How I Saw Paris This Week (Part Seven)

For those who noticed the absence of last week’s installment, my apologies. After having spent the weekend in Prague the Paris shots were few and far between. (I know, total First World problem, right?)

But since then I’ve filled the Camera Roll with Paris so here are nine of my favorite views. As always I hope you 1) enjoy them, 2) engage my brain in the comments section, and 3) tell your friends about your awesome blogger tour guide friend in Paris. :-)

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This is Montmartre, on a street I walk along at least once a week. How come I never noticed this glorious sign above my head? I wonder if you sat on it if you could see the Sacré-Coeur. Before it snapped off in a fiery explosion of sparks and twisted metal that is.
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Another one from Montmartre, at relative newcomer La Bossue. Their coffee is quite good, but what sets it apart for me is the spread of treats they put out each day. Absolutely gorgeous. If you’re in the area on a weekend be sure to hit this place up for brunch. And if you see me there pressing a camera up against the sponge cakes, say hello.
This is a working door knocker (I checked it myself) that I couldn’t help but share. Is it weird that I want to know more about the dainty woman that would’ve been attached to this hand? There’s a certain perfection in the way it’s made. I’m captivated by it. Did you notice it’s holding a piece of fruit?
Hmm there’s a real Montmartre theme today, because this was inside a window display on Rue Constance (just off Rue Lepic). When I think of my own paper mache attempts in art school they didn’t hold a candle to this. If you look closely you can see faces peeking through the thin strips.
A more festive kind of window display, this time on Rue François Miron (4th arr). Not sure what else to say about this one other than I hope everyone had a great Easter!
You see a lot of industrial espresso machines in this town but this one had a vintage glow to it. It’s behind the bar of Chez Mezig, along the Bassin de la Villette (19th arr). I wonder if there’s enough space for one of these in my own kitchen. Honey if you’re reading this, whatta ya say? Remember – you love me.
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As I work on becoming a better photographer I’m noticing an interesting paradox – often the fulfilling shots come not from places you’ve just discovered, but ones you know extremely well. I guess it’s the fun of the challenge to see it differently. Without getting too philosophical, I guess that’s a microcosm of what I’m trying to do with Paris in general. In a way I’ve set upon myself the challenge of never taking the city for granted. Sometimes I fail of course, but it feels like a noble quest in the end.

 

This is the Drout auction house (9th arr). I liked its unexpected architecture in an otherwise Haussmannian neighborhood. It was raining that day and you can see the drops coming down at the top of the image. The gray skies gave these shapes a robotic, slate-blue type of allure that day.
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If I ever write a Paris book, the church of Saint Paul-Saint Louis will certainly be there. What a treasure trove of details and forgotten stories! I took this photo on Easter; maybe that makes the shot more poignant, maybe it doesn’t. But I like the colors in this photo: aquas, greens, yellows, oranges. I also like imagining these chandeliers lit by real candles in the 17th century. Would it have made those Easters more romantic? Dreary? Overly waxy?

Thanks everyone for stopping by. For the previous set of photos you can go here.

Stay tuned in the coming days for a Prague post, and hopefully some interiors of Les Invalides…when I can manage to find another lifetime. Who wants to be my intern? :-)

26 comments

  • I’m so glad you’re back! Last Wednesday was a little dreary without your post. :) It’s always good to start the day with beautiful pictures of new discoveries in Paris! I always feel that I should be buying your coffee as you roam the city and give me more cafes to explore on my next visit! Today I also added the Church of Saint Paul-Saint Louis….
    I’m looking forward to your post of Prague pictures! It’s a magnificent city–and I didn’t take enough pictures!

    • Hi Cheryl, well feel free to buy me that coffee in person next time you’re in town. :-) Actually, if you’re interested in Saint Paul-Saint Louis, you should really take my Marais walking tour. You’d love it! That church has so many juicy details I can’t believe it. Have a great day and thanks for being a loyal fan! I can’t wait to share my Prague pictures; the only problem is I’ve got 1500 to sift through…

  • Wonderful photos, you are stepping it up a notch, your matching worlds fit the picture. Best wishes Philomena

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    • Thanks Philo, “stepping it up” is always on the agenda…but whether I execute or not on a given day is another story. :-) I do cringe a bit when I see my previous photos from years back, so I guess that’s a sign of progress. I appreciate the support and I’m glad to share these beautiful details with you.

  • I love the lenses with which you view true world! Thanks for the post – I remember fondly our tours with you in Paris!

    • Thank you Alana, that’s lovely to hear! Paris brings with it an extra challenge because there are so many millions of photos of it in the world. I’m trying to offer an alternative to that, and I’m glad to have like-minded followers like yourself. Have a great day!

  • Your papier mache animal reminded me of two animal figures – dressed in fur hats – that we saw on a stroll down Blvd San Germaine some years ago. I don’t see a way to add photos to this comment, so I will forward them to you via email.

  • I gasped twice looking at this post: I have taken the exactly same pic of the door knocker – AND I lifted it and let it gently go down too…. the fruit, the work, the details, MESMERIZING.
    And I totally would throw out the dishwasher (maybe not…) to get that retro espresso machine – I started literally to drip over my keyboard here, looking at that serious beauty!
    Also, love the dog’s head – amazing…
    I sadly never saw the chandeliers of the Saint Paul-Saint Louis church lit, IF we are talking about the same one, Is it the one au Marais? I did take some photos on a grey day about 1 month ago, Not sure any more but this def is worth going back for – maybe you ‘^just’ got the ideal angle?! Anyway, you are greatly admired by this Swiss woman living nr Paris.
    Thank you for all your glorious work.

    • Thanks for the lovely remarks Kiki. Yes that church is the one in the Marais, just steps from Saint Paul metro station. It’s probably my favorite building in the area, because of all the details and stories inside. If you ever come back into Paris you should join me for a tour of it! I’m so glad to have a Swiss fan! What part of France are you living in?

  • My husband’s new novel does have scenes in St.Paul-St.Louis! Almost all of the action is set in Paris. It is a political thriller called The Paris Plot. Perhaps you or some of your followers will read it. It was just published last month on Amazon (says Nov. 2016, but that was probably just an earlier formatting date): https://www.amazon.com/Paris-Plot-Joseph-Aragon/dp/0998161209. Also available in Kindle. Thanks for another set of stunning photos of our favorite city.

    • Hi Ellen, thanks for your comment. I just looked at the preview of your husband’s book on Amazon, looks interesting! I appreciate your support of the blog and I hope to share more pictures with you soon. Take care.

  • Ooo, oooooooo! I know Lynne beat me to it … but can I be your intern too, Corey?! I’ll fetch your coffee and make you little papier-mâché loups and find the rest of the lady whose delicate hand you found … any task you set me to! Oh, the things I would learn if only I could spend more time with you. But since I can’t move to Paris, I’m grateful you share some of your gleanings with us here. Thank you for another wonderful post.

  • PS: I love that you’re finding “the fulfilling shots come not from places you’ve just discovered, but ones you know extremely well.” That’s been my experience too — which is why I’ll always return to my favorite spots in Paris at least one more time.

    • Thanks Ann Marie, happy you stopped by! I have the very fortunate advantage of living here long enough that I can start to bypass the traditional Paris shots. After photographing the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame 800 times, I’ve been rather subconsciously moving toward the little details that make the city special, the everyday sort of stuff. I’m so glad you like it! Take care.

  • How I Saw Paris This Week (Part Eight) – Discovery Tours of Paris by Corey Frye

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