Curiosities

I was awoken this morning to an absolutely stunning sunrise.  I opened my windows and began snapping away, completely inspired by the gorgeous colors against the rooftops surrounding my flat.  

Today was spent wandering around the infamous Left Bank.  I started off at Sylvia Beach's bookstore Shakespeare & Co where writers such as Ezra Pound, James Joyce, and Ernest Hemingway once gathered.  I continued on to Jardin du Luxembourg, stopping into little shops, taking detours onto quiet corridors, and  grabbing a croissant for breakfast.  An amazing lunch was had at Cuisine de Bar, which specializes in tartines, after which I was re-energized for some shopping in the beautiful Le Bon Marche {including being very tempted by a gorgeous Chanel brooch...I mean a trip to Paris isn't complete without Chanel, no?}  I stopped for afternoon tea at the famous Laduree, and grabbed THE most AMAZING pastry ever...photo + description is below.  Finally, my afternoon was topped off at the {literally} indescribable Deyrolle.  Just see what I mean...

{Sunrise over the rooftops of Paris, what more do you need?}

{Little curiosities: An adorable shop's sign, insects + scientific data collecting tools in a window, a creative window display, an English bulldog, a Paris love lock, a woman practicing fencing in the Jardin du Luxembourg, a slightly morbid window display perfect for Halloween, and an adorable pennant banner hanging in the window of a children's store}

{Sights around the city including the Ile de la Cite, an accordion player, and Notre Dame seen through the trees} 

{5th Arrondissement: Shakespeare and Company, the Latin Quarter, and views in and around the Jardin du Luxembourg including the little cafe which looks like it should be in a fairy tale}

{The gorgeous Le Bon Marche department store and Laduree (which completely lives up to the hype).  That wicked looking dessert is the Saint-Honore Rose, a delicious concoction of puff pastry, rose chantilly cream, fresh raspberries, raspberry jam, rose fondant, and custard.  Man, the French really know their stuff.} 

 {Lastly was the beautiful, sad, whimsical, and downright creepy Deyrolle - France's most famous taxidermy shop.  It is nearly 200 years old and definitly gives off an Alice in Wonderland vibe.  I literally about screamed in horror when I saw the 15 foot stuffed giraffe in the corner.  The juxtaposition of these animals (lions, birds, insects, blow fish, bears, elephants, goats, polar bears, peacocks, and so many more) against the absolutely gorgeous ornate French apartment it is located in was just breathtaking -- not necessarily in a good way.  There is a joy in being able to see these creatures up close however it is soon replaced with sadness when you realize the life they so carefully put into the animal is really just a facade.  I wanted to ask them how they got the animals and when, as it most certainly upset the animal-rights activist side of me.  Were they from 150 years ago?  Fine, I guess that's ok with me.  Or are they brand new?  Did they find the animals dead already?  Or did they poach them?  Some of the animals are endangered, which is the most concerning aspect of all to me.  Perhaps someone else knows as I'm not really schooled in taxidermy.  However, sadly/probably for the best, I didn't learn any exotic animals/hunting vocabulary in my French II classes so I was not able to inquire.}

What do you think of Deyrolle?  Interesting?  Cruel?  Lovely?  A little of both?  Bonne nuit!