I think it's plain to see why I took this picture... It was the first 'B-side' I took, but certainly not the last. This is at La fontaine des Mers at Place de la Concorde...
Saturday, June 14, 2008
naughty-bits - le 14 juin
Just before walking onto le Pont Alexandre III, we couldn't help by notice this lion-tamer...
Not all kiki are kiki. Some kiki are in fact buildings, or other monuments, but have very 'kiki-esque' qualities. Case in point...
Say what you want, La Tour Eiffel is one massive metallic phallic symbol.
This next one I might have missed. And you're right, it's NOT really a kiki, however... in a book I purchased, entitled "Les zizis de Paris" there are multiple photos of both the men and women statuary on le Pont Alexandre III grasping what are easily viewed as 'naughty bits'. How surprised were we when, after reviewing out photos we had numerous such pictures...
It can also be pointed out that while a great many statues in Paris show off the 'splendour' of the subject, it's not always human. It's astounding how much detail many sculpture have, and it's next to impossible to NOT see a well endowed cheval...
Some times in fact, as with this massive statue on Le Grand Palais, facing le Pont Alexandre III you have both human and bestial together...
And again as mentioned some monuments, are indeed 'monumental' if you know what I'm saying; Le Obelisk Luxor ...
juste pour rire - pont alexandre III
I know what you're thinking... either he's witnessing someone fall off the bridge, OR, he needs to check his meds. Well, you're hot and you're cold. I saw a yellow ladybug on the railing of the bridge and was 'encouraging' it to fly away... little did I know that Didier was taking a picture at that very moment...
beauté est la bête - Sainte-Merri, Le Marais
L'eglise Sainte-Merri is a wonderful old church, sadly in desperate need of much repair. In the Marais and bordering le Fontaine Stravinsky on the opposite side from Le Centre George Pompidou. I took this as I strolled around the fountain before we sat down to eat at Dame Tartine.
l'amour est un oiseau rebelle : le 14 juin
A triple play!
This is the photo that started it all!
As we entered the Jardins des Tuileries I was taking photographs of some of the statuary; when I arrived in front of this statue, there was a pigeon doing what they do best... protecting the statue from the harmful UV rays of the sun...
This is the photo that started it all!
As we entered the Jardins des Tuileries I was taking photographs of some of the statuary; when I arrived in front of this statue, there was a pigeon doing what they do best... protecting the statue from the harmful UV rays of the sun...
Moments later as we looked at the small boats in the large fountain in the Gardens we noticed not one but multiple families of ducks inhabiting the water there...
...and finally a short while later while walking through the gardens of the Palais Royal I caught this group attack on a poor unsuspecting lad.
leopard spotting - pont alexandre III
This was our first Leopard Print spotting, but certainly not the last...
As we made our way across Cours La Reine to walk along the Pont Alexandre III, we captured this fab sac à mains.
As we made our way across Cours La Reine to walk along the Pont Alexandre III, we captured this fab sac à mains.
du jour - le 14 juin
Well I don't think this really requires an explanation, but what's a blog without words?! This was taken from underneath the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel while looking toward Le Louvre.
day one: the 5 euro tour
They say the best way to combat jet-leg is to simply begin your first day based on the local time. So since we landed at 11:30am local time, that meant we had the whole day ahead. Even though we really didn't sleep at all on the flight and technically we'd already been up 22 hours...
Our friend Lionel met us at Charles de Gaulle and from there we went back to his apartment, dropped off out luggage, freshened up and went out on the town.
We first headed north toward the Seine, past La Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BnF) François-Mitterrand, crossed the river on the passerelle Simon-de-Beauvoir, and through Parc Bercy, where Lionel left us to wander about Paris.
We took the Metro to Champs-Elysées Clémenceau and began our first walking tour in earnest. Arriving first at the Grand Palais, now a museum.
Our friend Lionel met us at Charles de Gaulle and from there we went back to his apartment, dropped off out luggage, freshened up and went out on the town.
We first headed north toward the Seine, past La Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BnF) François-Mitterrand, crossed the river on the passerelle Simon-de-Beauvoir, and through Parc Bercy, where Lionel left us to wander about Paris.
We took the Metro to Champs-Elysées Clémenceau and began our first walking tour in earnest. Arriving first at the Grand Palais, now a museum.
A few steps further along ave W. Churchill and we reach the Seine River and our first peak at le Tour Eiffel. And look a newlyweds.. yes this IS the City of Love...
Just a few meters more and we are now at le Pont Alexandre III and all it's gilded magnificence.
Once on the other side of the Seine, we have a wonderful view of l'Hôtel des Invalides which contains amongst others, Napoleon's tomb.
Turning back toward the bridge...
...we have our first glimpse of Le Louvre...
