Paix ~ Peace ~ Paz ~ Pace ~ Paqe

This is one of my favorite photos that I took in March of 2012 in Paris. Yet somehow I didn't end up using it until now. It seems as good a way to end the year - and this blog - as any. With Peace. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." (John 14:27)

May the year MMXIII be filled with Peace for you and for All. Thanks for being here. Peace out. LS

Coucou! Redeux - La Grande Arche

Crossing the street near the Champs-Élysées, I happened to look down the street and - coucou! - there was La Grande Arche de la Défense. 

Coucou! Redeux - La Sorbonne

Walking down the street, I wondered what this building was with its tower peeking up above the rest of the buildings - et voilà! - La Sorbonne, Paris' premier institution of higher learning.

Coucou! Redeux - Sacré-Cœur

More peek-a-boo this week. As you step out of the Abbesses Métro station, this is what you see: Sacré-Cœur framed by two old apartment buildings in Montmartre.

And a Very Merry Christmas from Paris!

Coucou! - From Le Métro

This one is my favorite "coucou" views of all. This photo was taken on the Métro. We were sitting there chatting and minding our own business, when we suddenly went around a corner and - BOOM! - there it was in all its glory. No matter how many times I see it, it's always a thrill!

This view of La Tour can be seen on Métro Line 6 between Passy and Bir Hakim.

Coucou! - Through the Trees

A "peek-a-boo" view of the Eiffel Tower through the trees as seen from the Jardin des Tuileries near L'Orangerie, one of my favorite museums in Paris.

Coucou! - La Tour Eiffel

The French word coucou literally means "cuckoo" as in a cuckoo clock, but it is also the word the French use when playing peek-a-boo. Coucou!

Walking through the streets of Paris often feels like a huge game of peek-a-boo, you never know what you are going to see when you come around a corner or step out of a Métro station.

This week, a few "coucou" views of La Tour Eiffel. Here it is, as viewed from the Charles de Gaulle Étoile, just peeking it's head up out of the fog.

Cœurs - Heart as Art

This is my favorite of all the hearts I saw in Paris. It is part of the Stravinsky Fountain next to the Centre Georges Pompidou in the Marais (4eme). Since we "lived" in this district, we would often walk home past this fountain after a long day of traversing the city. This whimsical heart never failed to cheer me.

Cœurs - Beaded Heart

Another one from the children. This one was in the window of another school, I believe in the Latin Quarter (the 5eme).

Cœurs - Graffiti Heart

This heart was scrawled on the wall of Victor Hugo's house in Le Marais. Although I do not condone this defacing of a historical place, I did appreciate that what they drew was a heart and not something profane :)

Cœurs - Big and Warm

This heart is so full it almost doesn't look like a heart anymore. I photographed this one inside the Église Saint-Séverin. I just love it!

Cœurs - Reflections on Love Redeux

Continuing on the theme from last week....more love from Paris this week, in the form of hearts. This one was painted (in finger paints from the looks of it) on the window of a day-care center across the street from the La Grande Mosquée de Paris.

Amour - A Different Kind of Love

Caritas means "lovingkindess" or love that comes from the Spirit. It is the Latin equivalent of the Greek word agape, which seems a good word to meditate on as we move into the season of Christmas. May the spirit of caritas fill you this month!

Amour - In the form of chocolate

It is a rare person (woman?) who doesn't in some way equate chocolate with love. In Paris, they're fine with that. In fact, they encourage it. Enjoy some love today!

Amour - Just Say It

Sometimes speaking the words can be the hardest part of falling in love. Here on the streets of Paris one brave soul has taken the leap and just said it. Won't you do the same today?

Amour - Pure & Simple

Here's some love, pure and simple, and in English. This one was in the window of a kitchen and bath shop.

Amour - Reflections on Love

They call Paris "the City of Lights," but sometimes it feels to me like the City of Love. As I walk the streets of the city, I can feel (and see) the love everywhere I go. This week, a few examples.

Églises Interior - Église Saint-Médard

I love the way the sun is shining in above the altar, just above the cross, which looks like a sun. It gives the Église Saint-Médard the feeling of being blessed or lighted.

