Monday, July 27, 2009

PAUL OF PARIS

Recently my blogging artist friend, Carol Gillot, wrote another one of her fascinating posts on PAUL, another landmark tea room and boulangerie in Paris. She painted this beautiful watercolor and also included some great photos from her visit there. It was so fun to see her photos and read her take on PAUL, because it is one of the places that stands out in mind from one of my trips. I love to live vicariously through her blog! She introduces me to places I have not yet been, as well as resurrecting many fond memories covering familiar territory.

(photo by Joshua Harwell)
Carol's post reminded me that my brother had taken some photos there, as we sat with our friends enjoying some afternoon refreshments. This little old man captured our attention. He was completely engrossed in a stack of papers haphazardly scrawled with figures and notes. He is one of those unique individuals you see that stick in your mind and make travel such an interesting experience. I imagined that he might be a professor at the nearby Sorbonne??
I love it when I run across someone else, be it on the internet or elsewhere, who shares a similar experience from their unique perspective. Do you enjoy taking photos of interesting people you see during your travels? Has anyone ever confronted you or dodged your camera lens?
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20 comments:

  1. UnknownJuly 27, 2009 at 1:04 AM

    I can't say anyone has dodged my lens but they stay in my memory and sometimes that's the only lens available. I love to people watch and read faces. Sometimes I see their pain and loneliness and I say a little prayer for them, or I say "hello" and "have a nice day".

    Bette

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  2. Kirsten SteenJuly 27, 2009 at 1:11 AM

    I don't believe I've ever been here. Will have to look for it next time!
    Thanks for sharing!
    Kirsten

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  3. vicki archerJuly 27, 2009 at 2:17 AM

    Isn''t he adorable....I love pictures of unknown people, it is always fun to speculate about them, xv.

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  4. Jacqueline @ HOMEJuly 27, 2009 at 4:16 AM

    What a lovely painting...quiet and serene....I once tried to take a photograph of Boris Becker in immigration at New York airport and was nearly arrested....I really got told off as, of course, you're not meant to take pictures and there are loads of signs to tell you not to !!!! Dah.

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  5. JoJuly 27, 2009 at 6:51 AM

    The painting is beautiful. Half the fun of going anywhere is people watching.

    Jo

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  6. pve designJuly 27, 2009 at 7:35 AM

    I love things that have a "name" and that draw upon characters who frequent them. My father is a "Paul" and having the market, we always knew many of the regulars by name, but of course with the added "Mrs."
    I love Paris Breakfast. She captured that so beautifully.
    pve

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  7. KarenJuly 27, 2009 at 7:44 AM

    Love your brother's photo. He definitely looks like an interesting character.

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  8. KaleeJuly 27, 2009 at 7:51 AM

    Love that image of the old man reading!

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  9. KwanaJuly 27, 2009 at 8:33 AM

    Great image and painting.

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  10. MichelleJuly 27, 2009 at 9:30 AM

    What an amazing watercolour- thanks for the intro...and the photo is tre-magnific!! I see the talent runs deep in your family...your dad, your brother, AND you :)

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  11. MrsLittleJeansJuly 27, 2009 at 12:06 PM

    Lovely post Anne, and yes I agree, Carol does a great job taking us to Paris with her. I hope to be like that old man when I am at his age...it is just pure contentment.

    XO

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  12. Southern AspirationsJuly 27, 2009 at 12:45 PM

    love the painting and the photograph looks professional. Am definitely guilty of people watching, but not sure I could ever photograph them... fascinating portrait though!

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  13. YansyJuly 27, 2009 at 5:58 PM

    This is too cute! The painting is fabulous. I love Paul's macaroons.

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  14. AverillJuly 27, 2009 at 6:56 PM

    There's a chain of French bakeries called Paul throughout London -- anyone know if that's one and the same?

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  15. Beth ConnollyJuly 27, 2009 at 8:00 PM

    A wonderful photo.

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  16. AliciaJuly 27, 2009 at 11:05 PM

    I'm a people watcher through my lens too. I've had only one shocked person but a quick warm smile & a bit of chat diffused them. I even sent them a copy of the photo once I developed it...we still chat via Facebook. I must tell you after our chat about your granddad it turns out my nephew met him late last week at a luncheon on the West side of Michigan...how weird is that???

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  17. KarenaJuly 27, 2009 at 11:27 PM

    Interesting that no one has ever really dodged me taking photos, however I have to admit in Europe, Greece etc, most of my images were of buildings, doors, and windows unique

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  18. 72 and sunnyJuly 28, 2009 at 3:46 PM

    beautiful watercolor. so many great techniques employed, deftly.

    wonderful photo too!

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  19. la la LovelyJuly 28, 2009 at 9:30 PM

    I love Paul. Oh how I'd love to have breakfast there......I remember those cute little sugar packets!
    x

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  20. ParisbreakfastsJuly 29, 2009 at 6:33 AM

    THANKS Anne!
    That's a terrific photo...it could be anywhere..rather grand looking.
    I'm always leary of shooting portraits...pastries are much easier even if verbotten!!
    merci beaucoup
    Carolg

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