Paris & Beyond

2011-09-10T23:29:00.002-05:00

Today, Beyond Paris 911 MEMORIAL ~ NYC This "Field of Flags" in Battery Park honors those whose lives were lost on 9/11 and those who tried to save them*. There are over 3,000 flags, the stripes are lists of names. Additionally there are flags representing the 92 countries who shared in this loss. *To see a special exhibit honoring 911 heroes, go to Joe McNally's blog... and to Peter

2011-09-03T19:00:00.002-05:00

And Speaking of Perspective... How about inside out... upside down, or downside up?

2011-09-02T19:00:00.000-05:00

Paris Icons Sometimes one just needs to play with a new perspective on these old favorites...

2011-09-01T19:00:00.001-05:00

At The Bastille Sunday Market Some familiar faces and some new... but always fresh produce to take home!

2011-08-31T20:00:00.001-05:00

Have Aliens Invaded Paris? It may look like a spaceship, but it is an exciting, temporary exhibit of Zaha Hadid's futuristic architecture that has landed in the courtyard of the Institute du Monde Arabe And what better backdrop for Hadid's work, than the Institute's intricate ocular wall designed by Jean Nouvel, to adjust in response to the sun's intensity.

2011-08-30T22:00:00.001-05:00

Come Dance With Me..! The summer tradition of nightly tango along the Seine continues.

2011-08-22T19:00:00.000-05:00

Don't Miss the Train If you enjoy photographing motion in the Metro, do it soon as the opportunity is rapidly disappearing due to the sliding glass doors being installed between the platform and the tracks. This is one of the few remaining stations without the extra layer of doors!

2011-08-21T19:00:00.004-05:00

But today it all comes to an end until next July....

2011-08-20T19:00:00.004-05:00

And, yes, the Parisians take advantage of la Plage.....!

2011-08-19T19:00:00.008-05:00

Paris Plage Link to the Paris Plage, in French If you can't escape Paris in the summer, don't worry, the city brings a bit of the beach (la plage) to you....

2011-08-18T20:00:00.000-05:00

From The Back of The Church The front of St. Paul-St. Louis on Rue St. Antoine in the Marais is currently shrouded by scaffolding, but if you walk around to the back, in Village St. Paul, you can still have this view.

2011-08-15T16:00:00.000-05:00

Fête de l'Assomption August 15th, Feast of The Assumption for Catholics around the world, is un jour férié (holiday) throughout France. I just happened to catch this procession as it wound its way down rue St. Antoine and across Place Bastille. A number of priests, church officials and several thousand pilgrims followed behind respectfully singing hymns in praise of the Virgin Mary.

2011-08-15T05:18:00.000-05:00

Sunny Sunday....

2011-08-13T17:25:00.000-05:00

Paris Beckons..... What could be better than celebrating your birthday in Paris? Was she singing "Joyeux anniversaire"...?

2010-08-29T22:00:00.001-05:00

Flying High In The Paris Sky The Paris Fair along the edge of the Jardin des Tuileries - one of summer's joys... Come along for the ride!

2010-08-29T06:30:00.002-05:00

How Much Is That Ducky in the Window? (Apologies to Bob Merrill and Patti Page) For fun, colorful gifts stop by one of the many Pylones throughout the city (also in New York)... where you'll find fun, frivolous, functional items.

2010-08-26T21:18:00.000-05:00

A Metro Moment The Paris Metro is fast, efficient, easy to navigate and often interesting...

2010-08-20T22:42:00.000-05:00

Feed Me! "Feed me, feed me" they all seem to shout, and so the Parisians do... What better use for all those bits of leftover baguette than a feeding frenzy on the edge of the reflecting pool at le Jardin du Luxembourg?

2010-08-15T19:31:00.001-05:00

Parc André Citroën Located in the 15th arrondissement, Parc Andre Citroen, built on the former site of the auto maker, is rarely visited by tourists. If you go, take a ride in the tethered balloon for a sky-high view of Paris, wander the various gardens, picnic on the lawn or cool off in the dancing water jets.

