Well Paris is always Paris, and I can never be tired of writing about it, even if now I am a bit away in the Morbihan of Bretagne! I was last due to the wuhan virus last Nov/Dec 2019 and drove all over as was there for a month on a job assignment just by Roissy en France (CDG airport). This is a combine post with updated text only. The Black and White series!!!!
I was there again with the wonderful Parisien feel. Not too shaby for a boy of Versailles, and now Breton lol! I have been driving in the city for several years now, and can tell you that if you learned to drive in NJ/New York City, (like me!) Paris is a piece of cake!
One of my favorites areas is Auteuil, yes the old village annexed to Paris in 1860 by Baron Haussmann grand project that we see today by orders of Napoleon III. This is still a village life, full of close quarters; stores, bars, restaurants and the local feel of a small town inside a bigger one. Auteuil will be always be that. Then went to classy 7éme arrondissement, that is the Tour Eiffel for a spin around it. I walked Suffren up and down, went to Fédération, and then pl Joffre standing on the other side of the Ecole Militaire. The speed and traffic lights radars are increasing so be be careful on the road too, big fines awaits you. On top of having to pay more for parking in Paris, where are we heading? Due to more restrictions for the automobile without a well design plan to avoid congestions; it’s a mess really!
Some webpages I never leave home without looking are infotraffic and zagaz: Here they are:
Infotrafic: https://www.infotrafic.com/home
Zagaz: https://zagaz.com/
The time is beginning to be cold and more rainy, as if the cold winter is just around the corner, its also the Holiday season with Halloween, then Christmas and New Year’s . And I just became romantic of all those wonderful movies we/I saw about Paris!
How about the wonderful movies about Paris! Let me start with the one just facing Ile Saint-Louis on the quai de la Tournelle, the movie with Goldie Hawn. Everybody says I love you or in French Tout le monde dit I love you. Again, it was Woody Allen who let us know more about the bouquinistes of the rive gauche or left bank in Minuit à Paris or Midnite in Paris. A bit higher you have quai de Montebello, where we had Jeanne Moreau give us a performance in Jules et Jim, and Audrey Hepburn walk with Cary Cooper in Charade as well as Julie Delpy in the interior of the bookstore Shakespeare and Co for the movie Before Sunset.
You have again by Notre Dame the Quasimodo de Paris, or Paris burn. you visited the interior of the Palais de Justice, in L’Ivresse du pouvoir or the power of drunk (sp?) , and the location of Quai des Orfévres ,and then 36. At the point of the island, the square du Vert Galant, gave us the loves of La Désenchantée ,the dischentament, and Les Amants du Pont Neuf or the lover of the pont neuf. In fact ,it was in an apartment of the île Saint-Louis that the very British mannequin found in Les Poupées russes and Actrices.
Moving to the bridges at the pont Alexandre III you saw Angel-A , then le Baiser mortel du dragon, as well as Pars vite et reviens tard or leave early and come back late. The pont des Arts gave us Boudu sauvé des eaux ,and Vanessa Paradis jumps into the water at the passerelle Debilly in La Fille sur le Pont or the Girl on the bridge. On the pont de Bir-Hakeim, we saw the greatest and my blog title(Paris1972) Maria Schneider and Marlon Brando in Dernier Tango à Paris or the the Last tango in Paris. We have in the pont de Grenelle , the movie Dans Paris,and Inception.
In the Quartier Latin , we have La Traversée de Paris, and on Rue Daubenton Bourvil and Louis de Funés at the hamman of the Grande Mosquée de Paris in the Grande Vadrouille. By Place du Panthéon, we have Corniaud, and as well the Lycée Henri IV where Sophie Marceau give us Boum. Moving along to the Opéra area we have Au Bonheur des dames at the place de l’opéra and Un Long Dimanche de fiançailles. As well the maps given to Arséne Lupin wih Romain Duris.
By the St Germain des Prés area we had , J’ai vu tuer Ben Barka or I saw killing of ben barka. The great Simone Signoret in Le Temps de l’Innocence as well as Woody Allen in What’s next pussycat. Also, Les Aventures de Rabbi Jacob. In the Grands Boulevards area we have, Chansons d’Amour, and by the blvd Bonne-Nouvelle we see the theater du Gymnase where Coluche triumphs . At the other end the pl de la République we see Romain Duris again in Le Péril Jeune. By the Champs elysées we have Le Roi des Champs Elysées and Remontons les Champs Elysées as well as Taxi 2, Les Chevaliers du ciel, and the Le Gendarme à New York. At the end we see Zazie dans le métro, and Seuls Two. By the place de l’Etoile, its the Arc de Triomphe that rises in Drole de frimousse of Audrey Hepburn and the loves of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in one of my all time favorites Casablanca. You have by the Louvre in Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou in the search for Da Vinci Code. Then its on to Bande à part, and Belphégor. Under the colonnade of the Palais Royal we have Charade. On the jewels of the Place Vendome or Le Cercle rouge. The galerie dorée of the banque de France shows in Marie-Antoinette, Vatel, and Tous les matins du monde.
Of course these are just some of the many hundreds that have made Paris, the most beautiful city in the world!!!
