Paris, after the assault

[mossie]

As I wrote on an earlier thread as soon as I had sorted myself out in my hotel on my recent visit, I headed for Republique to see the tributes. I was overwhelmed to see crowds still there, very sombre with little noise, and some people still lightning candles and laying tributes.



Particular favourite was this which I guess means "Paris is still magic"



But to return to the original purpose of my visit. Next morning a visit to Galeries Lafayette was in order so that presents could be purchased and the decorations admired.



The theme this year seemed to be Star Wars



I walked along the footpath outside to see the window displays and photo them. However I soon realised that I had to come back when it was dark as the reflections were complicating the pictures.



So I took the escalators to the top for a coffee and my shopping



and a peep at the more exotic shopping locations



On my return at a later date and time I shot the windows, starting with this weird take on Star Wars, or space travel



It got worse with this, are these the Wise Men searching for the little space man in the mountains?



Some was quite decorative



Note the railing on the stand enabling the children to get close.



Hope this didn't produce too many nightmares



So I carried on to admire Printemps efforts next door



As Kerouac has previously shown, their theme is totally different, and they also wanted to flaunt their age



The children certainly liked the puppets in their little princess get ups



The display was really themed on toys

But the age plug cropped up again



Later I walked past the Opera Garnier



And was surprised to find this shapely group propping up the frontage



I must call a halt as I have muddled the order a bit and am too ham fisted to sort it out, Sorry

[bixaorellana]

This is wonderful, Mossie! I love how you caught different angles from those on Kerouac's Christmas thread. Also, your first photo is just outstanding in the way it engages the viewer. Can't wait to see more, and am sure you'll fix your frustration.

[mossie]

Here is the missing shot of the group at the Opera, hope not all the actresses are so well dressed



The next Morning I chance on an exhibition along the Bassin de la Villette of a totally different stamp. Influenced by the climate change gathering, this shows ecologically attempts to change old, bad, habits



Possibly this method of cannabis production may prove popular



Several marvellous public urinals were on display, but it was all extremely sexist, the ladies are expected to hold it.



The wacky schemes to save the planet were also on view



As were some electric vehicles, which are at last becoming more practical



The Bassin itself still carried the enthusiastic rowers, looking more like the Water Boatmen insects than usual



As I left I caught one of the sightseeing boats off down to Bastille to start his days work



And a metro train rattling over the Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad on line 2



I'll give us all a rest now and add a bit more some other time.

[htmb]

All your photos are quite interesting, Mossie. Nice work!
I especially like the last three for the sense of "normalcy" portrayed, I suppose. It looks like you had a pretty day weather wise, too.

[mich64]

Fantastic so far Mossie! I am so glad you were able to go on your holiday.

Not sure about the Star Wars theme for a Christmas display (although I do understand there are many films that have merchandise/toys combined with Christmas) but these windows are now used more as a commercial then what they were traditionally seen as. I always hope each year they can combine the old with the new. I guess we kind of got that between Gallerie Lafayette and Printemps this year.

My sister said the windows in Toronto this year were quite pretty.

I can not even imagine the mixture of feelings you must have had when you encountered the memorial sites Mossie.

If I could, I would be on a plane to Paris tomorrow.

[lagatta]

Mossie, that is great. I confess I avoid the area of "les Grands magasins" but you may well have specific gifts for specific friends and family members. I love "150 printemps". Here at least - is that also the case in France? Guess it must be - it is a way a rather coquet or coquette person of a certain age will put a positive spin on their latest birthday.

Where are you staying this time?

[bjd]

Yes, Lagatta, here too "150 printemps" would be a way of making age not sounding so bad.

That ecological urinal doesn't seem to have a drain pipe -- it is just an exhibit or was it supposed to be used (to water the bamboo)?

[Deleted]

Glad you finally made it there Mossie.

That first pic is indeed very moving.

I'm not much of a Christmas person but did enjoy the pics.

My favourite is the giant jellyfish.

The white futuristic armed "soldiers" would give me nightmares to be sure.

Thanks for getting out there, sharing with us and, do enjoy the remainder of your holiday.

[mossie]

Lagatta, that urinal was piped directly to the soil round the bamboo.

To round off my ecological visit I had a conventional coffee in the Cafe Juares,just across the road from the canal lock



Walking up Av Jean Juares I spot this oddly named cafe. Should be in the cafe thread I suppose, but the association with "filling one's face" came to mind



Of course I must visit my favourite Buttes Chaumont park, but didn't have the stamina to hike to the Temple de Sybille. so snapped this view from the suspension bridge



Here is my "good bye"shot taken on my last morning



The evening before I had taken the good old tourist essential river trip, courtesy of Vedettes de la Pont Neuf.