2010-08-06T23:03:00.000-05:00

Dancing the Night Away.... What could be more romantic than tangoing into the night along the banks of the Seine? Join the party every night during the summer months on the quai Saint Bernard, near the Tino Rossi sculpture gardens ( Musée de la Sculpture en Plein Air ) Free lessons - another opportunity to spiff up your française! - followed by open dancing...

2010-08-02T00:12:00.003-05:00

Great NEW Feature!!!! If you'd like to get an email notice whenever there is a new item posted on Polly's Paris & Beyond, just enter your email address in the form at the top of the page to the right. You will automatically get an email notice each time I post. This means: No more email blasts ending up in spam folders

2010-07-29T18:39:00.000-05:00

Do You Have A Big Head? Eglise St. Eustache certainly does! To appreciate the size of this delightful sculpture by Henri de Miller, note the people walking or sitting nearby. Understandably, this sculpture is often over run with both children and adults climbing on or playing hide and seek around it.

2010-07-28T22:07:00.003-05:00

Place des Vosges Fountain

2010-07-28T22:02:00.000-05:00

Guardian of the Gate

2010-07-22T23:39:00.001-05:00

À quel étage? Stairmaster - French style...

2010-07-20T16:51:00.000-05:00

Gems of Le Marais The Marais, like other Paris neighborhoods, has a personality all its own. And although many chain stores have "invaded" over the last 10 years or so, because of architectural limitations and regulations they still tend to maintain an individual, rather than a corporate personality. But best of all, there are still many wonderful, personal, specialty boutiques throughout

2010-07-15T23:39:00.002-05:00

Jardin des Plantes After years of refurbishing, the Tropical House has re-opened! While the renovation preserves the exterior's 19th century ironwork (think Eiffel Tower) and the fascinatingly eerie, iridescent glass of the windows, the interior has been modernized to provide views from multiple levels and of several environments.

2010-07-02T10:56:00.002-05:00

Back to Paris, Photographically speaking... PARC DES BUTTES CHAUMONT One of Paris' largest and certainly steepest parks, Buttes Chaumont in the 19th arrondissement, is not often sought out by tourists, but offers wonderful vistas, bucolic spaces, gardens and a real "find" of a restaurant. So wear your hiking boots and get ready to climb to the Sybille Shrine,

2010-07-01T00:03:00.002-05:00

Beyond Paris... New York, actually. After arriving in NYC on Saturday afternoon I learned that the 41st Annual Gay Pride Parade was being staged the following day. Having just missed the Paris version due to our flight, I was eager to photograph this one as it wound its way down 5th Ave. While the event was supported by a wide range of businesses and organizations - enough to span three

2010-06-24T17:12:00.002-05:00

Up On The Roof... I tried to bring you a few bars by the Drifters, but it just seems beyond my technical capabilities!!! Nonetheless, here's Paris from en haute...

2010-06-23T05:20:00.001-05:00

A Different Kind of Market... On Sundays the flower market on Île de la Cité includes small pets... I'll let you judge how appropriate they are for apartment living! But whether you are in the market for a pet, a new cage, a toy or leash for your ferret (!!!) this is the place to come....

2010-06-21T18:56:00.000-05:00

Fête de la Musique held on the longest night of the year throughout Europe... We were entertained by highly trained opera singers, local choirs, a cappella groups, rock bands and every other type of music you can imagine! But when the firemen have to get through, the crowd parts... It is nearly 2 AM, the music has stopped, but I can hear firecrackers going off at

2010-06-21T05:08:00.003-05:00

Wedding Bells.... Over the last four days we have had the privilege of celebrating the marriage of a wonderful, young French-American couple here in Paris... The wedding (Le mariage) took place in the serene chapel of the Ecole Militaire, then spilled out onto the Champs du Mars where guests from France and the US greeted the couple and snapped hundreds of photos with the Eiffel Tower

2010-06-19T03:30:00.001-05:00

Here are two shows you might enjoy if you are coming to Paris this summer... At Petit Palais, a 40 year retrospective of Yves Saint Laurent's life & designs.... Exhibition from 11 March to 29 August 2010 But make online reservations or be prepared to stand in line... The other is the Willy Ronis photographic retrospective at Musee du Monnaie until August 22nd

2010-06-18T17:15:00.001-05:00

If you are a "football" loving tourist... Come watch the World Cup within view of the Eiffel Tower!

