Des Fotos de Paris! - first entry
Mes Amis...
My first photos of Paris... of the first evening and then Saturday / Sunday...
The Smallest Elevator In The World!
In our hotel near the Opéra Garnier - it's meant for up to 2 persons. I think even ONE person has trouble breathing in there. Trust me - I've travelled with it twice. LOL
So... we first went up to the 4th floor where our two rooms were one by one and then the monsieur at the reception desk put our luggage into the elevator and sent it up. *LOL*!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
Looking into Daniela's Hotel Room
LOL - our rooms were sort of opposite of each other, around the corner, so we could have thrown stuff into each other's room. ;)
This is Daniela in her room. :)
And don't missunderstand the slightly shabby look of the house's wall - many buildings, hotels, in Paris would look like that but they're nice inside. It's a bit of a general thing. Besides - this was the look into the internal courtyard of the hotel building.
Internal Courtyard of the Hotel
They always make a pretty place out of the tiniest spaces. This courtyard belongs to the hotel and is right by the breakfast dining area.
Opéra Garnier - by night
We'd arrived after 7pm, went to the hotel first to unpack and shower, then went out for dinner... and our walk lead us to the beautiful building of the Opéra Garnier of course as it was so close to our hotel...
To those who might not know - it's the phantom's opera as in *Phantom of the Opera*... the story having been firstly told in Gaston Leroux' novel and later re-told in movies and the famous musical. :) *adores*
Opéra Garnier - 2
There's the difference if you use flash with your camera (here) or not (previous pic)...
Music-themed Details of the Opéra's Street Lights
If in Paris - always look for details. There are so many!
Fragonard
This is very much worth a visit - a (free) guided tour in this building (it's wonderful inside!!!), telling you the story of parfum-making... It's fascinating and you get to try and sort scents yourself. Back many years ago a professional parfum-maker had to know 5000 scents, by now it's many, many more.
http://www.fragonard.com/
I bought their *Etoile* - it's wonderful! :)
Quelque Chose A Manger?
Hungry anyone?
Le Tigre et Mylène
My tiger is such a fan, too! :)
This shop, tiny music shop in Paris, sells many special editions and unique and rare stuff of a couple of singers... Mylène included. The guy in there was really nice and helpful, all excited we'd be going to the concert at the Stade de France that very night. :)
As you might have guessed from the pictures here Mylène's art is somewhat... unusual.
On the Way to the Bois du Boulogne
The Bois du Boulogne is a huge very *green* area of Paris, as in a huge park. A nice meeting place, jogging area, picnic area, whatever really. A big oasis in a huge city. :)
I loved the houses here...
It's also an area where you have to be able to afford to pay slightly more to live there.
Bois du Boulogne...
... I love finding art, sculptures, somewhere hidden in parks...
Bois du Boulogne - Island
This restaurant is on the island of the large lake in the Bois du Boulogne. You can get there by using this boat which looks like a garden-made-into-a-boat. LOL
Splash?
A couple and a dog in a boat... No, they didn't fall into the water in the end - not even the dog. :)
Je suis inkognito!
LOL - Daniela tried to hide from the paparazzi (moi). ;)
- At the restaurant on the island...
The train journey with the TGV train which really is super-fast went really well - we arrived in Paris sometime after 7pm, took the métro (=underground) to the hotel which was only about 4 stations and then checked in.
One funny thing about Paris: The hotel elevators are TINY. They just are and that's that. Once you know that, it doesn't really matter. It's just a surprise when you're there for the first time.
Now... THIS hotel's elevator was beyond tiny. It was like - squash yourself against the wall of it so the doors can close and hope you don't get stuck. LOL
People at the hotel were really nice and charming and our room were comfy - and since Paris really wears you out we slept like stones every single night!
