monochromes, visit Dragonstar's meme.]

Weekend Reflections

Light from the many globes at the Cité metro station
is reflected all around the white-tiled
walls and ceiling (and white stone platform too.)

[To see more Weekend Reflections, visit James's meme.]

Thursday Challenge—Best of 2013

I chose this image for "Reflection,"
back in April.  My friend Bert then pointed out
that it's not really a reflection but an image
of another part of the Doge's Palace.
I think he's right, but I'm showing it again
anyway—because I still love this picture.

[To see more of the Thursday Photo Challenge, go here.]

ABC Wednesday—V is for "vines"

Right now Paris is covered in colorful
vines.  This building in the Marais
was just dripping with them.

Yo see more ABC posts, go here.]

On rue de Grenelle

After going to see the Christmas lights on
rue Cler, we were on our way to the Eiffel Tower
through the otherwise quiet 7th arrondissement and
came across this place.  I looked online—it
might be worth checking out next time.
Looks inviting anyway, don't you agree?

[I'm linking back to Ruby Tuesday
and to Our World Tuesday.]

Jeanne d'Arc

Leaving Paris (sigh), we were glad our driver
took the more scenic route to CDG through town—
we passed right by the statue of Jeanne d'Arc that seems
to stride valiantly through the Place des Pyramides.
Apparently someone decided she'd be more comfortable
in sneakers and has kindly (?) given her a pair.

[To see more Monday Mellow Yellows, visit Gemma's meme.]

Bridge of Shadows

It was mostly cloudy in Paris last month, but
there was one morning . . . I was going to an exhibit
of Brassaï's photos and stalked shadows
all the way from St. Germain and across the
Pont d'Arcole to the Hôtel de Ville.
(As expected, Brassaï's work was inspiring—
but mostly humbling.)

[To see more Sunday shadows, go here.]

The Weekend in Black and White

You are looking out to the rue de Valois from the
arcade that surrounds the Palais Royal gardens,
one of the most elegant spaces in all of Paris.

[To see more monochromes, visit Dragonstar's meme.]

ET sunset

On the one really sunny afternoon we had in Paris 
last month, we made a beeline for the rooftop terrace 
of the Galeries Lafayette to catch the sun 
setting behind the Eiffel Tower and the Grand Palais.
I think it was well worth braving the 
cold up there for this view!

[To see more Skywatch Friday posts, go here.
See more Orange You Glad It's Friday? posts here.]

Thursday Challenge—"peaceful"

A place of worship is almost always a peaceful place.  
This one is the church of St. Paul–St. Louis, in
the Marais.  When I last saw it, in 2011, the exterior
was pitch black.  It has since been given a
well-deserved cleaning and bright red doors.

[To see more of the Thursday Photo Challenge, go here.]  

ABC Wednesday—U is for "umbrella"

I've done U for "umbrella" before, but this
is my 7th or 8th ABC/U post, after all.
This was taken last month in Paris, late at
night in an almost empty Place Vendôme.
(Thanks to the lovely Isabelle for
providing the perfect prop for this shot.)

[To see more ABC posts, go here.] 

Getting ready at Rock Center

Passed through Rockefeller Center recently
on my way to work.  These guys were busy setting up
the angels in the Channel Gardens while others were putting
the 30,000 lights and 550-pound Swarovski star on
the tree—which will be lit tomorrow night.
(And I will not be among the anticipated tens of
thousands who will attempt to witness it!)

[See more Ruby Tuesday posts here. To see
more of Our World Tuesday, go here.]

Les jaunes douces de lundi (monday mellow yellows)

In Paris lately, I just couldn't stop myself
 from snapping every vine I saw.  This one came
with a little bonus, and I knew I would use it here.

[To see more Monday Mellow Yellows, visit Gemma's meme.]

Les Fleurs d'Aujourd'hui

This (30 euro!) arrangement was for sale at a florist
on the market street rue Montorgeuil. The strawberries
were an unexpected addition, don't you think?

[To see more of Today's Flowers, go here.  And it's
 the 1st of the month, so I've posted to my Paris blog.]

The Weekend in Black and White

I found these brides and grooms at a great Paris store 
(one of several on rue Montmartre, near les Halles) 
with a good selection of cake pans, candy molds, 
and all sorts of baking supplies.  I was happy to see 
an (almost) all-embracing selection of 
wedding-cake toppers—no groom/groom or
bride/bride couples, but who knows?  Maybe next
time I'm there I'll see some of those too.

[To see more monochromes, visit Dragonstar's meme.]  

In St. Germain des Prés

The sky really was this (non) color for much
of the time I was in Paris this month.
The good news? That hardly ever meant rain.

[I'm linking back to Skywatch Friday and
to Orange You Glad It's Friday?]

