Update Paris! 9 days to go.

Brancusi's Atelier

In progress

 Paris is gray and drizzly this morning, seeming so perfectly Paris. It's warmer than it's been and feels almost spring-like. A long walk is definitely in today's plan.

Monday, we finally got to Brancusi's Atelier. Why we hadn't done this before is a mystery. It's nearby and it's free. We loved it, love it, loved it. Okay, get the picture? He gave his atelier and all it's contents to the France. It was reproduced on this site when the original site was going to be changed up. All the work is as it was in the original, everything is exact. When we were in Bilbao, we saw his work in the Guggenheim and now to see more of it. Oh the thrill. Do we like Brancusi's work? More than ever.





I've been continuing to do the tiny landscapes for the Art-o-Mat and will have over 50 of them completed before we head back home in NINE (9) days. I've enjoyed doing this and want to play more with both water color and water color pencils, when I'm home.

 Here's the carousel on the Place de Greve in front of l'Hotel de Ville. When we were walking back from seeing the Atelier, it was on. The ice rink is still in place, too. You can see a corner of it on the ride of the photo. I love how there are so many carousels in Paris.

 Yesterday, we had lunch with Mme B. at her wonderful apartment full of antiques. She served us Champagne in these glasses, called Champagnards. The bubbles come up only in the center, because of the shape. They're traditional Champagne glasses, not the flutes we use in the United States. I wonder if I can own a couple of these someday. Lunch was delicious. Cheese souffle like I've never had before. Actually, I've NEVER had it before. Yummy.

#846

It was an experience we'll treasure, so wonderful to be invited to Mme B.'s home.



Here's some more mail art. I continue to make it and send it out. A passion, an addiction, a madness, it continues.

 On Sunday, we took a walk in the chill, all the way over to Place d'Aligre, where they have the market. On the return walk, passing a little boutique, I noticed this bag! Oh my, the Ikea fabric that I like so much. I've made a number of bags out of this same fabric, of course, in my own "pocket" style. The price for this is 60€ (USD  = $79) though I wonder if it'll really be sold for that. My "pockets" are a real deal by comparison. When I get home, I'll re-open my FritziMim, my Etsy shop.

Here's my work table. I'll be finishing up my Mona Lisa alterations during the next couple days. We'll be clearing things out and making the studio a gallery space for Saturday's Open Studio. But for now, here's where I work. I got a new hole punch and two tiny canvases with their own easels, and a new multi-size pencil sharpener. Fun new supplies.

Saturday, more goings on.

 On the way to meet our friend M. for coffee by Bastille, we saw these odd cars on rue St. Antoine, which by the way was jammed with tourists. We had to worm our way through the crowds and were a bit late. Who knew there'd be a traffic jam of people!?  We had coffee and gelato at Amorici, a nice visit, and by the time we said our "a bientôts", it was getting dark out.

 At we crossed the area where the Sunday market is on rue Richard Lenoir, C spotted something - little booths set up with artists' wares. We walked the length of one side, saw two artists' work we liked, one does collage and the other paintings. I chatted a bit with each of them. We hope they made a sale or two.

 Here's the carousel that was ready to start up.

 There was a gathering of Egyptian young people, but we didn't know what it was about as they were doing speeches in French and Arabic. Notice the woman crossing the street with her guitar on her back. We see lots of people with guitar and violincello cases, like this, on their backs. Oh, that's the statue in the middle of the Bastille round about.

We stopped for a baguette, had some bread and cheese, then went off with our neighbor to a concert at a church. We had to take 2 metros and got off at Solferino, not knowing where we were, went the wrong direction (my doing) in the drizzle, had to reverse, rushing so we wouldn't be late. We weren't. The concert was wonderful. See separate post about it.
After the concert, we stopped at a cafe, where I had a vin chaud (hot mulled wine.) Perfect for a dark, chilly, damp night. We took the metros back and popped into another cafe for a coffee.

Wow, caffeine at 10h45 p.m. Guess who was up very late reading last night?

On a walk through the Marais

 The lobby/reception area of the Cité has been renovated. I'll snap a photo of the desk and what it looks like as we enter. This is as we were leaving for our walk today. Pretty spiffy!

 We passed by the bottle trees. Oh No! They look terrible in daylight!

 This is a huge bead store that we've been to before. It's beautifully organized by color and has everything a person would need to create bead jewelry. It's Tout a Loisirs!

