I Prefer Paris

Paris Window Boxes-2021

It’s my annual edition of the Paris window boxes. For 2021, I concentrated mostly on the window boxes in my neighborhood, Le Marais. Do you have some favorites? 

Eye Prefer Paris 16^th Anniversary 

I want to thank the following people for generously donating to Eye Prefer Paris so I can continue my subscription service. Your donations exceeded my initial request of $540 and I will apply the extra funds towards a second year. I also want to thank you for your kind notes you included in the donation. 

Nancy S., Judith R., Chris K., Kathy G., Carol P., Judy H., Barbara E., Susan S., Liz S., John K., Monique VD., Angela LV., John H,. Edward N., Jan L., Richard B., Kathy M., Dr. J., Joanie S., Leann R., Mary Lynn C., Diane S., Barbara L., Carmen C., Debbie H., Bonnie F., Judy S., Cheryl M., Virginia G., Jerry F., Russ R., Cheryl T., Pete K., Jeanie T., Carolyn A., Michael H., Allan VF., Diane K., Annie P.,Brunie F., Susie F., Peggy and Jim B, and Linda S. 

My apologies if I have forgotten anyone. 

Night and Sunset Photos of the Louvre and Montmartre

I’ve given several evening highlights tour, where I take clients in a car or van and show them the sites at night, including the sparkle lights on the Eiffel Tower on the hours, Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre, the courtyard of the Louvre, Invalides, and Place de la Concorde. Sometimes I take photos, especially if it’s a clear night. 

During the photo shoot with Marichel and Ben last week, I also snapped some of my own photos of the sunset. 

Do you have some favorites here? 

I can make a photo print of any of these photos. Below are sizes and prices and you can emal email me @ r.nahem@gmail.com to order.

 

• 10 X 13 inches Price $65 

• 11 X 14 inches Price $95 

• 16 X 20 inches Price $125 

• 20x30 inches Price $175

• Shipping in the U. S. by U.S. Mail is $14 per order 

• Photos are printed Fuji Archival paper 

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Paris Window Boxes 2022-Series Three

My last two Window Boxes posts over the summer were such a big hit, I decided to run one more set.

I am thinking of offering a poster with window boxes in my Etsy Shop during holiday time later this year. Please let me know in the comments section if you think it’s a good idea and if you would like to order one.

CLICK HERE to view Paris Window Boxes 2022-Series One

CLICK HERE to view Paris Window Boxes 2022-Series Two

Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3 walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more.  In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.

https://eyepreferparistours.com/

 

 

Parc de Choisy

I was in the 13^th arrondissement yesterday to check out a new hotel and outdoor restaurant terrace (more about that soon in another post) and Vincent mentioned a lovely park he discovered nearby last week.

Parc de Choisy is just off the Boulevard de Italie, close to the Tolbiac metro station on line 7. The rectangular shaped park area, measuring 10 acres, was the site of the former plant for the Ivry gas company, which was dismantled in 1935. Edward Crevel, who was the chief architect of Paris, designed the park in 1937 and he also designed the Art Deco style George Eastman Dental Institute that’s next to the park.

The garden still adheres to the formal French garden design with a perpendicular axis and a fountain down in the middle, trimmed rows of trees forming a canopy on each side, and colorful flower beds.

Also like a typical French park, there’s lots of activities including a children’s playground (I love the imaginative and playful structures in the children’s playgrounds across Paris), basketball courts, ping pong tables, an open-air theater, and even an outdoor workout facility with elliptical machine.

It was a perfect sunny summer day with temps in the low 80s, low humidity, and a cool breeze. It was nice to see Parisians taking advantage of the park by picnicking, resting on benches, working out, fiercely competing at table tennis, playing in the playgrounds, and relaxing in the cool shade underneath the trees.

128 Av. de Choisy, 75013

Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3 walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more.  In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.

https://eyepreferparistours.com/

Paris Window Boxes 2022- Series Two

I received such an overwhelming and positive response to my Paris Window Boxes 2022, that I decided to post a series two today. Do you have some favorites?

