Not quite a little red one

But, it is gorgeous none the less.

Legs on wheels

Nice bike.

I actually didn't believe a human could be made of legs. But there she is.

There goes the rain

Symmetry and white space

I want this space to be where I work too. I have walked by it three times and the woman is always there. Sometimes there are some perfectly imperfect boxes stacked just to her left, all slightly askew. Gorgeous white space, and so clean.

Magritte in real life

There is a juxtaposition. Surrealism, I am thinking, was more of just an observation of the present. Yes, it can be a bit strange, but isn't life? Gosh, just think, Dali was a normal?!

So a couple of nights ago, I met a couple of work buddies, fellow ex-pats (though I am not an expat yet)  for a drink at La Pallette and then to dinner at an unknown Italian designer's cafe. I know, shocking. We had fun, but on the way we noticed how insanely beautiful the sunset was. The sky was pure blue and splattered with clouds, while on earth is was super dark, almost like Magritte's Empire of Light.
After dinner we headed on over to get some Berthillon ice cream. I had Peach and it was awesome! On the way from the Left Bank to Ile St. Louis we crossed the Pont Neuf to see what Paris Plage was all about. Kinda weird, really for tourists but a great great great idea. Lots of folks were there having a drink, mulling around and generally enjoying the view. It is amazing to walk under the bridges and have a close look at their structure, as well as getting a real view of the Seine from the actual edge and not higher up on the Ile or L or R banks.

Looking from the Right Bank at Ile de Paris and Pont Neuf in the distance.

There is this

Bitch that I pass every day on the way to work. She is so nice, and just watches everyone walk past. Her roommate is a cat that every once in a while makes her way to the window, though I have never seen the two together here. Something tells me that there may be a little strife between the two.

Isn't she adorable? What a super sweet boxer.

Car Parade

So, I have discovered this wonderful tradition, that I haven't really researched but have just observed. There is a vintage/rare car parade/gathering every first Sunday of the month that drives down the Quai du Conte and then takes a pit stop at L'Institute de France, and then drives off. It is quite amazing and there are all types, makes and sorts of vehicles.

Porsche, Citroen and bizarro Fiat (I think).

Porsche. I love it and want it. Really really bad.

Citroen jeep in front of the Institute

An old Jaguar from the 50's. Look at those incredible lines.

Jaguar F-Type. So cool. And the red car is a Morgan.

Suicide door Citroen parked behind a Fiat.

Austin Healey. So great. Look at the line of the cream how it creates a contour all the way to the rear bumper.

 

More on that...

So remember a while back I was talking about the absolutely amazing paint jobs they give the absolutely amazing doors on the absolutely amazing buildings. Here is another example of before and after of the work in progress. It took about 2 weeks to get from where you see to the second photo. They painted and sanded twice, after the first week of initial sanding. Look at how carefully they are taping everything as well too. It is two guys doing this.

I think we'd all agree that the result is well worth the effort. I want an entire apartment french polished. That should only cost about hmmm. 1 zillion euros, and with the current exchange rate about the largest most successful country on earth's national debt. At least the door, unlike the debt isn't "Made in China."   

Um... I don't know where that little mini rant came from. Oh well.

If I...

So, it has been a while, with no excuse other than life and work getting in the way. I have to commend a certain Saint, who has continued, at an amazing rate, to blog even though she has done the ultimate thing and given birth. Insane! If I wore a hat, it would be off to her.
It has been a bit longer than I thought it would be and I have some catching up to do. In the past week I have had a visitor from the states, and been running around like a chicken with my head cut off, though, in a kinda good way, kinda weird way. It has allowed me to take lotsa pictures. Here goes....look up  

Place des vosges.

Advertising gone awry

I was surfing around and was on the Gothamist when I saw  a pop up for Martha Stewart. This is a new ad for Gothamist so I decided to click through and this is what popped up. It is kind of unfortunate that this is my first impression of her site.

A dog food ad over No-Cook meals. It reminds me of the commercials in the early 90s with the old lady getting out catfood and making a plate with saltines. Depressing. But the funny thought I had was of Martha Stewart serving dog food to her guests at her Bedford estate, and all the phonies and synchofants there gushing at the exquisite pate. "What is it?" she responds kindly with an eye squinting smile. "Its the new Purina One, and its a good thing." That is when we will know she is d-o-n-e.

Shut 'er down, Paris, shut 'er down now

It is true what they say. Paris is closed in August. Today going for lunch was a bit more difficult than usual as even more places were closed, than normal, on a Sunday. It was super slow in the neighborhood surrounding work, and even slower at work. Seemingly no one was or is in town. Leaving my apartment this morning maybe 90% of the street was available for parking. Typically it is nearly impossible for folks to find a spot. I took some pictures of signs on my way to work because it was amazing to see how people just up and leave and close their businesses. I guess you don't miss anything if you're always closed in the summer. If folks aren't closed in August, then they are reducing the amount of time that they are open drastically.  Oh quality of life, and living, what a unique thought to be.

Lazy ducks

Walking to work yesterday after having two consecutive days off, which was something just short of a miracle, I saw all these little guys asleep in the Seine amongst the lily pads and duck weed. One was keeping a lookout , or just couldn't sleep while the rest were all tuckered out to the world. Heads gently nestled behind wings.