Taking bus 84 in Paris

Some people come to Paris and never set foot on the bus.

You'd have to drag them kicking and screaming onboard a Paris bus.

Yet they're missing out on a very relaxed way to see Paris with all it's monuments.

You see lots of architectural details sitting on a bus you'd waltz right by walking in the street.

Like this sheep on rue du Four in the 6th. Shouldn't they call it rue du Mouton?

You can make notes of shops you want to go back to while on the bus.

Get interesting textural effects that Photoshop hasn't dreamt up yet.

"I took the 47 today all the way to Gare de l'Este and bought a pink scarf inside the train station!"

The nice French lady sitting behind her kindly pointed out, 

"If you look to your right you can see the Louvre". 

We could hardly keep from giggling. You do have nice little encounters on Paris buses that never happen on the Metro. No way.

Next time I need to draw a Paris street lamp I know where to go.

We changed buses in front of Repetto ballerina shop on rue de Sevres.

It may be a while before I go 'en point' again...

Or wear sandals...I was sitting on the bus when I got this shot...

OK, you may want to close your eyes for the next 2 pics, except my doc is vraiment charmante et trés beau mec/basically gorgeous..

I wish I could say the same about my new botte. Enorme et trés lourde. Who needs to lift weights when you've got this thing on? A mere 61€ in case you're dying to get one by the way.

Russell Crowe and I are now practically kissing cousins.

Post-clinique trauma, we had a bash-up dejeuner at Cafe Chezelles.

Me, I'll be taking bus 67 + 74. Then walking at a snail's pace but at least I can walk. Yesterday I walked to the local alimentaire/grocery on the island and found my much-missed Haribo. This 'boot is made for walkin' after all.For more info on: HOW-TO TAKE THE BUS!

Paris 1900

As requested more Paris 1900 from the Petit Palais on til August 19

Art Nouveau bronze head

Stunning black opal brooch in the Art Nouveau style.

Curvilinear lines infuse everything in daily life

Thanks to the likes of Mucha, Gallé, Guimard and Lalique.

No straight line is left uncurved.

Many new railroad stations were built for the Exposition: Gare de Lyon, Gare des Invalides

And Gare d'Orsay now the musee d'Orsay.

As well as the first Metro line, the Metropolitain.

The views from Pont Alexandre must have been astonishing - 50,000,000 visitors flocked to Paris.

Though the best view may have been up in a balloon far from the maddening crowds...still is.

These illustrations...

Of everyday folk looked a lot like

Maurice Sendek figures to me.

High society Parisiennes decked out in fur and lacy garments

No wonder they were constantly fanning themselves.

For amusement a bit of embroidering perhaps?

While in the back rooms of fashion salons other Parisiennes stitched day and night

To fill shop orders in the big new emporiums like Galeries Lafayette, Le Bon Marché and Printemps.

Something with a bit of ribbon Madame?

This pile of ribbons, flowers, leaves looks not so different from this fruity tarte from Gosselin on Bvd Saint Germain. Just pop this on your head and pretend you're back in Paris 1900...

Paris 1900

You have till 19 August to see the Paris 1900 at the Petit Palais
 

'The Petit Palais was built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition, like its neighbour the Grand Palais, on avenue Winston Churchill. It became a museum in 1902. Designed by Charles Girault, it is based on a trapezium shape and is made up of four wings around a semi-circular garden bordered by a richly decorated peristyle. The architect achieved a successful blend of traditional and modern architecture which is evident in the natural flow of visitors around the building and in the bold openings he created onto the Champs-Elysées gardens and inner courtyard garden'.
 

It's good I went early in April and forgot to tell you about it. The inside of the Petit Palais
 

Reflects the paintings in the exhibit.
 

Wonderful painted scenes
 

Of people who came to see the Grand Exposition, the Exposition Universelle.
 

In 1900
 

If only we still looked like this.
 

Never mind. Isadora Duncan danced in Paris. Or is this Loë Fuller twilling?
 

The 1900s produced lots of sculptures. Quite a few twirlers.
 

The parasol...an essential for everyday outings. 
 

And of course the Cancan and the Moulin Rouge
 

The term Parisiennes was created.

What to wear...so many guides even then
.

Black in Paris was de rigueur even then. Plus Paris rain.
 

The riding habit along the Champs-Elysees 
 

Quite moderne.
 

Ah the fabulous frills, buttons and bows
 

Hats were essential. This one's seen better days no doubt.
 

Where are the milliners of yesteryear? 
 

And the garment workers in the back rooms looking quite jolly..
 

Well there's loads I haven't shown you. Just go to the Petit Palais and pretend you're in Paris 1900. It isn't hard.