Charles de Gaulle Airport - Paris

The Charles de Gaulle airport is one hectic and busy airport, especially at the AirFrance terminal. When I first arrived at the airport, I couldn't even check in because someone left an unattended luggage there and the whole terminal had to be evacuated.

The CDG airport can get very chaotic and intense at times, but once we passed security, it was a quiet haven. 

 

And of course, being in Paris, the fashion capital of the world, they didn't hesitate in displaying large billboards at the airport.

Exploring the different arrondisements of Paris

What's great about Paris is that there's a little something different in all of the arrondisements (divisions) of Paris.  I can never get bored of photographing these areas since all have their own charm, history, and uniqueness.  Some of the places I wandered around are Montparnasse, Le Marais, Opera, etc.

 This was taken atop the Tour Montparnasse (689 ft tall office skyscraper)

Roissy en France

Traveling in Europe in the summer months of July and August should be avoided.  I flew standby but the CDG airport was crowded and flights were overbooked. But the good thing was since I couldn't get on a flight that day, I shuttled to the Roissy, a very small and quaint town 5 minutes away. This city has a real old city charm to it with its cobblestone streets and old street lights. My experience with airport cities is that they're usually not the greatest cities to stay, but Roissy was definitely a nice haven from the busy airport.

St-Germain-des-Prés (Paris, France)

St-Germain-des-Prés is the oldest church in Paris and is a beautiful sight for its Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Though it's much visited by tourists, walking through the church gave an solitude impression to reflect, worship, and pray. 

Sidewalk Cafes in Paris!

Between all the sightseeing, one must take an hour or two to chat with a friend or stranger or just people watch while sipping an espresso at the sidewalk cafes.  I noticed that at many of the cafes, the chairs all face out toward the streets. I think we should all learn from Paris's favorite pastime - to stop for a moment to sit and enjoy an espresso, enjoy some good company, and enjoy life.

Linear Perspective - Paris

Straight lines can stir up some dramatic perspectives.  This is at the Père Lachaise, one of the most famous cemeteries in the world with graves of famous people such as Chopin, La Fontaine, Moliere, Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison, and Oscar Wilde.

 A Parisian couple strolling at the Palais Royal with their dog.

Natural Bliss

One of my favorite engagement shots. (Sheilaugh and Ryan). 

Museo Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (Madrid, Spain)

After the Prado Museum, the Museo Reina Sofia is the next museum to visit.  Featuring 20th century art, the museum is named for Queen Sofia and houses art collections of Spain's famous artists: Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali.  You should definitely come here to see the museum's most famous artwork: Picasso's Guernica. The modern architecture of this museum is amazing too!

 

Definitely check out the hours when admission is free!

Siesta Time (Madrid)

The people of Spain take their siesta times seriously.  As a foreigner, it can be frustrating as all the shops close between 2pm and 5pm.  But I now understand that in the summer, the heat can be brutal here and it's just nice to just relax, drink a nice refreshing beverage at a sidewalk cafe, and just do nothing until the sun goes down.

Madrid at Night

There always seem to be something going on at night in Madrid, especially during the summer when it's a bit cooler and the Madrileños can venture out.  Summers are great for outdoor concerts, eating at the outdoor sidewalk cafes, or chatting with old friends at the square.

 

This was our hotel where we stayed: Hotel Roommate Mario. Very sleek and contemporary. Great location also near the Opera. Placido Domingo was doing a show there one night and the city put up a huge screen in the public garden square for people to watch. After the show, he later came out, along with the queen, to greet the public!!

Madrid Sites

 Here are some more of Madrid sights....

Old City Charm (Madrid)

Madrid is a great city to take photographs.  This beautiful city has the old traditional city charm with its cobblestone streets, small alleyways, and old streetlamps. It was definitely a different experience than Barcelona.