Paris, Part II

I have another few days in Paris to share with you...

I think I took 1000 photos, so it was a challenge to select only a few for you!

Here is Paris from atop the Printemps Maison Department store...a wonderful view that only a few lucky tourists discover by accident (if they happen to wander up to the cafe on the top floor)!

At Printemps Maison, I discovered many wonderful things, including this much coveted china.  This beautiful brand is Raynaud Limoges.  I needed it.

Of course, I visited Laduree (several locations) to see the beautiful confections...

Next stop was Place Vendome.  I love this grand, expansive plaza very much (even if I cannot afford to shop there): 

I was relieved to finally get a good photograph of the Vendome Column.  I've been trying for years to capture an interesting view of this monument, but the light has never cooperated...

Place Vendome is where all the very posh jewellery stores are located:

Next is one of my most beloved places in Paris, Place des Vosges.  Vosges is a department (state) in France and was the first region to pay taxes to Napoleon.  So he renamed this beautiful square (built in the early 1600's!) after it...

Our apartment was just steps away from the delightful Place des Vosges!

The red brick buildings, from the early 1600's, are exquisite:

Here's another view of Notre-Dame: 

I snapped this from atop a tour bus!  Despite knowing Paris very well, I took a tour bus ride with David and we had a blast!

We visited the inimitable Rodin Museum.  This museum is a must see.  The sculpture garden is incredible, as is the old mansion (Hotel Biron), which houses many more sculptures).  Here is Rodin's famous statue, The Thinker, in the garden:

I must have waited 20 minutes here to get a photo without people in it.  There are many replicas of this statue in museums all over the world.

Here is my dear David in the beautiful rose garden with its immaculately-pruned trees:

 I was so happy to have some stormy wet weather while we were in Paris.  It makes for wonderful skies!

I was so in love with the roses and the light that I couldn't stop taking pictures:

Here's another garden shot before we went indoors.  The French are famous for their beautiful allées of trees:

Now, we're inside the Hotel Biron, which is where Rodin lived for many years and which houses much of his collection, donated to France:

Blogger is being difficult tonight, so in my next post, I'll share more photos inside the Rodin Museum (and a few other things).  Sorry to leave you hanging...

Soon, Terri