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Monday, 20 June 2011

the parisian courtyard...


The French seem to be the masters of the hidden courtyard...particularly in Paris and sometimes it would seem that every second doorway leads to a surprise destination. Many of them are private but those that aren't can often lead to a world of retail enchantment or be cause for palpitations of the architectural beauty kind...assuming you love Paris like I do. 

This passageway had me swooning...for the pavé stones, for the distressed wooden panelling, for the massive painted doors, for the ornate cornices, for the oversized black lettering and last but not at all least for the treasure filled antique shops....A pathway to heaven really...xv

my daily click HERE

image - vicki archer

on

45 comments:

  1. debra@dustjacket16 June 2011 at 09:33

    I think my heart just fluttered looking at this and reading your description....I wish.
    xoxox

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  2. martinealison16 June 2011 at 10:31

    Sir vous venez un jour vous venez à Lyon, vous pourrez aussi découvrir les traboules...
    Belle photo et jolie publication.
    Bisous

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  3. Karena16 June 2011 at 11:32

    Vicki how gorgeous!! Life is full of surprises and wonder!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  4. Renée Finberg16 June 2011 at 12:32

    this must be one of the 'hooks'that paris holds over me.
    the passageways.
    the doorways.
    the drive in court-yards.

    it is all so divine.

    xx

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  5. Dianne16 June 2011 at 12:36

    Oh! so elegant the pathway to the courtyard is so.... welcoming - saying come on in!

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  6. Meaghan16 June 2011 at 13:40

    Thank you Vicki. Beautifully described as usual. This reminds me of one of my favourite little laneways in Paris - it runs down behind Cafe Procope in Saint Germain. As soon as I saw your photo it brought back beautiful memories of my first trip to Paris when I stayed in a little hotel, right near there.

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  7. Katherine16 June 2011 at 14:55

    Opening the doorways to the hidden courtyards is liking opening a plainly wrapped gift and finding a diamond inside. I love this about Paris and could stand there and drink the vision in for hours.

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  8. peggy braswell16 June 2011 at 15:13

    So beautiful+reminds me of New Orleans but then NOLA was founded by the French. Thank you, dear Vicki xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

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  9. Amy16 June 2011 at 15:22

    Sometimes what's hidden is even more enticing than what's right out there for everyone to see. Magical.

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  10. mudderbear16 June 2011 at 17:02

    Hi Vicki....This is indeed a beautiful treat. Thank you for letting us see it too.
    Have a blessed weekend.
    justmeRosalie/mudderbear

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  11. The Caledonian Mining Expedition Company16 June 2011 at 17:14

    True heaven indeed! One of my very favourite things - the concealed Paris...

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  12. red ticking16 June 2011 at 17:35

    i am swooooning too... you have a great eye sweet friend... xoxo

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  13. under spanish moss16 June 2011 at 17:42

    We love courtyards...such wonderful elements that create an intriguing space.

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  14. quintessence16 June 2011 at 17:52

    Madly madly in love for all the reasons you mentioned!!

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  15. FrenchBlue16 June 2011 at 17:54

    Thank you for the morning walk through doors that take you to a world of imagination and time.
    xxx's

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  16. Splenderosa16 June 2011 at 18:45

    I think this is the reason I love Place des Vosges. And, now in Houston we see developers building these European-style venues with shopping, dining and living all together. So much more interesting. Little alleyways, always treasure troves beckoning us. xx's

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  17. Karen in VA (was CT)16 June 2011 at 19:09

    .. would this be off the Rue des Saints Peres? ... a picture to take us away, surely ... delightful as usual.

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  18. Chris16 June 2011 at 19:14

    Oh! My Gosh! Do you know where this is exactly? Magical...

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  19. parisbreakfast16 June 2011 at 21:02

    I always love that sheen on the paves..
    Italy too has those hidden doorways.
    New York does not.

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  20. à la parisienne16 June 2011 at 21:21

    This post is so true.
    One of my favorite pictures I took in Paris is of a courtyard off of Place Vendome, near the Cartier. Whoever lives there is quite wealthy no doubt.

