Collete

          Bonjour, readers!  Bienvenu to the "Dog Blog", officially known as It's Raining Les Chien.  My name is Collete and I am a cat.  You might be asking, "Why is a cat a part of the 'Dog Blog'?"  Well, I'm a cat and I can do what I want!  Also, I was asked by my canine friends to introduce you to the blog and explain what you should expect.   Well, it's relatively simple, especially because it was designed by a bunch of dogs.  In the following posts, you will meet one or two dogs and learn about the area of Paris they spend time in or live.  I decided to give my support to the blog because I though it was a simple and entertaining way to get to know the city of Paris a bit better.  Not to mention, if cats made a blog about Paris, the positive response would be so overwhelming, it might overshadow the city.  A difficult feat, but cats can do anything.

          Anyway, moving on.  I figured considering this is the first entry, why not start on a good note with the input of an awesome cat?  So, here is my attempt to show you how great a city Paris is by explaining a little bit about my neighborhood.  Enjoy!

          I live in the 6th arrondissement of Paris near the famed Odéon-Théâtre de l'Europe.  The Odéon theater is really cool and really old.  It was built in the late 1770's and was meant for the Comédie Française, but they decided to stay in their original location.  One interesting thing about the opening of the theater is it was inaugurated by the Marie Antoinette in 1782!   Then, in 1808 the theater went under reconstruction.  The new architect was the same guy who designed the Arc de Triomphe, Jean Chalgrin.  The theater was then officially named Théâtre de l'Impératrice, but everyone still called it simply the Odéon. However, in 1818 the theater burned down.  Luckily in 1819, the theater was rebuilt to its current design by Pierre Thomas Baraguay.

          The theater is a central part of the neighborhood.  I think it is one of prettiest buildings in Paris.  Sometimes I get to sneak in during a rehearsal or even a show.  I love watching the performances.  Its almost like being transported back in time, even if it is a more modern act.  There is a special feeling you get while watching a live performance in such an old and important building.  I think this is also true about Paris.  Walking the streets of a city that's history goes back multiple millennium, where ever you go something important happened there.  I realize that I live in one of, if not the best city in the world.  I am one lucky cat.

Me, taking a cat nap in a restaurant near the theater

The Odéon-Théâtre de l'Europe

Marie Thérèse and Louis Joseph

          Bonjour, my subjects!  My name is Marie Thérèse (I'm the one in the fabulous black and white coat) and my brother's name is Louis (in boring tan).  We love to play in a small square called Place Dauphine in the 1st arrondissement of Paris.  I have always been the queen of my castle, yet my name sake was only queen for 20 minutes.  Marie Thérèse of France was the daughter and first born of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, and was the sister of Louis Joseph (who I'm sure was just as annoying as my brother).  The reason she was only queen for 20 minutes was because that was the amount of time it took for her husband to turn over the crown to Charles X, who later became king.

          However, Place Dauphine was built for another dauphin, one that was around centuries before my name sake's brother.  The square was built in 1607 under the orders of Henry IV for his son, the future Louis XIII.  Henry IV had began projects to create public squares in Paris.  His first was the Palace Royal and his second was Place Dauphine.  The funny thing about the square is that it is actually a triangle!  I always thought that was weird...

          I'm not much for running, but I love coming to Place Dauphine to play with the other dogs that hang out here.  My brother can be a bit annoying at times, but he can be fun too.  The cool thing about Paris is that there are small squares all over and this means I can play all over the city with a bunch of different types of dogs.  I might be a queen, but I'm still a dog at heart.  I don't know of any other city that would meet my standards like Paris does.  It's perfect for me.

Me, looking amazing, and my brother

Ernest

         Salut!  My name is Ernest.  I was named after the famous American writer, Ernest Hemingway and I happen to live in the same neighborhood Ernest lived in Paris during the 20's, Saint-Germain-des-Prés.  The area of Saint-Germain-des-Prés is part of the 6th arrondissement of Paris and was the center of many artistic and intellectual movements.  Additionally, it is home to many landmarks, such as Les Deux Margots, Café de Flore, and the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés which was built in the 6th century!  Speaking of the abby, its history has lent itself to the history of the entire area.  In the 11th century, it was the home to an important writing center and therefore turned the area into a center of intellectual life for Paris.  This theme continued into the 19th and 20th century helping the neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés to become the home of existentialism and artists and writers such as Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, and Juan Gris.