Now for the Christmas shopping, coming up these are tops and still available: La Librairie des enfants.Children books . 89, rue de Levis (17éme). Francis Kurkdjian-Saint Honoré,exclusive perfums of the best . 5, rue d’Alger 2éme). Maison Sarah Lavoine. tendance mode from the wife of French singer Marc Lavoine; 49, rue Saint-Roch (Iéme). And to have something from my region now while in Paris see Henri Le Roux caramélier et chocolatier. butter caramels candy salted made in Quiberon (see entry on my blog) 1, rue Bourbon-le-Château, (6éme). Sœurs. this is brand clothing for women/girls. Here you have the Violette, one of daughter of Inès de la Fressange, manequin model of the brand . 88, rue Bonaparte (6éme). And, Boutique de l’Opéra Garnier for princesses facing n°8, rue Halévy (2éme).
And some if not all Paris Christmas market and children’s playgrounds. Ready for this year! Of course verify before in case of virus constraints. Amongst the lighting the most beautiful me think are those by the Champs-Elysées, Montmartre, bd Saint Germain, rue de Richelieu , Place Vendôme ; Forum des Halles, et Tour Eiffel.
Marché Paris Champs Elysées until January 2, 170 chalets. Avenue des Champs-Elysées, 8éme.
Village du Père Noël de Saint-Germain-des-Prés until Jan 2nd ,25 chalets along boulevard Saint Germain. Boulevard Saint Germain, 6éme.
Village de Noël de Montparnasse Dec 5-30th ,40 chalets, at the foot of the Tour Montparnasse,and inside the shopping center. 15 éme
Marché de Noël de Notre Dame from Dec 11-27th art and gastronomy of France. Notre Dame, Square Viviani / quai de Montebello, 4éme. More on this year special spot: https://www.marche-de-noel-paris-notre-dame.fr/index.php?lang=fr
Marché Noël at Auteuil, Fondation d’Auteuil from Dec 14-18 with local products of food wines, and decoration items as well as concerts 40, rue Jean de La Fontaine, 16éme.
The Marché de Noêl Alsatian at the Gare de l’Est. The famous Alsatian Christmas Market will once again take over the pavement of Gare de l’Est from December 2 to 18, 2020. For a little over two weeks, producers and artisans will be on hand to show us typical Alsatian culinary treasures! What if we went there to find good products and discover new flavors thanks to the many tastings planned!
Marché de Noêl BHV . The BHV Christmas market is becoming a must-see for end-of-year walks! Authentic snow-covered wooden cabins take place all along the rue de Rivoli. Craftsmen from all over France offer the most beautiful Christmas decorations, unique gifts but also delicious treats. And inside the department store, Santa Claus sets up his studio at the BHV Marais Observatory and invites young and old children to immortalize this unique encounter. Mid-November to mid-December
Marché de Noêl in the parvis de l’Hôtel de Ville: Located in the heart of Paris, the forecourt of the Hôtel de Ville houses wooden chalets surrounded by a pine forest. Local artisans present their know-how and their products. The older ones feast on waffles and mulled wine while the younger ones take turns on the large carousel with wooden horses, climb aboard a small train and even set off… to meet Santa Claus! mid dec to early jan.
The Marché de Noêl at Champ de Mars Christmas village: With its 60 artisanal chalets, it offers a magical moment under the magical setting of the great iron lady. Many activities are offered to the youngest: tastings of specialties, board sports and a beautiful ice rink of 300 m² (skate rental 6 € / glove compulsory). December to January
The Marché de Noêl at Montmartre- Abbesses: Perhaps less famous, the Montmartre Christmas market is certainly not the least picturesque. Fifteen small wooden chalets are spread over the streets surrounding the Butte, in a warm and festive atmosphere. Handicrafts, local products and many gift ideas are on offer. The youngest can meet Santa Claus there and even give them their letter. From late November to early January,
The Marché de Noêl under the Canopée des Halles takes place from mid November to end. A total of 30 exhibitors await you in the Chatelet-les-Halles district to share with you the magic of the holidays in Paris.
The Marché de la Défense until 27th December. 350 chalets, on the parvis,for many years the biggest in the area. all kinds of items for Noel Christmas including foods and toys Parvis de la Défense, Puteaux (92).
The Marché de Noêl à Beaubourg about 50 châlets around centre Georges Pompidou carrousel, children’s activities, and white Christmas tree showcasing French products.
Here is the city of Paris entertainment site in English on Christmas markets: https://www.sortiraparis.com/arts-culture/walks/guides/34166-christmas-markets-2020-in-paris/lang/en
Again the city of Paris on lightings during the Christmas season 2020 in English: https://www.sortiraparis.com/arts-culture/walks/guides/99607-christmas-lights-2020-in-paris/lang/en
And again, the city of Paris on window shopping during Christmas in Paris 2020 in English: https://www.sortiraparis.com/interests/shopping-fashion/guides/57271-christmas-windows-2020-in-paris/lang/en
There you go folks always a magical moment, France does it well and Paris is sublime out of this world. Hope you are planning and if circumstances cannot make it enjoy it on youtube or video delay basis, worth the time. Hope you enjoy the post as I did writing it.
And remember,happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!