Vendanges parade!

The Montmartre vendanges harvest is much more than the fireworks I showed you yesterday... It's also about a parade that starts in the Square Clignancourt and goes up all the way to the top of Montmartre. And guess where I was on Saturday? In Gail Boisclair's apartment (the owner of PerfectlyParis Paris accommodation site) who happens to live in the Square Clignancourt (how convenient!). This is how I got the opportunity to take these photos (a wine confrèrie - wine brotherhood) marching towards the mont! 

Ganesh celebration (2014)

If you're a true visitor to PDP, you know very well of Ganesh, the god who's the patron of arts and sciences, the god of beginnings and the god that helps removing obstacles! Why do you know of him? Because every 1st September weekends he is celebrated in Paris, by the local Indian community, and I always manage to take a photo of the celebration; it's so beautiful...

Reenacting WWI

Yesterday was the traditional Défilé du 14 juillet (Bastille Day parade) on the Champs Elysées. It was also the occasion to commemorate the 100th anniversary of WWI (a war that killed millions of soldiers from many nationalities). Among the WWI related events, there was a living exhibit in the Jardin des Tuileries where amateur history lovers dressed in WWI era attire reenacted what it was like during that time. It was not only authentic, but also really moving.

Happy 4th of July!

You all know the joke right? "Is there a 4th of July in France?" Well yes, there is, and it's today! Only we don't celebrate it like Americans do... On this blog though, since a lot of my visitors are from the US, I usually try to take a photo that has some kind of connections with North America! I happen to have had dinner at HD Diner yesterday evening, and everything there looks American (except the prices: a small Bud costs... 4,90 €!), so I thought this could be  my 4th of July tribute!

Ready to party?!

Yes, it's D Day... Unless you live in Saudi Arabia where the "Commission of the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice" will make sure you don't celebrate New Year's Eve! it's very likely that you will stuff yourself with more food and Champagne/Wine tonight ;-) I know it's silly, but I will do the same... I wish you a happy celebration wherever you are in the world, hoping that you'll be surrounded by people you love.  I took this photo at Mademoiselle M, a food place/lab where you can learn extraordinary things...

Celebrating the dead

Today is the first of the month and for once I will not take part in the CDP theme day! Why? Because today in France is La Toussaint (all saints' day), the day Western Christianity celebrates the dead people. And, well, even though I'm more eager to celebrate the living than the dead, I thought this photo of this tomb (a famous French writer), was just perfect for today. Enjoy life everyone, it's precious. I took this photo at Le Cimetière de Passy, by the way.

Opera music!

Hurrah, I managed to go out one hour yesterday! Long enough to witness "O Lavagem de La Madeleine" a Brazilian march, that apparently originates from Bahia and that has been imported in Paris in 2002! Lots of drums, fancy costumes and fun. I took this shot while they were passing by the Opera House on their way to La Madeleine, hence the title of this post! Have a great week everyone.

Vive Ganesh!

While some in this world are celebrating Labor (by not working!), some other celebrate Ganesh, the God that helps removing obstacles and who's also the patron of arts and sciences, and the god of beginnings. No wonder he is one of the most worshiped deity in India and... in Paris! For we do have a pretty large Indian community in France (about 30 000 in Paris in particular), mostly located in the 10th arrondissement, near the Gare du nord and in the Passage Brady. I took this photo at La Chapelle which technically is in the 18th arrondissement, but very close to the 10th. I have never been to India yet, but I hope to go soon...

Perrier's anniversary

You probably all know Perrier water, the sparkling water that costs the price of a cocktail, but sounds soooo French ;-) to order at a café. Well it's currently celebrating its 150th anniversary and, to celebrate, they are running a huge ad campaign on TV and in the streets. They also have a Warhol limited edition that you can see in the poster that I photographed in the 13th arrondissement. The nice part, for a French at least is that we also get to see again all the fabulous Movie theater and TV ads that they have been running for the last 30 to 40 years. Including this one from 1976, that I remember having seen live before it was banned for being a little too... graphic!

Mandela day concert

I'm just back from the place de la République, where they organized a huge concert to celebrate Mandela. As you all know he turned 95 yesterday, and well, it's very likely that it's going to be his last birthday. I wanted to make a cool photo, including the Republique statue and his face, but the more I look at this photo, the more I dislike it LOL. And though it's too late to change, I have to wake up at 5 am to catch a plane, so that's all you'll get for now ;-) I'll do better tomorrow ;-) Lots of love from Paris and... to South Africa!

