Collage Maven's Haven

2011-10-22T21:47:00.000-04:00

Ah, time flies when you have the post vacation blues but soon Il Divo will be coming to the USA and the World Tour will start. A few more weeks and the new CD and DVD will be out.

Here's a sneak peak.

2011-08-25T08:32:00.000-04:00

Wonderful time at the concerts and meeting all the fellow Il Divo fans. Nice article in the Bray paper about our gathering the night before. What a great bunch. The mayor of Bray was a delight.

Here's a nice newspaper article about our get-together.

http://braypeople.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

2011-08-15T08:51:00.000-04:00

It's early morning and I've been up for hours. Not my usual routine but perhaps it will help with the jetlag. We will be off early this afternoon to the airport and hope that Delta will see that it makes sense to put us on an earlier plane to Atlanta. The way they've sent us just leaves us 40 minutes to deplane, run down the B terminal to the connector, get down to the tram and over to terminal C, and then find our gate for our plane to Dublin.

I called last week and got a snarky agent who said they could do it for well over $200. I hate Delta. I called Air France to book and learned that if you press 1 for English you are routed to Delta. Delta treats Air France customers like steerage. Coming home from Paris we'll be on an Air France plane. Finally! I keep booking through them and they keep putting me on Delta.

They now fly direct to Paris from Orlando but it's new and the dates didn't align with this trip.

Looking forward to Dublin for two days, then to Bray for the Il Divo concerts. I've never been to Ireland so I am looking forward to it. Then flying into London to spend 5 days there and then to Paris. We've rented an apartment for 10 days and I am so happy to be going back again. It almost feels as though I'm going home. I love Paris.

I'll try to blog while we are traveling. Although it doesn't look as though anyone is reading my blog. Oh, well. I do.

This is where we are staying in Dublin. Clontarf Castle Hotel

2011-08-06T17:06:00.000-04:00

Time to get ready for our trip to Ireland, London and saving the best for last, Paris. Suitcase is in the guest room along with piles of things to sort through and choose which will go and which will stay. Some new things and some old favorites are in the piles. We are limited to one suitcase for a 20 day trip so it will be difficult to pare it down to the essentials.

This is my first time going to Europe at this time of year. Way, way, way back, almost ten years ago, I went to Denmark at the end of May through early June, but ever since then I seem to travel in the winter. This is a good thing. I dont' need a heavy coat and a pile of woolies, gloves, hats, and scarves. They say that the nights in Ireland can get cold and rainy so I need to prepare for that.

I'm so exited and counting the days. The tickets for the 2nd Il Divo concert have finally arrived. We still have a spare Champagne/Orangery ticket for the nineteenth (19th) to sell and I"ve listed it on eBay so hopefully someone will want it.

Here's a taste of Il Divo and a new song from the new album.

2011-07-28T09:57:00.000-04:00

I'm doing some research on a move to France. Of course I've run into one of those Catch 22's on the Consulate website. It seems I need to apply for the long-stay visa at least 2 months prior to any move and when I apply I must show a lease or proof of where I'm going to live. Hmmm.. How do I get a lease before I get approved for the visa? Can I get a tentative lease?

I did see that I can bring my two cats with me, although it means finding a place that will let cats share my abode. How can I leave my two best buddies behind?

Here's Shadow:

He's just such a fun cat and is devoted to me so he must go with me. Sassy might not travel very well so I need to think about what is best for her.

So far I'm sorting through my accumulation of "Stuff" and I've managed to sell some things from the garage on Craig's list and have started putting odds and ends on eBay. Most things will be in a huge yardsale later this year when the weather cools down and the Snowbirds appear. House will go on the market and hopefully not take too long to sell. Then a big Moving Sale and I'm outta here. The plan is to get this all done in less than a year.

I'm hoping that there's no age discrimination in letting me live in France. If not this will be one happy geezer.
Advice and suggestions are welcome so please feel free to comment.

2011-07-17T16:10:00.003-04:00

I'm looking into relocating to France. Seems there are some places where I can live cheaper than what it costs here and the standard of living is so much richer.

The area around Bearn looks interesting. I was nearby in the Lot/Dordogne region a few years ago and it's such a lovely place.

Here's some information on the area.

France Today on the Bearn area.

2011-07-08T14:16:00.000-04:00

Here is another video I did at Patrick's concert in Las Vegas on July 2nd. I have no idea what he was saying but he says it so nicely.

2011-07-06T23:13:00.001-04:00

Returned Monday from a short trip to Las Vegas. I'd only been there once before, on a New Year's Eve, about twenty five years ago. It has changed and grown since then but still a loud, crazy place. I went to see Patrick Bruel in Concert at the Wynn Casino. Beautiful place and the concert was wonderful. The meet and greet afterwards was badly organized and poor Patrick was just mobbed. There was no security for him at all and his many fans just overwhelmed him. I did get to say a few quick words before he moved on.

