Paris, je t'aime!

It's with mixed feelings I'm leaving Paris.. I'm very happy to come home to my family and friends, but I wouldn't mind staying here longer. As of tomorrow I will continue my daily photo posting from another blog, Eiker Daily Photo, and I hope everyone who has read and followed my Oslo Daily Photo blog (and Paris Daily Photo for these six weeks), will continue to read and follow my new Eiker blog. I would like to say thanks for all the comments that you have left, it makes me happy to know people enjoy my photos! Today's photo isn't very different from millions of other photo's of Paris, but I had to blog it as my last Paris daily photo. I love this photo and I love this city!

André Citroën

I'm posting today's photo after recieving it from my mum who wanted me to reccomend Parc André Citroën. It's situated by the Seine in the 15th arrondissement, on the former Citroën automobile manufacturing plant. It's an excellent spot for running or just taking a stroll, as it got "everything." The parc has mix of small paths hidden in forestlike areas, open squares with fountains and small waterfalls. Today's photo show a few of the wooden sunbeds one might find comfortable enough to rest on after a work out session or on a summer day. The André Citroën Parc also includes six theme gardens, where every garden is associated with a metal, a plant, a day of the week, a state of the water and a sense. For example, there is The Silver Garden, associated with silver, the Moon, Monday, rivers, and sight. I have not yet been in this parc myself, therefore I am very curious to see how these six gardens look like, and as I'm leaving Paris very soon, a visit to this parc will have to be on my to-do-list for my next trip to Paris!

Métro

After six weeks I have become fairly well acquainted with the parisian métro. As the third longest métro in Western Europe, the parisian métropolitain has got 213 km of rails and over 300 stations. The average distance between the stations are 300 metres. The parisian métro contains of 16 lines, where the trains on five of them are driven on rubber wheels, whilst one line is fully automatic operated. The first métro line opened in 1900 (Line 1), the last line 98 years later (Line 14). The longest line is 22.5 km long and has 38 stations (Line 7). Every day the parisian métro transport 3.9 million people, which is just one million less than the amount of people who lives in all of Norway!

Feeding Frenzy

I'm pretty sure I know enough french to understand that this sign which says "Si vouz aimez les oiseaux, ne les nourriturez pas" translates into "If you like the birds, do not feed them." I therefore find it a bit ironic that this little boy and his mum, which you might see crouching down on his right, chose just this spot in Parc Montsouris to feed the birds yesterday afternoon

Comme c'est curieux!

What a culturel afternoon I had yesterday! First, I went to a photography exhibition at Monnaie de Paris, the Paris Mint, with photos by Willy Ronis. The exhibition marks the centenary of his birth and show, amongst a few of his well known photos, many previously unknown works. Read more about the exhibition here. Afterwards, some of my classmates and I went to Théâtre de la Huchette in the Latin Quarter. As you can see in today's photo, it's a tiny little theatre. I don't think it holds more than maybe 60-70 people at the time. Every day, Théâtre de la Huchette show two plays by Romanian/French playwrighter and dramatist Eugène Ionesco: "La Chantatrice Chauve" (The Bald Soprano) and "La leçon" (The Lession). Yesterday we saw both plays and we all really enjoyed them. As Ionesco is one of the most famous playwrighter in the style "Theatre of the Absurd" I had many good laughs and I highly recommend going! Follow these links for Théâtre de la Huchette and Eugène Ionesco

Tree hut

Today I'm taking you from the exterior to the interior of Centre Pompidou, showing you how it looks like from the inside and out, through the bearing structure and technical installations. The tree hut you can see is part of one current exposition Centre Pompidou is offering at the moment. It is by Japanese-born artist Tadashi Kawamata, and you can read more about it here

Pompidou

Once upon a time, two architects wanted to design somthing different, something that would break with the traditional parisian facades, buildings and architecture in general. The architects, Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, recieved much criticism for these ideas and the building that arose from them. In 1977, Centre Pompidou were finished, although one could say it didn't look finished, having all its bearing structure and technical installations on the outside. By now, it seems like the parisians have grown used to their modern looking museum/library. I took this photo of Centre Pompidou last night, and only having seen it in daylight before, I quite like it by night

Monsieur Pique!

