PASTEL-COLORED "RUE CREMIEUX" in PARIS, FRANCE

When in PARIS last month, I visited RUE CREMIEUX, a small street that I saw featured in a random article online.

It's hard to believe that this is only 2-3 blocks from the GARE DU LYON train station in the 12th Arrondissement. It doesn't even looks like PARIS!

The NEIGHBORHOOD decided together to paint each of their homes a pretty PASTEL color. Some also added individually painted "ART" onto the facades. 

Naturally, I'm attracted to DOOR KNOCKERS and HANGING SIGNS above/beside the front door.......

And parked BICYCLES alway catch my eye!!

Oh, and of course FLOWERS and the color "PROVENCE BLUE".........

Do you see what I mean - that it doesn't even look like PARIS?? It's more like what you'd see out in the FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE. Oooh la la!!

I highly recommend a walk along this street during your next visit - IF you have extra time.

It was a "FIRST" for me and I loved it.  

JOAN

ESSOYES, FRANCE (HOME TO PIERRE-AUGUSTE RENOIR)

About 2.5 hrs, southeast of PARIS is the CHARMING, CHAMPAGNE TOWN of ESSOYES, FRANCE - home to PIERRE-AUGUSTE RENOIR and his wife, ALINE in the late 1800's and early 1990's. This was ALINE'S hometown. She convinced AUGUSTE to buy a house there 6 years after their 1880 marriage.

Their HOME and his STUDIO are beautifully preserved as a MUSEUM that is worth a visit (see my previous Blog Post) and the town shares LARGE photos of several of his paintings, such as the one above. 

When you first arrive in the town, you'll see a RENOIR sign, a GIANT PAINT PALLETTE and a HUGE RED FLOWER POT (a little over-the-top in my opinion, but Hey......).

Once we found the TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE (which was closed), we were able to locate a WALKING MAP of the town for a "WALK IN RENOIR'S FOOTSTEPS". 

Rain quickly ended our walk and the RENOIR MUSEUM was closed for lunch, so we took some time for a delicious LUNCH (and CHAMPAGNE) in a COLORFUL CAFE.

What can I say?..... the owner was ADORABLE!!

So, back to a few photos of the town of ESSOYES........

The photo above shows a picture of GABRIELLE - RENOIR'S MODEL and GOVERNESS of their children. ESSOYES was also HER hometown.

And a few photos of WINDOWS, DOORS and SMALL SPACES that I simply can't resist photographing......

And finally, a short video of two DOGS playing in their RIVER OURCE......

I LOVE their interaction and the sound of their PLAY!

Perhaps you can see why I LOVE small VILLAGES and TOWNS in FRANCE.  As an AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER, it's PARADISE for me.....

JOAN

PIERRE-AUGUSTE RENOIR'S HOME in ESSOYES, FRANCE

When in EUROPE this month, I made a point to visit RENOIR'S house and studio in ESSOYES, FRANCE. This is my favorite photo - RENOIR'S paintbrushes in a ceramic pot on the windowsill of his home.

Oh my, what a wonderful, little town ESSOYES is. One can see why he choose this place to live. Well, actually his wife ALINE found the house........ (in her home town). They moved there 6 years after their 1890 marriage.

When you first enter the secured property of the residence and studio, you enjoy a short walk through their flower gardens (not in bloom yet in April). I can only imagine how beautiful this will be in full-bloom!

The garden path leads to his STUDIO.

OH!!, to stand in the same place where RENOIR painted!!!

There is a short, lovely walk to his house.

Inside the LIVING ROOM he apparently kept another STUDIO SPACE.

The other side of the LIVING ROOM is a comfortable place to visit with FAMILY and FRIENDS.

Some of RENOIR'S PENCIL SKETCHES are displayed in the HALLWAY. At first, I thought they had to be copies - but perhaps not - they were each under glass in a darkened room. EXCITING!!

The KITCHEN was quite interesting and huge - I totally enjoyed looking at all of the little details around the room.

And RENOIR'S BEDROOM upstairs..........

Right next door is his wife ALINE'S bedroom........

......which is right next door to an example of the BOYS' BEDROOMS.

I stole a final GLANCE out of the upstairs window to look back toward his STUDIO.

The CEMETERY is only 2 blocks away. What impressed me the most was how HUMBLE PIERRE-AUGUSTE RENOIR'S headstone is in comparison to some of the more GRAND markers there.  

TWO of their 3 BOYS (PIERRE, a stage and film actor and JEAN, a noted filmmaker, and Jean's wife, DIDO, an actress) are buried with AUGUSTE.

His wife ALINE, who was 20 years younger (they met when she was 20 and he was 40), died 4 years before AUGUSTE and is right behind him in the cemetery, buried with her mother and their third son (CLAUDE, a ceramic artist). 

The RENOIR graves are in the middle of this next photo, recognizable by the green bust of AUGUSTE on his headstone and ALINE'S modest, cream-colored headstone behind his.

I'm thrilled to have had the opportunity to visit this MASTER ARTIST'S HOME and FINAL RESTING PLACE! 

I feel compelled now to share some photos of their lovely town of ESSOYES, which will be in my next BLOG POST - So, So, SO CHARMING!!

JOAN