Random and unexpected beauty on the streets of Paris is one of the reasons why I love this city so…
You never know what to expect in Paris… what is behind a door, through a window or right in front of your nose…
That is what makes Paris so special… there is always a surprise, a moment to make you smile or a sighting to take you unawares…
Like this man, taking delivery of roses for the Hotel Costes on the rue Saint Honoré…
One minute the pavement was like any other pavement… and the next… these beauties were scenting the air… blocking my path…
Almost as if a magic wand had conjured them out of thin air…
Where they had come from and where they were going didn’t really make an impression…
It was the luxury, the extravagance and the generosity of such a spectacular show that caught my attention…
So many roses… together… being walked in the first arrondissement… that’s not an everyday sight for me…
One minute they were there… the next minute they were gone… off to give countless hours of pleasure to the hotel guests at Costes…
Fortunately… I happened to be in the right place at the right time… I believe that luck and chance are often the key players in life’s sweet moments…
Wishing you all a wonderful Friday… xv
and if you feel like a little peak into Paris… click here.
to listen to the sounds of Hotel Costes click here
To read more from French Essence click here
;)
How beautiful. It must be wonderful to be able to experience Paris. I love to come over and look,it transports me there. xx
How I love to go to Fleurs in Perth and select flowers or order them and have them delivered to my home town and the excitement of opening the long box to find out what I have received. I’m a member of the Flower Designers’ Club of Bunbury and the girls make the most amaging contemporary arrangements. A couple of weeks ago we held our annual Blooming Art Event at the Bunbury Regional Art Galleries and hundreds of people of all ages came through the gallery that weekend. We have a world champion in our midst and a couple of other girls who have represented Australia on the world stage. Amazing women who share their talents with us all.
How gorgeous, thanks for being quick with the camera and sharing! Beautiful xoxo
I LOVE RUE ST. HONORÉ. It is there that my husband and I encountered a scrappy little fox terrier that was guarding his PATRON’S fashion shop door ever so vigilantly. We had a blast with this dog and went back for more the next day. I even wrote a story about it and name the character.
Surprise is the element of any good poem, movie, book or day in Paris, indeed.
KEEP HAVING THE FUN AND SHARING IT WITH US, ma belle! Anita
Very beautiful photos and I can imagine the beauty of each of those arrangements…. and the scent of those roses must have been heavenly!
I have a friend who took floral arrangement classes in Paris with the very famous Christian Tortu…. I would love to do that one, and attend few classes at Le Cordon Bleu, and take some stylisme classes …. I really need to move to Paris!
Enjoy Paris and all her beauty.
What a gorgeous sight. So many beautiful roses. Such pretty colours. A feast for the eyes and the nose!! Have a wonderful weekend and if you’re headed home…safe travels. Jx
What a beautiful sight! How serendipitous that you were able to catch this moment.
The fact that there is beauty everywhere you look in Paris is what I found most delightful about it. I don’t think I would ever tire of it!
Have a great week-end, Vicki.
Vicki,I just love your photographs. I’m wondering what type of camera you use or if you use more than one?
These were taken on my Olympus EP -2 … It is a fabulous camera… and I love it! xv
Thanks Vicki – your photos are a testament to that as well as a fair dollop of natural talent I think.
Simple, splendid gifts like that are what life is about!
Thanks for sharing.
So beautiful and so true! Paris is full of unexpected delights and fleeting beauty. It’s around every corner. I hope you have many more moments like this in your trip. XO
What a beautiful and serendipitious find, Vicki. I am glad you always keep your camera/iphone handy to snap away. Love the colors.
STUNNING!Have I told you I was sitting at CAFE FLORES on the side looking toward the newstand and low and behold there is KARL LARGERFELD himself with two men and a woman!He went into the newstand to buy magazines!The men had to be bodyguards and the woman his assistant.(Funny and here I had you searching for mags for me recently!)Anyhow, out he came facing me ready to cross the street!It was JULY first and he had on leather pants and those gloves he wears without the fingers.I recognized him immediately from the backside….THE PONY TAIL!It was a great thrill for me and I had my rather large camera fighting with myself to “snap” or not to “snap”!I thought be the tacky AMERICAN and snap …………well I did and he walked right past me I tried desperately to think of something to say but no words could come from within!I do have my photo framed and in my living area and its one of my all time memories of PARIS!As you pointed out there is beauty all around in that city!Thanks for sharing.We love your photos…….are you using your phone or a big camera?!!!
I am using both my camera and my camera phone… These I shot on my Olympus EP-2… xv
Lovely photos thank you for sharing. X Trish
Bravo Vicki. Great capture. This tells me your camera must be pretty FAST! I adore my fancy Lumix LX5 camera, but I am pretty sure I would have only been able to capture half of these shots. A unique moment indeed, and you were at the right place, at the right time. You’re right, such moments do happen in Paris. That is why it remains a magical place, in spite of… you know… les greves, la foule, la pollution, le trafic, etc. Bon weekend! Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
Hi Vicki, I see that you are “in the moment”–OH!! to be “in the moment” and in Paris!! Thanks for sharing.
Mary
so beautiful + glad you got a shot of this for us. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
Absolutely gorgeous! Oh, I do love Paris too!! I wish I was there now!! Have a great weekend,Vicki!
Paris is just so romantic and elegant. I would love to stay or even just eat at Hotel Costes as this hotel is so tres chic! Have a good weekend!
What a lovely blog – and such magnificent photos! It reminds of the time, many many years ago, when I was in my 20s, working as a waitress at the World Trade Towers. It was my birthday and I had a strained relationship with my father. But he showed up at my work with 9 beautiful red roses. I have never ever forgotten that.
Simply GORGEOUS. I can smell them from here, too!
Hello Vicki
It’s funny I saw the same thing, I am visiting Paris from San Francisco and I saw the same thing in the same place in Paris. How strange life is and yes how beautiful Paris is
thank you.
i need to see this post this morning!!!
i love paris 2
xoxo
Dear Vicki, I agree with you that Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but I also think that beauty is everywhere. We just have to take a moment to see it, all around us.
Have a lovely weekend my friend!
Gorgeous, pinnable…… That’s what happens in Paris you never know what’s around the corner…..Once at Chez Louisette at the Vernsaison market there were these 5 fabulous (a French FAB FIVE)
guys that came in not eonly each one looking impecapply a la mode, but one sporting a Pomeranean with shades and a beret…. We all took pictures of each other…………xo Maryanne
Your photos and post make me want to return to Paris very soon. Although I’ve lost count of my many visits, I never tire of this amazing city.
What’s so wonderful is that you have the eye to spot moments like this! We should all take time to STOP and appreciate the tulips!
Pure magic.
xo,
p
Fabulous shots….oh, isn’t Paris magical?!
Love it…
xoxo
What a beautiful sight! Only in Paris…
Ada
Perhaps those little pops of magic are rewards from the gods for those who deal in beauty.
A very close friend of mine gave me a household hint…friends calling in- always have fresh flowers in the house-they will not notice anything else! So true. Love your pictures. Brightened my day again! Thanks Vicki.
I’ve been reading your blog for a few months, and as I was planning my seventh Girl Trip to Paris.
I read your entry about unexpected beauty in the City of Lights. I realized then why it is that I love Paris too, as some of my friends wonder why I choose to visit the same place over and over again.
It’s hard for me to put into words, but you summed it up so eloquently. Merci.
J’adore Paris toujours!