With only one more week here in Paris, I have spent my Saturday afternoon doing what I love: Wandering around little streets, popping into every shop I find interesting and when my feet gets tired, relax in a little park or garden. Today I started in Parc de Bercy, did some shopping in Bercy Village and finished off with exploring the streets around the Marais area. That's where I met Monsieur Pique, the proud guardian of this art gallery/shop

Room with a view

Earlier I told you my dream of living in Paris started in Place des Vosges. An addition to the dream is that it would have to be a room with a view. Like this for example: The view of Paris from Butte Montmartre

Paris Plage

Every summer for the last 8 years, the Seine's Rive Droit, right bank, and the highway along it has been transformed into a beach. One can argue whether or not it's A BEACH, but everything is relative. Paris Plage stretches from Le Louvre until Pont Sully, which is about 3.5 km. Read more about it on it's homepage

Bright colours

As today's theme is bright colours, I chose this photo taken in one of the many art galleries in the Arcades surrounding Place des Vosges in Marais. This square is so beautiful. I love the red brick houses that surrounds the square, and it was here my childhood dream of living in Paris started!
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Abbesses

Thanks to Eric Tenin's blog I have now (yet) another favourite street in Paris. His daily photo from two days ago took me to Rue des Martyrs, and yesterday afternoon I found myself wandering up the street. It is full of boulangeries, pâtisseries, second hand shops and small cafés and bars. At the top of the street, right by the metro station Abbesses, where the amount of tourist increases, I found this staircase covered in colorful graffiti. The staircase led me to the top of Butte Montmartre and the museum Espace Dalí Montmartre (www.daliparis.com), which is also a favourite of mine

Buskers

Today's photo is taken right in between Paris' two islands, Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis. Not only situated in the middle of Paris' tourist area, Île de la Citè is also geographic and historic centre. Ponte Saint-Louis, the bridge that connects the two islands is a popular spot for buskers, and a perfect spot for nice views of the French Renaissance style inspired Hôtel de Ville, which houses the office of the Mayor of Paris

Pine

In the beginning of my stay in Paris I wrote about Jardin du Luxembourg, how it's my favourite spot for lunch on a sunny day. I am a little embarassed to say that even though I have been in Paris many times, I have not really visited that many parks and gardens, only because I kept going back to Jardin du Luxembourg. Since then I have spent some of my afternoons and weekends exploring other green lungs in Paris. Of the numerous parks and gardens in Paris, I still have a "few" left to see before I've seen them all. So far I am very surprised that all the parks and gardens are so different to each other. Not all of them has, what is for me a characteristic Parisian style, with the fountains, statues and flowers like Jardin du Luxembourg or Jardin de Tuileries. Today's photo is taken in Parc Montsouris, in the 14th arrondissement. What I like the most about this park are all the trees, in particular the pine trees that reminds me of home, and by reading about the parc I learnd that there are about 150 species of trees and shrubs growing there

Fancy a beer?

Fancy a beer? And not the usual one? My tip is this Belgium beer bar in 19 Rue Sufflot, close to the Panthéon. It's called La Gueuze and serves at least 40 different beers. I like "La fin du monde" (The end of the world), "Bière du dèmon" (Demon beer), "Cochonette" (Piglet) and "Judas"

A cat's life

There has always been so much talk about the thousands of dogs that live here in Paris, and especially about their dirty business they leave behind in the streets, I have completely forgotten about all the cats! That was until I saw this petit chat in Jardin du Luxembourg some days ago. Having this park as you outdoor playground, this really must be a cat’s life!

Same same but different

Another sunset over the Seine, but from another angle. I took this photo on France's national day last week, while I was waiting for the fireworks. It's taken on Pont Mirabeau in the 15th arrondissement. I love the blue colour of the sky and the reflection off the buildings on the right. It's very different from yesterday's sunset, yet it's the same city and the same river. I'm also gonna refer to an old post from this blog (you can see it here) where I find myself in the philosophical corner, if that expression works in English. I describe how you can experience a whole different world if you take time to stop and look back to where you came from. In this case, if you view the Effel Tower from different angles and parts of Paris, the experience can be quite different

Sunset

A beautiful sunset over the Seine. Today's photo is taken on Pont Louis Philippe, a bridge that connects Rive Droit, the Right Bank, and the island Ile Saint-Louis

