Focused: May 2013

Peter, his niece, and I are off to France next week. Our first stop will be Paris. I haven't been to Paris since 2008 when we went in December to celebrate my 60th birthday. Actually, that's not quite true. We were last in Paris in October of 2011 when our Delta flight from Venice to New York was diverted to Paris due to a loss of an engine. While losing an engine was upsetting, the thought of having dinner in Paris kept us distracted from the thought of flying on one engine. Fortunately, we had no issues with getting to Paris; we landed safely. Unfortunately, dinner was at the Novotel Paris Charles de Gualle where we were billeted for the evening after a long and grueling re-booking process at the airport. Despite the late hour, several young couples decided to take taxis into Paris central to see the Eiffel Tower whereas Peter and I opted to save the $50-$75.00 fare and to get a good nights sleep.

Had we been released from the airport earlier, we too would have journeyed into the city. Not to see the tower, but definitely to search out a better evening meal. I first saw the Eiffel Tower in 1970. If you look closely at the Kodachrome image you can just make our the tower. (This image was scanned on a flat-bed scanner using a home-made light box. Amazing what you can learn to do on the Internet. Hard to see, but the slide is 43 years old.)

J-968
Avant L'An 2000
Thursday, May 8, 1997

J-625
Avant L'An 2000
Thursday, April 16, 1998

I've been back to Paris several times since 1970, and have captured several images of the Tower over the years. The tower had an electric display that counted down the days leading up to January 1, 2000. That display has made it easy for me to date some of these photographs.

I'm not sure what type of cameras I was using back in 1997 or 1998, but the quality of these pictures aren't bad for being scanned images of prints.

The middle photograph has always been one of my favorites. I believe it was taken as we left a restaurant near the tower.

You may have noticed that there tend to be angles in several of my photos. I just like how this street goes one way and the tower another. (Okay, I am having a glass of wine. I'll try not to get maudlin.)

maud·lin

/ˈmôdlin/

Adjective

Self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkenness.

Synonyms

sentimental - mawkish

It was actually on the night of my 60th birthday, that I was able to capture these nighttime photographs. We had had a celebratory pre-dinner cocktail at a small cafe near the Avenue des Champs-Elysees and then walked down the brightly holiday-lit avenue towards the Place de la Concorde. Traffic was snarled, as motorists drove up and down the avenue looking at the lights. Very similar to Fifth Avenue in New York during the holidays, except our traffic is mostly pedestrian. Once we got to Place de la Concorde and the huge ferris wheel, I looked back and saw the glowing blue Eiffel Tower towering above the Pont Alexandre III. I'm surprised that I was able to get a clear image with my hand-held camera. Maybe that cocktail helped me to steady my hands.

I just bought a book entitled A Box of Photographs by Roger Grenier. I haven't read it yet, but it's title is basically the theme for this blog. Instead of pouring over my guidebooks of Paris for this next trip, I opened an old box of Kodak prints. I found several pictures taken years ago in Paris. I then opened my digital photo files and began comparing my older prints to more recent photographs. This has brought back many happy memories of the bon temps in Paris. Not surprisingly, it appears that I visit the same Parisian spots and most likely I will revisit this areas again on this trip. These may not be my best photographs but they are evocative of some of my favorite Parisian memories.

So welcome to my trip down Memory Lane in Paris. Hopefully this will remind you too of the Last Time You Saw Paris.

In no particular order...just how they came out of the box.

Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur

This area of Paris is extremely over-run with tourists. But on certain days, certain times, you can get a lovely photograph of this enormous Roman-Byzantine basilica. From this spot atop Montmartre you can get spectacular views of the city.

Matryoska

There is a very strong Russian influence in Paris. My maternal family hails from Lithuania and according to some U. S. Census material that I've been able to track there may be some Russian heritage there too. I've always had a love for Matryoska Nesting Dolls since I purchased my first set (in Italy of all places). This blue set, of at least 45 dolls, starts at about 3 feet in height. The dolls can be seen all over France, especially in Paris and Nice and can be purchased at those cities' Christmas Village stalls.

Grands Magazins Printemps on Boulevard Haussmann

I don't think I have ever bought anything at this flagship store, but as these photos attest (taken at least 15 years apart), I obviously go there to look up at and photograph the elaborate glass cupola.

Place des Voges, Marais and Fountains Everywhere

The Place des Voges is one of my most favorite spots in Paris. It is located in the heart of the Marais district, which is also my favorite area of Paris. We have stayed at various hotels and apartments within walking distance of this square surrounded by 36 townhouses above a covered arcade. It has four lovely fountains. But there are fountains everywhere in Paris. Fountains at Place St-Michel and Place de la Concorde are shown.

The Louvre and Tuileries Gardens

One night, crossing the Tuileries Gardens, I spotted this lawn chair. I loved how it was positioned with the Louvre in the distance. I attempted a night shot which didn't really work. I ultimately abandoned the picture to my files. But today, I played with the image, something I normally don't do, and applied a black and white filter leaving color just in the center. It may not be a great picture, but it makes me feel good just to look at it.

Arc de Triomphe, Covered-Passages, and the Wallace Public Drinking Fountains

Place de la Republique

I just love this photograph. The amazing thing about Paris is the sky. It is always changing. This particular day was cloudy and gray. Yet when I took the shot the sky cleared and the sun cast a shadow.

Jardin des Plantes

As you can see, most of the pictures in this blog were taken in the fall. I'm looking forward to taking pictures in the spring.

The Seine and Ile de la Cite

"I could spend my whole like watching the Seine flow by...It is a poem of Paris." - Blaise Cendrars

Optical Illusions

Look closely at this building. It is the Picasso Museum. But what you are seeing is a mirrored surface projecting from the center of the building providing a mirrored image. The other image shows a covered passageway. It reminded me of the Poltergeist hallway scene where the hallway grew longer and longer.

Versailles

I took this picture taken with a lousy camera. I think it came out well. As much as I would like to see Versailles again, I have yet to see Fountainbleu or Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte.

La Nourriture (The Food)

I could fill this blog with pictures of the meals that Peter and I have eaten in Paris. Fortunately, for you, most of these pictures I take with my cell phone and post to FaceBook. So if you want to follow my dietary adventures, Friend me on FB (roger.williams@rcn.com). I'm sure to post many meals this trip. But in the meantime, here is one photo. Can you guess what it is?