Sculptural Curves at the Louvre

I spent yesterday afternoon in the Louvre with 9 kids under the age of thirteen. Why would I voluntarily do such a thing?! Good question! Well, we were participating in a THATLou treasure hunt hosted by Daisy de Plume owner creator of THATLou. Daisy is an art history wizard who really knows her stuff, and I must say it was great fun. While hunting out pieces of art work from all over the world and all different periods in history we all learnt how to navigate our way around the Louvre learning as we went. All team members got suitably competitive which added a certain frisson to the hunt. At one point I had to peel off from the hunt to take one of the team members to the metro after which I went directly to our end-of-hunt meeting point, the magnificent spiral stair case underneath the glass pyramid of the Louvre designed by architect I.M Pei.

As I waited I took a few photos. I had a perfect vantage point.

A Quayside Walk

For the first time in ten years I am alone in Paris for five days. No kids. No Other Half. It feels a little odd and very quiet, but okay. I headed out yesterday afternoon, without a plan. As I walked up Rue Joseph de Maistre the 95 bus drew up at the bus stop I was walking past. I decided to hop on and head towards the river. Sometimes when I take photographs I am looking for a particular theme to capture. Sometimes I have no particular idea in mind. Yesterday was like this, I was waiting to be inspired. I got off the bus at the Louvre and headed down towards the river. It had been grey and dull all morning but when I reached the river the sun was coming out. The light was beautiful, fresh and crisp.

Here is a photo taken from the quai by the Musée d'Orsay, looking towards the Louvre and the Quai des Tuileries.

Down on the Quai des Tuileries that runs along the Rive Droite the water was lapping over the edges of the walkway.

I love the different textures of stone and iron, enhanced by the low winter sun.

The shadows were so sharp. The colours so soft, gentle and soothing. 

A crow caught my attention, though it was never still for more than a few seconds and I had to be quick.

This cat shadow was easier to capture!


More photographs from my stroll can be found on my Flickr account, here (thumbnails) and here (slideshow).

A Glowing Cycle Ride

The other night I had a late work meeting. I didn't fancy getting on a crowded metro after being in a windowless room for a few hours so decided to pick up a Vélib (Paris' public bicycle sharing scheme) and cycle at least part of the 7kms home. It was a lovely mild evening and late enough for the worst of the traffic to have gone home. The Seine marked the halfway point of my journey, I stopped to take a few photos.

The golden glow on the river was magical.

The glow was none too shabby as I passed the Louvre either.


As it turned out, this gave me enough of a buzz to get me all the way home.

Magical Monday - The Museum Monster

Imagine my surprise when I saw this scaly necked Monster on the Esplanade du Louvre.


Every Monday, Magical Monday, I post a photo that is hopefully puzzling, fantastical or unexpected.

More photos from the Magical Mondays series can be found here.

Watery reflections, the world upside down

Clear crisp blue skies, low lying winter sun. The ideal conditions for collecting reflections.

The Jardin des Tuileries last weekend.






The reflections made by the cranes near the Parc Clichy Batignolles were just gorgeous.

Like lace.


An aeroplane weaves a wavy path.


Reeds too.


The world upside down.

Sun kissed blanc cassé

I have a soft spot for the colour blanc cassé, white with the hard crisp edges broken away. The blanc cassé colour of Parisian stone in winter, becomes a rich golden cream when the sun comes out. I've been trying to think how to describe the colour, it is not unlike the colour of nougat. Here is a block of nougat.

And here is some Parisian stone, in the sun.

Once I started looking I was able to gather quite a collection of blanc cassé with un touche de soleil (a touch of sun). Here is the Louvre in the sun.

Boulevard Magenta, reflected in the windows of the covered marché Saint Quentin.

Parisian trees can also radiate this gentle delicate colour.

This tree is in parc Monceau.

A Parisian gutter.

Some tarnished silver at the brocante market on Place des Abbesses.

Here is a beautiful shadow and golden wall in the park behind the Sacré Cœur.

A fountain in the same garden.

A bubble infront of our house.

And...the best baguette in Paris, 2010.