Exploring

I love exploring areas, places and parks in Paris I have never visited before, except for the getting lost part. Today I got lost in Gare de Lyon, trying to find my way out. When I finally saw daylight, I also saw these photos scattered around the front of the station. According to this webpage, the world-renowned photography festival "Les Rencontres d'Arles," based in Arles, are spreading the festival to six stations across France, with Paris Gare de Lyon as one of them. Read more about the festival on this webpage www.rencontres-arles.com This exhibition of photos in front of landmarks also reminds me of the open-air exhibitions that takes place in Oslo in front of the City Hall every now and again. This is something I posted a photo of earlier. You can see that daily photo here

White facades

Today's photo show a typical parisian facade, as almost every house/facade in Paris are white. I specially enjoy the view from Montmartre and the basilica Sacré-Cæur for this reason, Paris just looks so white from there. This photo is taken on Île de la cité, one of the two islands on the river Seine, on Place Dauphine, a street and square shielded from the noise from the heavy trafficated streets along the Seine. It's a very cosy and quiet place with a few restaurants and bars not far from the busy tourist centre around Notre-Dame and Saint-Michel, worth a visit!

When in Paris..

..do what the Parisiens do. Go jogging in a park. This is one of the most Parisien things I know about. No matter the day, no matter the time or no matter the weather, you are bound to see several Parisians running in the park. I might be here for 6 weeks, but I'm not on holiday so I need to keep exercising, which in this case mean joining in on these guys

Wow

Today it's Bastille Day, France's National Day. Forget about the military parade that goes down the Champs-Elysées in the morning. Go instead to one of the two Parisian Operas, Palais Garnier or Opera Bastille for a free matinée. I went to Palais Garnier, and even though the queues and the wait was long, it was worth it. Not only was the ballet show "La danseuse de Degas," by choreographer Patrice Bart, really good, the Opera house itself was breathtakingly beautiful. I got more and more mesmerized the further inside I got, and the whole experience was perfect when I saw Marc Chagall's roof painting. Wow! Read about the show here

Mission failed!

Oh, how completely different today's post and photo is, compared to how I planned and hoped it would be. Tomorrow is Bastille Day, or France's National Day, so tonight and tomorrow night, several fire stations around in Paris are hosting big parties, called "Bals des Pompiers de Paris." I had one mission for tonight. That mission was to go to one of these parties, have a drink and take a photo of one smoking hot firefighter. They are, as I have read somwhere, seen as major sex symbols here in Paris (and I won't argue that!). Anyways, I chose the fire station close to Église Saint-Sulpice in the 6th arrondissement. The queue you can see on today's photo is about 1/5 of the whole line of people waiting to get in. I probably don't need to say I wasn't up for that, no matter how sexy the firefighters. But what I need to say is: Mission failed!

Viva España, again

You might not believe me when I say I'm no big fan of football, since today's photo is the second football related photo on this blog in just a few days. But I just had to see the World Cup Finale. Again I spent the evening at Trocadéro, with good friends and wine. Yesterday the crowd got even bigger than it did last Wednesday for the semi final, so we kept a little in the back. That turned out as a good idea, as people managed to push down fences and find their way through the barriers and into the Fifa Fan Fest area. Crazy football fans!

Libraire

Just a quick post today! I think this libraire, bookshop, has a really smart solution to show off books outside the shop. This is a bookshop at Place de la Sorbonne!

Viva España

Today I spent the evening at Trocadéro, amongst thousands of football fans. I'm no big fan myself, but I came along and hoped Spain would win. Which they did, after scoring a goal in the 73rd minute. As Trocadéro is my favourite spot in Paris to view the Eifel Tower, this was a perfect spot to view the last semi final in open air. I love the colours of the sky behind the tower at sunset from this angle, and together with the atmosphere from the crowd a minute after the scooring, I think this makes quite a nice photo for today!

Carefree cooling off

It's hot in Paris, and hotter it will be! While some people are worried about a new heatwave hitting town, this little girl in pink, cooling off in a fountain in front of École Militaire, seems to be very carefree!

