Earlier today I was cleaning the house, and found a Paris calendar from 2007. Our entire house is decorated in Paris stuff, but this was just sitting on a shelf collecting dust. So I opened it, and decided to actually take several of the photos and hang them on our wall. But when I opened the calendar, I found a nice introduction paragraph written in several languages, including English and French. Below is the English version. Basically because I don’t speak French. Profitez!
Paris, ‘City of Light’, is one of the greatest and most enchanting cities in the world. Just the name evokes mystery, savoir faire and romance. Whether the city conjures intimate gas-lit lanes, shady squares and quayside booksellers, or handsome boulevards, haute couture and monumental architecture, Paris captures the heart and mind as no other city can.
Her many faces and moods have attracted the greatest photographers and painters to choose Paris as their subject matter. Due to this, even those on their first visit will feel a sense of déjà vu, having seen her famous landmarks in myriad paintings, photographs and books. Perhaps the most recognizable landmark is the Eiffel Tower. Originally designed by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel as a temporary structure to celebrate the 1889 Paris Exhibition, this familiar sight has become an integral part of the allure of Paris.
In addition to those found in her world-renowned museums and landmarks, many of the pleasures of Paris can be found in the street life along the lively banks of the river Seine. Few cities can compare with Paris for the cafés, bars and restaurants that line her streets and boulevards. Sip coffee at an outdoor cafe table and watch the world go by. Stroll along the quays in the quiet of a Sunday morning. Gaze at the reflections of street lamps in the river late at night from one of the panoramic bridges. You will lose your heart to this city.
From historic landmarks like Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower, to the beckoning cafes and parks for which the city is famous Paris creates a magic captured here in this selection of photographs.
The photos include in the calendar include:
- January: La Tour Eiffel, 1909
- February: La rue du chat qui pêche Quartier Latin
- March: La Fontaine des Fleuves, Place de la Concorde
- April: La Cabaret Moulin Rouge
- May: Le Pont Alexandre Iii et un bateau mouche
- June: La pyramide du Louvre
- July: L’Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile
- August: La Basilique du Sacré Cœur
- September: La patisserie Ladurée, Rue Royale
- October: Le jardin des Tuileries et le musee du Louvre
- November: La Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Paris
- December: La grande roue à la Place de la Concorde
These images are awesome. We are going to hang several of these, but we need to find frames first. Not sure it is worth buying custom frames, so hopefully we can find some decent cheap frames at Target or Walmart. Glad I decided to open the calendar. In inspired this blog post, after all!