Then we pass le Petit Palais and a statue of Sir Winston Churchill.
Then, a short distance later we arrive back on le Champs-Elysées. Looking West toward the Arc de Triomphe...
... and then East toward Place de la Concorde.
After a casual stroll along the Champs-Elysées we arrive at Place de la Concorde with 'La fontaine des Mers' and the French Naval Ministry.
'La fontaine des Mers' and the Luxor Obelisk from the temple of Ramses II at Thebes.
The Eiffel Tower (in the distance) and the Luxor Obelisk.
After a short walk around we headed toward the Jardins des Tuileries
Once in the gardens we walked casually toward the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and Le Louvre
Le Louvre and Louis XIV
Under the Carrousel is a small group of boutiques including Lalique, a personal favourite of mine. If anyone is wondering what to get me for Christmas...
Then we get to La Pyramide Inversée
And from the level below looking directly up toward the center of the main Louvre Pyramid...
After a short cursory visit of the Outside we exit through the Richelieu wing and take one last look back toward the Pyramids...
Then just around the corner from la Palais Royal we see a Metro entrance fit for a Queen. A Drag Queen that is...
Then once through the back gardens of le Palais Royal we take our picture in the metallic globes on one of two twin fountains.
And along our continued travels pass another statue of Louis XIV...
We eventually make it to Le Marais, where we meet friends Lionel, Yves & Christophe for a drink at the Bear's Den.
After catching up it's time for supper and so we walk over to Place Stravinsky, by the Centre George Pompidou...
Then sit down at Dame Tartine, enjoy a wonderful meal with views of the Pompidou and the Fontaine Stravinsky
Once dinner is done, we are beat, it's now 9:30pm local time and we've been up over 30 hours! Oh well, not so bad for a first day.
...tomorrow the Montmatre, and more sights...
paris
City of Lights.
City of Love.
I'd like to add to that list...
City of Crotte.
City of Kamikaze Motorbikes.
City of Dust.
I don't want to sound like I didn't enjoy Paris, I did, it's just that there are a few things you must know:
1) Watch your step, doggie-doodoo abounds on the sidewalks... hence the turn of phrase 'crottoir' instead of trottoir.
2) Watch your step, again on the sidewalk because it's very likely that within 2 - 3 city blocks you will need to skirt out of the way of a motor bike, scooter or vespa. The city is polluted with them, and the only thing worse than a Parisian driver is a Parisian Bike Rider. I am reliably told that there ARE rules of the road that apply to Motorbikes (scooters and the like) but seeing as they spend more time on the sidewalks I guess they feel those 'road' rules don't apply. And an amusing cabbie commented as we passed on unfortunate Motorbike rider (laid out on the street being tended by 3 paramedics) that if there's an accident in Paris, the chances are 90 in favour of it involving a Bike.
3) It's a little ironic that in a city of such high standards of fashion (and what is more fashionable than a pair of fabulous shoes) that the streets and sidewalks of Paris are extremely dusty. Yes, dusty. Your shoes soon become entirely coated in a not so fine layer of chalky white dust. I was very thrilled to learn of this in my Blue Suede Shoes.
City of Love.
I'd like to add to that list...
City of Crotte.
City of Kamikaze Motorbikes.
City of Dust.
I don't want to sound like I didn't enjoy Paris, I did, it's just that there are a few things you must know:
1) Watch your step, doggie-doodoo abounds on the sidewalks... hence the turn of phrase 'crottoir' instead of trottoir.
2) Watch your step, again on the sidewalk because it's very likely that within 2 - 3 city blocks you will need to skirt out of the way of a motor bike, scooter or vespa. The city is polluted with them, and the only thing worse than a Parisian driver is a Parisian Bike Rider. I am reliably told that there ARE rules of the road that apply to Motorbikes (scooters and the like) but seeing as they spend more time on the sidewalks I guess they feel those 'road' rules don't apply. And an amusing cabbie commented as we passed on unfortunate Motorbike rider (laid out on the street being tended by 3 paramedics) that if there's an accident in Paris, the chances are 90 in favour of it involving a Bike.
3) It's a little ironic that in a city of such high standards of fashion (and what is more fashionable than a pair of fabulous shoes) that the streets and sidewalks of Paris are extremely dusty. Yes, dusty. Your shoes soon become entirely coated in a not so fine layer of chalky white dust. I was very thrilled to learn of this in my Blue Suede Shoes.
This is their Coat of Arms, their 'blason' if you will. The motto "FLVCTVAT NEC MERGITVR" is a Latin phrase meaning "She is tossed by the waves, but is not sunk". I think a more appropriate motto would be "She has stepped in crotte a la trottoir, but is not stuck".
But enough of this critique, we have arrived in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and a little crotte, dust and suicidal motos is not going to stand in our way...
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