          Saint-Germain-des-Prés was documented in Hemingway's memoir A Movable Feast.  In his memoir, Hemingway writes about his everyday life while living in Paris during the 1920's.  This seemed like a fun time to live, for a human at least.  I would have liked to hear the music and get a doggy bag from the famous restaurants and cafes that were in the area.  Some of these eateries are still around, such a Les Deux Margots, Café de Flore, and Lipp's.  I haven't read many of the books and poetry that came out of that time, but my people do and they read it to me sometimes.  That even seems weird to me, but I can't complain.  I like hearing about my neighborhood and the people who lived in it years ago.  Saint-Germain-des-Prés is a fun place to be a dog!

Talking a walk around the town

Sylvia

          Bonsoir, my friends!  My name is Sylvia and I live in the 5th arrondissement of Paris.   While I'm not allowed inside, my owners like to walk me around the famous bookstore, Shakespeare and Co.  I hear them talk about the shop all the time.  They talk about its extensive history and the well-known authors and artists that have spent time there over the years.  Shakespeare and Co was a place for these artists and writers to explore other genres and forms of writing and art in a safe and inspiring place.  One cool thing about the bookstore when it first opened was that it was not just a bookstore, but also allowed for books to be checked out like a library.  It was a place for everyone, even those who couldn't afford to buy the books.

          The history of Shakespeare and Co is just as interesting as the people and books that inhabited its walls.  The current location of the store was not the original building.  Sylvia Beach opened the original Shakespeare and Co in 1919 on rue de l'Odéon.  The area was known for little bookshops that famous writers of the time, such as James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway, hung out in.  A few decades later during the German occupation of WW 2, Sylvia had to close its doors and unfortunately they never opened again.  Then in 1951, George Whitman opened up another bookstore in the current location, but later renamed it to Shakespeare and Co in 1961 to honor Sylvia.  The current Shakespeare and Co ran for 50 years under Whitman's management until his death in 2011.  Now, it is run by Whitman's daughter, aptly named Sylvia Beach Whitman.

          Shakespeare and Co represents one of the best parts of Paris.  The bookstore was and still is used as a safe place for freedom of expression and education.  Even in times of restriction, the bookstore was there for famous and not so famous artists and writers to enjoy and be themselves.  I fully believe Paris is the place for artists and writers and Shakespeare and Co should be the first place a newcomer in Paris should visit.

Me in an awkward situation...

The outside of the store.  The only part I get to see.

Victor and Hugo

           Hi there!  Our names are Victor and Hugo and we are magician's assistants near Notre Dame.  The church is located on the Île de la Cité in the 4th arrondissement of Paris.  We love to entertain the hoards of tourists who visit Notre Dame everyday.  People come from all over the world to see the church.  For the most part, English speakers watch our show.  We hear so much English, we know it better than French!  Our person calls us his "assistants", but all we do is lay around, look cute, and attract tourists.  The tourists are in the area for the church, but we suspect most of them are there to see us.  Our person does magic and shapes balloons, but we entertain the masses.  Mimes are so yesterday.  Today, it's dog magicians.

That's us.  Victor is white and Hugo is black.

          However, our act would not get as much foot traffic as it does without the Notre Dame in the background.  The original construction of the church began in 1163 and did not finish until 1345, but there have been numerous restorations over time.  There was a famous book written about Notre Dame and the hunchback that lives inside, as well as a history of the city.  I've heard that the hunchback story isn't real, but we don't believe it.  He exists.  We know it.  

          Anyway, our favorite part of the church are the flying buttresses in the back.  Notre Dame was one of the first buildings to have flying buttresses.  Because of the Gothic style the church was built in, the walls were very thin and needed more support.  The whole look of Notre Dame is so cool and inspiring.  It's such a great place to be!

A view of Notre Dame from the front

A view at night and a good look at the flying buttresses

Pierre

          Bonjour, my name is Pierre and I live in the beautiful city of Paris.  Specifically, I live in the neighborhood known as Saint-Germain-des-Prés and near the Le Centaure by César Baldaccini.  When my people take me for walks, they like to go to the statue.  When I first saw it, I was a little taken aback.  Suffice it to say, it is a very unique and very unforgettable statue.  It looks like a broken down robot centaur.  While it is a bit weird, it is very cool at the same time.  César Baldaccini also has other statues all throughout Paris.  By the Grande Arche, there is a large thumb statue by César called Le Pounce.  I always thought it was just a giant buried underground until I found out it was just a statue.  That was a disappointment!