CLICK HERE to view Paris Window Boxes 2022 -Series 1 in case you missed it.

Paris Window Boxes 2022

This is my annual post of my window boxes of of Paris. We have had the most beautiful spring this year, with hardly a trace of rain since the end of March, so the window boxes are brimming over with their glorious blooms. Do you have some favorites?

Please read two of my recent articles for Travel Awaits.

14 Things You Need To Pack For Paris In The Summer https://www.travelawaits.com/2767638/what-to-pack-for-paris-in-the-summer/

7 Fabulous Hotels To Stay At In Saint Germain, Paris https://www.travelawaits.com/2750924/best-hotels-to-stay-at-in-saint-germain/ 

Jasmin

Eye Prefer Paris Postcards with the Doors of Paris. 

I am excited to launch a new series of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards with the Doors of Paris. 

The limited-edition series of Eye Prefer Paris Door Collection Postcards are available three different ways.

18 cards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors, 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers. 

Cost: $65- Free shipping 

9 postcards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors.

Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping 

9 postcards: 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers

Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping 

Each postcard is printed on thick matte coated card stock, similar to traditional vintage postcard stock, that enhances the vibrancy of each image. Eye Prefer Paris Postcards come in classic postcard size (6”x 4.25”), perfect for collecting, framing, or sending to that special someone. 

Each order is specially hand wrapped with love from Paris and mailed in an elegant, French blue envelope. Postcards take about 4- 7 days to arrive in the U.S. 

Just in time for the holidays, the Eye Prefer Paris-Paris Door Collection make a perfect gift for your Francophile friends and family, and I can write a handwritten note for you and include it in the envelope. 

CLICK HERE to order 18 cards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors, 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers. 

Cost: $65- Free shipping 

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors.

Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping 

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers

Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping 

Green Doors

Blue Doors

Metal Doors

 

Garden of Delacroix Museum

On my Saint Germain tour, I always show clients the courtyard and entrance to the Delacroix Museum behind the Saint Germain church, in the lovely Place Furstenberg.

It has been forever since I’ve visited the museum and the gardens and after finishing a Saint Germain tour a few weeks ago, I decided to revisit.

Delacroix lived in this house, which also contained his painting studio, from 1857 until he died in 1863. The reason why he lived at this location was because he was commissioned to paint three murals at the nearby Saint Sulpice church, which included one of his finest works, Jacob Wrestling the Angel. After Delacroix died in 1863, the building faced a serious threat of being torn down to make way for a parking garage in 1929, but luckily the Société des Amis d'Eugène Delacroix/ The Society of Friends of Eugene Delacroix came to the rescue and saved the building from destruction. It was donated to the city in 1954 and finally in 1971, after almost 100 years, the Delacroix Museum opened. Today the museum exhibits memorabilia, paintings, and drawings plus three frescoes. There’s also a collection of documents, notes, his easel, painting tables, and palettes.

My favorite part of the museum was the tranquil garden which was in full bloom with an abundance of pink roses, towering trees with their gigantic leaves creating shade, mint green lawn chairs, and neatly trimmed box hedges and lawns.

I sat for over 30 minutes on a chair, savoring this calm oasis in the middle of the city.

6 Rue de Furstemberg, 75006

http://www.musee-delacroix.fr/en/

Eye Prefer Paris Postcards with the Doors of Paris. 

I am excited to launch a new series of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards with the Doors of Paris. 

The limited-edition series of Eye Prefer Paris Door Collection Postcards are available three different ways.

18 cards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors, 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers. 

Cost: $65- Free shipping 

9 postcards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors.

Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping 

9 postcards: 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers

Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping 

Each postcard is printed on thick matte coated card stock, similar to traditional vintage postcard stock, that enhances the vibrancy of each image. Eye Prefer Paris Postcards come in classic postcard size (6”x 4.25”), perfect for collecting, framing, or sending to that special someone. 

Each order is specially hand wrapped with love from Paris and mailed in an elegant, French blue envelope. Postcards take about 4- 7 days to arrive in the U.S. 

