Back in Paris

 

 

Back in Paris 

and it's been cool and rainy here. 

But nice to get some distance from the ad nauseam of US politics.

I've sent my guy down to the South of France

to help a friend look for real estate investments.

Looking at property is one of his favorite things to do

and they get some fun together which usually means eating much good food.

 I'm making the quiet time into a needed writing and reading retreat. 

Though most of my time has been spent sending out queries, also needed.  

 

 

 

Am including a few photos of one of my favorite buildings in the 15th,

the Art Nouveau gem by Jules Lavirotte built between 1899 and 1901.

I have to make a trip by it on every visit. 

 

 

 

 

 

To see a full blog post and more photos on the building,

click here:

Avenue Rapp

 

Below are a couple of another of his buildings 

just around the corner on Square Rapp.  

 

 

 

 

Nice to be back on this forum after too much time away.

Wishing all a colorful and peaceful fall! 

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Grenelle Market in the 15th

I can never get away from Paris 

without taking some photos of our 

fabulous Grenelle Market.

It's our favorite...

partly because it's close to home 

but also because it's large (several blocks long)

and runs under the metro so somewhat protected from the weather. 

And they tend to have a large array of fresh or cooked things to choose from. 

There are always colorful flowers in any season.

Fresh produce and dairy all times of the year

sometimes coming from nearby countries.

And containers filled with plenty of exquisite seafood. 

While I don't do much dairy anymore

I can't miss the cheese when in France. 

It is magnificent

even just to look at. 

I love the Christmas colors of these cheeses 

during the holidays. 

We didn't have as much time as we wanted this visit

to just wander through and people-watch.

We were usually in a hurry and on a mission.

But however you do it, 

it is a gift and a feast 

any way you look at it. 

Hope you enjoyed this Walk in Paris today. 

For more photos of the Grenelle Market,

Click HERE and HERE.

Grenelle Marché

Every Wed and Sun 7am-2pm

Boulevard de Grenelle under the #6 Metro Line

between stops LaMotte Picquet and Dupleix

(All photos copyright: Kirsten Steen

Please do not reproduce)

Eiffel Tower from the Seine

Walking along the Pont de Bir Hakeim (bridge) in Paris 

on the blog today to give you an idea of the neighborhood. 

More night photos!

At not quite the middle of the bridge stands this statue

which I only realized recently was a likeness of Joan of Arc. 

I have a whole new respect! 

The bridge itself runs across the Seine

 from the 15th arrondissement to the 16th,

from the Bir Hakeim metro stop to Passy on the 6 line

which runs over the top of the bridge. 

The statue sits on a small pullout from the bridge

where people often gather to stare at the Eiffel Tower 

and often sip something of their choice

(as evidenced by the empty bottles we frequently find left behind). 

We have on occasion brought guests here

with a bottle of bubbly and glasses

to watch the tower sparkle

as we sparkle. 

(We take our bottle with us!)

From here you can walk along the Seine and the boats

all with a view of the tower. 

I love these boats which are often rented

but I especially love them in the summertime

when people sit out on the decks

in the warm evenings

 sipping wine and eating

while they talk softly and enjoy the view. 

The Pont d'Iena (next bridge over) connects the Eiffel Tower to the Trocadero. 

In the early 1800's, Napoleon wanted a bridge to overlook his Ecole Militaire

(Military School and his offices) located on the other end of the Champ de Mars. 

So from 1808-1814, he had this bridge built and named after

one of his battle victories: The battle of Jena

(apparently the American spelling).

The stairs from the bridge to the river 

are called the Renault Stairs

where James Bond (Roger Moore)

drove a Renault 11 down the stairs in pursuit of an assassin

in the film A View to a Kill.

Christmas in full form 

on the river below the tower. 

I loved the colors here against the fog. 

And the tower doing its sparkly thing.

Hope you've enjoyed this little walk

along a small part of the Seine in Paris. 

Back next time with more of Paris!