Saturday... was the day of Mylène's concert at the Stade de France, so we had breakfast and then went to Fragonard:
http://www.fragonard.com/
I love their *Etoile* perfume. It was Daniela who'd discovered it, but it smells completely different on both of us. That's the interesting thing about perfumes. :)
Then we went to this tiny music shop where Daniela got two special editions of Mylène's latest Maxi single and we got some nice photos of the current tour as well...
We had some nice Indian lunch and then headed back to the hotel to get ready to go to the concert.
I have no pics of the Stade de France as none of us took their camera with us.
I'll post a mobile-phone-made pic sometime later.
We got to the Stade de France which is H.U.G.E - loads of people were there, spread around the Stade waiting to be let in. There are entrances all around the Stade, named in alphabetical order - we had to wait at *S*. We couldn't find the end of the queue as it meshed with *T* so we asked where we should stand and the guys we asked were like bah, just sit here beside us, doesn't matter. This way we were really close to the entrance!
Daniela had brought 3 boxes of light-sticks which we gave to the people standing around us - it was Mylène's birthday that day and via a facebook message it was suggested to bring green-ish lightsticks to the concert as well as decided after which song we all should sing *joyeuse anniversaire* (happy birthday) - one has to love the internet for organizing stuff like that!!!
People were really happy they got our freebie sticks. ;D
Quite soon we were let into the hall and made a dash for the *catwalk* - there was a huge stage as well as a catwalk leading into the audience, ending in a *star*. We stood near the star, 3rd row. People were really nice and chatty, no pushing at ANY time during the concert - this way it was plain enjoyable!!! :D
It was an open-air concert so no problem with fresh air either AND the weather stayed nice and warm, perfect!
The concert started with Bale de Rua, some of their dance performances:
http://balederua.lespectacle.fr/
Then there was a small break... the stage itself was the biggest that had been put up in Europe... the Stade was sold out, around 75'000 people - and what an atmosphere!!!!!!!!!!! :D
It was something I'd never thought I'd take part in when I saw Mylène for the first time on MTV when I was just a kid... about 8 or 9 years old, when we'd only just arrived in Switzerland as refugees with no money and basically no nothing! It was an incredbile feeling to be there and to just think for a moment - hey, I've made it THAT far! F*** everyone who's tried to stop me, to put stones in my way, who's told me I'm just a dumb foreigner kid! T.H.E.R.E.!!!
I'm not going to go into every detail of the concert - don't worry. ;)
I know it's a fan-thing.
But it was incredible and great and WOW.
Mylène's got a way of making it really personal - maybe that's the reason why she tours very, very rarely and if then only a couple of concerts and that's that.
The songs were brilliant, the atmopshere was brilliant, when she went down the catwalk and her pianist was playing there (the piano was on the *star*) we got ready to wave our light-sticks and after she'd sung the song we'd been paying extra-attention for 75'000 people sang happy birthday to her. She really tried but I guess she had no chance - she started crying and it took her some time to calm again and then to sing again.
One huge moment of the concert - for me - was the very end, when she sang *Desenchantée* which was the very first song I'd known by her. It was an extra-long version of it and it absolutely ROCKED. The whole Stade pulsed with its beat, it was incredible!!! :D Nicole - Daniela and me rocked for you too there! ;D
And then it was over...
Slightly dazed we went to get Daniela's banner from where she'd hung it up and walked towards one of the exits when we saw the mobile cameras swinging by - so we held it up again and the camera came back to us and *took a closer look*. LOL It was actually cute. :)
Who knows - the whole concert has been filmed, it'll be on DVD at some point, maybe you'll spot us there. The banner said *Merci Mylène*, so... it would be a fitting picture for the end of the concert...
We went to one of the souvenir stalls then to get our goodies and among others I've got SUCH a cool raincoat now, red and black with the *MF* initials which of course aren't just Mylène's initials but MINE, too. HEEHEEH!!! :D
Then we got one of the last métros back to the hotel...
I think we slept like stones until way late...
And on Sunday we made it a very lazy day and went to the Bois de Boulogne for a walk and something to drink... and later went on a boat-tour on the Seine... but those photos I'll post later. :)
My first photos of Paris... of the first evening and then Saturday / Sunday...
