Time again for a recap of what I saw in Paris this week. A mix of food, flowers, architecture and close-ups…my usual obsessions. Hope you enjoy them, and don’t forget to go here if you missed the previous installment!
Found some lovely light scraping across this café in the 1st arrondissement. I got there just as the lunch rush was pushing through, so it’s a miracle I got a shot with (almost) not a soul in sight. I love how perfect the “Onion Soup” looks on the window. I should probably eat more of that dish; if you’ve had a great one in Paris let me know in the comments.Hipster shops really know how to decorate these days, making you feel like you’ve stumbled onto a Sunday flea market or a granny’s attic. You end up forgetting that every object was painstakingly arranged by professionals to keep you in the store. But that also makes for cool still life shots, like this one in a shop called Merci (3rd arr).This is the Chateau de Rambouillet, an hour or so outside Paris. It’s one of many royal residences you can visit near the city and they’re all worth it. This one was used by Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and Napoléon to name a few. Renaissance king Francois I also died here. I loved this little guard station and its contrast to the imposing tower behind it.You’ve already heard me talk of La Caféothèque (4th arr), which is my favorite coffee shop in town. I haven’t found a café in Paris that is more serious about coffee, and you can taste the difference. There’s also a comforting international vibe with people from Ethiopia, Guatemala, Italy, the States and beyond. Because I stop by so often I’m always sensitive to new arrivals like these roses, which having been placed near a mirror gave the scene a double shot – or a doppio – of color. :-)This is the second shot of a gourmet grocery store I found near Arts et Métiers. I wonder if these ceramic jugs are filled all the way to bottom. Those are those kinds of important life questions that plague me. As far as the image itself, I like the contrast of the warm-colored nuts against the cool hard metal of the scoops. Pretty sure I’ve seen those scoops on a box of Raisin Bran…Any time life imitates art I get excited. As an art kid in college I’d stare for hours at abstract prints of De Kooning, Pollock and Rothko, and we might as well be looking at one here. It’s part of the coffeehouse Folks and Sparrows (11th arr), and rather than busting a window through the wall they left the history of all those paint jobs and renovations over the decades. Fantastic.In the same vein of nontraditional Paris beauty, I couldn’t pass up this little composition. The shutter seems like it has a few stories to tell, and look at those subtle blues and oranges peeking through the white paint. Better than TV I tell you!It’s raining like crazy in Paris these days, which is typical for spring. I found some soaked details like this one attached to the Opera House (9th arr). Silver and gold and a little bit of rust – a perfect combo, no?
I hope this quick shot of Paris adds a bit of pep in your step. Be sure to stop by every Wednesday for new photos, or make it easy on yourself by subscribing to A French Frye in Paris – just scroll a bit further down.
I love the special beauty of the touches of history left on buildings and in cafes. I’ve added La Cafeotheque to my list for November. Cafes and bookstores are always my priorities! Love your blog posts on Wednesdays–a great way to start my morning!
Oh how I love to hear that Cheryl, improving peoples’ mornings is exactly my aim here! Maybe we should talk about touring Paris together in November. If we did a discovery walk of Le Marais I could include a stop at this café! Take care and have a great day.
It’s all about observing the details as well as taking good pictures, isn’t it? These are lovely, thank you.
The pleasure is all mine, I’m just happy to have an audience on the other end! Thanks for stopping by Marina.
Very pretty and very different from one one usually sees from Paris posts. Good for you. 👍🏻
You have a good eye for details, I enjoyed looking at your pictures.
Thanks a lot Evangelina!
Your posts make me want to come back to Paris – even with all the bad press your tour was truly a highlight of my trip to France. Thank you again. Chris
Thank you Christine! I’m so happy to give people a few extra memories of Paris.
I love how your eye captures beauty in the mundane…. ordinary objects that most of us are too busy to notice come alive through your photos! It’s like you hear the whispers of Paris amongst the resounding orchestra that Paris offers in it’s everyday life!
What a lovely way to phrase it Lynne, thank you! I’m an art student from way back so I think I’ve always had that idea ingrained in me of trying to extract meaning from the overlooked parts of life. And obviously in Paris I’m spoiled because there are so many types of beauty and visual interest. I appreciate you leaving a comment and following along!
It’s a real pleasure, living in this city, to be reminded by your beautiful shots how we should slow down the paste of our daily trail and indulge in some poetic flânerie along the way… I stumbled across your blog working on websites that highlight places of interest in Paris, and it’s a pure delight. Thank you ! I love all this vert-de-gris colors that I see here. Great work!