Églises Interior - Saint-Étienne-du-Mont

Here is the interior of the Église Saint-Étienne-du-Mont seen on this blog on October 17th. Sorry this one is a bit blurry, you can see more here. It's beautiful!

Églises Interior - Saint-Sulpice

The second-largest church in Paris (after Notre-Dame), Saint-Sulpice is a sight to behold. The pulpit, which can be seen here is particularly impressive, though the ceiling as seen above is amazing in its own right.

Misc Redeux Redeux - Au Printemps

 
This photo of one of the most famous grands magasins - department stores - in Paris, seems an appropriate photo for Black Friday. This is Printemps. A veritable feast for the eyes, these department stores put anything the US has to offer to shame - food, housewares, closthing - I can't help wanting to photograph everything I see.

Happy Shopping!

Misc Redeux Redeux - Female Statue

I know nothing about this photograph, other than that I love it. I am not even sure where I took it. Somewhere between Printemps and Café de la Paix. It feels very French to me, the way the woman stands tall, despite being tethered. It reminds me of Les Francais themselves - they are tethered to their past and to their culture in a way many modern societies are not, and yet, they stand tall, not afraid to be themselves. 

Misc Redeux Redeux - Street Art

One last round of miscellaneous before I wrap up this blog of my March 2011 trip to Paris. I'm almost out of photos so I guess it's time to go to Paris again :) I will publish pix on this site through the end the year so I hope you will stick around until then. And, after that, who knows what comes next?

This poster was tacked up on the side of a building with no words attached to it. It seems to have something to do with film, but I have no idea what. Nonetheless I love the raised eyebrow and the smirky smile of this character.

Remembering - Fire

Another remembrance of the Holocaust in Paris, this statue depicts the victims being burned in the fire. Situated in the middle of a small park that is simultaneously heart-rending and somehow peaceful.

Remembering - Les Enfants

Another memorial to Parisian children lost to the Holocaust. This one lists 13 children (from one to five years of age) who were sent to Auschwitz from 1942 - 1944 from the 5th arrondissement in Paris.
This memorial was established five years ago today.

Remembering - Ne Les Oublions Jamais

"We will never forget." All over the city of Paris there are plaques such as this remembering the children (and adults) who were sent to their deaths in concentration camps during the Holocaust. This one reads (and please forgive my rudimentary translation): "In memory of the children, students of this school, who were deported between 1942 and 1944 because they were Jewish, innocent victims of Nazi barbarism with active complicity of the Vichy Government. They were exterminated in the death camps. We will never forget."

Misc Redeux - Arch of Triumph, Unknown

I have no idea what to say about this photo. This is a triumphal arch somewhere in Paris. It was another, "walk around a corner and see something cool but have no idea what it is" moment in Paris.

I think we were in the Marais, near a park near the Musée des Arts et Métiers, but I could be totally wrong. If you know what this arch is, please comment, I am dying to know!

Misc Redeux - Tour Eiffel Mariage

A French couple take their wedding photos at La Tour. Why wouldn't you???

Misc Redeux - A Winery in Montmartre

This week, a bit of miscellany again. Photos I love that don't really fit any other theme....This one, a small winery on the side of a hill in Montmartre. A little bit of the country smack dab in the middle of Paris.

Misc - Flower Power

More random loveliness from Paris. An art car/advertisement precariously parked on a Parisian street.

Misc - Hope Café

This one's for Barack. Good luck next week :)

 [You can find it here.]

Misc - Happy Halloween!

I remember these cat post cards for sale at the book stalls along the Seine from my student days. I especially love the one in the middle at the top, cat as exclamation point!

Misc - Dalí

This poster was displayed outside of the Espace Dalí Montmartre, the Salvadore Dalí exhibition in Montmartre. Dali's face is always so expressive. The art of the Universe in each of us.

Misc - Plumbing

This week's theme is Miscellaneous. These are photos that don't quite fit any theme I can think of, but that I love because they remind me so much of Paris. Each is, in it's own way, "typically Parisian."