2010-06-15T17:21:00.002-05:00

A New Romantic Tradition? Or "you hold the key to my heart'? I first saw these "love locks" last year on the Pont des Arts and then again last week on the Pont de l'Archevêché, just behind Notre Dame. Many have names written or engraved on them and sometimes there are two intertwined locks, often the keys are thrown into the river. I watched as young couples latched their hasps,

2010-06-14T18:09:00.000-05:00

Be Sure to Enjoy the Late Light... Take advantage of long days with sunset occurring near 10 PM, visit the bridges, monuments and other popular spots like the Louvre... Bring along your camera for "the golden hour" of photography!

2010-06-09T16:25:00.041-05:00

LUNCH & LEARN Now here's a fun and inexpensive way to have lunch in Paris! Les Ateliers des Chefs was created by brothers Nicolas and Francois Bergerault for busy Parisians needing some simple cooking techniques. The least expensive formula is 15 Euros for lunch - there are also other options including dinner or cocktail hour and for a few extra euros, you can add wine and/or coffee.

2010-06-09T11:28:00.000-05:00

Where's the Mayor (bis) Just in case you are coming to Paris anytime soon, here's a link to the city's official, recently updated website (in English). If your française is good, you can get even more info by clicking on the French language version!

2010-06-08T04:40:00.000-05:00

Where's the Mayor? Even if you don't understand a word of French, sign up for the weekly tour of Hotel de Ville, Paris' city hall. Just wander around with the crowd and absorb the luxurious ambience. Who knows, perhaps you'll absorb a little French too... To sign up when you are here, go to the information/tourist office at inside Hotel de Ville, right alongside

2010-06-07T03:47:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday PDP!!! Yesterday, June 6, 2010, bloggers and PDP followers from around the world gathered along the banks of the Seine to celebrate the 5th year of Paris Daily Photo, the brain-child of Eric Tenin. When he started posting daily photos from his home city of Paris five years ago, Eric had no idea that his project would become a world phenomenon requiring its own web

2010-05-31T16:46:00.004-05:00

Doing What We do Best.. Meals, Markets & Museums Our favorite "high end" restaurant in Paris... Table Joel Robuchon Great food, great value! If you need "a little something", there's always a market going on somewhere in Paris Not even a dismal drizzle can deter determined tourists!

2010-05-30T08:22:00.003-05:00

Bonne Fête de Maman It's Mother's Day in France... Meilleurs vœux à toutes les mamans (Best wishes to all the moms!)

2010-05-27T16:45:00.013-05:00

Nous sommes revenus à Paris! (We have returned to Paris!) Veuillez nous joindre pour une visite virtuelle… (Please join us for a virtual visit...) Make visiting simple, sign up to follow the Polly's Paris blog. It's EASY and takes only a moment or two - just click on "FOLLOW" on the right side of this page, then "follow" the directions. You can list any blogs that you want to keep

2010-03-27T00:12:00.001-05:00

2 Things Challenge: Public/Private

2010-03-13T18:50:00.000-06:00

Not Paris, but an entry to this week's "2 Things Challenge" - Clear/Vague

2009-11-07T06:10:00.000-06:00

AU REVOIR, AU PRINTEMPS PROCHAIN... The leaves have fallen, the skies have darkened and by the time you see this we will be soaking up the Florida sunshine in preparation for a trip to New York. But Paris always beckons, so we'll be back in the spring to enjoy the city and to celebrate the wedding of young friends..... Please let me know if you want to continue to be updated on

2009-11-07T06:00:00.001-06:00

A SPECIAL PROGRAM A note from photographer Peter Turnley... "On Nov. 9th, twenty years will have passed since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dropping of the Iron Curtain in Eastern Europe in 1989. It was a year in modern world history like few others. I had the extraordinary good fortune to witness firsthand all of the revolutions in Eastern Europe that year and this period not

2009-11-06T22:47:00.000-06:00

MATURING What a privilege it has been to watch my former exchange student, Olivier, grow from impetuous teen to loving husband and adoring father....

