A few photos of the area around the Louvre Museum with either curved lines and/or straight lines in them.

The lovely Institute de France seen through an arch at the Louvre.

Another arch, this time with the famous pyramid of the Louvre. Can you spot three traingles in this photo?

This arch is part of the covered passage in the Palais Royal. I like the branches curving in front of the light.

No curves here, just the spears on the gates at Palais Royal.

I am always posting photos of the truly beautiful Vivienne Passage, or covered walk way. I think it is one of the most lovely but the other day I ventured out of my usual territory and decided to walk through three others which run one after another from the 2nd arrondissement into the 9th. They are called the Passage des Panoramas, Passage Jouffroy and Passage Verdeau. They are all very lively, full of places to eat or shops featuring art, books, toys, stamps or postcards. As usual, I stroll along dreaming of what life was like when these were first built.

I love the look of this. I’ve seen similar looking passage ways in London and Melbourne, Australia.

This pie looked really good sitting in the window of a tea shop. I think it was apricot. The crust looked unusual to what I usually see in Paris. I need to get back there and order a piece.

A hand pointing to the entry of a wax museum, the Greven.

Many books for sale to tempt people.

A reflection in some windows of the skylights above. There are also occasional glass blocks on the floor which lets in some light to tunnels underneath used for storage.

Notre Dame is covered with fascinating sculptures. One of the most interesting to me is the one of Saint Denis. He was once the bishop of Paris and was beheaded up on Montmartre which means Mountain of Matryrs. Then, according to legend, he picked up his head and preaching all the way, walked down hill where he finally stopped two miles later which is the location of the Saint Denis Basilica which is well worth a visit.

You can find a sculpture of him on the left side of the left front door of Notre Dame. There are two angels on either side of him saying, “Oh, my! Would you look at that!” Look at the line of little sculptures to the right of the angel on the right-they are signs of the zodiac. Apparantly, it was okay back then to put them on a church.

A close up.

A view of Notre Dame from the back. I love it when the sun comes out on a cloudy day and outlines the cathedral with gold.

The last time I was in the Place des Vosges in the Marais I spotted Paul McCartney. Even if no celebrities are spotted, it’s always a wonderful place to take a stroll.

Yes, this is a rabbit. I saw it there between the box wood shrubs and thought it was a cat at first. Then I noticed that it had a leash and looked around and saw the owner sitting on a nearby bench. He was just letting it have a little fresh air. I wonder if he walks the rabbit down the sidewalk too? Not as exciting as seeing Sir Paul but sort of made my day in a strange way.

A look down one of the covered passageways that surround the park at Place des Vosges.

A photographic little table in front of a jewelry store.

Some people enjoying the sun in the garden of a lovely building in the Marais.

I always know spring is here when I see men and women selling bouquets of daffodils on the corners in Paris. It always reminds me of my first spring here in Paris with Maurice when he took me out to a forest just outside the city and we picked our own daffodils.

These aren’t especially a spring item but I loved how they looked shining in the sun. I love nuts.

Sometimes I think I like ranuculas and anemonies better than roses.

Although these are really cute.

A taste of spring in every bite.

Louis Vuitton, that is, famed for those two initials, L and V. I don’t own anything made by this company and probably never will but I do enjoy walking though the store and looking at all of the quality merchandise. The store was packed with people. I guess many stores in the luxury market aren’t having financial problems.

Those famous initials.

A purse in the window. (You can’t take photos inside the store.)

They are doing animal skins too. Aren’t these shoes something? I never wear heels anymore but I like to look at them.

A flower in the window. They are celebrating an American artist, a friend of Marc Jacobs, the designer for Louis Vuitton, and have bags and shows with red and pink grafitti on them celebrating. The artist, now deceased, is named Sprouse.
Some facts I picked up while there: Louis Vuiton has 430 stores around the world. The store on the Champs Elysees has 350 Employees composed of 30 plus nationalties who speak a combined total of 34 languages. The store started in the Opera area before moving to the Champs Elysees. The store was closed for three years to undergo extensive renovations-they wouldn’t tell me how much it cost but I did hear that just the elevator alone was one million. The theme of the store is tradition and innovation. So they keep many of the same symbols and colors while using new ones too. It was the son of the original Louis Vuitton who came up with the logo of the L and V and the flower symbol as well to put on the bags and suitcases because they were being copied-like that has stopped anyone. They were also the first to use a celebrity-Jennifer Lopez-to advertise their products. They have a line of shoes and purses designed by Sophia Coppolo, the film director who did the movie, Marie Antoinette. You can get a bag or a watch designed just for you if you want. They never have sales, not ever.
PS-these photos may not be used without permission. The last time I had photos of Louis Vuitton on my blog, I found the photos all over the place, mainly on ebay and etsy. However, I am happy to let them be used. Just ask me first.