Back!

I'm back! Tunisia was fantastic, and I have some great pictures coming up, but as usual, technical difficulties are slowing down my updates...Good news though, my new computer has arrived in Canada at least, so I should be getting it in France before January 8th, when I leave for Britain. In the meantime, I'll try and get some shots up, but if it still isn't working there's sure to be a massive update in early January.

The Pied Piper of Paris

A street performer, painted all silver, who sits in front of the silver entrance to the Palais du Louvre metro station, playing a silver pipe. The kids that passed by were totally fascinated and giggled when he started dancing a jig. He works hard for his money, this modern day Pied Piper of Paris.

Giraffe

A little stuck on giraffe on someone's door in the Marais.

The Palais de Justice

The Palais de Justice on Ile de la Cite. To go in you pas through a metal detector and have your bags checked by some very serious looking officials. Past that, however, you get fantastic views of fresco-ed ceilings, carved cherubs along the doorways, rich dark wood panelling, you know, the usual haha. It must be a wonderful backdrop to work in for the suited lawyers though.

Graphics

Decorated shop front on the Boulevard de Sebastopol.

Best of the Bread

Lionel Poilane, considered the maker of the best bread in the world. And I quote "the world's most-celebrated purveyor of old-style, handmade, oak-fired, thick-crusted, sourdough country bread." There's two Parisian branches of his bakery, and one in London. You can order the breads delivered next day all over the world. I did enjoy the bread, it was difficult to describe the taste, but should you feel like trying it out yourself 36 euros will get you a loaf to feed 6 at least. www.poilane.fr

Defenseur du Temps

The Defenseur du Temps in the Quartier de l'Horloge(the Defender of Time in the Clock District). It represents the man against three adversaries: the dragon, the crab, and the rooster, representing the earth, the sea, and the air. Every hour he's attacked by one of the three, except at 12, 6, and 10, when he's attacked by all three, accompanied by sounds of the waves, the wind, and the earth rumbling. At 2 and 8 he wins the battle, and the children who gather round cheer.

Oscar the Smiling Grouch

Oscar over the Dancing Banana(a tribute restaurant to Josephine Baker) on rue Pierre Lescot by les Halles.

Point Zero

This is Point Zero, located just in front of Notre Dame. All distances in France are measured from it. I had quite the time getting a shot with no feet in it because all the tourists walking on it, but I finally managed.

Watchdogs

Someone got busy with the spraypaint on rue de Montmorency...

Ping Pong Me Part 2

Maybe I missed out on something, but it seems ping-ping is quite popular here. This is a father son team playing on a Saturday morning at the Square du Temple.

Tick Tock

This is a rather special clock. It's the very first and oldest public clock in Paris, on the corner on the Conciergerie on Ile de la Cite. I think the original was put up in the 14th century but had to be replaced by this one put up in 1585.

Sunny the donkey

Just a little donkey a saw stuck to the car...

Barye Square

At the very end of Ile St Louis is this little park that looks out on to the Seine. It makes for a nice spot to have a seat after your stroll...

The walk home

Around 4 pm every week day the streets fill with children coming home from school. This was a Grandad who was picking up his little granddaughter from her Ile St Louis school one afternoon.

Pont de Sully

The Pont de Sully that connects Ile St Louis to the Latin Quarter and the Marais.

All in the details

A good amount of the windows here have darling little flowers that really perk everything up.

I'll be back

Ran in to more problems with the posting, so I'll be back tomorrow with more updates...
By the way, I bought a vacation to lovely Tunisia(in North Africa for those who were wondering) yesterday, so I'm leaving on Sunday to spend a week on the Mediterranean coast, by the white sand beaches :)

Hotel Rolland

The Hotel Rolland(hotel in French can mean more than one thing, in this case, hotel means mansion or palace). Located on Ile St Louis, this was home to the Marquis de Soumont.

Graffiti Car

Someone evidently had a do it yourself surge of creativity.

Inside the Deportation Memorial

The walls are convered in poetry, the lights dimmed, and in the walls are the names of each death camp, from each location a bit of earth was collected.

Deportation Memorial

A memorial on Ile de la Cite commemorating the 200 000 French men, women, and children deported by the Nazis during World War 2. You arrive at the top of a starircase, have your bag checked, and head down the passage. Arriving in the triangular shaped courtyard, you wonder where the memorial is. Turn completely about, and see a narrow fissure between two walls; the entrance.

I'm Back!

I checked my inner miser, and parted with the 10 euros needed to transfer my pictures to a cd. I'm now going to make up for lost time, and have a good many posts over the next few days.

That old rock and roll

This guy had his guitar and amp, just standing on the street corner, and really rocking out. Made a nice change from the usual accordian players. His sign in the case said " All for the music" Well the music got my 10 centimes haha.

Square St Jean XXIII

They have this small park/square just behind the church, St-Jean XXIII, that's a nice place to sit.

Out of commision

This is the place just behind the church where the pieces that fall and the very worn statues go retire from active service(ie looking pretty for the tour buses).

Doors of Notre Dame

The work that must have gone into the carvings around the doors is amazing. The doors themselves aren't bad either.

Inside Notre Dame Part 3

I'm sorry for the bad image quality of all these as well as the lack of light; it really was tough to get a decent picture in that gloom.


Upclose and personal with the organ.

Inside Notre Dame Part 2

The chandeliers that were the only other source of light(other than the windows).

Inside Notre Dame Part 1

My original plans were to visit both the Conciergerie and Sainte Chapelle, but because of the transit strike, many of the places around town are short-staffed so it was closing early today. I decided to go later on, so I went to Notre Dame to finally take a look inside. It was packed with sightseers, but was still pretty, but gloomy.