2009-10-30T23:27:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween These friendly fellows by Olaf Breuning & Bernhard Willham are part of an exhibit at the Conciergerie focused on art from 1959 -2009, but they just seem appropriate for today...!

2009-10-29T05:00:00.001-05:00

SALONS, SALONS, SALONS Well fueled on "chocolat" (see previous post below) I headed to Salon de la Photo running concurrently with Salon du Chocolate at Port de Versailles, Paris' big trade show venue, but couldn't pull myself away to yet a third show on home furnishings and gadgets! Opportunities galore... For checking out all the latest photo gear - some not even released yet! Or to

2009-10-28T22:08:00.000-05:00

Salon du Chocolat Whether you want to taste it, bake it, drink it, wear it, buy it, or just admire it, this is the place!

2009-10-19T15:00:00.000-05:00

FOOLED After a hard rain had been swept away by chilling winds, I loaded up my tripod and other gear for what promised to be a colorful and dramatic sunset shoot from Pont des Arts over the Seine. Just as I locked my Velib and started setting up, dark clouds rolled in to obscure the beautiful light I was chasing... But, as usual, Paris had something else to offer. As we approached the

2009-10-16T15:16:00.000-05:00

Sparks Are Flying Not 100 paces around the corner from the pampered pooches we encountered workmen repairing pipes. Sparks were flying as we strolled by. Seeing what I was doing, the workmen offered to fire up their laser welding device just so I could get additional pics. Who says the French aren't friendly!

2009-10-15T15:51:00.003-05:00

CINEMA CHIENS For years now John has urged me to photograph the varied, ubiquitous dogs of Paris. So today as we were walking back from lunch he was delighted to spot a pack of canines. These were certainly not wild dogs, au contraire, these pampered pooches were well trained movie actors being filmed in front of Cathédrale de Notre-Dame des Victoires along with actresses in a variety of

2009-10-09T12:51:00.002-05:00

THE EYES HAVE IT... These large mysterious eyes started to appear along the quai of Ile St. Louis at the end of September and continued across several bridges These, along with other images were installed for Nuit Blanche, an annual all night festival with venues spread around the city. Be sure to note the people on the quai and the bridge to get a sense of the enormity of these

2009-10-07T16:16:00.000-05:00

Chartres An easy day trip from Paris Not to be - missed a lecture (1 1/4 hour) by Malcom Miller, a charming, humorous scholar! And a walk through the town with its half timbered houses...

2009-10-06T15:16:00.002-05:00

TUILERIES GARDENS The classical sculptures of the Tuileries garden often shares space with temporary installations of more contemporary works. This happy fellow, the work of sculptor Ugo Rondinone, is part of his Cycle of the Seasons. Perhaps he's just enjoying a sunny day and these sailboats with their new sails...

2009-09-29T14:34:00.005-05:00

Chunnelling Paris to London 2 !/2 hours by EuroStar through the “Chunnel” – great way to go!!!! The London skyline has certainly changed in the nearly ten years since our last visit. In our previous trips here we have generally avoided the City, London’s financial district, but this time we stayed just a few yards from St. Paul’s Cathedral, Christopher Wren’s masterpiece, and

2009-09-16T17:26:00.002-05:00

UNDERGROUND It may seem incongruous to think of a cemetery as a park, but that’s just what Père Lachaise Cemetery is to hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. There are areas where people come to read, have a quite lunch, or just sit meditatively. Despite the large number of people wandering the “streets”, the atmosphere remains hushed and respectful throughout the crowded jumble of

2009-09-15T15:41:00.005-05:00

TODAY WE’RE OFF TO… REIMS to see the cathedral with its magnificent windows, including several designed by Chagall and to wander in the deep caves of the the real Champagne region where we’ll taste some of the famous bubbly, so come on along…

2009-09-09T15:25:00.001-05:00

Serendipity... I‘ve enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with my friend and photo mentor, Rosanne Pennella who has been vacationing in Paris. If you want to take a great trip with a gifted and generous teacher, check out some of her upcoming photo treks here , here and here, too!

