24 December 2017

Joyeux


One of my favorite Paris hangouts, spruced up for the holidays.

Café de Flore
172 Boulevard Saint-Germain 75006




To my devoted visitors, blog stalkers and drop-ins:
I will be returning after the holidays.
 
***
 
Here's wishing every one of you a very Merry and Happy everything, and an effervescent New Year.

See you in January - BPJ

23 December 2017

Back in time


Early morning and Place du Tertre is eerily transformed into the village square it once was before tourists and souvenir shops took over.

Above: twinkling Christmas lights left on all night;
main street just off the square minus crowds and postcard stands

22 December 2017

The singer


Man plays guitar to backdrop of a Christmas market on Place des Abbesses.

21 December 2017

Nativity ball


Nativity scene inside a giant inflated ball in front of l'Église Saint-Pierre in Montmartre.

19 December 2017

Not just men


At a busy café on rue de Rennes a waitress sports the white tablier and black vest traditionally worn by Parisian waiters.

18 December 2017

Behind doors


Double doors of what appears to be an ordinary apartment building conceal a long passageway.

16 December 2017

15 December 2017

Blur of lights


Frenzy of traffic and shoppers on the grands boulevards as stores stay open later for the holidays.

Boulevard Haussmann

- Printemps -
- Galeries Lafayette -

14 December 2017

Froth art


A café crème gets la touche finale by a talented barista.

***
Café Craft
Holybelly
Le Peloton Café
Fragments
Café Cuillier
Matamata....

 In January newsletter: My pick of Paris' best coffee shops.
Plus: tucked away on Plaza de los Mártires in Malaga, Spain, Mia Coffee Shop packs a punch
[3 hours (or less) from Paris: Pueblos Blancos, Andalucia]


11 December 2017

All thumb


An enormous bronze thumb by French artist César Baldaccini in front of the Centre Pompidou.

"The mandrill indicates with thumb
Auroraborealic bum!"
Michael Alexander, British author, explorer, poet
(of the infamous "Prominente" at Colditz Castle WWII)
R.I.P.

***

"César: La Rétrospective"
 
 Ends March 26, 2018

Centre Georges Pompidou
Place Georges-Pompidou 75004

9 December 2017

In flight


Pigeons and seagulls take flight at the Porte Saint-Denis in the 10th arrondissement.

8 December 2017

Bear windows


This year's Ralph Lauren holiday window display.

Ralph Lauren
173 Boulevard Saint-Germain 75006

6 December 2017

Lamb dressed as sheep


Printed on window, "Also available for humans."

Diesel
1 rue du Four 75006

5 December 2017

Girl time


Time to sip into something comfortable.

Bistrot Vivienne
4 rue des Petits Champs 75002

4 December 2017

Her too


Bronze bust of French pop icon singer entertainer Dalida on the Montmartre square named after her.

2 December 2017

Henri on horseback


Statue of Henri IV on the Pont Neuf as seen from the Square du Vert-Galant.

***

In this month's newsletter
Nouveautés

1 December 2017

Deck the halls


Christmas trees sparkle as an almost-full moon peeks over clouds at the town hall of the 18th arrondissement.