A day in the life of a Parisienne

While its torrential rain outside here in Sydney, Im reflecting on warmer days spent in Paris. I remember that wonderful break we had in Europe and have selected some images, that I think reflect Paris so well.

Visiting galleries of note we came across this wonderful work by Raoul Dufy. So lucious in its roses pinks and puces.

I was taken aback by this petit group of enfants, all in their smocks, so well kempt and they reminded me of the school book tales of Madeleine. If the children are this smart imagine what they'll expect to wear as teenagers!

Aaah that irrascible french icon, as viewed from below a mountain of metal girders rising skyward.

Paris is always brimming with people c'est la vie.

Paris Toujours Paris and Pay it Forward

Bonjour mes amies, hello my friends. I am today treading the pavements in Paris on this beautiful spring morning. Where the sun is shining and the clouds have parted to reveal blue skies. Well, that's as would be for a rainy day in Sydney, preceded by a very stormy afternoon evening last night. Hence my reluctance to think grey skies for too long and reminiss on Paris.

For this post I am introducing my Pay it Forward. All you have to do is follow this blog and be 1 of the first 5 to post a comment below. Tell me why which Bus Roll Code Flag you'd present for April Fools Day and why. For this I'm giving away a Bus Roll Code Flag print of your choice delivered to your door.

As you can imagine the views from up there are astounding.

There are a great number of ways to get around Paris, cycling was one, but Sinclairs was another.

La musée D'Orsay on the banks of La Seine is filled with art, one of my passions. I could have spent days in there.

All that walking around demands sustenance and what better place for a cafe creme than in Cafe Hautier on the 5th floor. The views from here are outstanding. You can see Sacre Coeur, Louvre and L'Opera. The clock face is one great inspiration that is currently being mimicked all over the world in the form of giant clock fronts featuring roman numerals. The museum was once a station hence this incredible clock window.

 

The street architecture is wondrous - check out the street lamps.

And those gilded gates. Don't you just love them.

We chose to stay in a boutique hotel down the small streets near Banque (French Federal Reserve Bank) close to L'Opera where there are quite a few Couture Houses - this one On Aura Tout Vu has a unique window that took my eye. Their couture is to die for.  

Aaah the French flag: liberty equality and fraternity, but here's a bit of back history:

The tricolor was adopted by the French Revolution in 1794. Lafayette, commander of the National Guard, suggested the white be added between blue and red. The Bourbon Monarchy was restored in 1815 after the fall of Napoleon. At this time, the tricolor was replaced by a simple white flag again. The tricolor was adopted after the July Revolution of 1830. Despite attempts to re-establish the royal Bourbon flag of white, the tricolor remained the official flag of France.

The three colors of the French flag represent the three levels of class that existed within the country in the past.

Blue represents the bourgeoisie or middle class, white represents the clergy and the Church, and red represents the nobility. The white separates the two other classes in reference to a higher authority.

So famous it needs no introduction..

Reflects my sentiments entirely...

Signing off the the evening, have a great day and get involved with my pay it forward event.

To enter the Pay It Forward giveaway:

All you have to do is add a comment below. If you are one of the first 5 to follow my blog and post a comment below then you can receive one bus roll code flag print free. Don't forget all you have to do is tell me which Bus Roll code flag you'd present for April Fools Day and why.


Enjoy.

L'Opera

It is possible to take a tour through the sumptuous theatre, up grand staircases and great apartments at L'Opera with a company called Purple Beam. It is definitely worth visiting the venerable institution as it is such a magnificent palace.

The statues on the roof are gold leaf and glimmer even in the dimmest of light on a grey clouded day. They are what makes Paris, Paris.

Currently undergoing restoration, it is one of the only buildings in Paris where Napoleon was able to ride up in his carriage to the side entrance completely under cover, so as not to get wet nor mingle with onlookers, he could go straight in close to curtain up for any performance.

Lavishly garnered in majestic columns, statues and galeries a style typical of Des Beaux-Art L'Opera was formerly known as Academie Nationale de Musique.

L'Opera was a feat of engineering on a difficult site, and it is a triumphant monument to architecture. Built between 1857 and 1874 by Charles Garnier its neo baroque style stands central to Avenue de L'Opera, flanked on either sides by Boulevard de la Madeleine and Boulevard des Italienne (left and right) and at the back Boulevard Haussmann.

If you every want inspiration for what to wear and how to wear it, just glance around you on the streets of Paris. On Ave. de L'Opera Bud was taken by the beauty of her legs, I do agree, wish I had pins like that. I love the jacket and handbag, Parisienne women just have so much panache.