The Smallest Elevator In The World!
In our hotel near the Opéra Garnier - it's meant for up to 2 persons. I think even ONE person has trouble breathing in there. Trust me - I've travelled with it twice. LOL
So... we first went up to the 4th floor where our two rooms were one by one and then the monsieur at the reception desk put our luggage into the elevator and sent it up. *LOL*!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
Looking into Daniela's Hotel Room
LOL - our rooms were sort of opposite of each other, around the corner, so we could have thrown stuff into each other's room. ;)
This is Daniela in her room. :)
And don't missunderstand the slightly shabby look of the house's wall - many buildings, hotels, in Paris would look like that but they're nice inside. It's a bit of a general thing. Besides - this was the look into the internal courtyard of the hotel building.
Internal Courtyard of the Hotel
They always make a pretty place out of the tiniest spaces. This courtyard belongs to the hotel and is right by the breakfast dining area.
Opéra Garnier - by night
We'd arrived after 7pm, went to the hotel first to unpack and shower, then went out for dinner... and our walk lead us to the beautiful building of the Opéra Garnier of course as it was so close to our hotel...
To those who might not know - it's the phantom's opera as in *Phantom of the Opera*... the story having been firstly told in Gaston Leroux' novel and later re-told in movies and the famous musical. :) *adores*
Opéra Garnier - 2
There's the difference if you use flash with your camera (here) or not (previous pic)...
Music-themed Details of the Opéra's Street Lights
If in Paris - always look for details. There are so many!
Fragonard
This is very much worth a visit - a (free) guided tour in this building (it's wonderful inside!!!), telling you the story of parfum-making... It's fascinating and you get to try and sort scents yourself. Back many years ago a professional parfum-maker had to know 5000 scents, by now it's many, many more.
http://www.fragonard.com/
I bought their *Etoile* - it's wonderful! :)
Quelque Chose A Manger?
Hungry anyone?
Le Tigre et Mylène
My tiger is such a fan, too! :)
This shop, tiny music shop in Paris, sells many special editions and unique and rare stuff of a couple of singers... Mylène included. The guy in there was really nice and helpful, all excited we'd be going to the concert at the Stade de France that very night. :)
As you might have guessed from the pictures here Mylène's art is somewhat... unusual.
On the Way to the Bois du Boulogne
The Bois du Boulogne is a huge very *green* area of Paris, as in a huge park. A nice meeting place, jogging area, picnic area, whatever really. A big oasis in a huge city. :)
I loved the houses here...
It's also an area where you have to be able to afford to pay slightly more to live there.
Bois du Boulogne...
... I love finding art, sculptures, somewhere hidden in parks...
Bois du Boulogne - Island
This restaurant is on the island of the large lake in the Bois du Boulogne. You can get there by using this boat which looks like a garden-made-into-a-boat. LOL
Splash?
A couple and a dog in a boat... No, they didn't fall into the water in the end - not even the dog. :)
Je suis inkognito!
LOL - Daniela tried to hide from the paparazzi (moi). ;)
- At the restaurant on the island...
The train journey with the TGV train which really is super-fast went really well - we arrived in Paris sometime after 7pm, took the métro (=underground) to the hotel which was only about 4 stations and then checked in.
One funny thing about Paris: The hotel elevators are TINY. They just are and that's that. Once you know that, it doesn't really matter. It's just a surprise when you're there for the first time.
Now... THIS hotel's elevator was beyond tiny. It was like - squash yourself against the wall of it so the doors can close and hope you don't get stuck. LOL
People at the hotel were really nice and charming and our room were comfy - and since Paris really wears you out we slept like stones every single night!
Saturday... was the day of Mylène's concert at the Stade de France, so we had breakfast and then went to Fragonard:
http://www.fragonard.com/
I love their *Etoile* perfume. It was Daniela who'd discovered it, but it smells completely different on both of us. That's the interesting thing about perfumes. :)
Then we went to this tiny music shop where Daniela got two special editions of Mylène's latest Maxi single and we got some nice photos of the current tour as well...