Just in time for the holidays, the Eye Prefer Paris-Paris Door Collection make a perfect gift for your Francophile friends and family, and I can write a handwritten note for you and include it in the envelope. 

CLICK HERE to order 18 cards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors, 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers. 

Cost: $65- Free shipping 

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors.

Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping 

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers

Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping 

Green Doors

Blue Doors

Metal Doors

 

Everything’s Coming Up Roses in Paris, May 22

It’s rose season in Paris, and their gorgeous, glorious blooms are springing up in many of the gardens and parks around the city. I captured some of these delights at a few neighborhood parks in the Marais and at the Rodin Museum the other day.

Eye Prefer Paris Postcards with the Doors of Paris. 

I am excited to launch a new series of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards with the Doors of Paris. 

The limited-edition series of Eye Prefer Paris Door Collection Postcards are available three different ways.

18 cards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors, 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers. 

Cost: $65- Free shipping 

9 postcards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors.

Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping 

9 postcards: 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers

Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping 

Each postcard is printed on thick matte coated card stock, similar to traditional vintage postcard stock, that enhances the vibrancy of each image. Eye Prefer Paris Postcards come in classic postcard size (6”x 4.25”), perfect for collecting, framing, or sending to that special someone. 

Each order is specially hand wrapped with love from Paris and mailed in an elegant, French blue envelope. Postcards take about 4- 7 days to arrive in the U.S. 

Just in time for the holidays, the Eye Prefer Paris-Paris Door Collection make a perfect gift for your Francophile friends and family, and I can write a handwritten note for you and include it in the envelope. 

CLICK HERE to order 18 cards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors, 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers. 

Cost: $65- Free shipping 

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors.

Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping 

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers

Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping 

Green Doors

Blue Doors

Metal Doors

Floralien in Ghent, Belgium

In 2017 I visited Ghent, Belgium, and I loved the charms of this small city of romantic water canals and handsome architecture. I am still on the mailing list for the Visit Gent, the official tourist office and in February they sent an announcement for Floralien, a flower show and exhibition held every four years. Floralien began in 1809, starting off with only 137 plants and displayed in a 500 square foot venue. Fast forward to 2022, and Floralien is a major event taking place in a sprawling convention center in a pretty park near the main train station, attracting tens of thousands of visitors. 

I thought it would be a fun event to attend and Visit Gent was kind enough to provide a press pass to Floralien, a one-night hotel stay, and dinner at a local restaurant. 

The theme for Floralien for 2022 is "My Paradise, My Worldly Garden" and explores the need for urban dwellers to have more green spaces in the city centers, as they are shrinking in most cities around the world. The show is also focused on trends, durability, research and innovation in gardens and gardening. "My Paradise, My Worldly Garden" also coincides with the celebration of the Ghent Altarpiece/ The Mystic Lamb by the Van Eyck brothers, an historic masterpiece of painted, religious panels from 1432. 

I arrived late morning to Floralien and was given an all-access pass. It was the second day and a Friday, so it wasn’t too crowded. The first section of the exhibition there were individual displays from various landscape artists and designers, which were dramatic and astonishing. I was floored by the incredible talent, artistry, and attention to detail of each one. Walking through the rest of Floralien, there were sumptuous, tabletop floral arrangements, and walkways festooned with mounds of luscious seasonal flowers including azaleas, roses, and hydrangeas in the most brilliant colors. Many of the displays throughout the show referenced The Mystic Lamb. 

After the sensation and thrill of Floralien, I took an easy tram ride to the historic center of the city. Since I had done most of the tourist attractions on my last trip in 2017, I was free to stroll the city streets and discover cool shops, off the beaten path, narrow lanes with ancient architecture, and rediscovering the canals. 

One of the more interesting shops was Paarl, where the owner, Paarl, hand makes and designs individual handbags and no two are ever the same. She mixes leather with other exotic materials including marble, stone, and concrete panels, which are super light and thin. 

