Il Divo's new DVD of their concert tour which just ended. I watched it yesterday and it was so nice to relive some of the moments from the concerts I've attended this past year.

Puerto Rico
I flew to Puerto Rico on Monday to meet up with some Sunshine Divas and other Il Divo fan groups to attend their last performance of "An Evening with Il Divo", their recent tour. It was my first visit to PR and athought I didn't get to see much of it, it is beautiful.
First picture is of my group hanging out by the stage door waiting for the "guys" to show up for their sound check. We waited for about an hour and the security guy came over and made us leave. We had to wait outside the gate and stand on a street corner. Finally the black SUVs came but couldn't/wouldn't stop in the middle of the street so we didn't get to see them and give them the gifts some of the gang brought for them.
The concert was wonderful, though, and it made up for not seeing them sooner. Such fun to become a groupie at my age. Il Divo are devine but meeting all the fun and fabulous friends I've made has been the best part.

The Homage to Stravinsky fountains are adjacent to the Center George Pompidou. Fountains designed by Jean Tinguely and Niki de Saint-Phalle represent many of his scores. I last saw this in December and it was partially frozen and most of the fountains were turned off. October was a perfect time to enjoy all the action.

Paris Street Art
There is graffiti all over Paris. Some of it is messy and disfiguring to the surfaces used, but some so well done that it is more graffito, which means an inscription or drawing on a rock or wall, than graffiti.
These three are just a few that I liked. The Warhol styled multi-image was in the Beau Arts area of the Left Bank's Latin Quarter and the other two were near Rue Mouffetard.

Paris Skaters
Getting off the bus on the Rue de Rivoli by the Louvre we saw a crowd gathered in the square. The rollerbladers had set up some obstacle courses and were competing. Some were zigzagging through the little cones on one foot while others were jumping the ramp. There was a cord stretched across an area that looked like they might do the Limbo but they were jumping it.
I don't know if this was planned or one of the spontaneous events that seem to pop up in the streets of Paris. The police came by but didn't interfere. We stayed awhile to watch and enjoy the show.
When we walked away we crossed the street to the Comedie Francais and found more to stop and enjoy. Will post that one next time.

Paris Fashion Week
The week I arrived was the start of Fashion Week here in Paris. At the Louvre they had built a huge temporary building in the big square ajacient to the one with the Pyramid. I watched the finishing touches on the construction one day and a few days later getting off the bus on the Rue de Rivoli, I saw the crowd that had gathered at one of the entrances. There were black cars, limos, and SUVs pulling up and when the doors opened the paparazzi flashes went off and the crowds swarmed to the area.
I saw some of them but had no idea who any of them are as the closest I get to high fashion is Project Runway.



There is always something happening in Paris. Soon I'll post the pictures of a film shoot, a skating competition, musicians, and other fun happenings we stumbled upon.

More Books
Paris has so many book stores but the one on most of the "Must See" lists is Shakespeare and Company. It is an english language bookstore opened in 1951 by George Whitman who encouraged young writers and let many sleep and work in the shop in exchange for working a few hours. Different owner today but the tradition has continued.


Peter has posted some information on the original Shakespeare's and photo of the site in his post on Hemingway.
We visited the Vanves Flea Market a week ago and there were many book dealers and many tempting old books with beautifully marbled covers and end papers. My friend spotted some she wanted to alter. I don't think I could do it. They are so lovely.

Paris Books
Paris is the city of Light. It is the city of Love. It is also the city of books. There seems to be at least one bookstore on every block and sometimes more. There are stores with new books, old books, antique books, text books and there are the booksellers along the Seine. Here is just a glimpse at a few of them.

Sailboats in the Gardens
One of my first days here, I revisited the area where I lived in December. The first two photos are in the Tuilleries next to the Lovre. In December there were no sailboats in the fountains but this trip there were many children and a few adults having a marvelous time with their boats and sticks.



These next two were taken in the Luxembourg Gardens near where I am staying now. Another fountain and even though it was a chilly day, there were children playing with their sailboats. This city is a fun place for children. Lots of parks, playgrounds, carousels, puppet shows and other forms of entertainment.

Val de Grace
The church of the Val-de-Grâce was built by order of Queen Anne of Austria, wife of Louis XIII. After the birth of her son Louis XIV, Anne (previously childless after 23 years of marriage) showed her gratitude to the Virgin Mary by building a church on the land of a Benedictine convent. Louis XIV himself is said to have laid the cornerstone for the Val-de-Grâce in a ceremony that took place April 1, 1645, when he was seven years old.



Beautiful chapel. For more information check: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val-de-Gr%C3%A2ce

The Medici Fountain at Luxembourg Gardens
I love the Luxembourg Gardens and my favorite spot is the Medici Fountain.

Mozart L'Opera Rock II
The Costumes were stunning. Lots of lollipop colors.

Mikelangelo LoConte and the dancers.

The End! We run up to the stage and the cast bows and smiles and sings.

Mozart, L'Opera Rock
Thursday night I took the RER train to the Tramway and on to the Palais des Sports to see this show. The music, dancing, costumes, and staging were fantastic. I loved when the actors (comediens & comediennes) came dancing into the audience but my favorite part was meeting them after the show. They are so gracious and friendly.

This is one of the huge billboards outside the theatre.

Waiting for the show to begin, this is the painted stage curtain.


Although, not one of the main characters, the lovely Merwan Rim has a stage presence and a wonderful voice. He is one of my favorites.
After the show when we were waiting by the stage door and photographing some of the actors as they came out, I looked down the street and Merwan was talking to someone and about to walk away. Eli and I went up to him and he was surprised that we knew who he was. How humble. He had been fabulous in Le Roi Soleil and in addition to his voice, we loved the stylish leather coat he wore. When we told him that he just replied "Ah, yes, The coat.", so he must hear that often.
I will do this in two posts with more pictures.

Paris Food II
Paris is beautiful old buildings, soaring cathedrals, gardens, and much history, but it's also about the food.

Yesterday I had this citron crepe, which so far, is my favorite.
The eggs are huge. This is a six pack of free range organic eggs and they are the biggest I've ever seen.
Now I know why it's called "French Toast". What else to do with the two day old remnants of a baquette but to have it for breakfast. One giant egg was enough for four small delicious pieces. Yummy!
I'm having a lazy morning. Slept in and made breakfast. I'm on my second cup of coffee and playing on my little notebook. In a bit I'll shower, dress, and head out to explore more of this magical city.

Paris Food
This was my first bowl of French onion soup and was almost too pretty to eat.. But I did and it was yummy.Met fellow blogger Katie of Katiefornia for lunch today. This is my quiche with salad. Very good. This is the McDonalds' McCafe on the Rue du Rivoli. I just stepped in to take the photo. Didn't eat there but the pastries are certainly not what they are serving in the USA.

Nuit Blanche



Nuit Blanche (White Night) is a celebration of art. There were exhibits and art installations set up around the city ranging from awesome to awful. Some were small and many were very large. The huge mirrored disco ball was hung from a crane over the fountain in Luxembourg Gardens and the bright spotlights shining on it sent light reflections spinning around the gardens. Click to enlarge photo.
There was a beautiful full moon that kept popping out from behind the clouds to add to a magical evening.
This old lady did not make it 'til morning and cried "uncle" just after midnight, tired but happy not to have missed "Nuit Blanche" in Paris.

Paris Again
Pan: Luxembourg Gardens
Street view from Cafe in my neighborhood.
Revisit to my favorite place from my first trip. Roses still blooming in the gardens of the Palace Royal.

Walked and walked and walked. So nice to be back. Feels like home.

More Pere Lachaise