The Book Trunk

This site is dedicated to my grandmother, who ran away from her Norwegian home in 1915 and arrived in England with nothing but a trunk full of books

Snapshots of Paris…

I’ve been looking through my old holiday photos and, since I’m on a ‘virtual’ trip for the Paris in July challenge, run by Karen at Book Bath and Tamara at Thyme for Tea, and Dreaming of France over at An Accidental Blog, I thought would post some of my pictures for a Saturday Snapshot, which is hosted by Melinda at West Metro Mummy. So I’ve dug out some street scenes to show why I love the city.
I love the way Parisians turn the tiniest of
balconies  into lush, green, hanging gardens...


And the pride they have in keeping their city clean –
especially this chap, sweeping the steps with an
old-fashioned besom, like a witch’s broom.
 And they have wonderfully decorative street lamps, 
where the top….

…and the bottom are works of art, 
so they are beautiful and functional.

 And there are buskers who play proper music (rather 
than strumming three chords on a guitar and singing
out of tune Dylan numbers. I enjoyed this harpist…
…
…and this jazz quartet…
 ...and this trio taking a well earned break – I’ll be it was
hard work moving the piano around!

 And I adore the pavement cafes where you can sit and 
watch the world go by as you sip your tea or coffee…

 Or browse around a market… this is the Bird
 Market, next to the Flower Market.

 And you stumble across unexpected little parks and
squares, with the most beautiful planting arrangements, 
and fountains, and statues, and benches.

 And there are tiny roads 
and hidden alleys and it’s 
all quite, quite wonderful.

chrisharding53

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39 responses to “Snapshots of Paris…”

  1. vicki (skiourophile) Avatar
    vicki (skiourophile)

    Lovely! The little details of Paris are so beautiful – like the ivy leaves on the lamp-post. Thanks for sharing these.

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  2. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    Fantastic, aren't they Vicki!

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  3. Leslie (Under My Apple Tree) Avatar
    Leslie (Under My Apple Tree)

    So inviting! I could sit at one of those little cafes all day. I think everyone's been to Paris except me.

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  4. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    You would love it – you could sit in a park and try to capyure the bird life.

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  5. Kaye Avatar
    Kaye

    Ooh, so gorgeous. Makes me want to be there right now. Love the lamp
    post shots.

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  6. (Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea Avatar
    (Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea

    Now those are great Paris pics- thx for sharing.

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  7. Creations by Laurel-Rain Snow Avatar
    Creations by Laurel-Rain Snow

    Oh, thanks for the tour of the beautiful spots of Paris. I, too, love the little balcony gardens and the street life. Wonderfully cozy and inviting. Now I must watch a movie set in Paris, to continue the feeling.

    Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog. Enjoy your weekend.

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  8. Lisa Avatar
    Lisa

    I love Paris – such a beautiful city. Looks like your harpist was on the steps in front of Montmartre. I have great pictures from that vantage point.

    My sculptural snapshots

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  9. Arti Avatar
    Arti

    These are the reasons I want to go back to visit Paris. Next time, I'll go to the side streets away from the major tourist attractions and see how people really live… like what you've shown us here. I like how you point out they still use the besom, and play real classy street music. 😉

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  10. Ginx Craft Avatar
    Ginx Craft

    Some lovely Parisien shots. I particularly like the last one.

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  11. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz Avatar
    Deb Nance at Readerbuzz

    Yes, yes, and yes! Thank you for sharing these.

    Here's my Saturday Snapshot.

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  12. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    Much nicer than the lamp posts in our street!

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  13. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    Thank you Diane. They bring back some happy memories.

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  14. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    Inviting is exactly the right word Laurel-Rain. I want to go back there! I have some movies – Amelie, and Funny Face with Audrey Hepburn. I may sit indorrs and watch one of them, because I have been out in the sun all day on a photography course…

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  15. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    I was the day we went to Sacre Coeur and Montmartre, and some guy grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go until I'd given him £1- euros for a friendship bracelet made of wool, and someone else tried to sell us a 'gold ring, and we were pestered by gangs of Eastern Europe demanding money from us…

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  16. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    I'm sure they can't all use besoms! But I did like the buskers, especially the harpist and the pianist. You certainly don't get quality music like that in Tamwworth or Lichfield!

