Swede

Paris: Daily Photo

 

Today's photo of the Arc de Triomphe is a daylight shot. You can see people at the very top. The carved relief details are battle scenes from Napoleonic wars.

Summer
Photo by Mr. Swede

Paris: Daily Beauty

 

Evening in Paris. The Arc de Triomphe, Place de l'Étoile. Completed in 1836. 164 feet high.  Cost of 9.3 million francs [constructed between 1806 and 1836], would have been a huge sum of money at that time.

Today's daily Paris photo was taken by Mr. Swede. He climbed the 284 steps to the top.

Summer

Paris: Houseboats

 

Paris:  Daily Photo

Don't know about you, but when I think of Paris, funny thing, I never think of living there on a houseboat.  I was surprised to see that they would be allowed to dock along the Seine River.

I think the hanging baskets are a give away that someone lives here full time.

Residential boats lined up on the right. This is where the Seine River splits into two channels to go around the two islands, Cite and Saint Louis.

This is a canal off the Seine River called Port Morland. It is in the 4th which is right in the heart of Paris. You could live in the heart of Paris on a boat?  Who knew?

This canal is between Boulevard Bourdon and Boulevard de la Bastille.

Looking in the opposite direction, you can see the Bastille.

Isn't the color of this water just fabulous?

I wonder if you can rent a boat for a week to live on while visiting Paris.

I wonder how many boats are named Marco Polo.

This is what Wikipidia says about the Arsenel:

"The Bassin de l'Arsenal (also known as the Port de l'Arsenal) is a boat basin in Paris. It links the Canal Saint-Martin, which begins at the Place de la Bastille, to the Seine, at the Quai de la Rapée. A component of the Réseau des Canaux Parisiens (Parisian Canal Network), it forms part of the borderline between the 12th arrondissement of Paris and the 4th. During the nineteenth century and most of the twentieth, the Bassin de l'Arsenal was a commercial port where goods were loaded and unloaded. Separated from the Seine by the Morland lockgate, the port was converted into a leisure port in 1983 by a decision of the Mairie de Paris (Paris City Hall) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and it is now run by the Association for the Leisure Port of Paris-Arsenal."
When you have your own shrubs, this has to be full-time boat living. This photo was taken further down river when we went to visit the Sevres porcelain factory.

If you like water this life could be for you.

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Today's Daily Dose of Beauty

 

Miss Butterfly visiting Miss Pink Zinnia.

We're getting to the end of summertime.  Captured this butterfly today.

Summer

Photo: Swede

 

Paris: Astier de Villatte

 

Astier de Villatte

I had heard so much about Astier de Villatte that I had to check it out while in Paris. I think there are two storefronts, and I found the one on St. Honore. My favorite product of theirs is the Alexandre line which has the little face on it.  HERE

173 Rue St Honore

and  63 Boulevard Messana

This is the front door, although I did not see their business sign.

This is their side window.  Not sure what the ceramic feet are all about.

There is an antique painting of a woman hanging on the wall to the right.

I missed recognizing those red demilune tables as being Swedish because they weren't white.  Interesting vessels on the table.

The door is open, I recognize the product line, let's go in.

So much eye candy. Not sure why they have the animal heads on the walls.

Somebody loves antique Swedish Rococo chairs as much as I do.

Back wall of products on display. The pieces are thin and light weight, not heavy like pottery.

These are their candle products. Most run $75. If you want the lid with the finial, it is another $80. With the dollar/euro difference, add 27% to the prices.

These products all look white but the glaze is more French gray from the undertones in the clay versus stark white. I loved the pedestal plates on the far right but they were out of my price range. I got one of the small plates.

On the far right are the compotes I liked [$195 to $272].  Also like the knobby pitchers on the top shelf [$380] and the small bowls with the faces on them on the middle shelf.

Lots of mugs and cups - items with handles.

I found two US online stores that sell this brand.  You can see the prices there.  Look at Suefisherking.com and mazehome.com.

On our next trip back, I'm sure I will be tempted to purchase more pieces.

Summer

Photos: Swede

Paris: Daily Capture of Beauty

 

One of my favorite things to do in Paris is look at the old buildings. I am surprised that so many of them still have their original components -- doors, windows and hardware. The quality and the detail are marvelous.

