Mot du Jour

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

one of the most beautiful parks I have ever been to

Such a magical place - waterfalls, streams, hills, trees...

There was an Oriental, rustic woodland feel to the enchanting park 

Pan-Man ~ Protecteur de la nature

Père Lachaise Cemetery

On my final day in Paris, already in a sad mood (because I had to leave Paris), it was snowing on and off, mixed with showers of rain.
Cold, windy, wet.
I checked out of my hostel and hoped on the metro to Pere Lachaise Cemetery.
Probably wasn't a great idea, considering the settings.  However, it was actually so humbling.
It's hard to describe how vast it was... You really have to go there to believe it.  It's on a hill rise and it just keeps going and going.  

There were two icons resting here, that I was especially wanting to go and pay my respects to.

Firstly, the great and wonderful, Oscar Wilde

I didn't think it too odd that his was one tombstone that was boarded off from the public reach.  However, I was a little upset when I read a sign on the sign of the barier that explained how the memorial had been restored as soon as 2011, by an Irish donation; then went onto state that vandalism is illegal.

Who could possibly have brought themselves to deface the resting place of such a great artist as Oscar Wilde?

I remember a friend of mine visiting this same place a few years ago and telling me how there were lipstick marks, where fans had kissed his stone.  Perhaps this is what the notice was referring to?

There were a total of two kisses left for Oscar.

And a lot of flowers, still standing as strong as they could do, after a week of snow and frost.

 Secondly, I wanted to visit the grave of Jim Morrison.

Again, his resting place was the only other one in the cemetery that had been cordoned off from public access.  

(So far as I came accross - and I was wondering around there for 2 hours).  

A beautiful, but sad sight.  I'm not too sure how I felt about it all.  I haven't really figured out how I felt about it now I have been home for almost two weeks, with time to reflect.

All I know is that I will return later in the year, this time with flowers to lay down for them.

RIP

x

Jardin du Luxembourg

Jardin du Luxembourg - a beautiful space, with lots of interesting tree growths, statues, water features and joggers...

The Medici Fountain ~

 Stunning.

As part of a current exhibition there are a series of 25 artworks displayed on the outside railings of the gardens. 

I visited on my 2nd day, so my French was still a little rusty and I couldn't quite translate the purpose of the artworks.  Not that I felt they needed a reason to be there.

They all seemed to hold a political meaning, or message of great significance.  

Here are a few which really called out to me.

~ fin ~

Street Art Paris

Not just awe-inspiring monuments, parks and architecture to admire; Paris is home to such fresh, inventive street art also.

This is a small selection of what I came across.

Georges Pompidou Centre

Around the Latin Quarter

Montmartre (after dark)

La Tour Eiffel

My new favourite structure...

I never thought it was a big deal until I saw it this weekend.

It's actually so beautiful.

 Glittering on the hour

From Paris, With (some knitted) Love

Hand knitted heart, in beautiful shades of maroon, purple and lilac, hanging from a hand sewn bow; created using second hand Parisien lace I personally bought back to London and gave a home, to save it from the fate of a bin. All of this on a luxurious & natural cord, hand knitted from a mixture of hemp & bamboo.

Currently priced at only £15

E-mail me now at info@laurabaxendale.co.uk to purchase or find out more.

Custom colours available.