SUNDAYS IN PARIS

Posted on 02/01/2011 by sincerelyelaine

Sundays are a favorite of mine when in Paris.  We attended Mass at Notre Dame, which is completely amazing each and every time.  The organist at the end of mass plays for such a long time.  The bells toll outside and you can still hear the organist and the bells as you exit and start to walk away.

We were on our way to Île Saint-Louis in the 4th arrondissemont, just a short walk over the river Seine.  We started to hear someone playing the accordion, and it was such a lovely French familiar song.  I decided to try the video settings on my camera.  If you would like to hear him, click here: Paris Accordionist

We continued walking past this very tempting offering of ice cream flavors, as we were on our way to have dinner at Sorza once again.  I took some pictures of some quaint shops where I must admit I strolled in and out of each one.  Some were still decorated for Christmas, others so colorful.

I was drawn in once again to my favorite hat shop, where I bought three hats.  I also bought a pair of gloves since I had lost one pair, and one glove of another pair.  The only other place I lose gloves is in a cab in New York!  We went on to dinner and we really enjoyed the plat du jour. We had the entrée, plat and dessert.  Yes, three courses along with some red wine and then coffee.

We stopped into our favorite chocolate shop, sampled some delicious treats and bought some for home.

When we reached the next block on the bridge that crosses the Seine, there were so many people standing around watching a street entertainer.  He was funny and terribly energetic.  He really had the crowd laughing and he performed for quite sometime.

If you would like to see him perform in a short video, just click here:  Paris Street Entertainer

Sundays are always great in Paris.  Speaking of great, I thought perhaps I dropped my glove in a pharmacie.  I went back to two of them that I was in the other day.

I didn’t have any luck in the first one, so on to the second one.  I asked the sales girl and she replied “Ah, oui, oui!”  She walked behind the counter to a box and my glove was sitting right on top.  The girl handed the glove to me and I was so thrilled to get it back.

People enjoying a sunny Sunday afternoon.

 

 

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A TRIP TO HARD ROCK PARIS

Posted on 01/31/2011 by sincerelyelaine

Yesterday we wanted to go to the Hard Rock Paris.  I usually buy a baseball cap from every city we visit and wear it when I play golf.

After several weeks of international food, we were longing for a burger, fries, good old Heinz ketchup and, of course, American cheese. The first two pictures are of the Hard Rock Paris.

Okay, so every one gets lost once in a while. It was our turn yesterday.  We decided to take the #42 bus, so we walked to the bus stop and I guess we were busy talking.  The bus was making a wide turn, which blocked our view of the map on the side and once we saw it was the #42, we got on.  We forgot just one little thing, to check which direction would be heading.  Naturally, it was heading in the wrong direction.

Thank goodness after only a few stops we realized what was happening and got off the bus.  Do you think that the bus going in the opposite direction would be across the street?  Forget it, it wasn’t.  We ended up walking about a mile to a metro and took the good old underground, which we are quite familiar with, but only after making sure we checked the direction.

We really did enjoy the Hard Rock Paris visit from the first moment we walked inside.  Blasting American rock and roll, a lot of Americans, friendly service and good food.  The burger was so big, I struggled to eat half, and couldn’t do that.  Everything was good and I got to buy my hat.

We went to the Galerie Lafayette after our lunch.  Eventually we walked to the metro station at the Op⁄era Garnier.

I took this photo to the left while sitting on the #8 train just before we got off.  Hey, see that poster, we saw that exhibit the other day!  Honestly, its hard to miss noticing how clean everything is. See that seat just inside the door with the light blue band on the bottom, well that pulls down so you can be seated.

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A DAY AT THE LOUVRE

Posted on 01/30/2011 by sincerelyelaine

On Friday we decided to spend the day at the Louvre.  In the past, we kind of rush through the three wings, however, this time we wanted to concentrate on the Denon wing.  One of the most famous works here is the Mona Lisa painted by Leonardo da Vinci. This is a photo of Mike, Elaine and Mona Lisa.

“Winged Victory of Samothrace” also known as the “Nike of Samothrace,” one of the most famous sculptures in the world, sits in its place of importance at the top of the staircase.  The 2nd century BC marble sculpture of Nike the Greek goddess has been at the Louvre since 1884.

I was in awe just walking from room to room inside the Louvre.  It is really an immense, beautiful and amazing place.

It turned out to be such a damp, cold afternoon that we decided to take a taxi back to the apartment.  From the back seat of the taxi I took this photo of the Eiffel Tower. To enlarge any photo just click on it.

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UN POULET RÔTI

Posted on 01/28/2011 by sincerelyelaine


Our neighborhood offers a local horse and buggy ride.  I tried to get my camera out before he passed, and only caught this one.

Yesterday we went to see the temporary exhibit offered at the Musee Maillol, Treasures of the Medicis.  The museum link can be found here:  http://www.museemaillol.com/

It was scheduled to run only through January 31st, but was extended until February 13th. It was great and we really enjoyed it.  There was an article about it in the New York Times, which is located here:  http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/treasures-of-the-medicis-surface-in-paris/

This is a photo of my son taken the night before on our way back from dinner.  We were just having a little fun and I laughed when I thought about that old movie, Gulliver’s Travels.  He just seemed so big for this little car, like a giant in a little world.

