Discoveries in Paris IV

The discoveries continue....on and on....here are my latest finds.

1.  A quiet courtyard garden, just off Place des Vosges...this is the gorgeous little 'hidden' garden of Hotel du Sully...an ancien Hotel Particulier on one corner of Place des Vosges.  It's very easy to miss....but worth the effort of finding....it's simply lovely....a green oasis right in the middle of Paris....away from all the madness....where you'll see and hear blackbirds fly through the garden.

And if it ever stops raining here in Paris (I wish), I plan to find a cosy little spot here and quietly sketch (albiet wearing a very warm coat and gloves).

See that little dark doorway in the lower  centre of the photo....
that's the doorway you go thru from Place des Vosges
 to discover this haven.

Through low doorways, down dark corridors and into hidden courtyards we venture.  

2.  THE quintessential Parisian bistro........and one that has a fabulous view just around the corner too....La Fontaine de Mars  http://www.fontainedemars.com/index.html. This bistro has everything you've ever dreamed about....red checked tablecloths, duck stew, snails, cassoulet, friendly, helpful waiters....however, you'll need several brisk walks around the block after lunch here but you'll be feeling very happy with world at large.  Anyway, just around the corner is the Eiffel Tower...so you'll adore the walk.

3.   The textures of Paris....facades, gildings, mouldings....as beautiful as a work of art. 

4.  The 'ultimate' shopping experience...should you be so inclined to want to shop in Paris and have a 'plutonium' credit card.

You guessed it...Le Bon Marché.

The name, Le Bon Marché, may not be entirely apt...i.e. the cheap market...as there's absolutely nothing 'cheap' about (or in) Le Bon Marché...but it's the ultimate Parisian department store.

You can forget about traipsing all over Paris to buy your candles, perfume, lunettes, sacs, foulards, Chanel, Martin Margiela et al......as it's all here (the best from all around the world in fact) under one gorgeous roof.  And they were even selling a trés chic selection of Aussie chapeaux!  

And, after you've bagged all your Parisian trinkets and  require a little shopping respite....praps a tarte citron et chocolat chaud or a glass of champers....just pop upstairs to the 2nd floor.

Need to redecorate your Parisian apartment?
Well it's all here!

Martin's coat....the ultimate duvet n'est-ce pas?

A bientot.

You may also like my posts on:
http://parisallons-y.blogspot.fr/2012/08/discoveries-in-paris.html
http://parisallons-y.blogspot.fr/2012/08/discoveries-in-paris-ii.html

Life is beautiful

Saw this on a window on rue Turenne the other day.

I liked the reflections and the message.

And if you saw this evening's sunset, you certainly couldn't disagree.

Yes...life is beautiful...n'est-ce pas?

You may also like my post on:
http://parisallons-y.blogspot.fr/2012/10/simple-pleasures-of-paris-ii.html

Paris...Expect the Unexpected

As I've said before you just never know what you're going to see in Paris.

I was walking along a little street in the Marais on Saturday arvo and just happened to glance down a laneway that I was passing.

There was a strange white, enormous dude sitting in the courtyard....so I thought I'd take a closer look.

Just what was this dude saying...sitting there all alone in the courtyard.  "I just can't take this anymore!" or "Oh no, I forgot to pay my Visa!"

I'd discovered, quite by accident, the marvellous Galerie Perrotin.....a really fab space for contemporary art in Paris.  And the locals seemed to love it too....they were flooding in!

The works were fresh, clever, exciting.......and fun!  Here's a little peek at the fabulous Galerie Perrotin.

The artist who made this nearly died in a hurricane a few years ago...
his glass-framed works had all been smashed and destroyed in the hurricane....
and look what he's done with all the smashed glass!

Brilliant 'colour'  collages....j'adore!

There was a real buzz in this gallery...
I'll be back for sure.

And tonight, going home...saw this incredible 'chocolate' sculpture in Jean-Paul Hévin's window. Can you believe it?  A red scooter made entirely of chocolate...so the woman behind the counter said. She said it took them about a month to make!

Yes....you just never know what you're going to see in Paris.

You may also like my post on:
http://parisallons-y.blogspot.fr/2012/11/parisian-sculptureelegant-and-monumental.html