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Post by Jody on Jul 9, 2008 7:56:37 GMT -5
On a sunny day , especially if you have children along, and are museumed out and need some fresh air, head off to Le Jardin des Plantes. I prefer to take the Metro to Censier Daubenton so that I can first make a stop at La Tuile a Loup to look over their many handmade pottery items, mostly from Provence and check out the lovely linens. The a short walk brings you to the entrance to the gardens. Walk thru the pretty gardens to the zoo. While not huge it does have an aviary and a reptile house. Lots of sculptures scattered about and I love the little huts in the animal enclosures. Keep walking straight thru the gardens toward the Seine. You’ll come out near Pl. Valhubert, take a left and walk along Quai St Bernard. On your right along the banks you’ll come to Musee de Sculpture de Plein Air. Many exhibits along the river and an open space where there are often people practicing Tai Chi or dancing to a street music an. A great place to picnic if you’ve picked up a baguette along the way. A few pictures for you! www.latuilealoup.com/www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=jq4x74f.1qi7gx0r&x=0&y=-v9xfty&localeid=en_US |
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Post by Happygoin on Jul 9, 2008 8:50:45 GMT -5
Yikes! Ostriches are bigger than I might've thought!! What a great place. I love the rhino sculptures, especially. I can see where kids would love it, especially on a warm night with a full picnic basket.
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Post by Anne on Jul 9, 2008 9:09:39 GMT -5
Jody, La Tuile à Loup seems a lovely shop .
They say that they sell santons . I remember reading here that some of you like to bring a few items of Xmas decoration back home . For those who don't know, santons are Provence's traditional Xmas crib wooden figurines, so you may want to bring a few back .
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Post by annettecinca on Jul 9, 2008 9:23:59 GMT -5
Thanks for the lovely walk this morning, DeMarias! La Tuile à Loup has been on my list for a long time, but I haven't gotten there yet. Anne, I thought santons are usually clay?
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Post by Anne on Jul 9, 2008 12:00:08 GMT -5
Mine are very old wooden ones from my grandmother, but you're right, I've often seen some in clay .
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Post by denise on Jul 9, 2008 14:28:25 GMT -5
:)Thanks demarais, you brought back memories of last October when we stayed near the Jardin les plantes and strolled in the gardens in the mornings. The leaves on the trees were turning autumn colours and we would stroll hand in hand in the chilly morning air. We didn't visit the zoo but it would certainly be a nice place to take children Across the road from the entrance is the Mosquee de Paris. You can pay a nominal fee to go in and admire the Moorish tiled courtyard but we just looked through the gates. There is a nice teashop attached to a Turkish steam bath where you can take a hamam. I wasn't quite brave enough to go on my own but I regret not taking the experience now.  Men and women go on separate days. My friends enjoyed the hamam on our recent trip to Turkey. Maybe next time I will pluck up the courage. Denise love from England  |
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Post by framboiseetrose on Jul 9, 2008 14:59:06 GMT -5
Merci Demarais! It is always nice to read about something that reminds one of happy memories. I have had my Santon Creche since the early 80s and they come out every Christmas. Here is mine (made of clay faces and limbs with soft body and dressed in real Provencal prints):  I know it's not Christmas but in a few months............... This will also give the ones who will be in Paris before to rush out and get their set. |
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Post by annettecinca on Jul 9, 2008 15:04:24 GMT -5
I love your figurines, Framboise! Thanks for posting the pic. I've never seen any this large in the shops I've been in--always the tiny clay ones. I will be keeping my eye out, as santon figures have been on my souvenir list as long or longer than La Tuile à Loup!
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Post by sunshine817 on Jul 9, 2008 15:45:29 GMT -5
I've not seen them in Paris, either -- we buy them in Provence for my belle-mere -- she has collected them for years. Last year we bought them directly from the producer...they were gorgeous, and she was chuffed to bits to see photos of the workshop where her santons were made.
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Post by framboiseetrose on Jul 9, 2008 19:07:46 GMT -5
My original set was bought in Paris. The two big figures (the shepherd with the sheep on his shoulder and the lady with the lavender) came to us while in Provence a year later. I thought they were the same size but turned out to be too large but were still kept with the group. The fisherman and lady fishmonger were acquired another couple of years later. A couple were damaged by our earthquake in 1989 but still held together! It is beginning to acquire a nice, long history...............
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Post by Jody on Jul 14, 2008 7:43:15 GMT -5
Love your santons. I really don't need to start collecting anything else but I am tempted!!
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aude
Full Member
Posts: 114
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Post by aude on Jul 14, 2008 17:10:09 GMT -5
I love La Tuile a Loup!!! It is my favorite shop in Paris. We go there on every trip, and I've finally bought so much that I thought I'd reached my saturation point. Then I looked at the website again... I am such a sucker for that beautiful pottery! The shop changed ownership a year or two ago, but it looks like the product mix is essentially the same.
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Post by firsttimeinparis on Jul 31, 2008 23:13:07 GMT -5
What a great place to buy a couple of small souvenir and also loved your album of the zoo, definitely will visit this September for my firsttimeinparis. (no pun of course!)   |
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Men and women go on separate days. 
Let the riot begin! LOL - 
hahahha