Believe it or not I refrained from eating Belgian chocolates until almost the end of my stay in Ghent (trust me, it wasn’t easy) when I visited Yuzu Chocolade. The owner, Nicolas Vanaise, who came from a sixth-generation chocolate making family, was an archeologist, but left the field in the early 2000s, to open a shop where he personally makes the chocolates himself. The focus is just as much on the visual as it is the taste, and each one was like a mini-art piece. Between the gorgeous colors and the unusual and appealing and exotic flavors, it was impossible to choose, so I narrowed it down to 6 pieces. The owner’s wife is an avid collector of Japanese and Asian ceramics, and a good part of the shop was dedicated to her beautiful collection lining the shelves. 

That evening I had an outstanding dinner, one of those memorable food experiences from beginning to end. Kruidtuin is a small, contemporary restaurant with a young, dedicated staff, passionate about food. The five-course, pre-fixe dinner is a set menu at a reasonable cost of 63€. A loaf of freshly baked, sourdough bread laced with fennel and caraway seeds was served warm, and set the standard for the rest of the meal. Each plate had distinct flavors, using seasonal ingredients, including tender white asparagus, rhubarb, cauliflower, and mackerel. The most unusual dish was the dessert of asparagus flavored ice cream. 

Floralien 2022

Until May 8, Open daily from 8am to 6pm

https://floralien.be/en/welcome/

Paarl Handbags

https://paarl.be/

Yuzu Chocolates

https://www.yuzubynicolasvanaiseandc.com/nl/

Kruidtuin Restaurant

https://www.kruidtuingent.be/#home

Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more.  In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.

Square Edouard-Valliant and Garden of Hopital Tenon

At the end of March, I had to go for a medical test at Hopital Tenon, in the 20^th arrondissement, near Place Gambetta. As I exited the hospital after my test, I was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful, manicured garden in the courtyard. Spring 2022 had made its debut just a few days before, and the pink magnolia trees (please correct me if I wrongly named these trees) were releasing their mighty blooms as well as other trees and plants.

I am not very familiar with 20^th arrondissement so I thought I would explore the neighborhood a bit. Just across from the hospital was Square Edouard-Valliant, a lovely park and garden square. Edouard-Valliant (1840-1915) was a city councilman of the district. Inside the park is a bandstand and statues of Leon Gambetta (1838-1882), a lawyer and a politician who formulated the French Third Republic in 1870.

Square Edouard-Valliant

48 Av. Gambetta, 75020

Metro and Bus: Gambetta

Square Edouard-Valliant

Statue of Leon Gambetta 

Eye Prefer Paris Postcards with the Doors of Paris. 

I am excited to launch a new series of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards with the Doors of Paris. 

The limited-edition series of Eye Prefer Paris Door Collection Postcards are available three different ways.

18 cards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors, 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers. 

Cost: $65- Free shipping 

9 postcards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors.

Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping 

9 postcards: 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers

Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping 

Each postcard is printed on thick matte coated card stock, similar to traditional vintage postcard stock, that enhances the vibrancy of each image. Eye Prefer Paris Postcards come in classic postcard size (6”x 4.25”), perfect for collecting, framing, or sending to that special someone. 

Each order is specially hand wrapped with love from Paris and mailed in an elegant, French blue envelope. Postcards take about 4- 7 days to arrive in the U.S. 

Just in time for the holidays, the Eye Prefer Paris-Paris Door Collection make a perfect gift for your Francophile friends and family, and I can write a handwritten note for you and include it in the envelope. 

CLICK HERE to order 18 cards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors, 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers. 

Cost: $65- Free shipping 

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Red Doors, 3 Blue Doors, 3 Green Doors.

Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping 

CLICK HERE to order 9 postcards: 3 Wood Doors, 3 Iron Doors, and 3 Door Knockers

Cost: $35 plus $5 shipping 

Green Doors

Blue Doors

Metal Doors

 

 

Palais Royal Shadow Photos

I was at the gardens of the Palais Royal two weeks ago, checking out the glorious blooming of the pink flowers busting out of the magnolia trees. It was a sunny day and afterwards I was walking through the arcades and noticed some intriguing shadows cast on the mosaic tile floors. I would love your feedback on these and if you have some favorites.