Le Petit Palais

Stop press! I have discovered a new favourite hang-out in Paris - one to rival even my love of the Musee d'Orsay (this is a big deal). Free entry for everyone, no queues and a selection of beautiful artwork...I could sing the praises of 'Le Petit Palais' all day, but instead I'll let you share in some of its delights through photos I've taken below. If this doesn't make you want to take a look inside the unassuming little brother of the 'Grand Palais', then I don't know what will!

Look how beautiful the courtyard is!

Don't forget to glance upwards or you'll miss some of the best sights.

Just some of the gorgeous artwork on display.

 

 

 Just looking back through these photos has given me a lot of joy, and I'll be sure to get down to Le Petit Palais for their Impressionist exhibition, coming soon.

À Bientôt !

x

Musée d'Orsay & The Marais

My sister and I were up bright and early for breakfast at Besnier's, which you might recognise from me raving about it in previous blog-posts. There were more delights to discover in the local area, with the promise of a restful morning in the Musee d'Orsay.

We weren't meant to take photographs, but I satisfied myself with the idea that we didn't take any of the art, and that we spent our due money on postcards of our favourites from Vallotton, Odilon Redon and François Pompon!

View from the roof!

My sister's absolute favourite is the bear statue in the Cafe du Ours. Coming to see it has become a bit of an annual tradition, and I love this photo!

Some of my favourites from Redon, Monet and Caillebotte.

After a lovely, free, calm and very cultured evening in the 7th, we headed over to The Marais to 'Le Loir dans La Theiere', another favourite of mine. If you're planning on experiencing the dreamy slices of cake in this cosy, bobo tea-room then make sure you turn up at around 3pm. It gets so busy that there is a strict lunch-service followed by afternoon tea, and we were turned away to wander around Le Marais until the sweet treats were brought out. But, oh boy, was it worth the wait!

 

Time to get cultural again in my next blog tomorrow at La Maison de la Photographie!

 À Bientôt ! 

x

Flânerie

Flâneur (pronounced: [flɑnœʁ]), from the French noun flâneur, means "stroller", "lounger", "saunterer", or "loafer". Flânerie refers to the act of strolling, with all of its accompanying associations. The flâneur was, first of all, a literary type from 19th century France, essential to any picture of the streets of Paris. It carried a set of rich associations: the man of leisure, the idler, the urban explorer, the connoisseur of the street. Honore de Balzac described flânerie as "the gastronomy of the eye".[3] Anaïs Bazin wrote that "the only, the true sovereign of Paris is the flâneur."

Yesterday, I played the 'flâneur' and took a stroll around the Tuileries Gardens and backstreets behind the Louvre, up to Les Halles. I was meant to be seeing a Frida Kahlo / Diego Rivera exhibition in the Musee de l'Orangerie in the Tuileries, but of course many of Paris' big museums are closed on a Tuesday. On your Paris adventures, make sure you check ahead, (unlike me) to avoid last minute disappointment! 

Not a cloud in the sky- whilst "The Great Storm" 'rages' in Britain, Paris is experiencing an indian summer!

One of my favourite things to do in Paris is simply to walk around to the rhythms of this great city. I am so unbelievably lucky to have been given the chance to live here, and sometimes when I'm walking I get this feeling of desperation that I won't have enough time to appreciate every little thing. What if I miss out a street, or never go into a shop or round a certain corner and see a certain view?! When I've been so blessed, it seems wasteful not to step out and try to embrace and gather up every last sight, sound and memory. I take some of my favourite pictures whilst walking - it's free, it's healthy and I think it's good for the heart!

 

The day wasn't wasted, however, as instead we headed through the gardens and enjoyed a free impromptu al fresco exhibition, as, as if by magic, large sculptures had grown majestically out of the dirt paths of the jardins and settled themselves ostentatiously on the lawns. Quelle chance !

Can anyone solve the mystery of the glowing left hand in the picture above - I've been imbued with some kind of mystical power ( /the light is shining on my hand) !

In the afternoon, I met a friend for what was going to be my first sushi experience (she couldn't believe I'd never really tried it!) but the restaurant, again, was closed! Something tells me I need to do better planning in the future. Instead we wound up in a cute cafe-cum-restaurant called 'Le Loir dans La Theiere'.

     

I had an amazing goats cheese and onion tart and my friend was really happy with her paella. We both agreed we'd have to return for their amazing cakes, as, trying to keep down costs, we were only able to feast our eyes on them.

Today is a study day as I plough through 'Ruy Blas' by Victor Hugo & knuckle down to writing my first 'Commentaire', before my Mum arrives on Tuesday!

So excited!

À Bientôt !

x