It’s been snowing in Paris and amazingly the snow is staying so the whole city is white white white!
I had to meet a friend for lunch in Montparnasse; no bus was running in Paris yesterday so I had to take the metro which was deserted:
it was me and the live statue of a king…
The famous cafés of Montparnasse, like Le Select (once the haunt of Hemingway, Picasso and Henry Miller) were kind of empty,
La Coupole was not much better,
so we settled on some mean steak and frites and Entrecôte:
Who can say no to that?
I said goodbye to my friend and decided to go and take some pictures of the city under snow.
It snowed on bikes,
and on flowers,
and the café tables:
The bouquinistes (booksellers of used and antiquarian books) had stayed home but the Notre Dame cathedral was open to me and others.
Still majestic after 800 winters!
It was glorious inside; I particularly love its three large rosettes. These examples of technical and artistic genius were constructed in the 13th century. The largest two measure 13 metres in diameter:
I was giddy by the time I left – snow makes most people like that. It reminds me of my childhood in Tehran and cancelled school days! I took a picture of myself with the Saint Michel bridge behind me.
I would have been happier if it wasn’t for the stupid love padlocks! They have invaded the Pont des Arts (Art Bridge) and now it’s all the other bridges’ turn…
The Conciergerie (where the notorious Marie Antoinette was held before being decapitated in 1793) looked beautiful in spite of the recent Disneyesque cleaning of its façade. I liked it better when it had some of its original grime…
I took the metro again to go to Trocadero:
You see many things when taking the Parisian metro – some are very nice like this poster advertising an exhibition about Shahrzad and her ” Thousand and One Nights” at the World Arabe Institute:
and some more realistic ones like these homeless men sleeping…
By the time I got out it had stopped snowing,
and the beautiful Eiffel tower was on time for her rendez-vous with me:
These gilded statues each had a live bird on them:
but the only one close enough for me to take a picture of was this little sparrow:
And of course everybody could take their own tower home:
I didn’t buy any but I started writing this blog to share it with you looking out from time to time to the melting snow.
Looks beautiful. It’s snowing here in Scotland as well. Looking forward to our Paris visit 🙂
Edith Piaf sung “the snow of Finland”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT-6wh-cj4M
and her dream is a true wonder.
Finally Paris, deserted.. but what a gift for those who love silence and its music
Quoting our famous Mime Marcel Marceau :
Music and silence combine strongly because music is done with silence, and silence is full of music.
This was so true when you wandered around.
Thank you so much for the journey.
Did not see any cup with hot chocolate… strange .. from you 😉
I loved this post. I do not like when you get political, it is not in agreement with my poetic nature. Nature is a poem to me and you wrote it very nice dear Michele in this post. You took me with you to places I used to go. Montparnasse and Cafe Select was an often spot for me. I wish I come back there soon. The pictures are very nice and in snow even nicer. What a good thing you did spending a day and taking us with you for a tour in Paris while it is snowing. Thank you.
Hi – I have just been to Paris and your photographic essay captured the beauty of the city in some really lovely vignettes. Thank you. Lenore
Dordaneh jan – so beautiful – You made me to be right next to you when you were taking these pictures. I trully felt that I’m there.
funny I was trying to imagine your face while walking in the snow, then I saw your picture
La seule chose qui me fasse vraiment aimer Paris est la présence de Dordaneh dans cette ville et le regard qu’elle porte sur cette capitale.
Dordaneh,
You have to watch with the french fries …
Beautiful. I have always been in awe of Notre Dame, and seeing the building even from outside brings back the feeling.
Wow. What great pictures. It’s 8:30 am and you have craving steak frites!!
Paris looks so beautiful. I wish I was a trust fund baby so I could hop on a plane and join you on a whim.
It’s wonderful to see the beauty of Paris through your eyes!
Great post! Great pictures! like you of course a Great friend! Miss you =/
Thanks for sharing the pictures. It is truly gorgeous and magical.
Dear michele,
thanks a lot for de beautiful pictures from paris.
i am shideh, born in tehran en i am living in holland.
keep in touch.
Hi Michele,,,,they are very nice photos,I have known Paris only in the summer.
Michele joon,
What exquisite pictures. You capture more than just images, and I don’t know how you do this but you capture the sounds and fragrances of your surroundings. Your pictures are my little indulgences into another place and time. Thank you for these quick trips ;o)
Haleh
I don’t usually reply to your posts but I do read and enjoy them. I don’t think that many Americans have read the Thousand and One Nights but I did because my mom was a lit major. My favorite character was Sinbad (I was about ten). I remember the Harpy bird because I thought it might be related to Harper. It turns out it is: They are both derived from an Old English verb meaning “to grab”.
I wonder if you are descended from Shaherazade?
Very nice! I like the picture with the sparrow. 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous,… I wish we could have more evening shots through your fantastic eyes. The fabulous combination of orange lights and the famous Paris [dreamy blue] should be exquisite in that snow…!
Great job indeed.
C’est si beau!!! Paris sous la neige…
Merci pour le tour de Paris. I loved the pIcture of Notre Dame De Paris..
Beautiful pics !!!
Wonderful photos and commentary. Thank you for sharing your talent, heart, and mind with the rest of us.
Paris is just so breathtakingly pretty when covered in snow, also seems more calm under the snow.
Keep warm and enjoy the winter!
Thanks for sharing these beautiful images ..
Dear Michele,
Between the blue weaves of the scarf
and the umbrella who covers,
Between the snow covered Paris
monochromatic, grays or whites
with deserted alleys and Metros,
Between the quiet hum of frozen chairs
sharing stories of Hemingway, Picasso, Miller & more,
Between the frozen span of Eiffel and Notre Dame
with gilded statues drifted from their Emperors and Kings,
There is a tapestry of
lively stories and abstract shapes,
among the resident Sparrows, Shahrzad
and closed book bins,
Orange and yellow Acaulis
Pink Steaks and yellow frites,
Red seats, awnings and rosettes,
Woven and shared through
glowing cheeks and sparkling eyes
of an exciting story telling Queen…..
Thus comes wishes of
many telling stories and findings
aimed to caress, inform & excite
your eyes, mind and heart
from many places
bi-coastal and continental
through the windows and the cities
you call home.