2009-09-05T16:04:00.001-05:00

Velib’ Velo (bike) + liberté (liberty or free) = Velib’ (Paris’ system of “free” bikes. Read more about them here ) So, here’s the look John gave me when he saw that I had fastened my camera to the basket of my Velib…. Stay tuned for more results as I continue to experiment with this concept of a bike’s-eye view.

2009-09-04T14:39:00.006-05:00

UN CHAT REMARQUABLE!!! We watched this remarkable cat, perched on the seat of a parked motorcycle, as he focused, crouched and prepared for the attack of pigeons on the sidewalk. The remarkable thing was that he never left the seat of the motorcycle, nor did he loose his concentration when passersby stopped to coo, pet or photograph him. He was not tethered but seemed to

2009-09-03T11:49:00.014-05:00

BLESSED BY GANESH I knew I was in trouble when the bus driver announced that he was skipping the next 4 or 5 stops due to the “manifestation”. I had already broken my two cardinal rules for photographing parades: 1. Go at least one day before to get the lay-of-the-land, the light and the vantage points. 2. Get to the gathering point at least one hour before the start

2009-09-01T17:11:00.006-05:00

DO YOU BELIEVE IT? Less than a week has gone by and we’ve gotten back on the train!!!! This time we’re off to Dijon for a day trip. Come along and visit some of the city’s half-timbered buildings which, fortunately, escaped destruction through various wars and fires. Check out the fine details in carvings and metal work…. Or the arched ceilings of the ducal kitchen… As well as the

2009-09-01T17:03:00.005-05:00

Tea Time After a walk through Les Jardins des Plantes we always enjoy an energy boost from the Salon de thé at the Paris Mosque. And these little fellows are eager to help finish your baklava or pistaches avec noix de coco....

2009-08-31T05:01:00.004-05:00

Irresistible… On the long trek from Stockholm to Paris I declared that I fully intended to veg out for at least our first two days in Paris, but after a few basics like grocery shopping, a good lunch and a short nap, who can resist the lure of a stroll under the baroque Parisian sky of a late summer evening? So we were off to Tino Rossi Park, officially known as Musée de la Sculpture en

2009-08-29T10:32:00.002-05:00

PARIS Ahhhhhh, “home” or what will be home for the next two months. And after 25 days on the “rails” with the last connection taking nearly 23 hours, are we glad to be here! Twenty-three hours by train is definitely easier than 23 hours by plane unless, of course, you have one of those first-class fully reclining beds that the airlines advertise. Here’s the train version…. It

2009-08-24T16:57:00.011-05:00

STOCKHOLMA big Thank You to photographer, writer and instructor Bob Krist who generously provided me with an article he had written some years ago about photographing Stockholm. Not only did he provide a Sense of Place, but also very specific information on when and where to shoot. While I lack Bob’s experience and expertise, I fully appreciated his photo tips. Check out Bob’s website, blog,

2009-08-23T04:33:00.003-05:00

WOW!!!! After a quick, early morning change of trains in Cologne, Germany, we boarded our final train to Paris, a high speed Thalys. If we were impressed yesterday with first class comfort and free wifi at 130 mph (see the post that shows up just below the "Bergen" post - I can't find a way to move it!) just think how much more impressed we are with our ride on the Thalys system at 180 mph as

2009-08-22T04:15:00.008-05:00

A DAY TRIP TO MYRDAL & FLAM One of the major attractions in the Bergen region of Norway is the trip to nearby Flam either by ferry or train via Myrdal. Some visitors hike or bike from Myrdal down to Flam. We chose to go by train and return by boat through the fjord. The Flam railway is one of the steepest and most scenic in the world, weaving in and out of mountain tunnels revealing

2009-08-22T01:48:00.004-05:00

BERGEN, NORWAYWith apologies to Willie Nelson we are "On the train again…." Welcome to Bergen… If you like to eat seafood this is where you come – some of the fish market stalls remain open 24/7 during the summer… And if you need to keep warm in the winter… Perhaps Sarah Pallin would be welcomed here? And, of course, there are the ships…

