Browsing the archives for the France category.
5 October 2010
having a coffee break at La Maison Rose
heading downhill
looking back up the hill
The statue of Dalida, outside the Montmartre Cemetery where she was buried
late lunch at Quick
Moulin Rouge
the public toilet system can be a little tricky
unless you read and follow the instructions
we decided not to pay to watch a touristy show at Moulin Rouge and just browsed some photos at the entrance to a closed-by-day Moulin Rouge
stopped at Madeleine station for Fauchon
2 macaroons for 1.60 euros each
like most sweets – nice to look at, too sweet to consume
La Madeleine
the other highlight for today…Seine river cruise
embark from the Eiffel Tower area
trying to make even more money from the tourists by offering photo taking as passengers embark the cruise
the audio guide with several language options
under the bridges across the Seine
passing Notre Dame
La Tour D’Argent
Hotel de Ville
La Conciergerie
Eiffel Tower in the distance
disembarking, just in time for the glittering tower
30 September 2010
one of the entrance to Place des Vosges. There are seven little windows at the top of this residence. In the old days, the little windows are windows of the servants’ room. And so the more little windows that a residence have at the top, the wealthier the owners are.
the Place is in the form of a square
located in the Marais district
interesting brickwork and special color tone
which also houses the Maison de Victor Hugo
viewing outside from Victor Hugo’s home
Chinese collection
once home to aristocrats, now…
the park in the middle of Place des Vosges
during the aristocrat days, the more windows you have on the top of your home, the richer you are because those are servants’ rooms
looking for something affordable and fast to eat…crepes
it does pay off to do a little homework on foreign menus
fromage et jambon crepe
entering a small church in a small passage
a school on the other side. Education is free in France since ancient days.
at Village St Paul area
left of an old city wall, now in the grounds of a school
lots of passageway connecting between streets, like a shortcut
lots of little boutique shops
inside a stationery store
a priest and his baguette
the oldest house in Paris
back at the apartment
looking down at the Saint Severin church
a couple of cheese we bought
and a bottle of wine
5 October 2010
Wandering around Montmarte after seeing Sacre Coeur
lots of ascending and descending in this part of Paris
entrance to the Dali Museum, which we skipped. Not a fan of Dali’s art.
at Place du Tertre, once filled with mostly artists, now filled with mostly portrait sketchers, caricaturists and tourists.
La Maison Rose
very hilly area
the man at the entrance is either the manager or the owner and he was not too pleasant
Clos Montmartre Vineyard, the last vineyard in Paris, is closed to the public
the historical Lapin Agile Cabaret
the cabaret was named after Le Lapin à Gill, a mural of a rabbit jumping out of a cooking pot by caricaturist André Gill, which can still be seen on the western exterior wall.
another side of the vineyard
5 October 2010
getting to Basilique du Sacré-Coeur in Montmarte
almost there…another flight of stairs to go
a group of schoolchildren visiting, guided by their teachers
the view from the Roman Catholic Church
the ceiling
walking around the Sacred Heart
security on the lookout for potential threats
running into security again
back at the front of Sacre Coeur
making our way downhill
a teacher’s attempt to take photos for his students using their cameras…
scammers at the bottom of Sacre Coeur…rather aggressive ones too. They try to grab your hand to tie a string around your wrist and charge you for it. You have to walk away fast, keep your hands down and say no loudly. With a highly annoyed look too.
Location: near Centre Pompidou in Paris
CameraBag notes: Lomo-Mono-4×6
4 October 2010
breakfast at McDonalds behind the apartment
free wi-fi is available at most cafes. Passwords need to be obtained at some. And the funny thing is…wi-fi is pronounced wee-fee…no wonder they didn’t understand me when I said why-fy
then to Sainte Chapelle on Île de la Cité. It is a prime example of the phase of Gothic architectural style called Rayonnant.