Les fleurs

One of my followers commented on my post yesterday asking where all the flowers in Jardin du Luxembourg were. To be honest, I didn't notice or think about that my photo yesterday from the garden was one without all the beautiful flowers they use to have in their flowerbeds. The photo i posted yesterday was taken last week, when I was here in Paris for a quick two-day meeting. I guess the gardeners have been busy since then. Compare yesterday's flowerless photo to today's photo I took yesterday. It's the same flowebed, just from another angle!

Jardin du Luxembourg

One of my favourite things to do when in Paris, is to have lunch in the Luxembourg gardens. The park is the garden of the French Senate which is housed in the Luxembourg Palace you can see on today's photo. Jardin du Luxembourg is the largest public park in Paris (22.5 hectares), its located in the 6th arrondissement and not too hard to spot on the Paris map. There are still places in the park I have never been, like l'Orangerie, where lemon and orange trees take shelter from the cold or Rucher du Luxembourg, where bees have produced hunny centuries. I think today is a perfect day for lunch in Jardin du Luxembourg!

Place de la Sorbonne

First of all I have to say I don't have much background knowledge of Paris and its buildings, squares, monuments etc, but as this 6 week long stay will be my 9th time in Paris I do know my way around in the city so some extent. This "new" Paris Daily Photo blog will be more of a means for me to show you the places I already have been and love, and new places i will pass through and most definitely love as well! Today's photo is of a square or place where I'm sure I'm gonna spend a lot of time sitting in the sun, cool down in the water from the fountains and do some french class homework. This is Place de la Sorbonne in the Latin Quarter, in front of La Sorbonne, the historical house of the former Univeristy of Paris

100 reflections of Oslo

From this blog's very first post in February, I have today posted exactly a 100 pictures from Oslo! With this I will end this Oslo Daily Photo blog. I have not grown tired of this daily habit, the only reason for me to stop posting pictures from Oslo is because I have moved from the city and back home to my hometown. I will continue posting daily photos from my municipality, Eiker, in a new blog although this blog will not be up and running until 15th of August. From tomorrow and for the next 6 weeks I am a Parisian!! I urge you therefore to keep following this blog for a Paris daily photo, until mid August, when I hope you will follow me to my new blog and see many beautiful pictures from my little hometown! Please stay tuned!! Not forgetting about theme day today, I have chosen to give this month's theme "reflections" a wide interpretation. As reflectins can be representations or images I will mention again that today's picture is the last in a series of one hundred photos, images, representations or reflections of Oslo. The building you can see in today's photo is the Oslo Opera House. It was finished in April 2008, after about 5-6 years of building. In just one year, the Opera House had 1.3 million visitors, making it one of Oslo's most popular tourist spots. It's roof is open for the public to walk around on, giving some nice views over Oslo, and in summer time the roof is also used as a concert venue.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

En helt vanlig dag i helvete!

In one staircase at national theatre trainstation you can find these displays. They show quotes from plays at the National Theatre together with it's title, when it's on and who acts in them. When I was commuting to university, I used to come up these escalators every day. I remember very well one play and its quotes. Ole Anders Tandberg's dramatization of the writer Tor Ulven's texts, the play "En helt vanlig dag i helvete" translating into "An ordinary day in hell" has stuck with me. Every time when I came up the escalators, feeling crappy after an hour of commuting and tired from not being able to sleep on the train because it was either packed with travellers and I had to stand the whole way, or I had to prepare something for university, I just read the quotes and especially the title, which made (and still does) for some reason so much sense to me. It was just another ordinary day in hell! I just regret I never got around to see the play, I think I would've liked it!

Tartar of trout

Now I realise I haven't had enough to eat tonight, because I get really hungry looking at today's photo. I dined out at a restaurant at Aker Brygge some days ago, having tartar of trout for starters. This resturant serves only seafood and are open only during the summer season. The food was superb! It's name is well chosen, "Solsiden" (the sunny side), since there are perfect views over the Oslo Fjord and the sunset. On their webpage there is a link to a video travel report made for the CNN, where the restaurant is mentioned. Watch it here

Golden Gay Time

Of course I forget to bring my camera along on the day you can spot queer people (some of them taking a huge step out of the closet) almost on every street corner in Oslo. I could have called today's photo "Snapshot on Queer Day", but choose to call it Golden Gay Time, remembering my student days down under, cooling down in their premier gay city, Sydeny, with an ice cream bearing the same name. That's when I learnt gay also means happy! Managed to take this quick snapshot with my camera phone, you might be able to see the ladyboy in the background, if not, at least the gay flags in the wind. Such a shame I was in a hurry and to shy to ask the ladyboy for a close up..

