Lit up Avenue

The traditional lightening up of the Champs Elysees happened last week end and will last until the beginning of next year.  It was proudly announced that because of LED bulbs the electric energy was now only 38 000 kWh instead of the 480 000 kWh with the old fashion bulbs they had used until 2006. One million euros were invested to install all the lights along the trees of the avenue and at the Rond Point area.  The festive mood will be enjoyed by more then a million revelers!

French visitors will make a point to visit and from all over the world tourists will arrive to walk up and down 'la plus belle avenue du monde'.

And many more will not walk but drive slowly up and down and add to the illumination.

http://int.rendezvousenfrance.com/en/events/christmas-lights-champs-elysees-0 

The Water Lilies

Monday 9 am we were at the Orangerie Museum to go straight to the two rooms where the famous water lilies paintings are installed. For a few minutes we could enjoy the pictures full impact without other visitors.  Monet painted these large canvases in the last 12 years of his life, starting when he was 74 years old. Alas, he did not live to see the installation in 1927.

These paintings invite to meditate and demonstrate at the same time a certain development from impressionistic to abstract art. Visitors are asked to keep quiet and not to take any photos.  To give an idea of the art installation I took a photo of a photo in the museum's entrance:

http://www.musee-orangerie.fr/homes/home_id24799_u1l2.htm

If you click on this link, you can visit virtually the water lilies art installation!

Not Just An Oyster Bar

Look - is this an installation of a Dutch still life?  We stopped our walk on the Boulevard de Montparnasse to admire this 'presentation' -  in English 'presentation' ......
 Even their web site is worth to be admired:  http://www.lebarahuitres.com/uk/index.php

The reality is somewhat different.  The staff is not the friendliest and one is lucky to get a table without reservation.  That in a way is a good sign. Perhaps next time we decide for a take out order because the seafood is very fresh, the most important quality.

Metro Station Abbesses

A walk on Montmartre is always popular when visitors are in Paris.  Best then to take the Metro line 12 to 'Abbesses' and start from there. As it is the deepest station of Paris there are many - ca 120 - steps up to the street level. Two large elevators are provided to make it easier for everyone. 

While you wait for your friends who took the steps, you can admire the art nouveau iron decoration by Hector Guimard (1867-1942).  There are only two complete Guimard stations.  Abbesses and Port Dauphine.

Then follow rue Lepic to the right and house number 54 is the one where Vincent van Gogh lived with his brother from 1886 to 1888. At that time there was no Metro and Montmartre was still a village outside of Paris.  http://www.aparisguide.com/montmartre/

Brunkebergs tunnel

This tunnel gives a clever shortcut under a hill in the middle of the city.  Over hundret years old, it was renovated not too long ago.  Swedish design at its best: visual pleasing and functional with the inward curve to the gutter...... a non smelling tunnel was created.

Vikings

Those strong vikings are still living in Sweden and they keep fit for fight in Fredhälls parken.

 When you dare to come close you realize these Vikings are beautiful Swedish women!

Docked and covered

    Today we had a pleasant 45 F and it was hard to imagine that snow and ice soon will hide everything.    Boat owners know and are prepared accordingly!

Eterneller

Middle of November it is pleasant to find a group of daisies growing on a playground. They will last through Winter and will be in competition in Spring when the real daisies are showing up.

Lusthusporten

No blue sky today but a very blue gate to the large Royal park. Once closed for royal hunting now open to everyone.  All year long and in all weather.

International Stockholm

.l 

Decisions, decisioons - once it was only a hot dog with or without bread. 

Constant Upkeep

Versailles - the largest palace in Europe which was built in the 17th century has at least five million visitors every year.  The combination of palace, park, statues and fountains built for the Sun King Louis XIV is still a monument to his absolute power.  The space, the size and the history is admired by everyone who visits this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Two weeks ago a major renovation of the Latona fountain has begun and will last at least 16 months. During this time visitors are invited to follow the work of the many artisans involved in the repair from a platform.

http://en.chateauversailles.fr/news-/events/vie-scientifique/restauration-du-bassin-de-latone-en 

The sculptures at the South side entrance to the park are waiting to be renovated and it is sad to see their beauty still covered under moss and dirt.

"Faire la queue"

 Sunday afternoon is perhaps not the best time to visit the Orangerie to see the Monet paintings - look at this line!  We continued to the Grand Palais, where an exhibition on Felix Valotton should be very good.

No, seems too long of a wait in the rain, let's continue around the corner to the Palais de la decouverte.

Yes, we understand, that it is one hour waiting time from this sign to the entrance.

But the line continues and it will be more then two hours to see "Mille Milliards de Fourmis"
How many ants?  Thousand millions?   And only 30 million visitors per year in Paris.....
http://www.palais-decouverte.fr/index.php

The Golden Sphere

This sculpture by James Lee Byars (1932-1997) was installed in the Tuileries Garden as one of several outdoor works during the FIAC  (International Contemporary Art Fair).

The fair itself took place in the Grand Palais and went between October 24 - 27.

Lucky for us, the sculptures in the garden were not removed yet.  Today under heavy grey sky the gold of this sphere gave a beautiful ray of sunshine perfectly lined up with the obelisk of Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe.

The "Tuileries Colored Sculpture" by Sam Falls closer to the Louvre is supposed to change colors under the impact of sunshine.   Sam Falls living in California was perhaps not aware of the lack of sunlight here in Paris in the Fall.

http://www.fiac.com/fr/tuileries2013.html?lg=en