Brassaï : Pour l'amour de Paris

A new exposition has just opened at the Hôtel de Ville here in Paris. It features the iconic photos of Brassaï whose real name was Gyula Halász (1899-1984). Brassaï loved Paris and its inhabitants. The bulk of the exposition features photos from the 1930s with numerous photos of Paris at night and in the fog. There is a timelessness to these photos that is extraordinary.

The photos will be on display until March 8, 2014. Entrance is free. If you're not planning a trip to Paris, you can download a free application and read more about the exposition (in French) here.

Autumn in the Bois de Vincennes

The Bois de Vincennes is just a short bike ride away from our apartment. And although my big camera is in the shop, I still have my "little" camera.

 

 The light was lovely on Sunday afternoon.

La Suisse Normande

La Suisse Normande (Norman Switzerland) is an area of Normandy which is thought to resemble Switzerland because of its cliffs and gorges. We went there recently looking for fall colors. We stopped at the Roche d'Oetre, a cliff with a commanding view of the surrounding countryside.

The colors were a little disappointing, but the real disappointment was when I dropped my camera on the slippery rocks. The photo above is the last photo taken by my big camera before going into the shop. It will cost over 350 euros to repair  :-(

Aix-en-Provence

The visit to La Verdière last weekend included lots of chatting and eating and drinking with my three girlfriends Christine, Isabelle, and Pascale.

Elaine, Isabelle, Pascale and Christine

We finished our weekend in Provence with a short rainy visit to Aix-en-Provence. We couldn't visit much in just an hour and a half, but I thought you might like to see a few photos anyway.

fall colors in a vineyard

Chateau de Vauvenargues - Picasso is buried here

The Cathedral Saint Sauveur d'Aix-en-Provence

Cathedral doors

restoration work

view from the cloister

La Verdière

I've just returned from a weekend in La Verdière near Aix-en-Provence. My friend Christine who now lives in Colorado is originally from the area. Her family home is called "Bellevue." Here is the view from the terrace:

And the house itself from different angles

pretty, huh?

Luxembourg gardens

Strolling through the Jardin de Luxembourg on a warm autumn afternoon.

Luxembourg Palace houses the French Senate

 

Paris schools are on vacation for two weeks, so there were lots of kids enjoying the nice weather. Quite a different sight from the park on a snowy day.

Mary Brand

It is with heavy heart that I remark the passing of my sister-in-law,  Mary Brand, who died yesterday after suffering a fall at her home.

Mary was 16 and I was 18 when I married Charlie and became part of the Brand family in 1968. We spent many hours gathered around the Brand family dining room table for dinners followed by rousing card games. One of my fondest memories of Mary is of a trip that we took to Hawaii - just the two of us. The ocean, colorful flowers, and warm temperatures were just what we needed during the Colorado winter.

I spoke to Mary by telephone during her last stay in the hospital but was unable to travel to Colorado to see her. During her final days she was surrounded by her life-long friend Vicki, her two brothers, and her six nephews and nieces.

She was loved and she will be missed.

Mary, Charlie, Philippe, Rachel, and me