Monday, February 26, 2018

Paris Wanderings; the husband days...

Back to Paris! As I mentioned previously, the first half of my trip was spent with Andrew, the second half with my friend Julie. With my camera always in hand, I snapped photos as we wandered the streets. Images in this post are from days one through four, my wanderings with Andrew.

This beautiful steeple belongs to Sainte-Chapell: "a royal chapel in the Gothic style, within the medieval Palais de la Cité, the residence of the Kings of France until the 14th century (source)."

This photo, from a cloudy day, shows the Conciergerie next door: "La Conciergerie was originally built as a medieval palace and later became infamous during the Reign of Terror as "the antechamber to the guillotine" — a prison where hundreds of people were held before being executed. Marie Antoinette was famously imprisoned in la Conciergerie during the weeks before she was beheaded (source)." The line to tour was crazy long!

Of course you recognize this, Notre-Dame, also on the Île de la Cité (one of two islands in the Seine, at the heart of Paris).

It is a beautiful building.

Especially against a blue sky.

But frankly I saw so many beautiful churches in Italy I just don't know that I can get too excited about them any longer.

This is the best photo I took of the "flying buttresses" on the back of the building. Okay, I have to admit they were remarkable.

The center of the Square René Viviani features a fountain by French sculptor, Georges Jeanclos (1933–1997)...

Borrowing from the Wiki: "Inside the square, there are two features, other than the lawns, walkways, well-trimmed plane trees, and benches, that deserve a mention here. There is an odd-looking fountain, known as the Saint Julien fountain, that was erected in 1995...and it is emblematic of the legend of St. Julien the Hospitaller, a tale, now largely discounted, involving a curse by witches, a talking deer, a case of mistaken identity, an horrific crime, several improbable coincidences, and a supernatural intervention." Of course I read that after we'd visited. In person it just struck me as an incredibly odd sculpture.

"The other feature worthy of note is an ancient tree that is surrounded by a circular curbstone. The Robinia pseudoacacia, a species commonly known as a locust tree, is believed to have been planted by its namesake, Jean Robin (1550–1620), in 1601; if so, it has now been standing on the rive gauche for over four hundred years. It is supported by two concrete crutches. The tree lost its upper branches to a shell during World War I, but it proves its continuing vitality by blooming every year. Despite some speculation about its true age, it is universally recognized as the oldest tree in the city." That's it over by the church.

I wish I could have seen it leafed out, or even blooming.

The buildings were a constant source of fascination.

There must have been something valuable growing in there once?

Andrew was enthralled with the size of the gargoyles looming off the sides of many buildings. "They're old, what happens when one falls off?"... ya, that would be a day you'd remember. Or not.

Naturally I was taken with the plants on balconies and window ledges.

I snapped this photo mainly for the "Gaz" plaque, in honor of my friend Gaz of Alternative Eden fame. My handy Google Translate app then told me the sign says "gas on all floors" and I started to notice "Gaz" signs all around...

Now those are some tall roof-top plantings!

Wish I could have gotten up there to see it all in person.

Love this entrance!

And this building! The Arab World Institute

And this tile work in a restaurant we ate at one night. Unfortunately the food was not nearly as nice as the tile.

Since I frequently complain about our in-fill housing here in Portland — the style is typically completely incongruous with the surrounding buildings — Andrew pointed out this building. I love the look, do you?

This row of buildings even seems to coordinate with the bridge balustrades...

On the Seine, near the Eiffel Tower, I spotted this boat and did a double take.

Yep, that's a miniature Statue of Liberty...

On Andrew's last day in Paris we set off for The Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville, BVH for short. This photo is of the Hotel de Ville itself, which it has been the headquarters of the municipality of Paris since 1357. It serves multiple functions, housing the local administration, the Mayor of Paris (since 1977), and also serves as a venue for large receptions (source).

Over there is our destination, LE BHV MARAIS. I am a little hesitant to rave about a department store but wow. WOW. There's a detailed history of the store here, and to say that it has everything EVERYTHING you could want is not an exaggeration. Deigner clothing, housepaint, curtain rods, potting soil, lumber, underwear, fancy shoes, a DIY lighting bar, it was amazing. I bought my "Eiffel Tower vase" here as well some gorgeous dish towels and and a fancy wireless speaker for my iPhone.

In the toy department I fell hard for the Parisian Restaurant set. Check that thing out!

The Brick Bank looked pretty fun too.

Kokedama!

This Anthurium version could be yours for 42Euro...

Lots of terrariums too, the plants did look healthy.

Cork Cactus! My purchases were carefully considered for pack-ability and this didn't make the cut. However I just ordered one off Amazon! I'll be using a different container though.

