Friday, April 29, 2011

Holly's Visit

I'm way behind on posting, but here are some pictures of the highlights from my friend Holly’s visit to Paris:Picnicking on the pont des arts with KristinOn the pont alexandreKouignettes from Georges Larnicol......which we ate in the Jardins de LuxembourgThe parc floral in Vincennes
Holly and Celine at a creperie near Place de ClichyAix en Provencethe village of BonnieuxThe cedar forests just outside BonnieuxThe village of Ménerbesthe view of the Luberon from MénerbesThe town of Cassis
the calanques of Cassis

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

La Tour St. Jacques


This little park surrounding the Tour St. Jacques is the scene of the fateful pigeon poop attack of a couple weeks ago. (Right where the red stroller is in the above picture.)Of course, it was filled with people on a sunny Sunday afternoon.I really love this beautiful tower.Here are a few shots of my rambles through the Jardins de Luxembourg on Sunday.There were tulips blooming, but not too much else. I'm hoping the flowerbeds are as glorious this spring as they were in the fall.I wandered down this street as I made my way from the gardens back to my temporary abode in the 5th.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Picnic in the Bois de Vincennes

On Saturday afternoon, my friend Kristin and I went on a picnic. We bought bread, cheese, prosciutto di Parma, roasted red peppers, strawberries, red wine, and cannoli and almond cookies from various markets/shops near Republique and then took the line 1 out to the Bois. We spent several hours lying in the sun and eating. I didn't really properly document our feast, but it was delicious.The park was full of French people flying kites, playing badminton, riding bikes, and just sitting and eating in the sun. Picnics are a very common occurrence here in Paris. This was my first one (although I eat by myself in parks all the time.) But Kristin has become an expert picnicker in her two years here. We have already planned to go on another one some evening this week, on the Pont des Arts...This is Kristin sitting on the wall of the moat surrounding the chateau.

Friday, April 8, 2011

April in Paris

April in Paris has been amazing. The sun has been shining and almost every day has seen temperatures in the 70's. The lilacs and rhododendrens are blooming. The trees are covered with young, bright green leaves.The city is suddenly and dramatically overrun with tourists.This is l'Eglise Saint Eustache, where I've been several times this week.I've been a walking fiend lately. But I tend to document certain types of places more than others.For example, this evening I walked for about an hour and a half in the marais, but I didn't take a single shot until I crossed over to Ile St. Louis. As soon as I get close to the Seine I can't keep myself from snapping away.On Thursday I got off the metro at Pont Neuf and made a big loop around Ile de la Cité and Ile St. Louis, then crossed over to the Left Bank and walked along the quais all the way to the American Church in the 7th for my rehearsal. It took me about three hours.Notre Dame seen from the southwest side.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Bois de Boulogne

I finally visited the Bois de Boulogne this past weekend--it was gloriously warm and sunny on Saturday.I tried to find the Parc de Bagatelles but no luck. So instead I walked around the little lake.
This is the most green I've seen in Paris, I think.To get there, I took the metro over to Pont de Neuilly.This is looking west towards La Défense (just beyond the border of Paris.)And this is looking back towards l'Etoile and the Arc de Triomphe.Walking down along the Seine towards the Bois de Boulogne.

I am behind on posting so here are a few random shots from the past week or so.Eating dinner at Kristin & Mike's (with their friend Andréas) last week.Flowers at Place d'Italie, where the American church choir gave a concert at the Mairie du 13ème last week.The beautiful sky when I left handbell choir rehearsal at 8pm tonight.The American church at dusk.The lovely apartment where I am once again cat-sitting.