Partager Stockholm

I stumbled upon her, surrounded by flowers, while I was ambling around, taking a few shots here and there and dodging the raindrops. She seemed so earnest in her gaze at the water's horizon that I was forced to join her and share this view of the water's edge and the city; one of the best places to watch the sizzling sunsets, ...following the graceful sailboats and the determined excursion boats' wakes ...why did she have such a concentrated stare? maybe waiting for her lover to return? Or just escaping the worries of the day, the gray of the season? This lovely lady is perched in the gardens of the Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde Museum on the island of Djurgarden, the former home of the Prince Eugen (1865-1947). It is now one of the most popular art museums. A entrance ticket allows you to visit the beautiful private apartments, his atelier, and gardens. Plan to have a few extra minutes after you have made the tour to enjoy a delicious, truly Swedish meal served in the small restaurant on the second floor. That was a really nice surprise!

This is just one of the many interesting things to do while visiting Stockholm (just to let you know that there are over 70 museums here). I was disappointed that I didn't have the time to take a boat ride tour of the islands, or just as a taxi between islands..what a nice way to get across town quick!

So, let's go back and partager a boat ride over to the Gamla Stan, the Old Town, to walk through the winding, cobbled alleyways and medieval squares, a real cultural landmark of Sweden. Allez!

If you would like to see more of my Photos of Stockholm, please take a look.

Partager MADRID

The exhibition, TEARS OF EROS, translated from Les Larmes d'Eros, Georges Bataille's last book, opened in Madrid last week at the Muso Thyssen-Bornemisza. Just say the word Eros and everyone seems to take note, in a taboo sort of way. I had noticed the exhibition announcement in the plane's magazine, and made a mental note to check it out. The exhibit associates Bataille's discussion of the issue of of the intimate relationship between Eros and Thanatos...between sex drive and death instinct.

It is an interesting exhibition that warrants at least 2 hours of your time, plus it is right across the street from the famous Prado Museum.

The past week has been a busy one...traveling from the south to the north...Madrid to Stockholm.. two wonderful trips to partager with you. Paris is one of the doors to the rest of Europe. It is so facile, easy, to hop from one end of Europe, or the world, to the next, for a reasonable price; be it by train or by plane. So, when planning your trip to Paris..keep an open mind to take a jump to another city; a 2 hour plane ride will get you there! I'll fill you in on Stockholm on Friday! To see some more of this beautiful city, check out the photos on these Flickr sites: flickr.com/photos/bltdevue and flickr.com/photos/collardgreens

á vendredi!

Partager Fete Des Vendanges de Montmartre

My first time ...and a great one! Why did I wait so long to partager in this wonderful event? The event that I am still so excited about "La Fete des Vendanges de Montmartre." What a celebration! It is a GRAND parade, défilé, in honor of Bacchus ( one of my favorite gods!) and the Harvest Queen. I went with our photoclub, Paris PhotoMeetup, (check it out for some great shots of this event) to spend the day and most of the night celebrating the grapes of Montmartre. It began at the Marie du 18th arrondisement, and ended at Sacré Coeur, where the "Pyramide des Castellers", were building a human pyramid, consisting of men, women and children. I started to participate, but I am afraid of heights! The grand finale of the this special fete was celebrated with fireworks in front of Sacré Coeur. Along the way we enjoyed some of the fetes' products, produits du terroir, but more important, the Vigne du Clos Montmartre, the wine!

I will make it a point, to partager, this fete again next year. The vendange is celebrated every year...the first weekend of October. How about you? Get ready to climb the hill of Sacré Coeur and join in the fun!

Partager Music

I hadn't seen him in quite a long time. He seems to slip in and out in the middle of the night. Never do I see a suitcase in his hand. He isn't actually my neighbor; he is my neighbor's "petit ami". She is 92 and I am not sure of his age. Oh, the beauty of love ...at any age. I am always so happy to see him, because then I know she is not alone. But, how do I know when this mysterious man has dropped by for a visit? I don't see him, but I hear him. He plays the trombone, not just plays, but really plays well; plays all around France with some big names. So, when he is here, I receive a concert, gratuit. Today I actually saw him; met him in the stairwell. He told me Mme. is not doing so well...going down, he said. "And so am I. I don't play the horn anymore, but the keyboard". "Oh", I said slowly...I guess I must have added bit of sadness to those words, realizing that the much enjoyed concerts were now sold out... because, now, as I am typing this a few hours after our meeting in the stairwell, l'escalier, his music is wafting out his window and into mine. I like to think he is playing just for me...well, probably for Mme, too!

Partager Music...what a beautiful thing to share!

Partager Nuit Blanche 2009

Yes, Paris is known as the City of Lights,...which invites you to stay up all night. It is the city to partager at night. So the first Saturday in October, Paris celebrates with an all night Slumberless Party...La Nuit Blanche, which translates to "white night", or a night awake. A great excuse to give in to that "itch" to be outside..., to roam the city all night. So, I did! Not only was the weather great, but the moon was FULL, one of the fullest moons of the year. This year, the city concentrated most of the celebrating to three quartiers of the city, Chatelet/Marais, Buttes Chaumont, and the Latin Quarter; even Notre-Dame and the Grand Mosque were included in the events. To make the evening easier to enjoy, (there were more than 60 projects being shown!!) Soundwalk provided gratuit an application for the iphone which offered promenades of each of the quartiers of Nuit Blanche..just like a movie! What a great idea! and so, I was able to make it to just about all that was happening. Paris knows how to give a Slumber Party! Make your plans to be here for the the next Nuit Blanche 2010, so I can Partager it with you!