2009-08-22T01:42:00.006-05:00

DO YOU BELIEVE THIS…?As I write this entry we are zipping through the Swedish countryside at 130 mph on a high speed train with seats and leg room equal to first-class air travel; the added convenience of electrical connections AND free internet!!! We are like kids in a candy store trying out the technology. The only thing that does not work perfectly is our Skpe-to-phone (US), but I suspect

2009-08-21T04:40:00.019-05:00

GOOD FORTUNE IN OSLO Our first day in Oslo was full of surprises – the first being the weather. Contrary to all forecasts we were greated by sunshine and bright blue skies. Then John discovered the tall ship SORLANDET, originally built for the Norwegian merchant marine in 1926, it is now operated by a foundation and, luckily for us, was offering a fund-raising cruise that evening. Our day was

2009-08-17T16:18:00.004-05:00

OSLO, NORWAY Free wifi at the Oslo train station - very useful! Signs of seafaring life abound... The Viking Ship Museum Symbols of a nautical heritage Another Royal Yacht.... Oslo version of Mary Kay?

2009-08-15T17:19:00.003-05:00

COPENHAGEN - Life on the waterfront includes boats, bikes and tourists...

2009-08-15T17:05:00.003-05:00

And attracts everyone from the "Royals" to students singing for a few krona...

2009-08-15T17:04:00.002-05:00

View from below...

2009-08-15T17:03:00.002-05:00

And from above...

2009-08-15T17:00:00.002-05:00

The Chileans took over the main city square for an afternoon...

2009-08-15T16:57:00.002-05:00

Tivoli Gardens, particularly delightful at night

2009-08-15T16:50:00.001-05:00

Copenhagen's most famous resident...

2009-08-12T18:25:00.000-05:00

We stayed so busy in Berlin that I started blogging only at the tail end of our 10 days there, so I’m going to give you a quick, random photo-tour of Berlin; Dresden where we spent only a day, but which deserves more time and of Pottsdam in an effort to get almost caught up…

2009-08-12T18:08:00.005-05:00

Berlin

2009-08-12T17:58:00.003-05:00

Foster's glass dome on top of the Reichstag

2009-08-12T17:50:00.003-05:00

Dresden

2009-08-12T17:44:00.002-05:00

A bit of San Souci at Pottsdam

2009-08-12T17:27:00.002-05:00

An evening in the beer garden before we depart

2009-08-12T17:24:00.003-05:00

And our night train to Copenhagen…

2009-08-09T15:40:00.023-05:00

It’s been awhile, ok, a LONG while, since I’ve blogged, but I’ve decided to pick up the thread as a way to keep friends and family informed of where we are and what we’re doing on our extended “holiday”. This won’t be a daily event, but rather, a random effort - I’m just not as dedicated as all the wonderful, committed “City Daily Bloggers” who’s work and constancy I admire. If you’ve neverread

2006-02-22T17:01:00.000-06:00

A recent email inquired, “What are you eating?” Well, the short answer is EVERYTHING! Our meals range from simple, straight from the open-air-market meals in the apartment consisting of salads, fruit, cheeses, and just roasted meats; to the traditional comfort food of bistros and the complex dishes served in elegant, Michelin starred restaurants. Here’s a look at a few dishes ranging from the

2006-02-22T16:45:00.000-06:00

Cold night comfort food

2006-02-22T16:44:00.000-06:00

And plenty of it...!

2006-02-22T16:32:00.000-06:00

Not your New England cod...

2006-02-22T16:31:00.000-06:00

Or your grandmother's apple pie...

2006-02-22T16:29:00.001-06:00

An elegant setting

2006-02-22T16:29:00.000-06:00

A different type of "fried egg"

2006-02-22T16:24:00.000-06:00

Waiting for chocolate can feel like waiting for Godot

2006-02-22T16:23:00.000-06:00

The perfect late night pick-me-up, crepes with ice cream, hot chocolate sauce and a touch of whipped cream...