Every photo in FRANCE ONCE AGAIN has been more or less randomly captured, yet carefully selected and prepared for posting in this blog. Each one has a special meaning for us. Some hang on our wall at home in pride of place so that we can return to Paris anytime—just by looking at them.
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| east entrance to Passage Grand Cerf, 2nd Arrondissement |
The text, my words in the blog, has also casually come to mind, triggered by the pictures, then woven together into little stories. This rather Yin Yang sort of process has been a fun creative experience.
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| west entrance to Passage Grand Cerf |
Now, as we wind down nearly half a year away, it is time to bring this legacy project to a close. But how does one really close on Paris? I am going to dodge that bullet by admitting that I think I am now tongue-tied. After all, what could I possibly add to what has already been said and shown about Paris, one of the world's most magnificent cities, with all its beauty and grandeur, its history and culture, its well-mannered and friendly people, and of course, its big city noise and summer crowding?
Ç'est ça! (That's it!), as my good friend Yves might say to capture a moment like this. I can, however, offer one word that packs an awful lot of meaning for us. The word is, in capital letters, INSPIRING.
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| domed ceiling of Galleries Lafayette, 9th Arrondissement |
Each of the photos in these final two chapters is an image that communicates something special about our experience of this place.
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| 9th Arrondisement |
For all its old stone buildings, sculptures and monuments, Paris is also a city of colour.
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| firehall on Canal St Martin, 11th Arrondissement |
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| Parc Vincennes, 20th Arrondissement |
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| Galerie Vivienne, 8th Arrondissement |
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| Promenade Plantes, 12th Arrondissement |
The Promenade Plantes is an elevated walkway that runs east from Place Bastille for a few kilometres.
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| 12th Arrondissement |
It is a very refreshing walk for many reasons, not the least of which is that you will find few tourists there.
Also, it is clean, it is a park; it is a human-loving place for infants to the aged, for the disabled to the athletic. There is social housing and high-end real estate along the pedway.
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| 2nd Arrondissement |
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| Saint Eustache Cathedral, 2nd Arrondissement |
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| Musée d'Orsay, 6th Arrondissement |
The Musée d'Orsay is the place to see the work of the Impressionists.
The old train building itself is another of Paris' examples of architectural grandeur.
Arrange lunch here, if you can spare the euros.
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Sacre-Couer as seen through the eastern clock at Musée d'Orsay
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Sacre-Couer, 18th Arrondissement
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Sacre-Couer is seen much closer up in Montmartre.
The best of the big world cities are walking cities. There is a lot to see in Montmartre, especially the old upper village. Be prepared for some mega-walking.
We recommend approaching the top from the side streets to the west and then taking the knee-numbing steps down after that. There is also a funicular.
The church was a disappointment inside.
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| 18th Arrondissement |
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| Place des Vosges |
The Church of Saint-Jean-de-Mont-Martre is
Paris' Art Nouveau church.
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| 4th Arrondissement |
What was the waiter looking at on his smartphone? I zoomed in to see if I could read his lips, then lowered the camera when he began to walk away. Did his reflection move with him?
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| 9th Arrondissement |
Lunch on the rooftop of Gallery Printemps. You can take your own sandwich or baguette up there and enjoy the view for no charge.
I think Joanne was laughing with me, not at me.
This is the penultimate chapter of the blog.
One more.
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