Most of the others attending were French and the few Americans I met were French teachers. I saw Celine Dion's husband, René Angélil, moving through the crowd. He'd been backstage to see Patrick and there were some odd characters hanging on to him as he was leaving. I heard that he, like Patrick, is an avid poker player.
Here is just a short video I did. I have a few more short ones that I wanted to put together but can't figure out how to do it so just posting this one.

2011-06-02T09:10:00.000-04:00

They are back. Il Divo at the Classic Brit Awards with one of the songs from the new album to be released in November. I'll be seeing them in Ireland in August!

2010-10-28T17:25:00.003-04:00

This should be read by all in the US who plan to sit home on their butts and not vote this election. We get the government we deserve. Read this.. Get out and vote.

October 28th, 2010 2:05 PM

A Boot to the Head ...from Michael Moore

By Michael Moore

There she was, thrown to the pavement by a Republican in a checkered shirt. Another Republican thrusts his foot in between her legs and presses down with all his weight to pin her to the curb. Then a Republican leader comes over and viciously stomps on her head with his foot. You hear her glasses crunch under the pressure. Holding her head down with his foot, he applies more force so she can't move. Her skull and brain are now suffering a concussion.

The young woman’s name is Lauren Valle, but she is really all of us. For come this Tuesday, the right wing -- and the wealthy who back them -- plan to take their collective boot and bring it down hard on not just the head of Barack Obama but on the heads of everyone they simply don't like.

Teachers union? The boot!

Muslim-looking people? The boot!

Thinking of retiring soon? The boot!

Living in a house you can no longer afford? The boot!

Doing a bit better with your minimum wage? The boot!

Stem cell research, the bullet train, reversing global warming? Ha! The boot for all of you!

What? You like your kids being covered by your health plan ‘til they're 26? The boot for them and the boot for you!

In love with someone of your own gender? A double boot up the ass for every single one of you sick SOBs!

Hoping there's a few jobs left here in the U.S. when you graduate? How 'bout just a nice boot to your head instead?

And most importantly, the last boot is saved for the black man who probably wasn't born here, definitely isn't a Christian and possibly might be the Antichrist sent here to oversee the destruction of our very way of life. A boot to your head, Obama-devil!

Yes, one big boot is poised to stomp out whatever hopey-changey thing we might have had two years ago and secure this country in the hands of the oligarchs and the culture police.

And if they win on Tuesday, they plan to show no mercy. They will not speak of bipartisanship or olive branches or tolerate any filibuster threats. They will come in and do the job with a mandate they'll perceive the electorate will have given them. They will not fart around for two years like the Democrats did. They will not "search for compromise" or "find middle ground." They will not meet you halfway on the playing field. They know that touchdowns aren't scored at the 50-yard line. Unlike our guys, they're not stupid or spineless.

Make no mistake about it, my friends. A perfect storm has gathered of racists, homophobes, corporatists and born agains and they are on fire. Two years of a black man who secretly holds socialist beliefs being the boss of them is more than they can stomach. They've been sick to death since the night of 11/04/08 and they are ready to purge. They won't need a rope and tree this time to effect the change they seek (why bother when a nice shoe on another's skull will do just fine, thank you).

They simply need to get their base to the polls (done), convince enough people Obama is responsible for the fact they don't have a job or a secure home (done), and then hope enough of us Obama-voters are so frustrated, disappointed and downright mad at the Dems (done) that we'll either stay home Tuesday or, if we vote, we won't be carpooling with 10 others to the polls.

Done? Or not?

These Republicans mean business. Their boots are all shined and ready. But they've got one huge problem:

The majority of Americans don't agree with them.

The majority want the troops home. The majority want true universal health coverage. The majority want the thievery on Wall Street to be stopped. The majority believe that global warming is happening, that social security shouldn't be privatized and that unions are a good thing.

Too bad the majority party has done precious little to bring about the change for which the majority voted. Yes, change takes time. But try telling that to someone who hasn't worked in two years. Or who hears the knock of the foreclosure sheriff at the door. The booted-up minority knows how to make hay in a situation like this. All they need is us, the disappointed, dismayed, disgusted us.

What say you? Stay home and punish the weak-kneed, sell-out Democrats? Or spend every free moment you have between now and Tuesday trying to protect what little progress has been made so we can live to fight another day (even if it is with “allies” like a Democratic Party that will more than likely still not get the message of what they need to do -- and has, in fact, spent much of the past two years giving progressives the boot)? Perhaps our job, post-election, is to provide a gentle but swift boot in the bee-hind of the party whose mascot is an ass.

