Feet on the Ground, Eyes on the Architectural Details

The Parisiennes still aren't quite as careful about cleaning up after their dogs as they could be. Still, despite the risks inherent in not keeping our eyes constantly on the pavement, we do seem to spend a lot of time stopping to look up at the buildings of Paris. 

I'm not talking about the "if there's a horizontal surface, let's stick a statue on it" school of architecture but the ordinary (well, in Paris, ordinary) carvings that anywhere else would have a postcard all to themselves.

The elegant carved lettering of the Syndicat de l'Épicerie Française caught my eye. This handsome building, art nouveau, in style dates back to around 1900. 

The third photo here is the absolute pinnacle of the Opéra (as in Phantom of the...) Technically it's called the Palais Garnier. According to the Internet, there's still a small lake underneath it.

Last but not least, a genial stone face.