I always recommend this for Paris newbies



Especially for the different viewpoint to Notre Dame



But also saw another daft set of lovers locks



The walk along the river gives nice shots of the scene under lights



I now have a favourite eating place close to St Paul metro, and while there visited the church which has this stunning pulpit



Across from my table was this wonderful little family, most of the time the children played happily by themselves while papa supported the bar



I'll sign off with another cafe shot, I can only repeat the phrase I tell people considering a trip. "There's a cafe on every corner"

[Deleted]

I am delighted that all of us make completely different photo reports about Paris. And there are still a lot of areas that have not been covered yet, so everybody needs to keep coming back to take more pictures. I particularly like your photos of other customers in cafés and restaurants, Mossie.

[fumobici]

You are an excellent photographer mossie. Of the last bunch, the family dining and the evening shot of the Seine are my favorites.

[bixaorellana]

Yes, you ARE an excellent photographer, Mossie -- really inspiring! The opera ladies shot is great, as is the family meal, among many more I could name.

Love the variety you caught -- ecological expo, cafes, Christmas windows, night cruise -- super!

You are right that the pulpit is stunning. It is really Empire style. Any idea if that is correct?

[htmb]

Wonderful photos, Mossie.

Be stayed near Métro Saint-Paul several times and would love to know the name of your new favorite restaurant. It's not Pizza Momo is it?

[mossie]

To an earlier question, yes, I stayed at my old standby, the Ibis Styles Buttes Chaumont. Once known as le Laumiere I have almost lost count of the number of times I have stayed there. That makes my Paris trips easy because I don't have to think about where to go and how I am going to survive, once I stumble off the Eurostar at Gare du Nord.

And htmb, my new favourite eaterie is the cramped l'Elephant du Nil right across the street from St Paul metro. Just eat any of the few choices you are offered on the slate, which will be cooked in the kitchen at the end of the place.

[mossie]

I know I posted a shot of the Christmas tree in Galeries Lafayette, but here is a composite of two.



I also played with a panorama of Place Armand Carrel, with av Laumiere going off to the left of the Mairie de la XIXe

[breeze]

Mossie, I like all your photos, but the two latest, the composite and the panorama, are extra-special.

[bixaorellana]

The composite shot is dazzling, Mossie -- what the tree and setting deserve. And I love good panorama pictures such as yours. They really give a better idea of an area sometimes.

[tod2]

Mossie you did very well with your photo journey! I thought the photos of the Christmas windows very good. As for the shot of the baubles and bejeweled tree in GLF - it's wonderful!
Taking a boat ride is one of the most Parisian things a visitor can experience - even after dozens of trips - so glad you enjoyed it by night. To me that is more exciting than the daylight cruise.

[Deleted]

I would be curious to see how that urine fed bamboo fares over time given the huge number of chemicals that pass through the body.
Everything from anti-depressants, viagra and a plethora of other substances.

That aside, thank you for sharing your holiday with us Mossie.

[amboseli]

Magnifique, Mossie!

[lagatta]

casimira, I think that bamboo near the Mekong or other major rivers in the appropriate climate zones would be absorbing just as much cr*p.

[lugg]

Excellent Mossie - really enjoyed your photos, another enjoyable trip I believe . The last two are special but like Casimira my favourite is the octopus

[mossie]

I thought the 'octopus' was a jellyfish, it could also look like one of those fancy balloons used to ascend to ultra high altitudes.

The ecological display along basin de la Villette featured several urinals for street side use, generally feeding plants or the avenue trees for which Paris is renowned.

Here is another shot of people paying homage at Republique in the early evening of Thursday 16 Nov



Shot while wandering towards Pont Neuf, note the massive crane at Samarataine and the new construction shrouded in scaffolding and plastic sheeting on front of it. I wonder when this masterpiece will re-emerge, Kerouac tells me that the roof terrace will be retained. I trust the coffee will not be too expensive



I hope someone with good French can translate this cafe toilet mirror for me, apologies for my ugly mug intruding but there was nowhere to hide



I also paid a brief visit to Pere LaChaise to pay homage at the memorial to the Polish forces who fought for France after Poland was overrun. It was partly to pay a sideways respect to my pilot, who had served in the French Air Force before joining the RAF.



I had believed that this would be my last trip, but coming home on Eurostar I realised that I had survived and seemed to gain a second wind, so perhaps you will have to endure more of my ramblings at some later date. I will make my mind up sometime in the New Year, in the mean time my I wish everyone a Happy Christmas and an Adventurous New Year

[bjd]

Thanks for all this, Mossie.

The writing on the mirror means: "There is no big or small. The right size is when your feet touch the ground." (Coluche)

re the last photo -- I have never seen this monument and hadn't realized that any kind of acknowledgement was made to the Polish soldiers who had come to France. If you are interested in the airmen in particular, there is a book called either "For Your Freedom and Ours" or "A Question of Honor" (depending on the edition) by Lynne Olson and Stanley Cloud about the Kosciuszko Squadron in France and then in Britain.

[tod2]

Mossie...Last trip!? Bah humbug! You have lots more in you Mossie. Just need to bring a pretty young 'nurse' on your arm Or at least someone to carry your bag. No takers in the family?