Right now, we've got 112 hours. Seems like enough.

Yours,

Michael Moore

MMFlint@aol.com

MichaelMoore.com

A Boot to the Head ...from Michael Moore MichaelMoore.com

2010-10-26T17:51:00.002-04:00

This guy is running for Governor of Florida.. Don't we have enough idiots running this state now?

2010-10-09T23:36:00.000-04:00

My neighbors have listed their house for sale and here is a video of it taken by the Realtor. It's a nice 2 Bedroom, 1 bath home on a nice lot. Price is listed at $105,000. Best part is that if you buy it, you'll be my neighbor.

Their home/B&B is almost complete in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico and they will be moving there as soon as the house is sold. It's going to be a great place to visit when it's ready.

2010-10-07T21:26:00.000-04:00

I've rediscovered JibJab and they now do e-cards and fun videos. This is my first starring me and Sebastien Izambard from Il Divo.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

2010-09-27T12:28:00.000-04:00

Last week I came home after a busy day and collapsed in front of the tv. TCM (Turner Classic Movies) was on and Love in the Afternoon was on. Audrey Hepburn, Gary Cooper (way too old for the part) and Maurice Chevalier in Paris. Filmed in 1957 when I was just 15 years old. How could I resist? I had missed the first 40 minutes or so and was watching it without a lot of enthusiasm when suddenly something made me sit up and rewind... There was the street I lived on last October when I was in Paris.

Here's part of it. At 3:54 Gary Cooper is handed Maurice's business card and the address is Rue Mallebranche. I think it's now spelled with one L... At 4:02 you can see my street and the stairs I climbed so many times to get back to my apartment.

2010-08-29T20:03:00.001-04:00

Thinking of Paris. I found this photo and have made it my desktop. It's one of the beautiful light fixtures from Au Pied de Cochon restaurant near Les Halles and a few steps from the Eglise Saint-Eustache de Paris.

Click on the photo to see it larger.

2010-08-28T14:33:00.001-04:00

Sorry I haven't posted to this blog lately. Just been busy and in a rut. After Paris in October life was just sort of blah for awhile. I'm working on getting my Mojo back.

For starters, I've booked a trip to Paris for New Year's Eve and I'm taking one of my granddaughters. There's an old saying that however you spend NY's Eve is how the rest of the year will be and it certainly held true for my first Paris trip in Dec. 2008. New Year's eve was fabulous and so was the year that followed. Last NY's eve I spent on the computer and watching tv and so far, that's about all I've done this year.

So I was determined to make some changes and now I'm working on shedding excess weight to help my old knees get in shape for walking in Paris.

Restarting this blog is my next goal. The other blog, the Kissimme Daily is still in limbo. Not much happening here in Kissimmee and others write very nicely about Disney so not sure what I'll do with it.

Here's a photo from my first trip to Paris that I printed in grey tones and hand colored.

TEA PARTY RACISM: What The Media Won't Show You About Teabagger Racism

2010-03-29T10:39:00.001-04:00

This is something the press isn't showing and it is frightening how many of my countrymen are so ignorant and racist. Someone said that almost 45 million people in this country are operating at a fourth grade education level. That does explain some of our past election results and the signage these people display.
Shame on us for tolerating this and not speaking up.

J'accuse mon père Clip Officiel

2010-03-25T22:22:00.001-04:00

I really enjoy all of these clips from Mozart L'Opera Rock. I am awaiting the release of the DVD.. Hope there are english subtitiles..

2010-02-22T09:53:00.002-05:00

I volunteered to teach a collage class along with a friend at a residence for the mentally handicapped. It was fun, challenging, and very rewarding. Below is the badge bestowed upon me by Disney, along with a free day of my choosing.

Evian Babies New Making Of

2010-01-29T12:00:00.001-05:00

These Evian commercials are so much fun to watch. Here is how they do it.

2010-01-23T17:19:00.001-05:00

I love this video. Animals are so amazing.

Watch more National Geographic Channel videos on AOL Video

Seaside Heights Sun and Fun Promo Tourism Film 1960

2010-01-21T19:45:00.001-05:00

One of my High School classmates sent me a link to this. We would head to the "Shore" every weekend in the summer and this was filmed the year I graduated. I probably spent that entire summer here.
Fun memories.

2009-12-04T07:48:00.001-05:00

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.

2009-11-14T10:11:00.002-05:00

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.

2009-11-07T13:10:00.003-05:00

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.

2009-11-04T09:48:00.004-05:00

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.

2009-10-30T05:06:00.005-04:00

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.

2009-10-28T12:13:00.002-04:00

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.