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen

Please do not reproduce

Bridge info via: Wiki)

St. Severin church in Paris

Right around the corner from Notre Dame and St. Julien le Pauvre

stands St. Severin church,

actually within view from St. Julien's entry door.

I thought this shot looked perfect for Easter

coming right up. 

While I was there it was dressed up for the Christmas holiday

complete with Nativity scene

(I love the little angel in the alcove overlooking the scene)...

... and surrounded by a paper sea of baby angels 

made by children. 

How much sweeter could it get?

This little angel particularly stood out. 

Such magnificent vaulted Gothic ceilings.

The church of St. Severin sits in the Latin Quarter

not far from the University so is just near streets and streets of 

restaurants and sweet shops and filled with gaggles of young people.

St. Severin was named either after a hermit who lived along the Seine

in the 5th century, replacing the oratory built over his tomb...

or after Saint Severin, a preacher also of the 5th century. 

The first small church over the hermit's tomb

was replaced to accommodate its growing parish

and was rebuilt again in the 14th century.

Damaged by fire during the Hundred Years War,

it was rebuilt again, finished in 1520

but added onto throughout the centuries. 

While there are many, 

one of the unique features of this church

are the fanning columns in the double ambulatory

that appear almost like a forest of trees,

particularly the center one with its beautifully-carved twisted trunk. 

The Black Heart is a remembrance to a mother and daughter,

Catherine de Brinon and Catherine de Canteleu,

whose family contributed to the church since 1491.

They died in 1699. 

The church is also said to house the relics of the patron saint of the Sorbonne University,

St. Ursule (apparently just one of many churches across Europe to house parts of her relics.)

While it is said that the legend of St. Ursule (or Ursula) could fill 100 pages,

there seem to be a thousand versions. 

But the basic idea is that instead or marrying a Pagan prince,

this 3rd century daughter of a Christian king 

(ruler of Cornwall according to Geoffrey of Monmouth)

fled on pilgrimage to Rome instead, her virginal maidens in tow.

Later, enroute to Cologne, they were all captured by Huns and killed. 

It's believed by some that the Church of St. Ursula in Cologne 

is built over the spot where the holy virgins died. 

Now after reading more about it,

 I just want to go back and take more pictures.

So much more to see and learn. 

Next time, we'll have a short tour of the interior

of the lovely and grand Notre Dame

dressed for the holidays. 

Happy March. It's been snowing here.

I hope the Crocosmia spring bulbs I planted a couple of weeks ago

will still come up. 

Spring forward is almost here. 

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Info via Wiki

and TravelFranceOnline

Cave in Champs de Mars

Another quick visit 

just a snapshot or two

of the cave 

that my protagonist and 

her love interest visit

in my novel

which I'm getting ready for beta readers. 

This location is a little man-made cave

which sits on a tiny pond

just next to the base of the Eiffel Tower.

Trying to get some inspiration 

for a scene I'm trying to finish. 

Thanks for coming with me. 

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

L'anniversaire en Paris

I've posted some about my time recently in Paris for my sister's big 50th birthday

 but not really about what I did a week later on mine.

I started my day with the Brassai exhibit, 

For the Love of Paris

at...

the Hotel de Ville.

FYI: the exhibits there are always free!

Then a light lunch at my favorite little 

resto cave-a-vins

also known as La Reserve de Quasimodo

(or The Oldest Bar in Paris.)

And had my favorite entrees there:

the Rillette de Sardine

and a chevre chaud salad. 

From there, it's only a couple of short blocks to Notre Dame...

so I took a walk through to find some of my favorite angels...

(how gold his wings look)

and famous French martyrs...

I always love the shot of the burning candles

beneath one of the rose windows...

and the play of shadows on the ancient floor. 

Someone else also celebrated a birthday

recently...

Took a walk along the Seine ...

And in the evening had Birthday Tiramisu

(one of my favorite desserts)

after Ethiopian food with friends and family. 

It was a fabulous birthday 

in that most fabulous city. 

Don't remember the last time 

I spent a birthday alone

and enjoyed it so much. 

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)