Botsen

After a few days abroad, I'm back blogging! Today's photo show the wall surrounding, and part of, Oslo Fengsel (Oslo Prison), populary called "Botsen" The prison was constructed between 1844 and 1851, designed by the architect Heinrich Schirmer (Schirmer has also designed, in cooperation with the architect Wilhelm von Hanno, several other prisons and churches in Oslo and around the country). Botsen was the first prison in Norway to be built after the "Philadephia System," where the inmates were strictely isolated in order for them to regret their crimes. Botsen was expanded in the 1900's and had, on its most, 223 inmates. In 1975 it became a part of Oslo Fengsel. Oh, and by the way, earlier I have posted a photo from the entrance/exit of the prison, see it here

Rhododendron

Summer is here and the flowers are in full bloom. I find these rhododendrons, especially in this purple colour, very beautiful. Today's photo is taken in Slottsparken, in front of the Royal Castle.

To skate or not to skate?

Today's photo gives a view of Oslo's City Hall, although I'm not going to consentrate this post on the building and its history. The City Hall is a very popular spot for skaters to meet and practice. Every day, at all times, there are skaters outside the City Hall. I have been curious to whether the skaters are "accepted" there, whether the City Hall stairs, of all places, is a desired place for skaters. For as long as I can remember, there has been discussions in the media or in local communities whether or not skaters are welcome. After a quick search online I found an article on the subject. A few years ago, it actually existed an agreement between the skaters (Norwegian organisations for skatboarders) and the Oslo council, saying the skaters were only allowed to skate in front of the City Hall after office hours. This agreement was kept for a few years, before the skaters started to skate there at all times, as they do today. Prior to this agreement, the skating at the City Hall stairs had been illegal for over ten years. Today, a balance between the passers by's safety and the skater's use of public sphere plays a role in accepting the skaters as a part of the City Hall stairs and place.

Bella Italia

At Holmenkollen last weekend I spotted this kiosk/souvernir shop. You might be able to see the word "Troll" carved into the wood above the entrance, being the shop's name. As a souvernir shop at a major Norwegian tourist attraction, I find it a bit ironic that the kiosk has taken on a very Norwegian (and Scandinavian) name, "Troll", as well as selling Italian ice cream (you can see the ice cream sign, "Bella Italia" on the left).

Cats

As a cat person, I had to take a photo of these two cats I spotted in a window at Tøyen. Although I really like cats, especially in the pose these cats are in (as a teenager I even wanted a tattoo on my hand(!) of a cat in this posture), I am somewhat questionable to having cats in a big city. Only because many owners keep them inside, and if they take them outside, its in a leash. Even though these cats looks happy and healthy, I can't help ask whether or not they are allowed outside to hunt the big city giant mice (read: rats)

Slottsparken

Two months ago I posted a photo of the north-western end of Slottsparken, the park surrounding the Royal Castle. See that photo here, and compare it to today's photo, which is taken almost on the same spot. Then I stood facing the suburbs of Majorstua and the shopping street Bogstadveien, today I was facing the centre of the park. Look how green it is! My hayfever must have been kind to me this season, so far I haven't had too many problems with it. Knock on wood.

Trancher

Slow food served fast, is the restaurant Trancher's slogan. This place have got only one main dish; entrecôte. You then choose a side dish from a mix of vegetables, then a sauce. Simple, and really good! Having travelled through Argentina and eaten their famous steaks for dinner almost everyday, this restaurant is a perfect place to dream and pretend I'm back travelling. Check out trancher.no for more!