2009-10-25T10:24:00.002-04:00

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.

2009-10-23T03:42:00.002-04:00

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.

2009-10-21T12:59:00.002-04:00

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.

2009-10-17T16:16:00.001-04:00

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

2009-10-14T05:30:00.003-04:00

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

2009-10-12T16:49:00.002-04:00

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.

2009-10-11T08:09:00.007-04:00

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.

2009-10-07T06:31:00.003-04:00

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.

2009-10-05T16:49:00.004-04:00

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.

2009-10-04T05:41:00.004-04:00

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.

2009-10-03T11:06:00.004-04:00

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.

2009-09-29T14:21:00.002-04:00

More Pere Lachaise

2009-09-27T12:59:00.005-04:00

Pere Lachaise Cemetery

I found the Pere Lachaise Cemetery to be a beautiful and peaceful place to spend a few hours. I plan to go back this next trip and also to visit some of the other lovely cemeteries in Paris. 3 more days! Paris is calling.
Listen to Daniel Lavoie singing "Paris Calling" in my Deezer playlist to the right.

2009-09-25T23:48:00.003-04:00

Decisions

Awhile ago I posted a photo of a scarf shop window. I liked the pink one but went in and bought two smaller ones. They are now draped on my dresser and I need to decide if I should take them back to Paris with me. They are pretty but not very practical.
Packing for a month in a fantastic city with a different climate and not knowing what surprises I may encounter makes packing a chore. The object is to take enough without taking too much and keeping the suitcases within weight limits.
I have a small pile of heavy items to take to share with friends so hopefully will have space for bringing Parisien items home.
Countdown: 4 days until departure.

2009-09-21T14:38:00.003-04:00

Statues in the Louvre

I stayed near the Louvre in December but didn't go inside until my last day there. It was the free Sunday and was crowded. I tried to make my way up many flights of stairs and down hallways to see the Mona Lisa, but kept finding more stairs and more long hallways so gave up and went to the Eiffel Tower. I did enjoy that short visit to the Louvre and plan to buy a Friends of the Louvre membership so I can go as often I I like this next trip.

Countdown to Paris: 9 days!!

2009-09-19T09:16:00.002-04:00

Paris Statues

I think I still have many more photos of the lovely statues in Paris. They are everywhere. It's a visual feast of sculpture. Looking at the photos reminds me of my December trip and gives me a taste of what I'll see and do on this next one.
Only 11 more days!

2009-09-17T15:12:00.002-04:00

Ever More Statues

2009-09-13T08:35:00.001-04:00

Oh, no!!!

2009-09-06T09:15:00.002-04:00

Les Halles
My hotel wasn't too far from Les Halles and it was nice to walk in this area. Below ground is a shopping area that is so huge you could get lost and not find your way out for days. But the park and area above is very nice.

2009-08-31T09:36:00.002-04:00

Jardin du Luxembourg
Statues

2009-08-29T15:46:00.000-04:00

More Paris Photos

2009-08-26T11:10:00.003-04:00

Paris: Princess Diana

This is a replica of the flame from the Statue of Liberty but has become the place to pay homage to Princess Diana. It is near the road where she was in the fatal accident. People come and place flowers here. I took this photo on a cold and snowy day in December. I'm posting it because on my Kissimmee Daily Photo Blog I have a post about a temporary museum dedicated to her.

2009-08-22T23:38:00.004-04:00

More Images of Paris

Walking along the Seine

The Louvre

Sunset.

2009-08-19T23:27:00.001-04:00

A Paris Book Shoppe

2009-08-17T23:20:00.002-04:00

More Paris Windows

I like the reflections in this one

The pink scarf drew me into the store but I bought a different one.

This coat doesn't look bad in the photo but trust me, it was the ugliest thing I'd ever seen. It was poorly made from very tacky cheap fabrics. I passed it a few times before taking the photo.

2009-08-10T23:05:00.002-04:00

Paris: Balconies and Statues

2009-08-09T23:15:00.010-04:00

More Paris Photos
The Palais Royal was one of my favorite places to visit.
It was just a short walk from my hotel.

These were taken on a cold afternoon and there weren't a lot of people there. Usually it was busy with children and families.
This was a downed tree in the Tuilleries.
Taken on another very cold day.
I liked the sculptural look of the roots.
***According to Peter, who knows so much about Paris: Peter said...
Actually this IS a sculpture! :-) (By Guiseppe Penone.)" I wish he'd been with me when I photographed it. Sure looked like a tree to me but I should have known that they wouldn't leave a tree like that just lay around and disturb the perfection of the Tuilleries.:=]

2009-08-07T23:27:00.002-04:00

A Few More Paris Doors

2009-08-05T21:38:00.002-04:00

The Blue Doors of Paris
Blue seems to be a favorite color for doors in Paris. Here are just a few that I found.

