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“Paris is always a good idea”8597522182_165e3e3866_c(Audrey Hepburn)

Audrey Hepburn loved Paris. And even though she has never lived in the city of lights, there is a real connection between Audrey Hepburn and Paris.

Audrey Hepburn, one of the greatest actress and fashion icon. The essence of grace and style. Audrey Hepburn after retiring from acting , served as ambassador for UNICEF. Audrey Hepburn, a great person. 

Audrey Hepburn made 6 films that used Paris locations : Notre Dame, La Tournelle Bridge, the Eiffel Tower, the Ritz, Hotel Raphaël, Le Louvre… and many more… 

Sabrina

Sabrina (1954 – directed by Billy Wilder) With this movie, it’s the start of her partnership with the French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy whose outfits turned her into a fashion icon. Hubert de Givenchy created several of the dresses she wore in the film. Paris is not the setting for this film. However, Sabrina attends “Le Cordon Bleu”, on of the most famous culinary schools in the world. 

Audrey Hepburn to Humphrey Bogart : “Paris isn’t for changing planes, it’s for changing your outlook ! For throwing open windows and letting in la vie en rose.

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Funny face

(Listen to the song “Bonjour Paris” which Paris in the background)

Funny face (1957 – a musical romantic comedy film directed by Stanley Donen – Songs by George and Ira Gershwin –  starring Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire ) The film is shot in Paris with Fred Astaire who’s character is based on the real-life photographer, Richard Avedon. This film is a tribute to Paris and it’s Audrey Hepburn’s favorite film

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In Le Louvre, in front of the Victory of Samothrace

Some of the locations : The characters sing and dance the way around some of the most famous landmarks in Paris : in front of the Winged Victory of Samothrace at the Musée du Louvre, Notre Dame, The Arc de Thriomphe, on the top of the Eiffel Tower, the shore of the Seine, in front of the Pont des Arts, in front of the Arc du Carrousel with balloons. 

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Love in the afternoon

Love in the afternoon (1957 – a romantic comedy film directed by Billy Wilder – Staring Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper)  

 Location : the Ritz Hotel

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Charade

Charade (1963 a thriller directed by Stanley Donen and where she starred with Cary Grant). One critic called the film “The best Hitchock film that Hitchock never made.”. 

Locations : The two characters travel all over Paris. They meet up in front of the marionette theater in the champs Elysées, they go for a stroll by the Seine, in front of the Pont au Double near Notre Dame (where Gene Kelly danced in An American in Paris), in the metro Saint Jacques, in the theater of La Comédie française (near the Palais Royal), in the Cernuschi Museum (near the Parc Monceau), the US Embassy, Monge street, Censier street, the Archeveché Bridge, 

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Paris when it sizzles

Paris when it sizzles (1964, a comedy  directed by William Holden)

Locations : George V avenue, the Palais Royal and the Chalet de la Grande Cascade, a ritzy outdoor restaurant in the Bois de Boulogne. 

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How to steal a Million

How to steal a Million (1966, a romance directed by William Wyler where she starred with Peter O’Toole. 

Locations : the exteriors of the Ritz Hotel, the Jacquemart André museum, the Cathédrale of Notre Dame,  La Tournelle bridge,  but the interiors were filmed in the Boulogne Billancourt studios (outskirt of Paris). 

Two for the road

Two for the road (1967, a comedy drama directed by Stanley Donen, where she starred with Albert Finney), though it wasn’t filmed in Paris street but in the Boulogne Billancourt studios and in the south of France too. It was the last film Audrey Hepburn made in France. She then returned to Paris occasionally and continued to collaborate with Givenchy. 

Other Locations :

n Paris while filming with William Holden on the roof of the Hotel Raphael.

While filming with William Holden on the roof of the Hotel Raphaël

Givenchy’s studio, 3, avenue Georges V – Paris 8

Raphaël Hotel (17 avenue Kléber – Paris 16) : It was Audrey’s home during the Parisian films that she shot during her career

Angelina (226, rue de Rivoli) : Audrey Hepburn liked this place very much.

