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! 

The love lock disease is spreading!

Sorry for those of you who follow me on Facebook for I already posted a similar photo recently. The thing is that when I went to Montmartre last week I noted that the love locks craze (some call it a plague!) has started over there too. There is a grid from where you can see the Eiffel Tower - from where I took this photo - and people have started hanging locks on it. The Paris town hall is trying to do something - especially on the Pont des Arts - see this little timelapse - but I'm not sure what will finally be done...

PS : if you understand French, I also encourage you to have a look at this interesting TV report.

Starbucks made it to Montmartre

Do you remember this post about the future  installation of Starbucks near the Place du Tertre at Montmartre ? Well, I went back recently and... that's it, they're open. Despite what some people said, the area has not been defaced and obviously accordion players can still perform! I'm not a big Starbucks fan because I think they're expensive and that most of their drinks have far too many calories, but I see no reasons why they should be banned from Montmartre.     

There's no place like home...

After a week in Denver, which I enjoyed very much, it's time to go back home! When you read this I'll be on the plane to Paris, but I doubt I'll be able to take my morning coffee on the terrace of a Montmartre café, as the weather forecasts show that it's going to be very cold! I took this one right before my departure and I saved it for my return as I think it's a very Parisian scene ;-)  

Lost in Montmartre!

Two days ago I went to Montmartre to take a few photos (I'll be in Denver next week, so I'm stocking up on  my Paris shots!), but I don't resist posting this one today! I tend to think these two people are from France, but obviously not from Paris, as one of them is looking up on a map for his directions! The church in the back is not le Sacré Coeur, but Saint Pierre de Montmartre, another must see church (and much less crowded than the Sacré Coeur!).   

Inside Saint Pierre de Montmartre

As I was saying yesterday, I spent my whole Saturday afternoon in Montmartre, listening to a former colleague of mine who, now that he is/has(!) retired, organizes tours of Paris for his friends and friends of friends (he as a very interesting website too, but only in French). It was fascinating, for even though I've been living in Paris for many years and have been many times to Montmartre, I never really took the time to learn more about its history. During the tour, we went to Saint Pierre de Montmartre, the little church located behind the big Basilica that miraculously survived the French revolution!. It was my first time there and I did not regret it (and I strongly recommend you go there if you come to Paris).

Happy Paris!

I'm sooo glad this week is over! I can't wait till resting a bit and... take part in a group visit of Montmartre a friend of mine will host on Saturday (no doubt you will find lots of photos of "Le mont du Martyr" (mountain of the martyr, the "original name of the hill) on Sunday. In the meantime here is a cute, little postcard I spotted during my last trip there (a little tacky, I know, but still ;-)) Have a GREAT weekend everyone, spring is just around the corner now! 

Unique objects with a soul...

I had lunch in the Abbesses area yesterday (Tuesday) and before I head back to work, I walked around the area and came across one of these bollards that Le Cyclop (who I already featured on PDP in September 2010) turns  into works of art. It turned out that the bollards were in front of Akiza art gallery, which precisely sells them together with other unique and very creative objects like this red bag (look at the handle, it's a phone handset!) or this old telephone lamp. A cool place to visit, (located at 3 rue Tholozé) if you're in the neighborhood. 

Sacré Coeur in the mist

Those of you who have been following PDP for some time now will probably remember the Eiffel Tower in the mist photo (big hit!), well, now look at what I saw yesterday evening on my way to dinner at Montmartre... It was really stunning. Let's us not forget that the Sacré Coeur is located on a hill  (130 meters - 426 feet). Not very high, but it does play a role when it comes to "'touching the clouds...". Have a nice weekend everyone.

Paris pollution

Pollution is a topic I rarely talk about, or it's generally not too much of a concern in Paris, except when it's hot and there is absolutely no wind, like yesterday (Monday). Airparif is the office that controls the air in Paris and, well at the moment, the various indexes (don't ask me too much about them, it's pretty complicated) that they produce don't look too good. Parisians should avoid going out, running exercising... You can see it in this photo I suppose, which is a little yellow and foggy... I've seen worse though! But God was it hot...

An apartment with a view...

Look at this view! Could that be more Parisian?! Well... guess what? This is the view I shot from a close friend's apartment, on Saturday. And if I tell you that a lot of you know him (through the comments box), you are going to start wondering who this lucky guy may be... Well, it's "Nasty GG", aka Jérôme, who just bought this new apartment facing the Sacré Coeur and much more. A lot of sun, 2 balconies, a stunning view... I'm thinking... what a fabulous location for a PDP gathering ;-))

Sacré Coeur at dawn

It's been a while since I've shown you Sacré Coeur. I swear it's not a mock-up, although it may look like one ;-) I took this photo from far away in the 18th arrondissement and I don't think I've ever photographed it from that side. Anyway, by now, you probably already know this church by heart. It's located on top of Montmartre, was built around 1875 and 1914, and it's one of the major landmarks of Paris (and apparently the 5th  most visited place in France. I bet you cannot guess what the top 4 are!)

A meeting with a view

This morning I had a meeting in a communication agency in the center of Paris. It was the first time I visited them. A nice lady opened the door showed me into the main office and told me to wait in the meeting room upstairs... What she did not know is that I would take advantage of it to... takes photos! No matter where I looked, the scenery was absolutely stunning. So I took several photos, of course. I chose to publish this very Parisian one, where you have one the main landmarks of Paris together with the rooftops in the foreground.

Not so "square" Roland!

Things are pretty rough at the moment on my side so I went back to Montmartre for a walk around the vineyards (it's the green part, in the background) and I came across this little square, named after Roland Dorgelès, a French journalist and writer who became famous after a hoax: he attached a brush to the tail of a donkey, made it paint "something", called the painting "Sunset over the Adriatic" signed it by the donkey's name anagram Boronali (first name Joachim-Raphaël!) and managed to exhibit the "masterpiece" at an art show in 1910! It sold for 400 francs (1 400 of today's euros) apparently.

A must see gallery in Paris

Yesterday evening I attended a big opening in Galeriew, a gallery that I really love and where I already took a photo last year. It's not only very well located (near Les Abesses, not far from Montmartre) but it's also a great place to see. And, last, but not least, this gallery features real good artists. If you happen to be in the neighborhood do pay it a visit, it's located on 44 rue Lepic in the 18th arrondissement.

Yes, it's a classic!

OK, yes, I know, it's Le Sacré Coeur, it's a classic that you can find on any postcard and I showed it several times (here, here, here and here...) Stop complaining, I never showed it from that close, and never on such a clear day! So here it is, the Sacred Heart basilica, located on the top of the butte Montmartre, the second highest point in Paris. It was decided to build it around 1870 and the first stones were laid in 1875. It's a must see when you visit Paris, not only because it's very very impressive, but also because the surroundings are worth a visit. Of course at this time of the year (Easter break) the place is pretty crowded but it's still better (less worse) that in summer! Have a great week end everyone.