2009-08-01T00:02:00.004-04:00

More Paris Nights
City Daily Photo does Theme Day on the first of the month and the theme for August is "Night". This isn't a CDP blog but my other one is and it's a good excuse to post more of my photos from Paris. These were taken in December around Christmas so the lights were rather festive.

The beautiful Grand Opera House surrounded by traffic.

Magazine kiosk and the metro in front of the Comédie Francaise.

The Hotel Ritz, 15 place Vendôme, 1st.

To view "Night" posts from City Daily Photo Bloggers from all over the world:Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

2009-07-28T20:42:00.004-04:00

More Pictures from Paris-December 2008

Here are four more photos from the hundreds I took while in Paris last December and early January. I haven't posted that many and in two months I am going back to Paris and will probably take hundreds more.

This is the entrance to the Petit Palais on a rainy day.

This is the famous Olympia Theatre as seen from the bus.

This was in the Marais. I like the tower.

La Tour on a rainy foggy day.

2009-07-18T13:01:00.003-04:00

Statues

Everywhere you look in Paris there are statues. And everywhere there are statues, there are pigeons and seagulls. I think the fellow above who is holding his head in his hands is just checking for birds.

2009-07-12T15:10:00.003-04:00

A Preview of Paris by Lonely Planet

Sweet and short quick guide to Paris. This trip I will take the boat ride on the Seine and sit outside at more cafes. Don't think I'll do the Friday nights city on line skating. The last time I got on skates, my knees paid the price.
I did not find the parisians to be either distant or rude. The ones I met were delightful and friendly.

2009-07-10T09:16:00.003-04:00

My Paris Kitchen

This is my kitchen in my Paris apartment. I don't know how much cooking I'll get done here but I'm going to try. When they say it has an oven, they mean a microwave so I guess no roasted chickens will be made here, unless I can find a way to do it on the top of the hot plate. I'm looking forward to my great adventure.

2009-07-08T15:43:00.003-04:00

Paris!!!
I'm going back to Paris in October for a full month!!! Hooray! The photo below is the entrance to the apartment I have rented. It is in the Latin Quarter and close to the Luxemborg Gardens which are beautiful. Not too far to walk back to my 1st arrondisment where my favorite Gardens of the Palais Royale are and some of the cafes I enjoyed during my last stay.

Now I need to get busy and get to the spa to work out and get in shape for all those stairs. This trip I am going to attempt the top of Notre Dame so I can see the view and photograph the gargoyles.

2009-07-03T10:36:00.003-04:00

Il Divo in Orlando
Il Divo came to Orlando and the show was done on the big stage with the ramps. Great show as usual and I managed to make a little video that I posted to Youtube. As you can see my favorite Il Divo is Sebastien Izambard, the French Guy. Urs Buhler was friendly and charming at the Meet 'n Greet and so was David Miller. Sebastien spoke to me but it caused my brain to misfire and I have no idea what he said to me. Sorry Carlos Marin fans, he can be heard but barely seen.

I must have been holding my breath because that loud sigh at the end was me.

2009-06-26T00:21:00.000-04:00

More Windows in Paris

2009-06-09T23:59:00.003-04:00

Fragments: Bits of Paris
These photos are just bits and pieces that caught my eye while walking around Paris. There is so much to see and my camera just kept clicking away.

2009-06-02T10:21:00.002-04:00

Paris:Doors

I'm homesick for Paris so felt the need to post more photos from my trip. Visually doors and windows are interesting to me so I photographed quite a few of them and my Paris friend, Peter, taught me to check out the little alleys, side streets, and to peek into open doors to find some delightful visual surprises. The first photo was the entrance to a hair salon and it was tucked into a little alleyway.
The other two are doors I liked.

2009-05-26T17:30:00.001-04:00

My First Video Posted to Youtube..

I filmed this at the Il Divo concert in Chicago last Wednesday night using my little Sony digital.

2009-05-14T18:42:00.004-04:00

Just a quick post of a video. It's two of my favorite French Canadian singers. Daniel Lavoie and Garou doing Piano Man with Pianist Oliver Jones and singing in English. In addition to their lovely voices, their smiles just light up a room.

2009-05-12T23:26:00.003-04:00

Paris at Night: Encore

2009-05-07T23:13:00.003-04:00

Paris Streets
These are some of the photos I took in Paris. Some days were rainy, some cloudy, and some days we had snow. These I like because of the people.

This one is blurry but I liked it. I felt like a paparazzi trying to get the picture and it was cold so I was probably rushing and shaking.

