La Belle et La Bête

I watched this movie last night. It's a strange and beautiful film. Not only is it an enjoyable movie (Nick watched it too) but I would recommend it for listening comprehension practice!

Noël Délicieux

Could you die—talk about eye candy! These are windows at Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris at Christmas. You can see more here.

Blustery Day in Paris?

We saw this street artist near Le Centre Georges Pompidou last summer. He stood just like that for hours, readjusting his pose very slightly when someone tossed a coin in this hat. The windy day illusion is such a cool idea and how handsome is this young man?



The street artist was just one of the many interesting things and creative people we saw in the square outside the Centre Pompidou.





The building itself is a sight to behold - not to mention the collection of art inside.

Le Petit Lapin

I just found this in my "favorites" folder on etsy, and my heart instantly melted! My little furry French bunny went to someone else...quelle dommage. Maybe his creator, La Bete Handmade, is busy making more?

Trés, Trés Joli...

La Vie En Rose and Grace Jones

Grace Jones in a sparkly, slinky, pinky dress singing in French? I had to post this...

Besides, she does have a son, Paulo, with famous French photographer Jean Paul Goude. He is in the French pop band La Gouache. Je crois qu'elle a vraiment la vie en rose.

Be sure to pause the music on the right sidebar before playing her video...

Arrondissements

Paris is divided into 20 different neighborhoods called arrondissements. You can see on this great map www.parisnet.com/parismap.html . Each neighborhood in Paris has its own special character and feel. The suburbs (outside of the arrondissements) are called the banlieue.



In French, the 8th arrondissement, would be written as 8ème (or 8e). Parisian postal codes take the form of - 75XXX - with the last two digits being equal to the arrondissement (e.g. 75008 is the postal code for the 8th arrondissement). The 5eme might be my favorite but this time we will be staying in the 4ème. I think this is a good choice too. The 4ème is the center of the Marais and one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris.

La Bellevilloise

La Bellevilloise then...

La Bellevilloise now...

La Bellevilloise plan...

One could actually say it is La Bellevilliose that led us to this most magnificent place we are now. It was happened upon online, shared, and a repartee ensued. All ultimately rekindling our dream of a trip to Paris, born nearly 30 years ago. We shall pay homage to this place in the 20th arrondissement, whether it is the cafe, the bar, the club, or an art show to which we go--probablement tout!

Chanson Enfantine

Un éléphant se balançait Un éléphant se balançait

Landon came home singing this song today. I'm not sure but it's possible that there might not be anything cuter anywhere than my little guy speaking French.

Un éléphant se balançait
Sur une toile, toile, toile d'araignée,
C'était un jeu tellement amusant
Qu'il appela... un deuxième éléphant

The Conran Shop

Isn't this a handsome store? It is in the 7th arrondissement not far from the Jardin du Luxembourg. We can shop for some Christmas tree ornaments for your collection there!

Le Pain

One of lifes simple pleasures. A daily trip to the neighborhood boulangerie for a fresh bagette.

Tour Eiffel

© Stephan Edelbroich

Cimetière de Montmartre

Cimetière de Montmartre, dancers from around the world leave their shoes at Maria Taglioni's grave. Trés jolie.

Les Marché aux Fleurs

Paris has wonderful flower shops and Marché aux Fleurs, the most famous being: Place Louis Lépine, Place de la Madeleine, and the oldest, Ile de la Cité which dates to 1808. The French consider flowers to be among the everyday necessities of life. We should go to the flower market and buy some beautiful flowers for our apartment. Lovely idea don't you think?

Café et Un Chapeau

Me and you. We can wear hats and drink coffee.

Bound (to be there!)

This is what it looks like when New York and Paris kiss...

If this doesn't look like a place to have a drink, then I don't know what does!

Behold, an outrageous pink bar, crocodile skin chairs, phenomenal lighting, and the fact that IT IS IN PARIS. This, is Bound.

Bound is in the 8th arrondissement, close to the Champs Elysees and one of many hot places to be by the George V Eatertainment group, which also put Buddha-Bars all over the world. I think the pink bar wins...je suis désolé, Buddha! C'est tres chic, non?

Pictures and information found here and here and here

Phoenix

I really like these French boys! Maybe they will be playing in Paris when we are there...a fille can hope...

La Toussaint

Tomb decor compliments of metropoleparis

Starting November 1st the French celebrate La Toussaint. It's a two day festival in which they remember the Catholic saints on All Saints Day and pray for souls of the dead on All Souls Day. Fantasmagorique, non?

Carambar

Speaking of Halloween...

These are Carambar candy. They're some kind of caramel in a stick form that also come in other flavors like bubble gum and fruit. When I told my kids I was going to France, my one son with a mighty sweet tooth promptly asked if I could bring some of these back for him. A girl in his class had brought in a big bag of them to share, so we had to email the mom and ask the name of the mysterious candy he had to have. They seem to be wildly popular! Proven by the pop-style painting above done by this French artist who does lots of cute paintings.

Pére Lachaise

I borrowed these images from The Cherry Blossom Girl. Please, please, please! Go to her blog to see the rest of the photographs from The Pére Lachaise Cemetary. Breathtaking. The cemetery is an absolute must see in my book. I have been there before and it's just something you can't describe with words. "Spooky-beautiful" is the best I can do but I think these images say it better. Happy Halloween!

Beau Printemps

I think Paris in April is perfect but make sure you bring a good coat because it can be little chilly (in a good way). The air is cool and crisp, beautiful spring flowers bloom every where in the gardens and trees. Looking at my journal I noticed that these photographs were taken on our trip to Paris April 10, 2008. This next trip will be two years later almost to the day! It makes me happy to think about it.



Trees around the Notre Dame create an outrageus pink canopy. Oh la la!



We spent a few minutes in this quiet little garden in the Latin Quarter.

It's Delightful, It's Delicious, It's De-lovely...

Photo by FrenchRevolution

It's Champagne Violette, and it made me swoon when I saw it--love at

first sight! Champagne with violet liqueur and a blackberry. Yes, violet

liqueur...could there be anything more charming? I didn't think so, so

I went on a search. Turns out the bottles are as beautiful as the drinks...

Creme de Violette was a common ingredient in many cocktails in the early part of the 20th century, during which Cole Porter lived in Paris and also wrote many of his hit songs, including "It's De-Lovely."

The violet is the emblem of Toulouse

Photo and information here