There has been a sweeping change across France. They are trying to cut down on traffic within cities and now offer bikes for rent. It is very easy to do. The hard part is either finding a bike available when you want one, one with full tires, or an empty place to return the bike to when you are finished. You will be charged for the extra time so you have to find a return point and may end up driving quite a ways from where you wanted. It has been wildly popular and the city of Paris is even making some money on the whole project.

Here is a line of posts where the bikes are parked in my neighborhood. As you can see, there aren’t many left.

You see these trucks all over Paris now as they go check the bikes.

Here is someone putting air in the tires.

 Maurice and I haven’t tried them yet. I’m waiting for warmer weather and it will have to be on a Sunday so there won’t be alot of traffic.

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 They had been together since the beginning, both wearing golds and greens, both fond of flowers and leaves.

They had found life useful being the sort to offer comfort and support to others. They were side by side, cozy, snug, content. Years went by and, with their time in the sun, they became a little faded, a little used and it wasn’t too long after that, even though it was after years of service, that it was decided that they had to be let go. They sat, side by side, in a little shop wondering what would become of them. Would they remain together? Would their old coverings be ripped off to be replaced by screaming red and yellow stripes? Would they loose the row of brass tacks running down each arm, surley the best decoration of all?

 No, it turned out that they were to remain together. They weren’t side by side anymore but they could see each other across the room and, best of all, they could still offer comfort and a soft, warm place to sit to anyone wanting to rest for a while.

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 The Opera Garnier, built between 1862 and 1875, is a building that always makes me stop and look no matter which direction I happen to see it from. It is so baroque and over the top that it shouldn’t be so appealing but I really do like it. It is now devoted to ballet and a visit to the auditorium, up the splendid steps, gives you a look at the Chagalle ceiling(painted in 1964), worth a trip in itself. The chandelier there weighs six tons and it is easy to imagine the Phantom of the Opera nearby.

It’s hard to get a good photo with all of the people and traffic in front, plus they are doing some sort of work in front too.

 A look at one corner in the front.

 A view from the side. I love that crown.

 Garnier was only 35 when he was selected, in a competition, to build the opera house. The opera was being built at the same time that Haussman was widening streets into the famous boulevards. He loved having a wide boulevard leading up to a monument or building, and the boulevard leading up to the Garnier Opera House is the only one in Paris without trees so that the view isn’t obstructed. Garnier had a horrible time getting it built. No only did they discover a spring and lake underneath-it is still there-but Napoleon III kept cutting his funds. Imagine what it would have been like if he’d have had all of the money he needed! There are also some bee hives somewhere up there on the roof and you can buy honey from those hives at the nearby Fauchon store, a mecca for gourmet shoppers.

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 Europe isn’t quite as fast off the mark for signs of Christmas as the States. It wasn’t until last week that I started seeing Christmas decorations for sale in the stores and I am just starting to see windows decorated for Christmas. They turned on the holiday lights on the trees lining the Champs Elysees a few days ago so I guess I will have to get in gear and put up a few things in our place. Maurice wants a tree this year. I wouldn’t mind doing without one, being the Scrooge that I am, but I guess I will have to do more this year than just buy a poinsettia like I did last year. Anyway, here are a few photos recently taken around Paris.

They did this last year around the Place Vendome area-put up chandeliers of plastic that look like glass from a distance.

 Not exactly a Christmas color, and I think it may be permanent but I like it.

Laudaree Tea Shops are known for their windows. Usually the decorations are in pastel colors but for Christmas they are going more elegant looking with black, red and gold.

I like it!

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 These photos aren’t on my street, but a few blocks from there. I’m amazed by the architecture that was done in Paris right before WWI, mostly in the Arch Nouveau fashion. I really like it.

 These happy faces grace one building

A noble lion guards a door

 Such a feminine decoration

 A closeup of her face-look, she even has a dimple in her chin!

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 A friend and I made our way on a cold Saturday afternoon to a brocante right off of Republique near rue de Temple. It turned out to be huge, circling around a square and a covered market and up and down streets. It was one of the best that I’ve seen in a long time.

This was the covered market with some of the many stalls around it.

 I’m always attracted to old keys. Some of these were centuries old.

I was taking photos of glasses for sale when the vendor said, “Take a photo of me too.” which I did. I think I could have had a date for dinner that night if I’d wanted.

 There is always food for sale. These all smelled so good, especially with the onions frying in the middle.

 Candied apples called Pomme d’amour-apples of love.

 Isn’t this a cute dog? Her name is Maggie and she is owned by two Americans who were there for a television show. It turns out that Maggie is Maggie the Wonder Dog with her own website at www.maggiethewonderdog.com where you can see videos of such shows as Jay Leno and also some adorable photos. She was very sleepy when we saw her sitting in a cafe at the table with her owners and mostly slept. Jesse, her owner, said she taught herself, somehow, how to count and do math. Pretty incredible and, really, I think the most interesting celebrity I’ve ever met, the cutest for sure.

 Please go and check out my new site done with my friend, Bonnie, called Side Roads of Europe where we write about unexpected and fun aspects of travel in Europe and where you can read more about the Brocante.Side Roads of Europe