2009-04-25T21:52:00.012-04:00

Bruno Pellitier et D'autres
I've just discovered another French* singer that I like. I ordered his new cd for a friend and listened to it. Wow.. what a voice. I just reordered the cd so I can have a copy of my own. I'd seen and heard him in Notre Dame de Paris and liked him but he was sharing the spotlight with Garou and Daniel Lavoie. Two more of my favorites. Here is a video of Bruno singing an Edith Piaff song.
*Bruno is actually Canadian and speaks English and French but performs in France as well as Canada and other places.

Here's a video of Garou, Daniel, and Patrick Fiori singing "Belle" from NDDP. Beautiful.

*Post Script:Garou and Daniel Lavoie are also Canadians. Patrick Fiori is from France. Seems like many of the "French" singers I enjoy are "French" Canadians.

2009-04-22T22:47:00.004-04:00

I've been enjoying Patrick Bruel on DVD. He is such a great entertainer. This clip from Entre Deux is very funny. He is playing the hurdy gurdy and the audience starts singing along. He stops and tells them that they can do much better. He explains that the problem is that he is singing one beat, he's cranking the hurdy gurdy another and the audience is singing in still another.. "so let us try again.. "

This is a clip of an interview with him in New York. He lived there some years ago and it's in english.

2009-04-16T21:58:00.003-04:00

Paris Street Lamps
I've said how much I love walking in Paris at night. One of the reasons is the streetlights. They are lovely to look at and are spaced just right to light the streets in a way that adds to the ambience of the city. Here are a few of them.

2009-04-11T19:46:00.004-04:00

Mozart: A rock opera in French..
A friend in London sent me a clip of this and I really like it.

I have learned that it won't be out until sometime in September and only in Paris. I'm hoping it runs for awhile in case I can make it there for late September or October.

2009-04-09T21:36:00.003-04:00

The Paris Opera House: Then and Now.
I found this circa 1900 stereo card at an antique store.

Here is a photo I took while in Paris in December 2008. Not much has changed except for the traffic and the cars.

2009-04-07T21:08:00.004-04:00

More Paris

This was taken on my last full day in Paris. I was on the bus going back to my hotel after visiting the Eiffel Tower. The sun was setting and this was one of my last views of La Tour. It was so beautiful.
I got off of the bus at the Place de la Concord and this was how the Obelisk of Luxor looked. For more information: Click Here!

2009-03-31T22:21:00.005-04:00

Even More Paris Window Delights
This Ballet dress would delight any young aspiring ballerina!

A sweet bunny to snuggle with.

What little girl wouldn't feel like a real princess in this pink confection of a dress?

2009-03-27T12:51:00.002-04:00

More Paris Window Displays
This window was just so amazing with the shiny beads that were supposed to be snow, I think, but to me looked like hail.

In this one it was just the casual drape of the lace with the velvet pillows that caught my eye. Conjures up images of a victorian sitting room and elegant comfort.

This is one of my favorite photos. I am just infatuated with chandeliers and this one along with the reflection just delights me. My ceilings in this house are so low that I only have two. One over the kitchen table and one in the main bathroom. I wish I had them in every room.

2009-03-25T22:33:00.003-04:00

Paris Window Displays

Looking at the window displays in Paris was a favorite pastime for me. Perhaps if I lived near New York City or another large metropolitan area, I wouldn't have been as awestruck as I was but they were brilliant. I have dozens of photos of them and will post more of them every few days.

2009-03-13T22:41:00.005-04:00

Musée d'Orsay

To read about the Museum click Here or for the official website, click Here.

2009-03-07T10:25:00.003-05:00

More Paris after Dark

2009-03-04T16:24:00.005-05:00

Ahhhh, I remember it well!

This is the passage in Paris leading to the home where they filmed parts of Gigi. It's odd to realize that Gigi was filmed 50 years ago and I saw it in the theatre when it was first released.. ohhh that makes me feel so old. It was a wonderful movie and I loved Louis Jourdan. Read all about Gigi here..

2009-02-24T21:25:00.001-05:00

More Paris Night Photos

2009-02-15T23:48:00.005-05:00

The Louvre at Night
Some nights when it was too late to go anywhere and too early to go back to the hotel I would walk around the Louvre and down to the Seine.
The crowds were gone and the lighting was soft and more than a little mysterious. The architecture stood out in the shadows and the glass pyramid glowed with a soft light. These photos don't fully capture the space and atmosphere of being there but it's the best I could do with my little digital.

2009-02-14T00:33:00.001-05:00

Lovers

I had a number of photos ready to upload for today's blog that seemed suited for Valentine's Day but I think this one should just stand alone.. I may post the others in a day or two.
This was taken on the Pont des Arts one cold dreary day. I watched them for awhile and took some photos from a distance and finally got closer and shot this one with telephoto. Paris, the city of romance.. everyone should go there when they are young.