 We passed by a fabulous window full of gorgeous creations make with flaky pastry. It was Bio (organic) and we got a delicious bread there.

 The carousel was in action when we walked by. Kids were loving it! A tiny girl in a helicopter. The vehicles got up and down as the carousel turns.

A little boy and girl, side by side, on motorcycles, with big smiles on their faces.

 This shop has items that appear to be antique but they're facsimiles. They do a good job of presentation in the shop so we like to stop in there.

Don't you just love this "graffiti?" It says something like "In the new year, I will offer my old dreams."

Day 3, Friday

 This is a "telephone booth." It has Bonjour on the top, and is internet connected via Orange. I'm not sure how it works. It has an old school hand set (or whatever we call that thingy) and a touch screen. I must lurk around it to see it in action at some point.
It's by Metro St. Paul where rue de Rivoli becomes rue St. Antoine.

 The little carousel has very modern transportation for the children to ride in. A small child, bundled up in orange, was in the purple rocket waiting while it's mother paid the fee. I'll snap a photo of it sometime when it's running. Maybe at night.

 These Christmas trees were lined up in a courtyard with the only lights being tiny blue ones laid out along the bottom part of fake grass. The building is 1700s.

 What a fabulous door knocker. Wonder how it'd work on my door at home!

 I honestly do not remember this fountain being in this location. I don't know why. It's next to the "telephone booth." These are famous fountains. Read all about them here.

 These are the Christmas trees at the place by Metro St. Paul. There are two groupings of them. The pigeons are hanging around and under them. They must be delighted. The pigeons, not the trees!

 My honey picked up this container of olives to have with lunch. I was very amused by the bottom explanation. It's very amusing in a direct English translation, right?

At 2 p.m. the shadows were long and sharp. The sun is out. We took a walk late this morning, but I think I need to go outdoors again and enjoy this weather while it lasts.  It's 4 p.m. as I post this. I'm off on a walk!

The Place de Grève

We stopped by the Place de Grève, which is the place in front of the Hôtel de Ville, to watch the skaters during the daytime. The rough boys were there, showing off, while timid skaters carefully made there way around the ice. The carousel had a long queue of parents and children waiting for their turn. It was free. Even some grown-ups without children were riding on it.

More of Brussels

Christmas Markets

We went to the square by St. Catherine’s and got some photos of the wonderful carousel. I bought a postcard and got some information about the creator. There are several market squares filled with little chalet like booths selling food, wine, books, crafts, knick knacks, all sorts of gift items. It was very lively on Saturday & Sunday nights, of course, and quiet on Monday night, though there were people there. No children were on the carousel on Monday, when we had cameras with us; too bad, because it was really cool in action. We drank hot wine both visits. Gluhwein it’s called.





The carousel was designed by Francois Delaroziere in 1999. It's called Le Manege d'Andrea. Isn't it so Steam Punk!

Sunday #2 (Dimanche) at the Bastille Market

The market was crowded, which is not my kind of place to be. I forget and think I'll be okay, but after awhile, I'm like OKAY, done with this. We walked to the end of the stalls and back, threading our way through the people, benches, and dogs. We bought a baguette. We decided to walk back along rue Franc Bourgeois and see what new shops were along the street. Shops were just opening up, people were strolling, and then little white flakes came out of the sky. Surprise! It was snowing, not a lot, but definitely snow flakes. We got a bag of pistachios nuts from the shop at the end of the street with all the falafel shops. Yum, did that street smell good! We came back to our studio, however, and ate leftover soup. We were glad to be in and warm. Now it's raining, windy, and probably very chilly. A good night to stay in and entertain, which is what we're going to do. Hope our guests don't mind coming out to join us on a night like this!

continuing the walk

We spotted these fancy Converse shoes in a men's store window. Richt across street there is our local Monoprix. This store is aware of environmental issues, will discontinue free plastic bags in 2 years, will recycle your batteries for you, has bio cotton clothing, and more. The street was very lively with people walking, bicyclists, the carousel by the Metro entrance...I love the way the damp sidewalk reflects the lights and everything glows. We stopped for a baguette, some wine and a homeopathic remedy for me. We also found Bon Maman fig (figue) preserves, which we can never find at home. And a happy find for me, my face cream, yay! It's cheaper to buy it here than at home! So far, it's the only thing less expensive. Have I mentioned how expensive it is here for Americans?