free entrance with the Paris Museum Pass
on the second floor
descending in converse
souvenirs back on ground level
this collection was the only available at several national monuments. Wanted to get one but left it to the last stop only to discover that it isn’t sold everywhere…only a photo left for memory…
bought this
Paris is in District 75, identified on the car number plate
two Japanese tourist
the classic Japanese camera pose
Hotel De Ville by day, on the way to Centre Pompidou…
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invader spotted
in the Centre Pompidou vicinity
inside out architecture
scammers at work
a shop in the area
the Paris Museum Pass only allowed us into the general exhibition and not the special exhibitions but then we decided that it is not our kind of art
inside Centre Pompidou
the only interesting thing at Centre Pompidou was the view during the escalator ride to the higher level
the icon in the distance
Sacre Coeur in the distance
an empty cafe at the top
the business district in the distance
you call this art?
at the art store…didn’t realise it was ‘No Photos’ until after i saw a sign…
Moleskine
back on the outside
went searching for Creperie Beauborg
an Invader spotted
and another
only to realise it was just steps from Centre Pompidou
the menu
waiting for the crepes
we ordered one sweet
and one savoury
a satisfactory meal ending with coffee
a wet day
is that an Invader?
Zara in the St Germain area
spotted lots of Invader today
back in St Michel to Shakespeare & Co, across Notre Dame
inside Shakespeare & Co
window display at Shakespeare & Co
it really isn’t that difficult to order, as long as one learn a few terms and figure from there
even Parisians need a dose of Japan
Tintin
deux cafe creme near the apartment
free wi-fi available
costly cafe creme and wi-fi
dinner back at the apartment
Ratatouille and Gratin Dauphinois from yesterday
letting in a little fresh air
3 October 2010
heading back up
at the World War section
even Hitler could not resist taking a photo with the Eiffel Tower, from Trocadero.
Second World War victims count…The Chinese ranks second
resting near the entrance/exit for a while before heading back to the apartment
meal back in St Michel. Soupe a l’oignon
back at the apartment. The Saint Severin Church opposite the apartment.
the elevator in the apartment
at the station to get to Arc de Triomphe for night view
at Arc de Triomphe
the underground tunnel leading back to Champs Elysees
it rained both times we were at Arc de Triomphe
crossing Champs Elysees in the rain
The Tour de France cyclists rode passed Mont St Michel today. It is the second most visited place in France. A truly amazing sight. Felt like being transported back to the medieval age.
3 October 2010
Another museum day with the Paris Museum Pass. First up, The Musée d’Orsay, a former train station, houses mostly impressionism art.
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the queue
A few snaps at the top level. No photos were allowed inside, unfortunately.
didn’t find this museum too interesting even though it is listed as one of the must visit places in Paris. Just not our kind of art, maybe…
someone’s shihtzu urinating publicly
walking to Rue Cler market not far from Hotel des Invalides
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the sharp spikes serves a practical purpose…
Parisian roads
walking through a park to get to Hotel des Invalides
the bike rental machines
Paris has a vast system of underground tunnels
Hotel des Invalides in the distance
the Eiffel Tower on the right
Rue Cler street sign sighted
huitres ~ oysters at the Rue Cler Market
haven’t had fruits for days
bought some of the grapes which was later washed in the toilets of Hotel des Invalides and consumed as we wander through the building
fresh mushrooms
tomatoes, lots of tomatoes
unusual tomato variety
are these watermelons?
a street busker
this shop caught my interest
i went closer to see and discovered…ratatouille! Did some search prior to the trip to see where we can try ratatouille, to no avail so this was lucky indeed…Managed with the little French that i know to buy two containers – 1 containing ratatouille and the other of some gratin. The lady serving us was rather nice and helpful so that helped a bit.
the lady that served me
stopped for a petit dejeuner at one of the cafes
still not too sure of the seating system. In Melbourne, you tell the waiting staff and they usually tell you where to sit. It seems that in Paris, you just sit down anywhere and call out to the waiting staff when you are ready.
tartine was not some kind of tart but is bread with spread
returning to Hotel de Invalides and discovered that it houses the Musee de l’armee and our Paris Museum Pass was still valid.
heading to the tomb of Napolean Bonaparte, still within the compound