Holmenkollen Ski Jump

Finally, I have been to "Kollen" to take a look at the new ski jump. As I wrote on its official opening day (read the post here) Holmenkollen has been torn down and rebuildt. The brand new steel construction looks very stylish and a lot more modern than the old Kollen. There is still quite a bit of construction work going on up there, although the Ski Museum are open as normal. For more detailed information about the new hill, check out Oslo Municipality's webpage on the subject www.holmenkollen.oslo.kommune.no

Recharge

I skimmed through the newspaper the other day, and I remember some headline about the worlds largest parking/recharge space for electric cars opening in Oslo somewhere. I didn't dwell upon this news for too long, until I suddenly saw this car park on my way to work today. I got a feeling this was the new recharge area I briefly read about in the news, since this car park has never been here before. And, I was right. On June 7th, the world largest municipal charging station for electrical cars was opened at Aker Brygge. It was celebrated by a parade of 69 electrical cars driving from the City Hall to the charging station. The station can hold up to 50 cars, where they can recharge their battery for free. On the same day, a national database for all the charging stations in Norway was opened by our Transport Minister. So, if you find yourself travelling through Oslo in an eco-friendly way, you can easily find a perfect little spot to stop, and recharge here!

Island hopping

As I wrote a few days ago, it took only 20 minutes by ferry to get to one of the little islands in the inner part of the Oslo Fjord. The ferry stops on several of the islands, so in fact, Oslo offers a possible island hopping in summer time if you're up for it! Today's photo is from the island Gressholmen, which offers a nice view of the city. The tiny little white dot you might spot on the hill in the back, is the new Holmenkollen Ski Jump! To see timetables for the Oslo ferries and public transport in general, check out www.trafikanten.no

Egon's Exit

One of my best childhood memories are watching the Olsenbanden movies on television with my family on Saturday evenings. Olsenbanden, that can be translated into The Olsen's Gang, were a series of comedy movies from the 70's about Egon Olsen and his two buddies, his gang. They were three amateur criminals, in every movie trying to put to life one of Egon's remarkable plans. In every movie Egon describes the plans as solid and waterproof, and the plans might have been just as waterproof and solid as Egon predicted, had these three mates not been born with such huge amount of unluck each. Every movie starts with Egon finally being released from prison, with his two mates happy, waiting for him outside. Every movie ends with Egon being caught by the same persistent and vindictive police officer, and put to prison. Today's photo is taken approximately at the same place Egon's mates waits for him on his prison release. The red brick building you can see in the end of the road is in fact a real prison. It is Oslo Kretsfengsel (Oslo Prision), division A, known as Botsfengselet or Botsen

Summer Sunset

My schoolmates and I celebrated the start of summer holiday the other day, with a trip to one of the islands in the inner part of the Oslo Fjord, only 20 min away by ferry (the ferry, by the way, is a part of Oslo's public transport system Ruter, making it easy and affordable). After a long and relaxing afternoon and evening, filled with barbecue, ball games and countless mosquito bites, we took the last ferry back into the city, with today's photo as our view!

Photography in the public sphere

Every now and again, there are photo exhibitions on display outside the City Hall. The exhibitions are for everyone who walks past, either it is Oslo citizens on their way home from work or tourists taking a stroll along Aker Brygge. Some years ago, one exhibition was Yann Arthus-Bertrand's "The earth from above" photos, and a few months back, the exhibition was hosted by Norway's Blind Association in cooperation with 18 of Norway's best photographers. The exhibition was called "More than nothing" and the photos portrayed was the photgraphers interpretations of how visually impaired see the world. The exhibition at the moment might be a tourism commercial for Spain, showing beautiful photos from Spanish cities. Regardless what exhibition is on, I like taking the time in a busy weekday, walk along Aker Brygge with all the tourists and enjoy good photography.
For more great photography, check out Yann Arthus-Bertrand's work

City park life

Summer is offically here! Weather reports says it will be sunny and over 20 degrees all week! Good thing I'm on holiday! A mix of being busy studying for my exams and having trouble with uploading photos on the blog, is the reason I haven't posted photos every day this week. Hopefully my mac will stop playing up soon, so I can go back to my daily blogging. I took today's photo yesterday in the south end of the parc Frognerparken at Majorstua. Where else to go in a big city on a summer's day than the park?

Weird art

A very weird sculpture at Oslo Central Station. I am somewhat amazed and amused to see what our goverment chooses to spend their money on

Calming coffee

In February I wrote about a very nice coffee shop not far from our university and how the girls in my class and I go there before our exams to calm our nerves down with an espresso shot or two. Well, yesterday we had an exam, and at 9am we met for a coffe hopefully to calm ourselves down. Not sure it worked. We'll find out in June when we get our grade.. The earlier post on this cool coffee shop/cocktail bar, you can find here