Zaha Hadid Pavilion

Last Thursday John and I visited an exhibition of the designs of one of our favourite contemporary architects, Zaha Hadid, in the courtyard of the Institut du Monde Arabe (Institute of the Arab World)

The Institute itself was designed by French architect, Jean Nouvel, featuring walls of windows inspired by Arabic design.

Hadid designed an organically-inspired pavilion to house her exhibition. It sits like a spaceship in the courtyard.

The playful interior of the pavilion displays models and videos of Hadid's designs. Some are models of actual buildings, some are purely visionary exercises.

We find her work endlessly fascinating as is the design of the pavilion.

Her use of organic forms is fresh and original.

Sometimes it's difficult to imagine her proposals really being constructed. However, having seen her design for the new Museum for Art and Architecture of the 21st Century (MAXXI) in Rome last year, we know that she is not just a visionary.

We can only hope that more of her designs are built.

The exhibition ends with a model for the pavilion itself. If you visit Paris before October 30th, 2011, we strongly recommend visiting Zaha Hadid: Une Architecture.

Richard-Lenoir Market

When we arrived in Paris, our host Julia Daro suggested that we visit the Richard Lenoir market which happens very near to our apartment every Thursday and Sunday. We love markets. We went on Thursday and we went this morning.

The market runs on Blvd. Richard Lenoir from Place de la Bastille north to Rue St. Gilles and sells fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, flowers and dry goods. Here's a sampling.

Coquilles St. Jacques

Salmon fillets

Fishmongers with an octopus.

Artichokes

Quail eggs

We've never seen asparagus like these before.

We bought one of these olive baguettes -- it was delicious!

This stew looked tempting but our shopping bag was bursting. We had already bought a roast chicken for tonight and a sole fillet for tomorrow. We plan to be regulars here.

Parisians

People watching is an institution in Paris. Bill and I have been strolling the streets for the past five days. Come along and have a look for yourself. By the way, the last few days have been perfect summer weather -- clear skies, heat and a cool breeze -- let's go...

La Mosque de Paris

It was a warm, clear Spring day when John and I visited the Paris Mosque in the 5th arrondissement. Its a gorgeous, exotic jewel built by Moroccan craftsmen in the early 20th century.

We felt a serene calm immediately on entering the building.

For an entry fee of 3 euros visitors are free to enter the beautifully tiled cloisters.

Of course only worshippers are allowed into the prayer room but it is possible to peek into its interior from the entrance doorway.

John loved the wonderful relationship between this simple chair and the colourful tilework.

 I loved the classic, sunken, garden with its water features

and the beautifully detailed side rooms. What a treat to find in the centre of the City of Light!

Moroccan tearoom

At the south-east corner of the Mosque de Paris at Rues Georges Desplas and Daubenton John and I found the entrance to the tearoom and hammam (steam baths).

We immediately entered a calm, exotic world of pleasure.

The entrances to the hammam, and the display of sweets to be eaten with mint tea, lie just within the door.

Visitors can relax in the canopied, sunken garden 

or the beautifully appointed tearoom. Be sure to enter to take tea or just to peek at the interiors. Men and women can enjoy the steam baths and even a massage on different days. Just check times and days before visiting.

Pakistani Haircut

This is quite long hair for me. I have had great haircuts in Turkey and I heard that Paris has some cool Turkish, African and South Asian barbershops in the Passage du Prado and I wanted to try one of them.

 The passages of Paris are Victorian shopping arcades. The Passage du Prado is in the 2nd arrondissement.

I liked the look of the shop called Pakwatan and some of the barbers looked free so we walked in and were made very welcome. Wikipedia says the word "Pak Watan" is a "national personification and a term of endearment for Pakistan".

I was quite nervous with my French. At one point my barber asked me if my hair was short enough. I wanted him to cut it shorter and said, moins court, which means "less short". This, rightly, confused him, but another barber spoke English and  it all came out right in the end.

I love the cut that I got and it only cost seven euros! I hope to go back again before coming home.

Place des Vosges

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this famous landmark of Paris, let's take a tour of the square with its classic architecture, arcades and its gardens. Henri IV commissioned its construction in 1602 and it was finally opened in 1612. Here we see the southerly entrance to the square and its gardens.

The garden is in the classic French style using gravel paths, grass lawns, a centerpiece of horse-chestnuts, surrounded by alleys of pruned trees and conifers. 

Beautiful fountains add sound and fascination to the design 

and  benches in the shade of the alleys of pruned trees offer a place for peaceful contemplation.

An equestrian statue of King Louis XIII is the garden's centerpiece. The Place des Vosges has always attracted prestigious residents, like Victor Hugo and, now, Issey Miyake. John and I are thrilled to be living next door for the month of May.

Sweet!

A few steps from our apartment in Paris is a sweet shop called Gerard Mulot. Yesterday we saw this cake in the window. The icing looks like it was done by Gustav Klimpt. I've never seen a more beautiful cake for 50 euros.

Arrival in Paris

After a safe and reasonably comfortable trip to Paris, John and I made our way to the Marais neighbourhood to our home for the coming month of May, the apartment of our friends, Bruno and Julia Daro. We were given a warm reception and a quick instruction on all the special details of their beautiful pied-a-terre before they headed off to Rome.

Here's the view of the rooftops of the City of Light from the hallway window as we entered their apartment. Thats the rooftop of the Centre Pompidou in the distance on the right.

The apartment is situated just around the corner from the famous Marais landmark, the Place des Vosges, that elegant square commissioned by Henri IV in 1605. How's that for a classy neighbourhood! Does this mean we've truly "arrived"?

We made a quick stroll through the gardens of the square and then headed back into the Marais in search of some lunch! Thank you so much, Dear Daros, for making this visit to Paris so special! It really is a dream come true!