The sun angle cast too much shadow to make this photo great, but I wanted to show you anyway.  The battered wood on the lower door, wood carvings, hardware, metal insert grilles in the windows and the overdoor of limestone all tell a story that I would like to hear.

Summer

Photo: Swede

 

Paris: Daily Photo of Beauty: Esmeralda

 

When we walked over the bridge across the Seine River from our apartment on Isle Saint Louis to Isle de la Cite, this is the first building you see.  Esmeralda is a restaurant on the ground floor.  I don't know for sure, but I suspect that the restaurant owner named it for the gypsy in the book, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. Notre Dame cathedral is just across the street to the left in this photo.  Victor Hugo wrote the book in Paris in 1831.

We noticed thousands of these little Smart cars. Great idea to own one of these as the streets are so narrow and parking is difficult to find. Love the architecture of the buildings with the black iron railings. I don't know about this one, but many of the buildings on both islands were constructed around 1650.

Summer

Photo: Swede

Paris: Finding Daily Beauty

 

Today's breath of beauty are these carts of flowers on the sidewalk of a florist in the little town of Roissy en France on the outskirts of Paris.

The little brown wooden one looks the oldest one to me.  How fun to use these if you had a place for them.

Summer

Photo: Swede

 

Paris: Daily Thing of Beauty

 

Love this beautiful green damask-covered French chair at Versailles.

The painted frame is 2die4.  Love the running coin, twist legs, gold trim and that scene in the damask! 

Here is a close up view of the damask design. Love the design, but I would choose another color other than green if it was my chair.

And, how about that table.  Looker isn't it?  Wouldn't mind having it in my master bedroom.

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Paris: Gardens at Notre Dame

 

In the front corner of the Notre Dame property is this small Rose garden.

Maybe the angels in the cathedral watch over them because they were totally bug free, had healthy glossy leaves and fabulous blooms.

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Paris: Daily Photo - Art Nouveau

 

Love the metalwork on this entrance surrounding the steps down into the metro.

I believe the designer was Hector Guimard fabricated between 1899 and 1905.  I am so glad they are still there and have not been updated nor destroyed.  Just lovely.

Summer

Photo: Swede

 

Paris: Daily Photo

 

Continuing along with a daily photo of Paris.

Evening dinner cruise on the Seine.  Beam me here now, please!

Summer
Photo: Swede

 

Paris: Finding a Daily Thing of Beauty

 

Everywhere you look is a thing of beauty.

Red climbing Roses going over a wall to the roof of a building in Roissy en France.

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Paris: Toyota Hybrid Concept Car on Ave des Champs Elysees

 

I have to admit I was surprised to see a car dealer on the Champs Elysees in Paris.  It is located at 79 Avenue des Champs Elysees in the 8th.  On the floor on a rotating display is their hybrid FT-HS concept car.

I have to admit this car was impressive and I'm not into cars.

The display board.

I took photos as the display rotated but I missed the rear view.

This dealership being in a prime location sure had a lot of tourists checking out the car.

Since this was a concept car, I didn't see a price in Euros posted anywhere.

I'm not sure it was for sale.  Probably just for marketing purposes. It is a "looker" don't you think?

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Paris: Designer Shops

Paris Daily Photo 

Of course, all the big name designers have shops in Paris.  Funny thing - we never saw anyone go in or out of these shops.  No customers visible inside the stores.  How do they make money???

Look at this shoe - note the metal spikes around the buckles at the ankle and arch.  Ouch! 

Outrageous, but I guess that is the point.

Chanel.   Very nice old building these shops are in.  Looks like it was once part of the French government since it has the iron fence with gold tips on the spears.

These are familiar names around the world.

Always makes me have more questions. I wonder who the people are who design each piece for these brands. Are they young out of the Fashion Institute or seasoned professionals? I have a basic idea of how designs are done but I'd love to see what happens behind the scenes.  After all, we saw some drama last fall on Fashion Star.  What is the honest annual retail sales numbers out of these stores?

No surprise to see a red outfit at Valentino.

Would love to see what's in the vault, wouldn't you?

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Paris: A Photo A Day

 

I do have enough photos to show a photo a day here.  We, like other tourists spent time walking around the streets of Isle Saint Louis and Isle de la Cite which is in the heart of Paris in the Fourth. I noticed an increasing amount of locals who came over to Isle Saint Louis on Sunday evenings to stroll and have ice cream.