Thursday Challenge—signs

It's the thought that counts—
not the spelling.
Happy Thanksgiving!

[To see more of the Thursday Photo Challenge, go here.]

ABC Wednesday—T is for "traffic"

And also for Thanksgiving, of course.  If you're going
somewhere this holiday weekend, I hope you
don't get stuck in a mess like this!  I also hope you
have lots to be thankful for—I know I do.

[To see more ABC posts, go here.] 

Christmas at Cartier

No, it's not the "red light district"—it's the
high-rent district!  The Cartier store on
the Champs-Elysées is awash in holiday color.

[It's Ruby Tuesday. To see more, go here.]

French flowers

Despite the frigid temps in Paris last week,
florists all had flowers on display outside.
I snapped these gorgeous roses at a
shop on rue Beaubourg.

[To see more Monday Mellow Yellows, visit Gemma's meme.
For Mandarin Orange Monday posts, visit LoriK's meme.
And for more Macro Mondays, go here.]

Paris shadows

I'm just back from a wonderful week
 in my fave city with two very special people
(and fellow bloggers). One of them will
recognize herself—and her shadow—in this shot 
taken on the roof of Galeries Lafayette.

[It's Shadow Shot Sunday—to see more, go here.]

The Weekend in Black and White

After a week in Paris, I'm coming in for a landing
back at JFK today—then a good night's sleep, and who 
knows how many photos to put on the computer before
rejoining the working world on Monday.  (sigh)

[To see more monochromes, visit Dragonstar's meme.]

Weekend Reflections

Leaving all this yumminess tomorrow.
{Insert large sigh here.}
Some of these things look pretty hard to resist,
but that fellow passing by the window
didn't give them so much as a glance.
For me, it lends new meaning to the French term
for window shopping: lèche-vitrines (window licking)!

[To see more Weekend Reflections, visit James's meme.]

Thursday Challenge—attractive

Very fitting category—since I'm in Paris,
where it's not too hard to find lots
of attractive people.  Case in point: this
waiter at a café in St. Germain who
managed to be cute, flirtatious, and
efficient all at the same time.

[To see more of the Thursday Photo Challenge, go here.]

ABC Wednesday—S is for "Sacré Coeur"

Don't know if I'll make it up to Montmartre
this trip—but even if I do, I doubt the
church will be set off by a beautiful blue sky
like this one.  (This shot was taken in July.)
Frankly, I'll be happy with lots of clouds and no rain!

[To see more ABC posts, go here.]

Ruby Tuesday

It's early in the A.M. and these chairs are ready
and waiting for any intrepid cafégoers (like moi)
who are willing to brave the November weather and
enjoy the passing Parisian scene from the terrace.

[To see more Ruby Tuesday posts, go here.

happy little angels

Here are some more sweet Parisian faces; these two
angels are part of the hardware on a massive door.
 If they look pleased to be there, maybe it's because they
are installed in the upper chapel of the Ste. Chapelle, and
 have been enjoying those gorgeous stained glass
windows for almost 800 years.

[To see more Monday macros, go here.
For more Mandarin Orange Monday
 posts, visit LoriK's meme.] 

Shadow Shot Sunday

Can't tell you much about this sweet face—
only that it lives in the crypt under the Pantheon
in Paris, where such French luminaries as Voltaire,
Victor Hugo, Emile Zola, and Marie Curie are buried.

[To see more Sunday shadows, go here.]

The Weekend in Black and White

Et voilà!  I'll give you two guesses where
I landed today (and the 2nd one doesn't count).

I'll get to spend some quality time with 
Virginia, of Paris Through My Lens, and Genie, 
whose blog is Paris and Beyond—two 'Bama gals 
who are here now too. They both blog beautifully 
about the city all three of us adore and take 
me there through their posts every day.  I'm 
so excited that we're all here at the same time!

[To see more monochromes, visit Dragonstar's meme.]

Skywatch Friday

I'm getting on a plane tonight and
heading east—for 7 days of fun
and photography with a couple of
my fave blogpals.  I've scheduled posts
for the week ahead and will try to keep 
up a bit with my iPad.  Hope you'll 
stop by while I'm gone.

[Am linking back to Skywatch here.
And to Tina's Ein Stück Himmel here.]

Thursday Challenge—patterns

This pattern set into the pavement of the
Piazza San Marco, in Venice, seems slightly
off-kilter.  I don't know why that is—but you
might not even notice it at all unless
you go up in the campanile and look down.
(They were experiencing some aqua alta  in 
November two years ago.  The circles
in the pattern are drains, but they won't 
do their job until the tide goes out.)

[To see more of the Thursday Photo Challenge, go here.]

ABC Wednesday—R is for "rose"

I just loved this bright pink rose blooming
in November (and trying to give the
turning leaves a bit of competition maybe?).

[To see more ABC posts, go here.]