My owner and me

          César Baldaccini is also well know for his artistic style.  He was at the forefront of the style of Nouveau Réalisme, which looked at the world from a new perspective.  By looking at César's Le Centaure we can see how he was able to look at the classic shape of a centaur and break it down and build it back up again to represent the movement of Nouveau Réalisme.  Paris is a great city to see different and exciting forms of art.  I can just walk around the city and see incredible statues or thought- provoking street art.  All of the art of the city gives Paris a unique character and feeling.  I love being able to see it everyday.  

Le Centaure

Le Pounce

Marcel and Marceau

          Salut!  Our names are Marcel and Marceau and we live near the Fontaine Saint-Michel in the 5th arrondissement of Paris.  On sunny days, our people like to take us to the fountain and throw a ball for us.  We jump, run, and splash around the fountain, sometimes for hours!  Our favorite part of the day is when we get to play in the fountain and usually there is a large crowd watching us.  We love putting on a "show" for the tourist who are watching us (even though it is probably more fun for us than them).  As I think about the times we play in the fountain and the crowds that watch, I realize how unique our "show" is and the role Paris plays in it.  The atmosphere of the city allows freedom of creativity and revolves around the expression of lust for life.  While we are just two dogs playing in a fountain, we represent pure bliss and excitement. 

          We are also aware that the fountain must add to the allure we have on the crowd.  The beautiful Fontaine Saint-Michel was finished in 1860.  It was part of Baron Haussmann's reconstruction of Paris in the mid-1800's.  He created the street Boulevard Saint-Michel and had room for a fountain at the end.      Haussmann then brought in the architect, Gabriel Davioud, to create the fountain.  Originally, Davioud wanted a statue of peace to be at the center, but the French government shut that down and called for a different statue.  Therefore, the Archangel Michael wrestling with the devil is at the center of the fountain now.  Additionally, the shape of the fountain has a similar look of another famous Parisian landmark, the Arc de Triomphe.  Most of the time we spend at the fountain is centered around our play time.  However, when we take the time to really look at the fountain, we realized how beautiful it is and how important it is to the French people and history.  Even as dogs, we can appreciate the city we live in and the places we get to see.  Paris is a great place for a dog to live!

That's me, Marcel, in the fountain.

And that's me, Marceau, waiting my turn.

Isabelle

          Hola, my name is Isabelle and I live in the Latin Quarter of Paris, which is the 5th and part of the 6th arrondissement.  Actually, I just moved to Paris from Spain.  My family decided a move was in order and picked one of the most historically exciting parts of Paris.  I'm a really big history buff and because of it, I love living here.  The Latin Quarter is filled with famous spots and well-known hang-outs.  For example, my people like to have lunch at Les Deux Magots.  This cafe is where famous writers and artists like Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso spent their time.  The amount of artists, writers, scientists, and scholars that lived and worked in the Latin Quarter make me feel, even as a dog, insignificant.  However, the works they made, scientific or artistic, make me feel as though I belong in this city.  

          Additionally, the Latin Quarter is also famous for the Sorbonne, the premier university of Paris during the Middle Ages, yet is still synonymous with Parisian education and university life.  The reason why the Latin Quarter is called "the Latin Quarter" is because of Latin, the universal language spoken during the Medieval Ages in the area.  As an outsider, Paris is the place that welcomes me in.  The atmosphere of learning about the Latin Quarter has made me feel more at home.  As a new Parisian, I can feel a bit out of sorts, but when I realize that I am living in a city made of many different nationalities and social standings, I realize I am in the perfect place.  The Latin Quarter is the place for me!  Paris is my city! 

Me enjoying my time in the Latin Quarter

Karl

          Bonjour!  My name is Karl and I live in Paris.  My owners like to take me everywhere they go, even work.  That is just fine with me because they work on the Champs-Élysées, hence the name Karl (you know, like Lagerfeld).  The downside to the Champs-Élysées is all of the tourists who block the sidewalks and annoy the French.  However, it is interesting to hear all the unique languages spoken by the people who have come from all over the world just to see the street that I go to everyday.  Nonetheless, the Champs-Élysées has some really great parts to it.  My favorite is the shopping.  The original Chanel store is just off the Champs-Élysées and the Louis Vuitton flagship store has multiple levels.  It is so big! 

Just walking along the streets of the Champs-Élysées

          The main attraction on the Champs-Élysées has to be the Arc de Triomphe.  It was built in the early 1800's at the command of Napoleon I.  It honors all the soldiers who fought and died in French wars.  Additionally, the Arc is a rallying point of triumph for the French people and military and has seen a great deal of marches and parades celebrating many victories.  Plus, the Arc is also home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.   My favorite part about the Arc is the layout of the streets in relation to the Arc.  All the surrounding streets meet at a point.  The view from the top is incroyable!  When I think about the city that I live in and the places where I go everyday, I realize how I am living a very lucky life, especially for a dog.

