A metro stop outside the park. The lamps remind me of the aliens in the original War of the Worlds movie. You can see the plus sign/red cross traffic signal is lit - not your usual boring red light.
Beautiful lamp post - I think this is Art Noveau (If I can even spell that properly) styling as was the metro stop.
A swirling manhole cover. My husband could not understand my taking a picture of this.
A look from inside Parc Monceau out through the gates to the Arc de Triomphe.
After our trip to the park we had lunch at a Lebanese restaurant. That was less intimidating somehow than going to a cafe. I know the arabic names for the food I love, so no surprises. Tonight we'll finally make that trip to the grocery store, since it was indeed closed yesterday. I'm too cowardly to go on my own, plus we need a lot and I'm not planning on schlepping it all home by myself.
My sweetie was surprised to see the number of changes in our neighboorhood that took place in just two weeks. A pharmacy and a cafe have closed, a new cafe elsewhere has opened. Several more places look to be closed until after the next holiday on 8 May, although they don't have signs posted.
Cats are doing better, although there is still some hissing. My sweetie and I went out of our way yesterday to lie around and not make noise so as to help them calm down and adjust. Yeah, that was the excuse.
I've been an atrocious correspondent, so I hope my family and friends will bear with me and enjoy the blog posts. I have a lot to do and no more excuses not to do it.
25 comments:
So happy to hear you are settling into your new home....and the cats are too!
I totally understand why you took the picture of the manhole cover!!!! A great quilting design in mho.
I love reading your blog and seeing what your working on...always inspired by your work.
Kathie
I totally "get" your photos! Keep taking those whacky photos, now you see everything new and you will be glad later to have such fun photos. I am guilty of crazy photos like the manhole cover too when I travel. My family just shakes their heads at me.
How nice to arrive just in time for a holiday. Love your photos. Keep them coming.
Posting at 3 in the morning? A little jet-lagged are we?
The lamp post reminds me of a hydro-electric plant I visited in Iowa a few years ago. It was built in the early part of the 1900's. I remember looking up at the lights mounted high on the walls and noticing the beautiful scrolled designs on these utilitarian lights in this most utilitarian of places. My father (the engineer) noted that they were cast iron and that the designs didn't cost extra to manufacture.
Modern design is so cold. You get your choice of colors, but I'd rather have the ornament. The manhole cover proves that drain holes can have some style.
I understand why you took a picture of that manhole cover. It looks like a quilt block to me. So cool to hear how you are settling in. Hope you are feeling well.
Paris has some lovely Art Nouveau design - it looks like the weather was kind for your first bit of exploring - good luck on your grocery store visit - don't look too close in the meat cabinets - the French will and do eat the strangest things
Oh I hope you enjoy absolutely every second of your time there! You are so so so lucky!!!! Your life is so glamorous. (Please, I know I sound like an idiot here but I live in a very small Texas town with atrocious weather conditions ...*sigh*) Anyways, much luck to you and the kitties and I love your blog and thanks for it all.
Anne don't put her off. Tonya - just avoid anything in the meat cabinet that says cheval. It does look a gorgeous red and very tender, but I don't think you would take to kindly to eating horse! Boudin blanc is a lot nicer than it looks. I looked your street up in our Michelin map yesterday - goodness you can't get more central than that. Are you ready for visitors yet "vbg"? Oh and don't forget the Musee d'Orsay for some fantastic wrought iron work and the pictures of course. I wonder if you will get any sleep on Sunday when the election results come in. Be prepared for car horns being sounded all night! A plys.
Keep posting those pictures! I LOVE them. That Metro entrance is the best and there's more than one like that, isn't there? Here's what I loved in French grocery stores (and my family thinks is digusting): mint flavored water.
I love Paris, and I love your pictures of Paris. I can't wait until you go to the flea-markets, you are just bound to find some fabulous things and then you can show us them on your blog!
Oh what fun to take a walk with you! It is like I"m discovering the city with you!
Lovely pictures of the local installations. I'm most impressed with detail put into the manhole cover. Happy to see that you are finally moved.
On the kitties behalf: When we moved from apartment to our home (1 mile away), my girl kitty pulled a similar stunt. Took a month before the sound of a random book falling wouldn't rile her up and start the hissing. Luckily, everyone else, people and cats included, got use to it. Keep that in perspective and best of wishes.
Here's a link to a shopping translator, which may be a quicker reference than a dictionary: http://www.day-tripper.net/infotranslationwords.html
And if you're buying yoghurt, Mamie Nova is wonderful--20% fruit in wonderful flavours, like fig (figue), rhubarb, wild cherry (griotte), as well as the usual peach, strawberry, and so on. Yum.
Those gorgeous Art Nouveau structures at the Metro entrances are just incredible, aren't they? Paris is really a feast for the eyes.
I second Clare's recommendation of the Musee d'Orsay. One of the most amazing places I've ever seen, and a lot more accessible than the Louvre, which is just SO huge.
When you DO make it to the Louvre, be sure to visit the Louvre des Antiquaires across the street in the Rue de Rivoli, I think. It's a huge antique collective on several floors. A very interesting place, and there's a cafe upstairs where you can rest your feet and get a cafe au lait or a glass of wine.
So glad the kitties are settling down.
Wow those lights do look like the original war of the world aliens :O
The man hole cover will make an awesome quilt block
Your settling in sounds good so far. Great photos. I can see we're in for a fabulous Paris photolog. If you like tea, go to Le Mariage Frères.
L'Institut du Monde Arabe has wonderful windows that project a persian carpet design on the floor. View of the Seine from the cafe.
The Museum of the City of Paris is also a cozy one, and i think free.
Just a thought Tonya - if you like to take photos of Paris you might like to check out another avid photographer who posts a different picture each day - can't remember where I originally got the link from but he's saved in my favourites and I usually check him out to see what's happening - he often has links to places to visit that you might find useful - http://www.parisdailyphoto.com/ If I originally got the link from you I'll stop teaching my grandmother to suck eggs right now - if not, enjoy!
So glad to hear you and your sweetie and kitties are all together in Paris and getting settled in. I can't imagine trying to travel with my 4 cats.
I love the pictures you've shared with us today. Keep them coming. And I'd have taken the manhole picture too. But then I once took a picture of dirt cause I like the texture in the cracks. :-)
You'll be running around the city in no time! DH thinks I take pictures of the strangest things too...just ignore them!
So glad you are on this side of the pond!
The pictures are great! I will be sending you the Halloween fabrics as soon as I find your address you gave me. Darn where did I put that?
Lovely manhole cover, I loved taking pictures of the manhole covers the last time I was in Boston...I understand the need. Lovely pictures outside of your apartment....I wish you a speedy recovery from any jetlag you might have!
Is it strange that I don't think taking pictures of manhole covers is odd? You should see my pics of New Orleans (pre-Katrina though I've heard the French Quarter wasn't hit as hard as some places) -- iron balconies, street lamps, cobblestone streets, random houses, graves (yes, the old cemetaries are beautiful).
A sure bet in a cafe for lunch -- a sandwich au jambon (sp?) but pronounced much like I just wrote it. It's a ham sandwich, but hey -- it sounds pretty in French. That with a coca (Coke) and you're set.
oh it's all soooooooooooo pretty!
Keep showing us your pictures! gorgeous gorgeous, and I am jealous jealous!
The egyptian screen looks made for that windeo, pleased the cats are settling. I enjoyed the "virtual" paris tour, keep them coming, Tracey
Love the manhole cover photo. Keep the photos coming when you can. Hello, kitties!
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