Back "home"?

It's no longer "home", but it's not totally a foreign country either, so I don't really know what to call it anymore! The thing is, however, that I'm back to Paris today, to spend a few days with my family and to complete a few administrative tasks that I did not have the time to complete last month. I will have very little time to take photos, but I will try to, in order to end this blog as beautifully as possible ;-) 

Chai 33

I totally forgot about this series of photos that I took at Chais 33, a restaurant located at Bercy Village, an area located in the Eastern part of Paris I already told you about several time. A "chai" is the place were wine is made and stored  (winery in English) and there were lots of them at Bercy in the old days (hence the name of the restaurant). Stunning location.

Marché Beauvau

There is a famous market in the Eastern part of Paris called Le marché d'Aligre. Most of it is in open air, but part of it is also sheltered in this covered hall called La Marché Beauvau. Definitely worth a visit, for the market and for the inhabitants of this neighborhood!

Like an Italian in Paris!

No I did not take this photo in Rome nor Florence, but it's a real Italian on a real Italian scooter in Paris ;-) I could not help but dig out my camera and shoot!  

French Indochina rememberance monument

Here is a pretty odd "monument" that I found in the 12th arrondissement; it's dedicated to the French veterans of the Indochina wars. Indochina was the South Asian area where France had colonies (namely in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia) and fought to keep them (hence this monument). I think it's pretty ugly, to be honest, but historically interesting (they even planted palm trees even though the Paris weather is not exactly palm tree friendly LOL!).

Vertigo

Here is another photo that I took at the Opera last Monday. I went all the way up to the last floor, just to have the highest view possible on one of the bars. I kinda like it, but maybe because I have been there ; it may be harder for you to feel what I experienced...

La cartoucherie

La Cartoucherie is a famous place in Paris, but I had never visited it until very recently. It's located in the Bois de Vincennes and used to be a munitions factory (hence its name in French). In the 70's, it was converted into a unique multi-theater complex under the management of Ariane Mnouchkine, a very famous French stage director. It's a definite must see if you love theater (check the program here).

Paris farm

Did you know there is a real farm in Paris? A piece of land in the Bois de Vincennes, with fruit trees, vegetables, cows, chickens and... pigs! And I'm not talking about the Salon de l'agriculture, the trade show I often posted a photo of on this blog, but a real real farm!  The actual purpose is not to allow Parisians to buy farm products, but to teach the children (and grown ups?!) where their food originally comes from! Really cool!

Paris botanical garden

There are several botanical gardens in Paris : one in the East side of Paris (the Parc Floral de Paris opened in 1969) and a few in the West side of Paris (the Parc de Bagatelle, École Du Breuil and the Jardin des Serres d'Auteuil). In the Parc Floral de Paris there are four  landscape spaces including an area for walking and a meeting and exchange area (exhibition room, horticultural events, etc.). It's also used in the summer to host several events. A must visit!

Republican Guard

Last Sunday I passed by the Chateau de Vincennes, in the East of Paris, and I came across the parade of Le garde républicaine (Republican Guard) a French army body which is part of the French Gendarmerie in charge of the Paris area security and for providing guards of honor. What you see in this photo is not the actual Republican Guard, but a reenactment of the Imperial Guard, which was the equivalent under Napoleon! I did not resist posting a photo of this little boy, trying blocking his ears because of the enormous noise produced but the guns (original ones, no doubt!)

Kite festival

I discovered yesterday morning that there was a kite festival (Paris plane - plane means to glide in French)  in the 12th arrondissement, so I went here. It was interesting, but not captivating, to be honest... and very difficult to photograph. Here is the best I could do (I know this could have been taken in any sky on the planet!). Anyway, have a great Monday, I hope this will be inspirational ;-)

Tropical Carnival

I never knew about the Paris Tropical Carnival and though... it's been taking place for 13 years now! I only discovered about it by chance last Saturday because I needed to go to the hardware store and found more about it on the web today. It was really fun to see not only the Carnival but also the people in the audience (We have a large Caribbean community in Paris). Shame that the weather was not very nice.

Graffiti or painting?

Here is a garage door I spotted in rue Saint-Nicolas and I thought it was truly amazing ! Not that I particularly like the actual painting, but because it's a really elaborated street work, closer to a painting than a graffito. [Sorry for the late posting, I was so tired, I screwed up with the posting time!!]

Commemorate what never happened!

You know how in Paris - and in many other cities of course - you can see on several buildings a plaque on which some important historical fact is reported. Like "this was the house of Victor Hugo" or "in front of this wall X people have been shot by the Nazis", etc. Well this one is much funnier! It says "On April 17, 1967, nothing happened here! It's a remain of an art "movement" that took place around 2002: "Celebrate non historical moments", was their (apparently they were two!) intention...

The country side of Paris

This weekend I went to the country to a beautiful friend's house outside of Paris and... Not true! I went to Bercy gardens - again! This house is actually La Maison du Jardinage (the house of gardening) and you can find there all sorts of plants and advice to grow your own. I really don't have green fingers - and not the required patience to grow anything! - but I would love to live in this house, both inside Paris and in the middle of a huge garden... Priceless.

Day off!

I'm so exhausted tonight, all I want is... to take a break, like this lady in the Bercy park. I very rarely took a day off on PDP, but today I will. Sorry... (Mind you you still get a photo, but no facts and figures caption!)

The vain van...

I went to Bercy Village, an old part of Paris that they renovated about 15 years ago and turned into a pretty cool shopping and eating area and... I came across this amazing van called Le Boudoir des Cocottes. A boudoir is a private room where ladies can "powder their nose" and a cocotte is, well, a lady who is a little vain, in a nice way. This van is precisely made for them... They can have a manicure, make up, beauty tips... for affordable prices. How clever! I'm sure it's going to be a big success! Check the website.

Running in Paris

Before I left for Bangkok I went early in the morning to several places around Paris and I was really amazed to see how many people run. Hence this photo that I took on the Passerelle Simone de Beauvoir, where you can see the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand in the background. I  just love the point of view.

Les enfants du monde...

In the Parc de Bercy in the 12th arrondissement, you can see a bunch of sculptures representing the "children of the world". They were made by Rachid Khimoune and they show children from 21 countries. A bit stereotypical of course (Mexicans have large hats Asians pointy ones...), but really cool to see. And this park is great too - I already posted several times about it. 

From Paris, with love....

 The contagion is spreading!  I did not take this photo on the Pont des arts, but on the Passerelle Simone de Beauvoir, in the Eastern part of Paris. For the time being there are only a couple, but I bet that pretty soon it'll be covered in love... locks. Ah well, at least it allowed me to take a nice sunrise photo.