    Mandy

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  21. A Gift Wrapped Life16 June 2011 at 23:10

    Get that camera in those doors..........I want to see the shops. What a gorgeous courtyard and great shot Vicki. XO

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  22. Teresa Hatfield ~ Splendid Sass16 June 2011 at 23:39

    So, so beautiful, Vicki!
    Thank you for sharing these gorgeous and quaint places with us.
    Teresa
    xoxo

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  23. Shell Sherree17 June 2011 at 00:02

    It's beautiful, Vicki. So much to love in this vision. Have a gorgeous weekend!

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  24. Stephen Mitchell17 June 2011 at 00:15

    Absolutely charming!

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  25. Dasi17 June 2011 at 01:56

    Where does the pathway lead to? I hope it's some beautiful place...

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  26. Unknown17 June 2011 at 02:29

    Dearest, I am on a break from blogging, too many distractions around here, but to sneak a look at your blog - I can't resist....Thanks for the beautiful inspiration!

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  27. Glamour Drops17 June 2011 at 08:38

    I understand why you were swooning. It is unbelievably tempting to open all of those doors, just to see what lays behind. A bit like Alice in Wonderland with so many temptations.

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  28. mary17 June 2011 at 13:38

    So many visions of paradise. I definitely NEED to go back to Paris to fill my soul. Thanks. Mary

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  29. corine17 June 2011 at 22:59

    Oh I think I have been there exactly! I remember my knees weakening.

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  30. Beadboard UpCountry17 June 2011 at 23:36

    I agree, they are wonderful, kind of a stone cloak you walk into...... Heavenly, yes!Maryanne xo

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  31. Aunty Belle17 June 2011 at 23:46

    Ah....another city with many such hidden lanes or courtyards is Cortona Italy.

    Vicki, reading backwards, your meditation on marriage is straight to the heart of the matter. I hope your own three have as deep a commitment--your example makes that possible.

    Reading even further backwards: Murtoli!!!!!

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  32. Aunty Belle17 June 2011 at 23:47

    Oh, and your blog is a respite in a busy week.

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  33. marnie18 June 2011 at 05:10

    and the splash of brilliant aqua

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  34. 24 Corners18 June 2011 at 05:39

    My goodness this is beautiful...would love to walk through here everyday...all would be right with the world then!
    xo J~

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  35. Sunday Taylor18 June 2011 at 17:13

    So beautiful! And so Parisian. Can't wait to visit Paris in the Fall!

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  36. Julie18 June 2011 at 19:23

    Oh yes, that would be heaven! ;)

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  37. Ingrid Mida18 June 2011 at 23:56

    I like those courtyards too. I am always alert to the opening of a heavy door as I walk down the streets of Paris, hoping for a glimpse inside...

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  38. Julie@beingRUBY19 June 2011 at 02:25

    Gorgeous.. gorgeous.. I love it all especially the black painted doors... I sometimes see these types of passageways in Sydney.. but rarely leading to anything as beautiful.. yet .. they remind me of France and Italy and the memory is almost as good..

    Have a lovely weekend. ciao xxx Julie

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  39. Anonymous20 June 2011 at 16:17

    Paris is so romantic! Truly there is a world behind so many of these doors - courtyards, passageways...

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  40. Anna at the Doll House20 June 2011 at 17:15

    Like Alice, falling down the rabbit hole, a passage of wonders leading on to a courtyard of wonderful things.

    Anna

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  41. Benita Wheeler20 June 2011 at 17:20

    this is so beautiful. a black dress, a red lip. A cream invite with black ink. A modern day invitation using this photograph. Then a bride has a great day.

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  42. Abbie21 June 2011 at 23:14

    Umm...yeah. No hidden courtyards where I live, but this is a major, "I can dream," shot. Too pretty!

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  43. Millie26 June 2011 at 06:28

    One of my very favorite Vicki images!
    Millie x

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  44. boho chic1 September 2011 at 23:52

    I am dreaming, dreaming, dreaming of one day stepping foot there. Thank you for the beautiful eye candy.

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  45. mobile makeup artist Sydney14 September 2011 at 13:51

    I love the photography as well! Can this be my wedding photographer??! haha!

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