 

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Cernuschi Museum : 7 avenue Velasquez – Paris 8

Musée Jacquemart André : 158 boulevard Haussmann – Paris 8 

More information about Jacquemart André Muséum : Click here to read the article

Hotel Ritz : 15 place Vendôme – Paris 1

US Embassy : 4 avenue Gabriel – Paris 8

Le Cordon Bleu : 8 rue Léon Delhomme – Paris 15

The Puppet theater on the Champs Elysées : It still operates today – Rond Point des Champs Elysées – Paris 8

Givenchy’s studio, 3, avenue Georges V – Paris 8

Raphaël Hotel  :  17 avenue Kléber – Paris 16

Angelina : 226, rue de Rivoli- Paris 1

“Anne Jeanne in Paris’ walks” : Ann Jeanne in Paris offers a walk in Audrey Hepburn’s fashionable Paris. Click on the link below.

Link to “Audrey Hepburn’s fashionable Paris walk” article

Peace_for_Paris

13th of November 2015 : 130 people lost their lives in the Paris terror attacks. 351 people injured

No words…

Heavy-hearted, anger and determination to express, live and say again my commitment to freedom and secularism, and my love for Paris


Here are some videos, images, pics as tributes to the victims, to Paris and to France

(the first illustration “Peace for Paris” has been designed by Jean Jullien, a French artist who lives in London)


Grandes_Armes_de_Paris

Paris Coat of Arms : “Fluctuat nec mergitur” (= “She tossed upon the waves but does not sink”. In French : “Elle est battue par les flots mais ne sombre pas”. ) 

The official emblem of Paris is a Latin sentence and shows a white boat floating on rough waters, topped with gold fleurs-de-lys. It dates back to 1358. 

An emblem all over Paris : on the Paris town Halls, the schools, the City Police offices… More than 100 buildings throughout the city. 

After the attacks of the 13th of November, this emblem became very popular and was used in social media as a symbol of Paris courage against terrorism.


Andrew Neil – BBC, the week following the attacks –  delivered a message to those who attacked Paris, and those who support them – Wonderful


 

Support from all around the world

My FB friends : I appreciate so much your many Facebook posts sending your support. 

Plus : Thanks to Michelle Moggio, Jacqueline Hugues and Candy Witt for their beautiful articles about Paris written after the attacks (see the links at the end of this post)


Danielle (a French lady interviewed in Paris) : This short video below has been widely shared across France. 

Known simply as “Danielle,” her comments while placing flowers at a memorial for victims have resonated across France.  Translation below the video

Translation : “It’s very important to bring flowers for our dead,” It’s also important to read Ernest Hemingway’s “A moveable feast”, “Paris est une fête,” (the French title of “A Moveable Feast”) because we are a very old civilization and we will uphold our values at the highest level.”. “We will fraternize with five million Muslims who practice their religion freely and kindly and we will fight the 10,000 barbarians who kill, supposedly in the name of Allah”.


 

A moveable feast : Following the deadly attacks, Ernest Hemingway’s memoir about life in Paris has become a Bestseller in France.

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It’s an ode to Paris, a love letter to the city, its cafes , a timeless evocation of the City of Lights. Paris was a source of inspiration (and still is ?!) for many writers and artists in general and a salve for their psychic wounds.

Yes, Paris bookshops are running out of copies (even on Amazon’s French site). Publishers have ordered it to be reprinted.

The book has been left at memorial sites, as a symbol of defiance, between flowers and candles, in front of the cafes, bars and restaurants where the attacks took place. It can also be seen in front of the Bataclan concert hall.


“There is never any ending to Paris and the memory of each person who has lived in it differs from that of any other. We always returned to it no matter who we were or how it was changed or with what difficulties, or ease, it could be reached. Paris was always worth it and you received return for whatever you brought to it.”

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.’’

—Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast


11987069_950692501673617_4660814401254011236_nA comment in the New York Times : published as a comment on an article. Signed by the reader “Blackpoodles”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

John Lennon’s Imagine : On Saturday 14th, the day after the attacks, a German pianist dragged a piano around Paris and played John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ outside Paris’ Bataclan theater where many were killed in terrorist attacks.


Celine Dion Tribute to France


 

A sea of shoes :  Banners which read “Paris marches for climate change” are displayed in front of pairs of shoes.Sea of shoes JS77677546

The march was banned due to security fears after the terrorist attacks.

The shoes symbolise the people (Climate change protesters) who had hoped to take part in the gathering.

They have found a moving way to get round the city’s ban by laying pairs of shoes at “Place de la République”.

Several social media commentators have noted that the majority of the shoes are facing towards the Bataclan theatre- where 89 people were murdered by ISIS affiliated terrorists on November 13.


 

And 3 beautiful articles written by my FB friends. (I have already posted these articles on my FB timeline, but didn’t manage to insert them in my Blog article…). Here are the links : 

PARIS IS FOREVERWritten by Michelle Moggio. Blog : “The Paris effect”  http://www.thepariseffect.net/blog/paris-is-forever

THE JOY OF LIVING – Written by Jacqueline Hughes. Blog : “The traveling keyboard”  http://thetravelingkeyboard.blogspot.fr/2015/11/the-joy-of-living.html?spref=fb

FLUCTUAT NEC MERGITUR – Written by Candy Witt. Blog : “Just around the next bend” http://candysnextbend.blogspot.fr/2015/11/fluctuat-nec-mergitur.html?spref=fb

 

 

Batobus

Down and up the Seine in Paris with Batobus  = a great way to travel the city

Discover Paris  with Batobus,  a riverboat shuttle service on the Seine, hop-on/hop-off boat . You see a different view of Paris.  You’ll see all the bridges in the heart of the city

9 stops : Eiffel Tower, Musée d’Orsay, St Germain des Prés, Notre-dame, Jardin des Plantes, Hôtel de Ville, Louvre, Champs-Elysées and Beaugrenelle.

IMG_0273-2Just get on and off as much as you want. But it isn’t a guided tour of Paris : no narration. A great way to move from one place to another and you can decide where you want to get off .

One day pass : 16 euros – Under 16s : 9 euros. Tickets are to be bought from one of the kinks places at each one of the 9 stops. Boats run every 20 to 30 minutes. Each stop is about 10 – 15 minutes apart.

http://www.batobus.com

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Printemps exterior

Le Printemps : not only a shopping area but an historic monument and a panoramic view over Paris

“Le Printemps” : one of the 4 largest department stores in Paris (Le Printemps, Les Galeries Lafayette, Le BHV Marais and Le Bon Marché).

Le Printemps dome

The department store “le Printemps” by itself is worth a visit. Its stained glass art deco dome is beautiful. You can see it from the restaurant at the 8th floor of “le Printemps”.

On the top floor, another restaurant and a panoramic terrace from which you have a stunning view all over Paris. You’ll see the Eiffel Tower, the Sacre Coeur basilica which is also called “Paris beauty spot”, and others buildings (Opera, la gare Saint Lazare, Saint Augustin church…)

Some History and more information :

Created in 1865 and listed as a historical monument. 3 buildings, 44 000 m2 with luxury goods, fashion, beauty, homeware, a food hall…etc. 7 eating areas with a wide choice of cuisine.

Le Printemps

Practical details : 

  • Le Printemps – 64 boulevard Haussmann – 75009 Paris – Metro stop : Havre Caumartin (nearby) or Opéra (10 minutes walk) – RER : Auber
  • Monday-Saturday – 9.35am to 8pm. Late-night opening on Thursday until 8.45pm
  • Printemps web site :  www.printemps.com

My advice : 

  • The terrace is a must-go for its stunning view all over Paris and a pleasant (though very simple) place to have a break and maybe a snack or a drink.
  • And after your visit to La Printemps, why not going to the Jacquemart André Museum and have a meal in their café, an really exquisite place (and the museum Jacquemart André is wonderful too).

Link to theJacquemart André Museum”