2009-02-12T15:11:00.000-05:00

La Tour Eiffel

I'd been in Paris for about three or four days and had only seen La Tour from a distance and decided to get a closer look. It was evening and I took bus 69 which goes from Pere Lachaise to the Eiffel Tower and travels along the Rue de Rivoli. This was my first bus ride and I found the bus routes easy to navigate.

It was dark when the bus deposited me at the edge of the park on the east side. A nice walk, all the while gazing up at this blue wonder... getting larger and larger as I got closer. It was amazing. There were long lines and I wanted to go to the top for a view of the city during daylight hours so I decided to just walk and take photos.

These are just a few of the ones I took that night.

2009-02-09T19:57:00.000-05:00

Jardin du Palais Royal
My hotel was next to the Palais Royal and the gardens were just up the street and what a delight to walk through a passageway and find the gardens. In spite of it being cold, rainy, and winter, they were lovely. The trees are trimmed and when bare become sculptures against the grey skies.

Along three sides of the garden are covered walkways with shops and restaurants and interesting displays.

The walkways are set off from the gardens by towering columns and beautiful black ironwork topped by golden spikes. This day the spikes were being painted by a crew of two who seemed to be enjoying their job.

This gentleman was sharing his lunch with the pigeons on a cold dreary day.

2009-02-05T20:56:00.000-05:00

Meet Henry...

I have a new Granddog.. his name is Henry and he lives in New Jersey with my oldest son and his family. They have always had Airdales and they get them from an Airdale Rescue group.. Henry is number 4.

The first was Spanky, an excellent watch dog. The second was one of my favorites, Reggie.. He had the biggest head of any dog I've ever met and he was just a big goofy loveable dog. Number three was Oliver, the sweetest of the bunch.. He was a little crazy but very nice. He recently crossed to the other side after many years of being loved and cared for.

Now Henry has joined the family. He, too, is a rescued dog and like the others it will take some time and love to make him feel like part of the family but they tell me he's just sweet and loveable, too, so it shouldn't take him long. I like his face and can't wait to go visit and get to know him..

2009-02-02T21:46:00.000-05:00

Carrousel du Louvre

My hotel was just a short block from the Louvre and so on one of my first days in Paris I went to the underground area next to the Louvre called the Carrousel du Louvre. There is no carousel (Merry-go-round) but there are wonderful shops and I spent time wandering around the Virgin store and then discovered there were other areas to explore.

This was one of the fancy light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. I don't know if these are there all year round or just for the Christmas holidays.

There was a huge sliding set of doors that were slightly ajar and so of course I peeked in and saw these people and the colors were just amazing. This is where they hold concerts and other functions and when I went back a few days later it just looked drab and ordinary.. The blue was gone. I'm glad I was able to capture it, even if it is a bit blurry.

Just past that room I came to this huge space with these statues. The walls and statues were salvaged from the now gone Tuilleries Palace.

There is also I.M. Pei's Reversed Pyramid. It is gorgeous! I didn't photograph it for some reason.. but here's a link to a photo of it.
There is also an entrance to the Louvre that tends to have shorter lines so it's a good place to check out.

2009-01-29T23:52:00.000-05:00

Another Pair of Shoes in Paris

My favorite shoes were on this mannequin.. It was in a display window in one of the passage galleries near my hotel. I love these shoes but wouldn't wear them. If I owned them they would be displayed on a shelf as art or on a mannequin dressed like this one..

This is the whole mannequin in the window and I liked her attitude.

This photo is my favorite. I like the ghostly image and the reflections in the glass.

2009-01-28T16:30:00.000-05:00

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes, and More Shoes!!

I was talking to one of my daughter-in-laws earlier and she loves shoes. The shoes in Paris were colorful, different and so much fun. I've posted these for her to enjoy and drool over.. Hope you like them, too.

Thanks to Alice, I now know the designer of the "Paris" shoes.. He is Christian Louboutin and now I remember Oprah doing a show on him and his shoes and showing off the red soles..

2009-01-26T09:30:00.000-05:00

My Birthday Dinner at Epcot

Last Monday was my birthday and my inherited daughter, Vanessa, took me to Epcot Center at Disney World for the day. The weather was perfect and we spent the day walking around the two sections. Lots to do and see. We entered by the back entrance from the boat ramp and this is the lovely view as we walked towards England. France is to the right over the bridge. The tower to the right is in Italy. Nice to walk around the world in one day.

Dinner was a treat at Les Chefs de France.

This is Sylvain, our waiter who was from Nice, and he was very very nice..

