In a hand-painted theatre, les marionettes perform for an audience of stuffed bears in a children's shop window near Place de Madeleine. A Puss-in-Boots puppet stands guard.
A dollhouse featuring miniature French furniture is protected by a stuffed toy antelope.
The dollhouse, the antelope and a boy mannequin wearing a dress and a bearskin cap! Only in Paris might one expect such an unusual combination. I like the reflection of the landmark building across the street.
An open employees' door shows boxes from a just-arrived shipment and another child's dress, with games and toys stacked in the background.
Ornate cherubs over a doorway on Place de Madeleine.
Gilt detail on an entryway door.
The blue ornate door on Place de Madeleine.
Tonight is the Rugby World Cup semi-final match between France and England at Stade de France, Paris. It will be tough going, watching the game with my British husband. The French want revenge for their semi-final loss to England in the last world cup in Australia. And of course, England is equally determined to win. Sorry, England fans - I admire your team - but, allez les bleus!
Update: In a really scrappy game, during which both France and England failed to impress, England won 14-9. France led 9-8 until the last five minutes, when England hero Jonny Wilkinson landed a penalty and drop-goal to stun France. On Sunday, South Africa and Argentina meet in a semi-final match at Stade de France. The winner will play England next Saturday for the 2007 World Cup title.
You have no pression now, you can support the english team with your husbund for the finale against south africa (they'll need it !) ;o) (I'll support them too).
Posted by: Cécile de Quoide9 | 17 October 2007 at 08:25
Allez les bleus for next friday (against Argentina and for the 3rd place of the world cup)... I'm really sorry to admit it but I really think we didn't deserve to win the game last saturday. :o(
Nice pictures and funny videos about the world cup on my blog (some in french and one "international" : I mean "sans paroles" but I don't know how to say it in english... "without words" doesn't exactly look like the right translation to me)
Posted by: Cécile de Quoide9 | 17 October 2007 at 08:23
Hah! we WON!
Posted by: Di Overton | 15 October 2007 at 20:35
How did I miss this post?
Love your photos as usual Tara, it's like joining you for a bit of window shopping each day. You find the most unusual and interesting things too. xo
Blue
Posted by: Gillian @ Indigo Blue | 15 October 2007 at 04:55
Gorgeous yet again, Tara! Thank you so much for sharing your photos!
Becky
Posted by: Becky | 14 October 2007 at 17:20
I love Paris ! Gorgeous photos! You always make me feel like i am there on the streets gazing at all the remarkable scenery! Merci! I know zero about rugby, but I guess I better learn in case I move to France! ha!
Posted by: Pam Aries | 14 October 2007 at 15:00
I love the puppet theatre-just beautiful!!
Posted by: Sophiehoneysuckle | 14 October 2007 at 09:35
oh windowshopping is so much fun over there. Marvelous pictures. The Kiwi's here were a bit sad about the rugby but there were very well treated in France. Sorry to hear the French team lost.
Posted by: marja | 14 October 2007 at 06:52
Rugby in Paris - baseball in Boston... Fall is in full swing here! xo
Posted by: Deb L | 14 October 2007 at 02:17
I love the photos!
As for the rugby game, well I guess it wasn't meant to be for les bleus ;-)
Posted by: Tinsie | 14 October 2007 at 01:52
oh condolences on France's loss...rugby...you never know which way it will go (much like my soccer loving family..only one here who is rugby mad is oldest son, 19).
I love the photos...that dress, the doll's house, I see Pinocchio...ah the memories of childhood, of my children's childhood..you Tara live in such a beautiful city!!
Posted by: cherie | 14 October 2007 at 00:59
What fun - a puppet show, a dollhouse, stuffed antelope and lovely dresses. Windowshopping in Paris is always fun when seen through your camera lens, Tara.
Have a lovely weekend!~xox
Posted by: tinker | 13 October 2007 at 22:08
Your photos always leave me drooling and aching to be back on the streets of Paris ... merveilleux! xx,JP/deb
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 13 October 2007 at 19:59
I love the photographs you took. Hope that you're well Tara :)
Posted by: robyn | 13 October 2007 at 19:16
I love that blue door... one of my favorite bars in Oklahoma City was called the blue door - it was buried in this horrible neighborhood, just a house (you brought your own liquor and/or beer), but they had the best music and it was so eclectic.. it was really hard to find - except it had the coolest blue door.
I love the windows in Paris - I don't know how I would find them if I didn't see them here.
I always hear "PUSS.. in boots!" like he says it in Shrek.
Posted by: holli | 13 October 2007 at 18:12