This is a sink my friends. Yes, a sink. In a restaurant no less. For patrons. It is small, it is dirty, is it makeshift, and yet, somehow completely charming. (This one is from Le Pure Café in the 11th arrondissement.)

City of Lights - Many

Outside the churches, the city of Paris seems so secular and cosmopolitan, but inside you realize how many still seek something beyond themselves to believe in, to put their faith in. I have no doubt that all of these candles burning all across the city contribute to the feeling of soulfulness and sacredness that permeates the city.

CIty of Lights - Sacred Heart of Jesus

This altar to the Sacred Heart of Jesus burns brightly with the petitions and prayers of many.

City of Lights - Three

Following on from last week's theme, churches, here are some photos of candles lit at various churches we visited in Paris. I love how one little sprite couldn't resist playing in the sand, leaving a sweet reminder of his/her presence behind. I like to think that these candles burn for him/her.

Églises - Église Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre

The second oldest church in Paris (the oldest is St-Germain-des-Prés) Église Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre 
is a Melkite Greek Catholic parish church built in the 13th Century. It is right next to another Paris landmark, Shakespeare & Company.

Églises - Église Saint-Étienne-du-Mont

A Gothic-style church near The Panthéon (which was closed when we were there), I think this is the church that turned things around for me. At first I didn't understand my (non-religious) friend's obsession with going in every church we happened upon. But going inside this one changed my mind. You can see why here. Gorgeous!

Églises - Église Saint-Augustin de Paris

This week the theme is churches. There are so many beautiful old churches in Paris and we went into many of them on this last trip to Paris.

At first I was not sure about this. My friend who I traveled with is not religious, but he wanted to go into every single church we passed. Having parted ways with the Catholic Church myself in the past few years it made me uncomfortable at first and I thought about hanging back, but they always enticed me and before I knew it, I was going in every one.

This one is the Église Saint-Augustin de Paris, the church which has this statue of Joan of Arc out front.

Portes - Champs-Élysées

A very, very old door with mail slot on the Champs-Élysées.

Portes - 16 rue Charlot

This is the door at 16 rue Charlot. I remember this door from when I was an au pair in Paris in the 1990's. I used to walk by it on my way to my French classes. It was a delight to run into it again on this trip.

I fear it may not be there on my next trip, however, as it is not visible in this street view of 16 rue Charlot.

Portes - Chez Nous

This week, Doors....The doors in Paris are heavier, sturdier and work differently than doors in the U.S. They have skeleton keys and automatic locks. It's hard to explain, but they are just different, kinda like Paris. This one is the door to the appartement that we rented for the week.

Mot du Jour - Shine

Another great word in a pleasing font. The City of Light encouraging all of us to SHINE!

Mot du Jour - Soul

Can also mean spirit. This is an interesting word relative to Paris. Sometimes I feel like Paris has more spirit, more soul, than any city I have ever been to. And yet, Les Parisians are not always as soulful as I might like them to be. They can be rude, dismissive, judgmental and vain. They drink and smoke more than your average American - although with more pleasure bien sûr! These contradictions hit me every time I go back and may explain my need to return again and again.

Mot du Jour - Yes!

And of course the flip-side of NO, is YES! Which the city of Paris seems to know. You're so smart Paris!

Mot du Jour - Say No!

I love this one: "Say NO!" As if the whole city is affirming your power to speak your truth. Go Paris!

Mot du Jour - Now

The theme for the week is "Words."

Maybe I am just not paying attention in the States, but there seem to be inspirational words all over the city of Paris.

Today's word is NOW. As in "Do It NOW!" "Live in the NOW!" "Be Here NOW!" It's like a constant reminder to my Higher Self. Just one more reason I ♥ Paris!

Symboles de Paris - RATP

This is the logo for the RATP, an abbreviation for the RATP Group (the Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens), a state-owned public transport operator headquartered in Paris, France. Formed in 1948, the group is the public transport operator for the city of Paris (including the Paris Métro). Its logo depicts the Seine, meandering through the area around Paris, as the face of a person looking up.