The lighting department had a ton of high-style designer fixtures, but they also had this.

And they even had windows to the outside world, which seem unusual for a department store, at least those in the U.S.. On one of the upper floors I enjoyed this view of neighboring terracotta chimney pots that seemed to go on forever. On tomorrow's post I'll share images of a green wall I spotted from another window.

Back on the streets, I'm such a Protea fan I even notice them in places like this.

The flowers are better than the dress IMHO...

After shopping, and lunch, Andrew and I went our separate ways. He headed to the Louvre and I walked up to the Le Jardin du Luxembourg (that's a post for another day). Later, on my way back to the hotel, I spotted the Panthéon: "originally built as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve and to house the reliquary châsse containing her relics but, after many changes, now functions as a secular mausoleum containing the remains of distinguished French citizens (source)."

There was another long line of people waiting to get inside, I just enjoyed wandering around the outside.

Especially when I spotted these!

Oh Paris!

Weather Diary, Feb 26: Hi 46, Low 34/ Precip .18"

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

23 comments:

  1. They sure knew how to build gorgeous buildings and meant to last. Of course, stone always adds class. I am gussing that Paris has one of the most beautiful city halls in the world. Did you see if the gargoyles are still functioning in rainstorms? That would be an avalanche of water pouring down from them if they still use them. What is so striking about old cities like this is the human scale of the architecture. You can revel in the beauty of it instead of almost being oppressed by it, as often happens in our big cities.

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    1. I think you just explained why I don't like most big cities. I feel oppressed by the big tall buildings that let little light into the canyons they make.

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    2. Stone does add class! And yes, the human scale of the buildings makes an enormous difference. As for the gargoyles no, the rain was a sort of soft rain whenever we were near these buildings. The hard crushing rains happened when we were out further in areas where I didn't see them.

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  2. Oh, this was a fun stroll through Paris with you after the fact! I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I went to Paris when I was in college, I think I was 19 (I haven't always been a travel-phobe). I got a similar photo, of course, not with a digital camera, of those flying buttresses on Notre Dame. They are impressive! So fun to find Kokedama in a department store!

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    1. I think I remember your mentioning having been there, what a different world photographing with film was! While picking up the pictures after developing them was a thrill, there was always the disappointment when a couple really important ones didn't turn out. At least for me...

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  3. Thank you for the tour, I needed this on a gray, cold, February day. I enjoy seeing it through your eyes, Loree.

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    1. And I have so many more Paris photos to share!

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  4. What fun to see Paris through your lens - saves those long flights and all.

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    1. But there's noting like being there in person Peter...

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  5. I am enjoying all of your Paris Fling. Keep em coming.

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    1. Oh I well, I just hope you don't all get tired of them.

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  6. I wonder if Paris was the origin of my fixation with gargoyles - I've never considered that possibility but it could be. I need to make another trip there myself someday. I don't remember much about the city itself other than the allees in the park, the Louvre, and the river. My most prominent memory of that trip is of Versailles.

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    1. Sounds like you've got quite a few great Paris memories! And a gargoyle fixation too!

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  7. I love revisiting Paris through your lens, it is pure joy. I will try my best not to be nonchalant about those buildings; they are so amazing. The Sainte-Chapell steeples briefly made me think I was in Barcelona, looking at La Familia Sagrada... but then I remember I was in Paris. The cacti light fixture is a riot.

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    1. My husband and friend Julie were both so understanding about my photographing frenzy, I wanted to bring home all the beauty!

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  8. Loved reading this post, Loree. Paris is one of the few cities that I like, being a country girl. The buildings, history, art, cafes, so much to love. When I was there, I loved esp. the Art Nouveau entrances to the metro.

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    1. Oh the entrances to the Metro are gorgeous! I'm sure I shot a few of them too.

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  9. You're making me feel so wistful about being in Paris. Judy actually climbed up the tower at Notre Dame. I just kept an eye on things from ground level. I also noticed the rooftop and vertical wall gardens.

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    1. How about a Paris Garden Bloggers Fling?! All the amazing private gardens we'd see!

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  10. Those magnificent buildings take me right back to art school, especially Notre-Dame. I'm curious about the young firs (spruces?) in front of the Panthéon. Were they in containers? Or cut?

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    1. Cut, there were still bits of Christmas up all over the City, even though it was the second half of January.

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  11. I love Le BHV/Marais -- the top floor is a favorite bathroom stop while out exploring. I always like how French department stores still sell everything from hardware and light fixtures in the basement to cookware, books, sewing supplies, and couture.

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    1. I may have made that same bathroom stop, the line was long...

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