I love the Covered Passages this time of year with their little festive touches. I’ve been giving a lot of tours through here lately, and no matter how many times I walk through I always find something to photograph, something I want to remember.Above the northern entrance of Passage Jouffroy (9th arr) are some rather dusty and neglected window panes. I got the idea to take a photo through them to see what would happen. Paradoxically the dirt and grime of the glass adds a rather dreamy effect!Recently I’ve branched out into some nature shots outside of town. It isn’t the version of Paris people expect, but I’ve always aimed to show different nuances of the city. As I get more into photography in general, frankly I’m excited for any subject matter.Another fern shot, because why not. Maybe one day I’ll have to change my blog name to A French Frye in the Garden…I’ve said it before – there’s nothing like that low-hanging winter sun. And with all the gray skies Paris has seen lately, a morning like this is extra glorious.This view got me in the Xmas spirit. It’s a café/bakery called Claus on Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1st arr). You’ll want to put this one in your Paris notebook because in my opinion they have the best lemon cakes in town!La Caféothèque in the Marais. There’s nothing across the street except the Seine river, so the sun tends to pour in from the south side and cast wonderful shadows. Oh and the coffee is the best. 🙂Biggest pet I’ve ever seen in Paris? Quiet possibly. Imagine what it costs just to FEED this beast! This is inside Galerie Vivienne (2nd arr).Same entrance of Passage Jouffroy (9th arr) with those dirty window panes (you can see them at the top). I liked this shot because there’s just enough of the exterior in the frame to make it feel like you’re an outsider peering into another world.When I finish my tours of the Marais I’m always on the hunt for a good wind-down with a cup of coffee. I found this place on Rue des Blancs-Manteaux called Terres de Café and they really know what they’re doing with a java bean.An original macaron shot is a tough thing to capture, but I gave it a go here. I don’t eat these all the time but when I do I always have this “Ah, I’m really in Paris now” kind of feeling.I was early to arrive one morning at a café called Joséphine in the Marais. They were preparing their goodies for the breakfast rush. In the background is loads of butter and confiture.The Luxumbourg Gardens have many beautiful views but this one I think is overlooked quite often. Not sure who the statue is but that’s the Panthéon in the distance, the place where the French bury all their favorite people. Will my remains ever make it into that building? Boy I’d have to be a REALLY good tour guide for that to happen. 🙂Charles de Gaulle airport might not be the most romantic of Parisian addresses, but from certain angles you can find some beauty in it.My go-to tea room, Le Valentin (9th arr), never ever disappoints with their window display. And they tell me that 99% of this is handmade downstairs in their kitchens. Impressive!The fleur-de-lys symbol always represented the Bourbon royal family so very few of them survived the French Revolution. These are on an old fountain on Rue de l’Arbre Sec (1st arr).Rue du Nil (2nd arr) is a street that foodies need to check out. Not only do the eateries Frenchie and Frenchie To Go blow people away, but the street in general has an old school market feel. It’s great to see in 2017 people still trying to create that village vibe.