Last night I went to buy a roasted chicken  at the local boucherie (butcher) shop.  I was all practiced up, ready to order “un poulet rôti.”  There were several rotisserie chickens offered all with different prices according to weight. I wanted the €12 chicken. I was ready and was next in line, and this was a really fast paced line, similar to waiting online at Starbucks in New York.    Well, the woman right in front of me ordered that chicken!  I’m next, so what do you do, you punt.  I quickly saw another and when the woman asked, I uttered, “un poulet rôti”, then she asked which one, “neuf euro,” I responded.  “Ah, oui Madam, un poulet rôti pour €9.”  I was so happy I did it.  Thank goodness knew the number nine in French.  I handed her a bill for €10 and she gave me a one euro coin in return.  She gave me a big smile, thanked me and said, “Merci Madam, au revoir.” I strutted out with my chicken with such a big smile on my face.  Have I told you that I love it here.

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RANDOM SCENES FROM PARIS

Posted on 01/26/2011 by sincerelyelaine

Today was a little rainy so we decided to go to a wonderful little place for lunch just about a block away.

I couldn’t help myself but try to snap a picture of this beautifully dressed Parisian woman who was seated outside.  She is wearing beautiful shoes, a beautiful coat, has a chick coiffure, but wait, is that a huge, fat cigar she is enjoying!  It surely is, it surely is.

These are totally random pictures I will share with you here that I have taken over the last few days.  The woman in white is really dressed beautifully. She does look beautiful.  Each and every item she is wearing is quite expensive, right down to the gorgeous Burberry bag, but somehow all together, I don’t know.

Oh, that reminds me,  I took a picture the other day in a restaurant of a woman who came walking in with a gentleman.  I was astonished and I really think my mouth hit the floor, as she came walking towards me and was seated at the next table.

The woman was seated right behind my husband, so without further ado I tried to appear as if I was taking his photo.  I was able to get this photo which is unfortunately only of the back of the hat.

Yes, that’s the one.  The large green, feathered and furry, about 2 foot wide hat!  It must be me folks.  I hope you enjoyed these random scenes of Paris on a rainy day.

Forgive me.

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MUSEE DU QUAI BRANLEY

Posted on 01/25/2011 by sincerelyelaine

We decided to go the the Musee du quai Branley today.  It was just a short two block walk and we had never been there before.  So armed with our cameras we set out.  It was interesting and we enjoyed it. If you would like to see the permanent collection as well as the temporary exhibit we saw, just visit the link below.

I just couldn’t seem to get the steamed bass with the spinach salad off my mind, that I had the other day at the Café d’Alma.  This is the link which is fun to read about and the café is so beautiful.  I have to say the staff is really polite and terribly gracious.   http://www.cafe-de-l-alma.com/en/index.html

Yes, I had it, I was so happy, it is always so absolutely delicious.  Of course, I have included a photo here to make your mouth water.  I’m so mean that way!  Honesty, this dish was made for me.  I could just have this every single day and be happy.  I will tell you here that the array of desserts was amazing too.  That way we got to try a little of so many different ones just to make sure they are making them correctly!  They are making them exactly right!

http://www.quaibranly.fr/en/programmation/exhibitions.html

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MASS AT NOTRE DAME

Posted on 01/25/2011 by sincerelyelaine

On Sunday we went to mass at Notre Dame.  It was wonderful to get back after 10 months. The sweet and lingering smell of many, many years of burned incense was immediately familiar to me.  I sat in my favorite seat, the front, right side which is directly under the Miraculous Medal in the ceiling. Although it was supposed to be an international mass, it was all in French. However, the bulletin for the mass did have the Liturgy of the Word and the Gospel in English.

Afterward I always look forward to having dinner at Sorza.  It’s such a wonderful little restaurant located on Ile de la Cité.  On Sundays, we always go there after the mass. We always get a warm welcome back with a small conversation in French from our waitress.  She always greets us so nicely.  The food is always so very fresh and so very good.

We follow our meal sometimes with a good walk along the Seine.  It is so nice the way they close the highway to cars so that pedestrians can stroll along the water.

As you can see the Christmas tree is still up, how delightful, we saw it last year as well. Sundays in Paris, are always priceless to me.

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STARTING A NEW BLOG

Posted on 01/17/2011 by sincerelyelaine

My Husband

I had a blog up until September on a different server.  Someone stole it.  It was so devastating to me and up until now I didn’t think I could ever possibly go through all that work again.  I miss my blog.  I don’t know what it is about blogging, but I miss it.  I wonder at times what are they doing with my blog?  It was like they stole my life in a way.  I’m over it, I’m moving on,  I’m ready to start a new one and I am excited about getting started.

So I find myself once again back in Paris for the winter and want to write about my life here.  I love it here.  I love everything about Paris, it’s so different, so marvelous.  I love my life back home in the states in New York too.  I love my life no matter where I am living, and I am grateful always for each and every day.

Late every afternoon I look forward to resting and stopping a little while to people watch and also to take time to enjoy a cup of coffee. Whether it be an espresso, a café au lait, or one of my favorites in certain places a café creme, where the milk is whipped thick and creamy.

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