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  17. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    Thank you – I'm always fascinated by the little alleys and narrow streets, many of them with cobbled surfaces, and tall buildings casting shadows on the ground, and I always want to go and explore, but I'm worried about getting lost!

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  18. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    Thank Deb – I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures.

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  19. Susan Lindquist Avatar
    Susan Lindquist

    I love the armchair tour of the little off the beaten path views! What a lovely post today!

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  20. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    Thank you Susan. I do so love the little hidden areas.

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  21. Paulita Avatar
    Paulita

    I'd say you love just about everything about Paris! Me too. I'm always surprised by people who say it is dirty. I always see people washing the sidewalks and sweeping. Here's Mine

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  22. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    Paulita, I'm always impressed at how clean Paris is. People don't seem to drop nearly as much litter as they do in England, and the streets are swept, and washed down twice a day with that special watering system they have.

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  23. grammajudyb Avatar
    grammajudyb

    I've not been to Paris either. But my youngest granddaughter has and cannot wait to return. She threatened to get lost on her senior trip there two years ago, she wanted to stay so badly!.. ps her mother would have killed her! :0

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  24. Teddyree Avatar
    Teddyree

    Beautiful photos, love the cobblestone narrow streets, so much character!

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  25. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    My mother would want to join me if I ran away to Paris! Not sure that the Man of the House would approve though!

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  26. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    Cobbled streets always seem to have so much character – not good on the shoes though. You need sensible, comfortable footwear for trekking around Paris.

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  27. Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth

    Awesome photos. Love the jazz quartet.

    THANKS for sharing.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Saturday Snapshot

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  28. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    Thank you. I rather like the musician who's fast asleep!

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  29. Joy Weese Moll (@joyweesemoll) Avatar
    Joy Weese Moll (@joyweesemoll)

    Beautiful! These really capture the spirit of walking around Paris which proved to be our favorite activity!

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  30. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    You really don't have to rush round visiting places – I love just wandering around and soaking up the atmosphere, walking along the Seine, and in the gardens, and just watching the world go by.

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  31. Vagabonde Avatar
    Vagabonde

    Growing up in Paris I never took pictures there because it was home – I took pictures when I went on holiday in London or Italy though. When my mother had Parkinson’s disease and could not walk anymore in Paris I went one day and took many pictures for her, so she could look at the sights. Now when I go back to Paris I take many pictures too but then I don’t look at them often because I get homesick. Your pictures give a good sample of all the interesting sights that there are in the city, it is so diverse.

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  32. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    Oh, thank you – I take that as a huge compliment from someone who grew up in Paris.

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  33. Jeanie Avatar
    Jeanie

    It IS a charming city, isn't it? And your post certainly captures this! Thanks for playing Paris in July — I am too at The Marmelade Gypsy (You may have to scroll down a few posts to get to the Paris ones, but there are several!)

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  34. Nan Avatar
    Nan

    Your pictures are so lovely. I feel like I've been there this afternoon. Thank you.

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  35. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    Jeanie, I'm glad you felt I captured Paris.That's what I set to do when I visit a place – to get lots of quick shots, which build into and overall picture, to give a geberal impression.

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  36. Christine Harding Avatar
    Christine Harding

    That's nice of you to say so Nan… I wish I was there….

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  37. Martha Eskuchen Avatar
    Martha Eskuchen

    I do love the balcony greenery! And the outdoor cafes look special. Thanks for sharing your love of the city. 🙂

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  38. DoingDewey Avatar
    DoingDewey

    I love your picture of the jazz quartet! Very nice composition 🙂

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  39. Mae Travels Avatar
    Mae Travels

    I'm enjoying everyone's memories and photos of Paris while posting from my trip 2 weeks ago. As you point out, there are amazing numbers of little details that create the incredible look of every neighborhood in Paris. We explored Montparnasse and Belleville for the first time, while returning to many places we have loved in the past.

    My posts are at maetravels.blogspot.com and maefood.blogspot.com … mae

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