All of the servers came to the table when my dessert arrived to sing to me. What a treat.. and it was delicious.

And to end the meal, Vanessa and I had our Cafe Cremes.

Dinner was finished in time to watch the nightly fireworks show.
It was the best ending to a delightful day.

2009-01-23T20:43:00.000-05:00

Animals of Paris

There were many animals in Paris. Here are just a few that I photographed.

Here is a little sparrow who was mooching for some of my lunch in the Jardin des Tuilleries .

This dog saw my camera and struck a pose.

This calico cat belonged to a cafe and was very comfortable walking on the tables and just going wherever it wanted.

A different calico cat in Montmartre who was stalking a pigeon.

2009-01-15T03:01:00.000-05:00

To Flock or not to Flock? Is that the question?

Eric's Paris Daily Photo posted a photo of a forlorn little bright orange flocked Christmas tree being sent off to be disposed of. Most of the comments on this post were not complementary to the poor little tree.

When I was there the little flocked trees were everywhere and in every color. I had never seen trees like these and I'm still not sure how I feel about them. But here are a few photos I took. The last one may well be the tree that Eric saw being disposed of. It was at the Cafe next to the Comedie Francais.

2009-01-14T03:15:00.000-05:00

Store Windows

The window displays in Paris fascinated me. So many unique designs and ways to display the merchandise. I took many photos. These two were not fancy window displays but unusual chairs.
The first, the rose chair is obviously a chair. The second one was black and round with a puffy green center with a stem on it. We all wondered how to sit in it but none of us could figure it out. Someone suggested it might not be a chair at all but an ottoman to put your feet on but I don't think so.

The price tags were astonishingly high. Thousands of euros needed to purchase these. Much more fun to just look at them. Anyone wanting to add them to their decor can find the store on the tiny little Rue de Valois, next to the Palais Royal.

2009-01-13T17:58:00.000-05:00

Onion Soup and More

I was asked about the food in Paris and it would be difficult to choose what I liked best but one of my favorites was the Onion Soup. This is a photo of my first Paris bowl that held onion soup. I didn't think to take the picture until it was gone. It was delicious.

I have been wanting to try making it at home and since the weather here is cooling down a bit, I put up a good sized pot of it yesterday. I did the toasted French baquette slices and topped the bowl with cheese and broiled it until it was golden brown. Here's a photo of it before it was gone. The only thing I forgot was the wine.

Today, the cold front started to move this way and brought some much needed rain and predictions of much colder weather. I like cold weather because I can put up pots of soups and sauces and let them simmer. Yesterday afternoon with the onion soup simmering, I bought a chicken and started a pot of chicken soup. Today I cleaned the cooked chicken and added the white meat to the broth with carrots, celery, onion, and parsnips. A little seasoning, a pot of thin egg noodles and it's ready to be eaten tonight for dinner along with some French bread.

The outside cats are enjoying the carcass and scraps and the house smells delightful. Wish there was a way to add smell and taste to the blog.

2009-01-13T03:10:00.000-05:00

Temptation!

Yummy

Tempting

Somehow I spent 20 days in Paris and did not eat any of these luscious pastries. I kept telling myself to wait until the last days so I could savor just one of them. Time flew and the last day passed and I never did get to eat one. Now I really have to schedule another trip.

Confession: I did have some macaroons from a booth in the Latin Quarter and a citron crepe on the Eiffel Tower so it wasn't total denial.

2009-01-11T17:36:00.000-05:00

The view from my hotel window.
All those trucks at the end of the street near the Louvre were following six police cars with sirens blazing. I have no idea why.

They seem to like Barack Obama in France.
You can see this kiosk in the first photo. It's at the end of my street. Almost dead center.

The Hotel du Louvre lit up at night.
This is such a pretty hotel at night and it is surrounded by cafes and stores.

2009-01-09T03:30:00.000-05:00

I wrote about this on January 3rd from Paris and here is a bit more information about the church and the monastery.

We were fortunate to walk into this church on the night of January 3rd and were happily surprised to find a mass in honour of Ste Geneviève, patroness of Paris, in progress.

There were the nuns in blue with white wool hooded capes and monks in black with the white capes and they were singing and reading from their missals. The church was St-Gervais-et-St-Protais.

My friend Peter, whose Paris Photo blog sweeps you to parts of Paris usually not seen by the average tourist, researched and found that they are a part of the
Monastic Jerusalem Communities, a project offering a new form of monastic life in the heart of the city.

The lovely voices singing a cappella followed by dramatic organ music was something I think I'll always remember. It was beautiful to hear and to watch. I'm not religious but the muusic touched my soul.

The singing nuns:

The beautiful church at night.