night shots

Night

I was up in Montmartre the other night visiting friends and, since it gets dark so early here now, with even earlier sunsets until December, I took the chance to go take a few photos. It was cold and crisp, just right for walking around.

I took a photo here during the day not too long ago. The cars aren’t supposed to be parked there and sort of ruin my shot.

Getting closer to the top where Sacre Coeur sits. I have to say, from a photographers point of view, there were too many lights.

Bars and restaurants aren’t open yet but they do serve things to go and there were many young people outside of places drinking mostly beer.

There was a full moon but I couldn’t find a way to incorporate it into a photo but the basilica always looks good at night.

I got home pretty late and when I walked out of the metro stop I was surprised to find Christmas lights. The Eiffel Tower was also flashing which is hard to capture in photos.

London Eye

We had a play to see in the neighborhood of the London Eye and walked around a bit looking around.

It leans out over the water for some reason. I rode it the last time I was in London and had great views of the river below.

We were across the river from Parliament. Big Ben is covered in scaffolding right now.

This is called County Hall where one branch of the government once met. It now houses many things including the theatre of the play we saw.

We had time to kill so went into a bar in the Marriot Hotel and had this great view.

It was a gin bar so we had gin and tonics. There were all sorts of gins to choose from. This one was a floral flavoured gin.

The play, Witness for the Prosecution, an old Agatha Christy play, was set in the old chamber for the government which really fit the play as most of it takes place in a courtroom. Twelve people over to the left got to be the jury and one of them even got to give the verdict.

The London Eye as we headed to our metro stop.

Night comes early in France in Autumn and I enjoyed walking around looking at lights.

Saint Sulpice looks really great lit up at night.

Across the way, the mairie, like many government buildings, is lit up in the colors of France to commemorate the ending of WWI.

I stopped into the newly renovated Lutece Hotel, a 5 star hotel near Bon Marche.

In the elegant lobby. It was beautiful but a bit cold in ambiance to me.

A look in the bar which was packed. No seats available for which I am sure were very expensive drinks.

Day and Night

Once I am home, it’s very hard for me to leave at night leading to few night shots. I’m always sort of amazed by what I see when I happen to be out in Paris after dark.

Restaurants look a bit magical with their lighting.

The column at Bastille looks even better in its night time light.

Cocktails taste better at night too.

Many mornings we are out walking in the Promenade Plantée with great Autumn light.

Seen in Printemps. I was looking for a light coat to wear now when I should have been looking for one months ago. I am always to late for what I want and what I want is a Burberry trench coat but I am genetically wired not to spend a lot of money on clothes. 1600 Euros for a coat? I just can’t do it. So I looked for a knock off but after two hours I gave up.

The best part of the day is when I went to their top floor to look at this magnificent stained glass dome.

(This post was written in October before we went to Canada and the States.)

On The Way Home

A look at one of the wings of the Louvre Museum at night. I don’t see this very often as I am almost always at home once the sun sets.

The entrance to the Cafe Marly attached to the Louvre. I’ve eaten here and it was very good.

As I was headed to the metro, I turned around and got this view of the pyramid. It’s hard to get a photo without a crowd of people in it around here and I almost managed none but someone walked across just as I took the photo.

Finally on the street back to our apartment with a little cafe lit up and the autumn leaves golden in the light. As you can see, it had been raining.

Night Shots

I am seldom out at night, especially in the summer when it gets dark so late but the other day I met a friend for a drink late enough that the sun had set and the lights of places came on. The always look better to me when they are lit up.

Inside a restaurant with a nicely lit bar.

Look at these wonderful cheeses for sale.

A place to eat looking tempting.

A little store selling especially good looking fruits and vegetables.

Seen one evening not too far from our place as I walked with Maurice.