The "Pompiers"

In Paris, the Pompiers (firemen) are part of the army so they often march on the Champs Elysées on July 14. But today, it'll be the Bretons firemen (from Brittany, a region located in the West of France) who will march! No so easy as the must learn how to walk exactly 110 steps a minute (the "normal" speed pace on that day, don't ask me why!) and that they're not used to do so. Fortunately, on the eve, these ones will not have taken part in any of the famous Bal des pompiers, that I told you about so many times... 

Tribune Officielle !

Tomorrow is Bastille Day (Le 14 juillet), the day we celebrate the French Revolution (which took place in 1789). There are several events on that day, but the most symbolic one is probably the huge military parade that passes down the Champs-Elysées from l’Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde where the President of the French Republic and his government (and a few selected guests!) stand - and where they can enjoy this view (without the rain this year!) . I passed by the Pace de la Concorde today and took this photo ; needless to say that the whole area is heavily monitored by the police and that I was afraid they would stop me for taking a photo, then I saw tourists doing it...

Triumph!

I love it when they hang the huge French flag between the "legs" of the Arch of Triumph on top of the Champs Elysées. They only do it on special occasions, like, at the moment, the celebration of V-E day. I like the street lamp style too, that's why I did everything I could to include it in the frame! Don't get fooled by the cars there, Paris is really slow at the moment; if it weren't for the tourists it would be totally empty! 

V-E day celebrations

It's been very hard for me to fight the jet lag this time, but I think I managed to be almost back on track now. Proof is that today yesterday I managed to go out and take photos! Hence this one that I took on the Champs Elysées today where they had several marches to commemorate the end  of WWII. Tourists loved it! This band belongs to the Garde Républicaine which is the a part of the French Gendarmerie in charge of the security of Paris. Nice, but expensive... We just heard that it costs 280 million euros per year for only 3 000 men...

8th anniversary facelift!

Soooooooo... It's been 8 years now that I've been posting a photo everyday on this blog and quite some time since I last changed its layout. I went for a much more simple template this time and included what some of you have been demanding for a long time: the possibility of interacting with social networks. Now, you can like +1, tweet, you name it... and you can also comment on Facebook which is directly integrated into this platform. Not everything works perfectly yet, but it will soon, I promise! For now, let me welcome you to the new PDP; I hope you'll like it.

The two week Eclair feast!

Only in France can you organize a whole event around a piece of pastry! For yes, ladies and gentlemen today the Quinzaine des éclairs (two week eclairs "feast") officially starts and will last until March 24. Principal: go to one of the boulangeries or patisseries that take part in the event (there is a map here) and taste one of this year's recipe (peach/raspberries, hard caramel/vanilla and apple/almonds). Of course it's all a big promotional event to drag customers into boulangeries, but still, I may give it a try (only because I feel my arm is being twisted!!). FYI, I took this photo at L'atelier de l'éclair, a new concept store I already told you about.

Cold!

Don't ask me why, but I love this photo! I took it right in front of Notre Dame, while I was in the line waiting to get in to photograph the bells (that I posted two days ago). Because of the 850th anniversary of the Cathedral (a pretty respectable age!), they installed these "steps" where people can sit while attending the various celebrations that will take place throughout the year (have a look at the kick off session they had there in December). Also, as you can notice it, it's pretty cold in Paris at the moment ;-) 

2013 Chinese New Year

Almost totally unknown and ignored by Parisians, the Chinese new year (which should technically be referred to as the Chinese calendar new year, since other Asian countries also celebrate it) is now widely celebrated throughout the streets of Paris! The celebration even lasts for a week and includes much more than just a parade. Today (Sunday) there will be two hot spots for Chinese fans: the 13th arrondissement (which is the original Chinese quarter) and Belleville. I took this photo last Sunday, when they had their first parade, in Le Marais (the blue building on the left is the Pompidou Center).

Paris Carnival 2013

It was a busy weekend in Paris! Many exhibitions and two parades: one to celebrate the Chinese new year and another one for the Paris Carnival. For yes, even if it's not exactly like in Rio, we do have a carnival in Paris! I've been following it for a couple of years now and it's always fun. It rained and snowed a bit yesterday so it was not easy for the people to march, but it allowed me to take interesting photos, like this one where you can see the reflection on the pavement. I have many more, but no time to select them yet...

Grape harvesting party!

Like last year I went to the grape harvesting party of Mélac, a restaurant located in the 11th arrondissement. For the occasion they installed tables in the street, made food for 500 people (mostly cheese, ham, sausage and "Aligot" - mashed potatoes with cheese) and have wine ready for everyone! Around 1 pm they called all the kids and had them squash the grape they just harvested on the restaurant facade into giant buckets! (see the video on my Facebook page). Fun moment, to share with friends and a few PDP vistors that happened to be there too! Time for me to take an Alka Seltzer I guess ;-)