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A couple of friends and I decided to spend the weekend in Paris. It was my first time in France, and I went with only three things in mind: visiting Laudree for their famous macaroons, eating lots of cheese, bread and drinking wine, and seeing Oscar Wilde’s grave. Luckily I was travelling with someone who spoke the language because my French vocabulary consists of about three words, merci! My impressions of Paris have been formed by the movies. The quaint streets of Montmartre seen through yellow and green filters in Amelie, mimes roaming the streets in black and white striped shirts with red berets in Paris Je T’Aime, etc.
It had all of these things (except I didn’t see any mimes, unfortunately) and more. The food was tres magnifique (The cheese! The baguettes! The pastries!), I was mistaken for a French girl a couple of times, I saw Oscar Wilde’s resting place and the Eiffel Tower from one of the most beautiful views in the city, saw the (outside of the) Louvre and more. It’s a beautiful city that prides itself on its history and culture. Larry and Vivien frequented Paris, performing, going to night clubs, enjoying the local cuisine. France was one of their favorite vacation spots and it’s easy to see why.
This is a bit of Paris through the eye of my camera(s). Enjoy!
Le Tour Eiffel and the city from a hill in Montmartre
Hello
Laudree. Their macarons are to die for.
Tour Eiffel
I thought it looked nice in sepia
The Moulin Rouge in the red light district
Père Lachaise Cemetery
George Melies, pioneer of French cinema and crafty magician
Max Ophuls, mon amour. I’ve been watching quite a few of his films lately. Who doesn’t love La Ronde or Letter From an Unknown Woman?
Spring in bloom
I love old cemeteries. They’re have a certain faded beauty to them
Jim Morrison, apparently the most visited grave site in France, which is ironic because he was American
Jim Is Life
LA Woman happens to be my favorite Doors song. Glad to see it represented on this defaced tree
This is not the end (my friend)
Oh, Jim <3
Edith Piaf, non je ne regrette rien
Oscar Wilde, the most adored grave stone ever?
Nothing to declare but his genius. Truth.
Oscar continues to fascinate
La Belle Epoque at the Hotel De Ville
They just melt in your mouth!
Avenue des Champs-Élysées
Royal garden
A trifecta of nationalities: Indian, German, American
Louis XIV, The Louvre
So pretty
Au revoir, France. Until next time!
Kendra
Kendra is the designer and webmistress of vivandlarry.com. She lives in London where she is currently working on an upcoming photobiography about Vivien Leigh. Follow her on Twitter @kendrajbean or on Facebook at Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier
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11 Responses to Paris, Je T’Aime
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VivAndLarry.com is an historical archive and film blog dedicated to preserving the memories of classic screen and stage stars Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, and to the discussion of classic Hollywood and world cinemas. The site is designed and edited by Kendra Bean, a film scholar, writer and photographer living in London. What you'll find here: A cabinet of curiosities brimming with vintage articles, video footage, the largest archive of Vivien Leigh and/or Laurence Olivier photos on the Web, and much, much more.
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Read Vivien Leigh: Becoming Scarlett by Kendra Bean in issue no. 75 of Bright Lights Film Journal
Read Kendra's article Style Icon: Vivien Leigh at The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower
Paris is certainly a dream trip of mine! Your photos are so gorgeous!! And Laduree would be on the top of my list as well! The photos of the eiffel tower are my favorites, so beautiful. I’ve also always loved photos of that carousel for some reason. It’s so pretty. Glad to hear Paris is everything you would expect and more!
Your photos are gorgeous, really. My dream is to visit Paris one day and I hope it comes true.
I think this one is my favorite <3
Wow! So beautiful. Now I really want to see Paris. You described it so beautifully, and your photography is truly magnificent. Thank you so much for sharing! :)
Thank you for sharing these gorgeous pictures with us. It sounds like you had a beyond amazing day–I can only say I’m insanely jealous and hope to get there myself someday! :)
I’m so glad you had fun! That first picture is seriously beautiful.
Thanks, everyone! It was a lovely time and a beautiful city. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos!
Simply beautiful. Am living vicariously through your photos, dear. Bon travaille: you did a great job of capturing the essence of such a truly beautiful city. And WELL DONE YOU for going to Pere Lachaise! The last time I saw paris (heh, sorry, had to) I went to Pere Lachaise alone alone because none of my mates understood that cemeteries could be beautiful. Thankfully you do: those shots are lovely!
MAJOR bragging rights, by the way, being mistaken as a Parisienne. Best compliment ever.
Ah, merci! Pere Lachaise was beautiful. I love old grave yards. :)
Kendra! That shot of Paris from the hill in Montmartre is stunning!! I’m so jealous of your Paris trip, it looks like you had a fabulous time. Keep taking lots of pictures, please!
Hi Corey!
It was really fun! I wish you were still in London, I don’t have anyone to go on photography adventures with anymore :(
[...] instagr.am. It’s addictive. Here are some examples of my photos if you’re interested: Paris, Soho, Flickr. I always have a camera with [...]