Narrow streets allow for one car in one direction.  The Seine is on the right of the sidewalk.  You see many small cars like Smart cars because parking is at a premium.  In the 1650's when these buildings were constructed, nobody anticipated the invention of vehicles. Not enough space is one of the first problems you notice and the crowding.

Love the architecture on the buildings that give them that certain Parisian atmosphere.  I love looking at all the ironwork of the balconies. You know I secretly want to see the interiors of all these properties.

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Paris: Sidewalk Cafes

 

You see all the photos of the cute little sidewalk cafes in Paris.  Don't they look romantic and inviting?  We only stopped at a couple during the entire trip.  This cafe is on Avenue Mac Mahon.  Here is why.

One Coke and one house beer:  $16.38.   How do Parisians pay these prices?  Guess you can tell I was desparate for a Diet Coke!! $5.72 for a 12 ounce soda.

Summer

Photo: Swede

 

Paris: Gardeners' Love for the Foxglove

 

I couldn't help but notice nearly every park, church and private garden in Paris had Foxglove plants blooming.  Parisian gardeners certainly have a love affair with Foxgloves [Digitalis]. Their Parks Department must plant thousands of them.

This is in the rear garden of Notre Dame. The beds wrap around the perimeter.

These beds and monument are inside a fenced area on the back side of the cathedral.

Closer look at the Foxgloves.

Very nice.

White ones.

Another view of the Notre Dame flower garden.

These flower beds are in the Tuileries Gardens.

That roofline view has been there for a long time. The light in these photos is not great as it was getting ready to rain.

It must take a large staff to maintain all the flower gardens, parks and monument sites in Paris city limits.

Pretty, pretty, pretty.

I can understand why Parisians love their parks. The density of residential housing is high so people don't own individual homes like we do with their own yards.  The only place to go to get out of the house is to the public parks, museums, etc., so they make them very beautiful.

Summer

Photos: Swede

Paris: Florist Shops

 

At last, I'm back!  My computer power supply died but the new one came today and it got my computer back up and running.  I was crossing my fingers that all I needed was a new power supply and that the entire computer had not burnt up. I came home a couple weeks ago to the strange sound of my APC backup unit screaming like a burglar alarm.  Of course, you know Mr. and Mrs. Procrastinator live in this house and never backed up my photo library.  I truly was worried.  Mr. Swede bought me an external hard drive for Christmas, but as mentioned above, it is still in the packaging. Shame! Guess that taught me a lesson. My H-P TouchScreen is only three years old.  I'm so thankful it was just the power supply for $110 and not thousands for a new computer. I bought one on eBay for $22 used but the seller wasn't a registered user so I had trouble trying to pay him with PayPal.  Long story you don't want to hear. Then I had to shell out for a new one from the manufacturer in Hong Kong. At least he ships FedEx.

Today's topic is floral shops in Paris.  Being the everlasting romantic that I am, I had visions of beautiful floral shops on every corner of Paris.  Isn't it funny how we have expectations about places like Paris.  Truth is, I only saw two in the weeks we were there.  One very small one on Isle Saint Louis and the one shown below.  I wish I could tell you where I was when I came across it, but I was so exhausted from walking for eight hours all over town that I didn't know where I was. One of these trips I swear I'm going to take a notepad and write things down -- like street addresses.

I would have loved to buy all the bundles of the big Peony buds and lavish up their beauty -- overdose in them.  The few plants in my garden - I lost another plant this spring -- don't put out many flowers and they are gone so quickly.  Peonies need cold winters and we don't have them.

If anyone recognizes this florist, please send me an email with the name or address so maybe I can find it again.

Look at all those bundles of cinnamon scented Sweet William - another of my favorites. And there are clove-scented Stock and Lilies.

A closer view of the Peony buds. Notice the white ones are over twice the price of the pale pink ones.  No reds.

This bouquet is for you, Marlis!  Hope it reminds you of living in Orleans but doesn't make you homesick.  You must tell me all about living there -- I very much want to hear all about it. Marlis is a lovely follower of my blog.  I love Lupines, especially the coral colored ones but they don't grow here -- too hot.  When we lived near Seattle they grew easily everywhere.

Lovely Roses.

My favorite ones.

Mr. Swede was in Paris again today without me.  All business - no time to take photos for me.

Summer

Photos: Swede