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! - 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.

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?

Misc Redeux - Tour Eiffel Mariage

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

Misc - Flower Power

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

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 - 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.)

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 - 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.

Symboles de Paris - 10 Francs

I  feel like I have veered off course a little bit in the last couple of weeks so this week we get back to pure Paris with the theme, "Symbols of Paris."

This, of course, is a tile reproduction of the 10 franc coin, which was used prior to the introduction of the Euro in 2002. This was one of my greatest disappointments on this trip, missing the old style French money, which was beautiful.

Cinéma - Bonobos

Another movie poster that caught my attention in Paris (I believe this movie is just now coming out in the States under the title, "Chimpanzee.").

I had just read the book, "Sex at Dawn," when I went to Paris. The book is about how humans and bonobos are basically cousins and we are not living true to our nature living the way we do so I always looked into this little guy's eyes to try and find the secret to life as a bonobo. Doesn't he look like he knows it all?

Cinéma - I Did Not Forget

Like advertisements, movie posters are fun to look at in Paris. This one seemed to be up everywhere on my trip and I found myself looking at it each time, trying to imagine exactly what this movie is about.

I remember on my very first trip to Paris "When Harry Met Sally" had just come out in Paris and there were posters for it everywhere. I loved saying the French title, "Quand Harry Rencontre Sally," even though I did not speak French at all at that point. It sounded so....well, French!  

It's also a great one for this week because I am late in posting and backdating these posts. The new school year got me, what can I say?!

But I did not forget amite amoureuse. ;) And we will never forget September 11th.

Beauty All Around - Flower

This flower was painted in the window of a restaurant and it charmed me. 

Beauty All Around - Sun

A little bit of unexpected sunshine on the streets of Paris!

Beauty All Around - Smiles

Picking up where we left off last week...we start this week with a smile.

I have no idea what this store is - I have searched and searched the internet to no avail so if YOU know what it is, please comment and tell me! - but it made me smile every time I passed by. It's these little details that just make me love this city.

Street Art - Chalk Angel

More street art. This "chalk angel" was seen in a number of places around the city.

Sagesse - Carpe Diem

On the side of a bus this reminder to Seize the Day! Never a better idea than on a day in Paris.