We had some nice Indian lunch and then headed back to the hotel to get ready to go to the concert.
I have no pics of the Stade de France as none of us took their camera with us.
I'll post a mobile-phone-made pic sometime later.
We got to the Stade de France which is H.U.G.E - loads of people were there, spread around the Stade waiting to be let in. There are entrances all around the Stade, named in alphabetical order - we had to wait at *S*. We couldn't find the end of the queue as it meshed with *T* so we asked where we should stand and the guys we asked were like bah, just sit here beside us, doesn't matter. This way we were really close to the entrance!
Daniela had brought 3 boxes of light-sticks which we gave to the people standing around us - it was Mylène's birthday that day and via a facebook message it was suggested to bring green-ish lightsticks to the concert as well as decided after which song we all should sing *joyeuse anniversaire* (happy birthday) - one has to love the internet for organizing stuff like that!!!
People were really happy they got our freebie sticks. ;D
Quite soon we were let into the hall and made a dash for the *catwalk* - there was a huge stage as well as a catwalk leading into the audience, ending in a *star*. We stood near the star, 3rd row. People were really nice and chatty, no pushing at ANY time during the concert - this way it was plain enjoyable!!! :D
It was an open-air concert so no problem with fresh air either AND the weather stayed nice and warm, perfect!
The concert started with Bale de Rua, some of their dance performances:
http://balederua.lespectacle.fr/
Then there was a small break... the stage itself was the biggest that had been put up in Europe... the Stade was sold out, around 75'000 people - and what an atmosphere!!!!!!!!!!! :D
It was something I'd never thought I'd take part in when I saw Mylène for the first time on MTV when I was just a kid... about 8 or 9 years old, when we'd only just arrived in Switzerland as refugees with no money and basically no nothing! It was an incredbile feeling to be there and to just think for a moment - hey, I've made it THAT far! F*** everyone who's tried to stop me, to put stones in my way, who's told me I'm just a dumb foreigner kid! T.H.E.R.E.!!!
I'm not going to go into every detail of the concert - don't worry. ;)
I know it's a fan-thing.
But it was incredible and great and WOW.
Mylène's got a way of making it really personal - maybe that's the reason why she tours very, very rarely and if then only a couple of concerts and that's that.
The songs were brilliant, the atmopshere was brilliant, when she went down the catwalk and her pianist was playing there (the piano was on the *star*) we got ready to wave our light-sticks and after she'd sung the song we'd been paying extra-attention for 75'000 people sang happy birthday to her. She really tried but I guess she had no chance - she started crying and it took her some time to calm again and then to sing again.
One huge moment of the concert - for me - was the very end, when she sang *Desenchantée* which was the very first song I'd known by her. It was an extra-long version of it and it absolutely ROCKED. The whole Stade pulsed with its beat, it was incredible!!! :D Nicole - Daniela and me rocked for you too there! ;D
And then it was over...
Slightly dazed we went to get Daniela's banner from where she'd hung it up and walked towards one of the exits when we saw the mobile cameras swinging by - so we held it up again and the camera came back to us and *took a closer look*. LOL It was actually cute. :)
Who knows - the whole concert has been filmed, it'll be on DVD at some point, maybe you'll spot us there. The banner said *Merci Mylène*, so... it would be a fitting picture for the end of the concert...
We went to one of the souvenir stalls then to get our goodies and among others I've got SUCH a cool raincoat now, red and black with the *MF* initials which of course aren't just Mylène's initials but MINE, too. HEEHEEH!!! :D
Then we got one of the last métros back to the hotel...
I think we slept like stones until way late...
And on Sunday we made it a very lazy day and went to the Bois de Boulogne for a walk and something to drink... and later went on a boat-tour on the Seine... but those photos I'll post later. :)