Thanks a lot abalem, that’s nice to hear! Yes I certainly have a “feel” to my photos lately, I guess I’m searching for a nostalgic and/or cinematic type of thing. I love the challenge of taking the most photographed city in the world and trying to find an original take. So glad you stumbled across the blog and I hope you stop by from time to time!
Super, as usual. I love the (not)window. I puzzled over it before reading your explanation. Such an artistic painting! (Smile) Is there glass under the faux window frame, or just a natural glissen? I hope my daughter and I will be in Paris around Sept 6-8, provided our separate cheapo airflights actually get us there. Will you be there then? I hope we can work some sightseeing out with you.
Hi Lee, good question about the window – if I recall there is glass. Would love to tour a bit of Paris with you in September, let’s stay in touch!
You have a wonderful eye not only for the little details that make Paris such a visual feast, but also for the quality of the light there, Corey. Truly gorgeous photos — beautifully seen and shot! As for the question of soupe à l’oignon: My favorite (so far) is at La Frégate, at 1, rue du Bac. Esteban and I will take you there next time we’re in town, if you like! Cheers! h.
Hello Madame H! Thanks for the encouraging words. I’ve noted your soup address, will definitely keep it in mind. Looking forward to seeing you and the renowned Esteban in Paris.
afrenchfryeinparis.com 
I love the special beauty of the touches of history left on buildings and in cafes. I’ve added La Cafeotheque to my list for November. Cafes and bookstores are always my priorities! Love your blog posts on Wednesdays–a great way to start my morning!
Oh how I love to hear that Cheryl, improving peoples’ mornings is exactly my aim here! Maybe we should talk about touring Paris together in November. If we did a discovery walk of Le Marais I could include a stop at this café! Take care and have a great day.
It’s all about observing the details as well as taking good pictures, isn’t it? These are lovely, thank you.
The pleasure is all mine, I’m just happy to have an audience on the other end! Thanks for stopping by Marina.
Very pretty and very different from one one usually sees from Paris posts. Good for you. 👍🏻
You have a good eye for details, I enjoyed looking at your pictures.
Thanks a lot Evangelina!
Your posts make me want to come back to Paris – even with all the bad press your tour was truly a highlight of my trip to France. Thank you again. Chris
Thank you Christine! I’m so happy to give people a few extra memories of Paris.
I love how your eye captures beauty in the mundane…. ordinary objects that most of us are too busy to notice come alive through your photos! It’s like you hear the whispers of Paris amongst the resounding orchestra that Paris offers in it’s everyday life!
What a lovely way to phrase it Lynne, thank you! I’m an art student from way back so I think I’ve always had that idea ingrained in me of trying to extract meaning from the overlooked parts of life. And obviously in Paris I’m spoiled because there are so many types of beauty and visual interest. I appreciate you leaving a comment and following along!
It’s a real pleasure, living in this city, to be reminded by your beautiful shots how we should slow down the paste of our daily trail and indulge in some poetic flânerie along the way… I stumbled across your blog working on websites that highlight places of interest in Paris, and it’s a pure delight. Thank you ! I love all this vert-de-gris colors that I see here. Great work!
Thanks a lot abalem, that’s nice to hear! Yes I certainly have a “feel” to my photos lately, I guess I’m searching for a nostalgic and/or cinematic type of thing. I love the challenge of taking the most photographed city in the world and trying to find an original take. So glad you stumbled across the blog and I hope you stop by from time to time!
Super, as usual. I love the (not)window. I puzzled over it before reading your explanation. Such an artistic painting! (Smile) Is there glass under the faux window frame, or just a natural glissen? I hope my daughter and I will be in Paris around Sept 6-8, provided our separate cheapo airflights actually get us there. Will you be there then? I hope we can work some sightseeing out with you.
Hi Lee, good question about the window – if I recall there is glass. Would love to tour a bit of Paris with you in September, let’s stay in touch!
You have a wonderful eye not only for the little details that make Paris such a visual feast, but also for the quality of the light there, Corey. Truly gorgeous photos — beautifully seen and shot! As for the question of soupe à l’oignon: My favorite (so far) is at La Frégate, at 1, rue du Bac. Esteban and I will take you there next time we’re in town, if you like! Cheers! h.
Hello Madame H! Thanks for the encouraging words. I’ve noted your soup address, will definitely keep it in mind. Looking forward to seeing you and the renowned Esteban in Paris.