CHANGE is in the Air
3 Comments Published by Cedric Benetti on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 3/31/2009 07:47:00 PM.
On rue St Honoré, close to Colette
Spring is in the Air...Or is it Dust?
8 Comments Published by Cedric Benetti on Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 3/29/2009 07:24:00 PM.
When the light spring winds blow through the Tuileries gardens, it always looks like you hit the Arabian desert in the middle of a sandstorm.
The fine gravel dust covering most public park grounds in Paris gets lifted up and hits you in the face without you even noticing. Only later when you enter your favorite tearoom you'll notice that your clothes are a tad lighter in their overal color scheme and your shoes look like you played in a sand pit.
The fine gravel dust covering most public park grounds in Paris gets lifted up and hits you in the face without you even noticing. Only later when you enter your favorite tearoom you'll notice that your clothes are a tad lighter in their overal color scheme and your shoes look like you played in a sand pit.
But everyone still loves to come down to the gardens and take a seat. Take a seat and stare at tourist groups or pick up a latte and read the morning news in the IHT. Oh, and don't let those pigeons disturb you, it's only mating season.
Labels: gardens, Paris street stuff (NOT a TOILET)
Rodin vs. Picasso
3 Comments Published by Cedric Benetti on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 3/24/2009 11:28:00 AM.
At the Tuileries, almost in front of the entrance to the Orangerie museum where one can find Monet's Nympheas on large display, one of the many large bronze casts of Rodin's 'The Kiss' can be found.
This copy of the sculpture was retrieved from Germany right after the Second World War. It is a part of the MNR program (Musées Nationaux Récupération: works of art secured in Germany after WWII), meaning that the Nazis took it out of a private french collection illegally and after the war ended, the French government secured the sculpture and puts it in its collections for safekeeping for as long as an eventual heir to the proprietor can be found to claim it back.
Funnily enough, a car was parked immediately next to the sculpture. It was a Xara Picasso.
An interesting point of view, since Rodin was the first to create copies of his works in very large numbers without lifting his own fingers (he had a big workshop with lots of experienced people working under his direction, copying them). Picasso then, posthumously became the first artist that got branded with a car manufacturer.
We have certainly come a long way.
Labels: Art, gardens, Paris street stuff (NOT a TOILET)
Military Picnic, Place de la Concorde
5 Comments Published by Cedric Benetti on at 3/24/2009 11:14:00 AM.
A small group of picnicing soldiers on Place de la Concorde, along with their military tourbus.
Freak Show
5 Comments Published by Cedric Benetti on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 3/22/2009 12:20:00 AM.
Missing something?
Don't give me the evil eye!
Labels: photography, things that can happen if you stare directly into the sun
Eiffel Tower - Erik Tower
8 Comments Published by Cedric Benetti on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 3/21/2009 09:38:00 PM.
On a moderately sunny day some time ago, Erik and me ascended the Eiffel Tower. And to make the memories last even longer, we went up on foot. But the views compensate for any issues you might have with climbing hundreds of stairs. And then again, it is also much better than to test your claustrophoby in a tightly packed inclinator with too many tourists.
Labels: Erik stuff, Monuments, Paris street stuff (NOT a TOILET)
What I've been reading these days
2 Comments Published by Cedric Benetti on at 3/21/2009 05:25:00 PM.
Labels: Magazines and books
Fashionable Art of War
3 Comments Published by Cedric Benetti on Friday, March 20, 2009 at 3/20/2009 04:03:00 AM.
Delirious Piece of Cake
5 Comments Published by Cedric Benetti on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 3/18/2009 11:31:00 PM.
A marvelously diverting and eccentric piece of architectural cake, covered in whipped cream decorum and built by architect Alfred Wagon in 1905 on Place Etienne Pernet in the XVe arrondissement. So marvelous it actually looks edible.
This is the only notable piece of Wagon's architecture that made him famous, even though he built a lot in Paris. But the amazing lines and exuberance of pastrylike decor cannot find any other counterpart inside Paris or the rest of France. This style is more likely to be found in Spain or Italy than up in the northern areas.
But on this sunny early spring afternoon, this facade makes you feel like you are in the streets of Barcelona rather than in one of the most bourgeois areas of Paris.
This is the only notable piece of Wagon's architecture that made him famous, even though he built a lot in Paris. But the amazing lines and exuberance of pastrylike decor cannot find any other counterpart inside Paris or the rest of France. This style is more likely to be found in Spain or Italy than up in the northern areas.
But on this sunny early spring afternoon, this facade makes you feel like you are in the streets of Barcelona rather than in one of the most bourgeois areas of Paris.
Labels: Architecture Instant Love, design, Paris street stuff (NOT a TOILET)