A view of the streets surrounding the Arc

Gustave

          Bonjour, mes amies!  Je m'appelle Gustave.  I live in the 7th arrondissement, which is most well known for the symbol of Paris, the Eiffel Tower.  My owners like to walk me around our neighborhood every night. This is my favorite part of the day.  Especially in the summer, my people take me out later in the night because the sun doesn't begin to set until 10pm!  They stay up later and go out to a nice cafe, and therefore, I get to stay up later too!  I like to stay up as late as I can because I love to see the Eiffel Tower when it sparkles.  It's one of those things that reminds me how much I love living in Paris!

Me and my owners relaxing at a cafe near the Eiffel Tower

          Every once in awhile, my owners like to sit on the Champ de Mars at night and spend time with friends.  When they do, they usually bring me too.  I can sit, contemplate life, and people watch.  I particularly like to look at the Eiffel Tower.  I overheard my owners talking about the Tower one night to some friends who were new in town and I was able to learn more about my favorite landmark.  For example, I didn't know that I am named after the guy who engineered the Tower.  Also, it was built over 120 years ago!  I 'm only 4 years old.  I can't even fathom how long ago that was!  The great thing about Paris is that no matter where you are, there is a place to sit and just enjoy the day and the people, or animals, you are with.  I can't think of a better city to live in.  J'adore Paris.

Jean

          Salut!  My name is Jean and I am a dog who lives in Paris.  Being a dog in Paris is great.  I get free health care and the best leftovers in the world.  I also get to go on walks in the most beautiful gardens ever seen.  My owner likes to take me for walks around the Jardin du Luxembourg in the 6th arrondissement of Paris.  The Jardin du Luxembourg is the second largest park in Paris, second only to the Père Lachaise Cemetery.  Sometimes if I'm lucky, I get to go inside the park to play with other dogs and the little kids who's parents bring them to the carousel.  I love watching the toy boats on the fountain in the center of the park.   My people like to go to the park to listen to the live music that plays at the gazebo.  They usually bring me along and I get to listen too. 

That's me.  I can't wait to get to the park!

The toy boats

          I'm usually so busy watching the children or listening to the live music, that I don't think about the huge building that makes up a large part of the garden.  I asked some pigeons one day what the building was and they told me it is the home of the French Senate.  I had no idea I was so close to an important government body!  Finding this out made me wonder what else is in the park I never noticed before.  When my people walked me around, I began to look at everything we passed by instead of the squirrels and lady dogs.  One day we passed by a large fountain.  A group of dogs told me it is called La Fontaine Médicis and was built by the wife of a really old French king after he died.  Additionally, there are so many other statues and fountains all over the park.  I haven't seen them all, but I look forward to exploring more of the Jardin du Luxembourg as time goes on.  

The Senate building

          

Gaston

          Bonjour!  My name is Gaston and I live with my family in the 9th arrondissement of Paris.  I love walking around the streets of Paris, especially in the 9th arrondissement.  The streets are nice and wide for me and my family to walk in.  Thanks to Mr. Haussmann and his renovation of Paris , the 9th arrondissement has very wide boulevards.   Some say it was so the armies of Napoléon III can better police Paris, but I don't really care.  All I know is that the layout of Grand Boulevards help we stay with my family while we walk. The other small streets of Paris can be hard to walk on when my people have the stroller and me to look after.

  

This is me with the stylish leash and my boy, Matthieu, in the stroller

          Another thing I love about the 9th arrondissement is the Palais Garnier.  I've never been inside, but I've heard a lot about it from other smaller dogs who's owners bring them in, typical "lap dogs".  They say it is very beautiful inside and is very old.  I heard one dog say it was built in the 1800's, whatever that means.  I've also heard the name Charles Garnier from the other dogs.  They say he was the man who designed the building.  My people like to watch this horrible movie called The Phantom of the Opera.  All the people in the movie do is sing long and boring songs.  Not my cup of tea.  I prefer the classic All Dogs Go To Heaven.  My people say this singing movie is based off of a book about the Palais Garnier by some guy who took my name.

          

This is a picture of the Palais Garnier.

          

          Walking around the 9th arrondissement and the Palais Garnier remind me how lucky I am to be a dog in Paris.  I might not know a lot, but I do understand the wonder of Paris.  I see people from many different places come to Paris just to see the sights of my neighborhood.  It brings the saying "it's a dog's life" to a new meaning for dogs in Paris.