There is no saying what unexpected surprises await you on Paris street corners.
Take a look at what I found at the intersection of Rue Aubry le Boucher and Rue Quincampoix, near the Centre Georges Pompidou!
Thank you for visiting, and have a great weekend.
The Urge To Wander 
Wonderful and quite unexpected 🙂 It feels so good to walk the streets of Paris with you as a guide 🙂 Happy hibernating!
Feels equally good to have you come along….thank you Paula 🙂
Fun!
Indeed 🙂
Excellent.
Thank you Rabirius 🙂
Wow, those looks amazing. A lot better than a naked wall, and so close to real windows, you wouldn’t know it while quickly passing by. I love the way cities sometimes surprise you with a bout of creativity.
The most compelling reason to not rush through these cities, ticking off the major highlights, Dalia. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
How clever!
Isn’t it? And we get to see the entire ‘family’ 😀
You have such a good eye Madhu, your posts are always of the unexpected.
Oh thank you for the compliment Gilly! Wandering aimlessly pays off sometimes 🙂
The windows are really eye catching. Great pics, Madhu. 🙂
Thank you Sylvia 🙂
They’re fantastic, Madhu – and so unexpected in Paris, where one would expect there to be real windows in that wall in any case! 🙂
I thought so too. I read something about window taxes being the reason for some of the faux windows in Paris. Shall have to Google that 🙂
I wish I lived there!
Wish I did too Luiz! 🙂
Ah, lovely and totally unexpected! ! 🙂 You yoo have a great weekend, Madhu! 🙂
Thanks Marina. Hope you are enjoying your break 🙂
Aww the cutouts make it look like the place is really being utilized.
Yes, I half expected them to move! 🙂 Appreciate your stopping by Bdabbot.
What a treasure find. Thanks for sharing them with us Madhu as I did not see these when I was visiting the fair city.
You are most welcome Colline. This was diagonally opposite the Centre Pompidou!
I went to visit the centre in mid-winter – can explain why I did not see it. We were in a hurry to enter the warmth of the centre and did not linger outside too long 🙂
Good reason to return. This was our third and a longer visit, so we had a lot more time to explore areas we had missed on earlier trips 🙂
What a clever artist and definitely an unexpected treat for those who noticed. Am glad you did.
I didn’t realise how clever, until I blew up the details and noticed the shadows painted on! Hope all is well with you Lynne 🙂
What an imaginative touch–leaving one to wander about the mysteries inside. Well done.
Thank you Sally. And unexpected blog fodder is always welcome 🙂
You know Madhu dear,
These images brought to the surface some really weird memories for me of some research I did years ago – of buses with images of happy people painted on the windows. The Nazis would drive these buses around with music blaring – apparently to convince people to gather at collection centres. Once at the centres, the people were whisked away in cattle trucks, never to be seen or heard from again. At least that’s what they did in the early days before the people got wise to this deadly ploy. Sorry about this – not meant to paint anything bleak here but I felt compelled to share this snippet.
The painted windows in Paris are a whole lot more genuinely joyous.
Have a great weekend,
Eric
Don’t be sorry Eric. I am glad you shared that Nazi trivia with me. I had no idea.
My first thoughts when I saw these faux windows, were that the frozen figures, even those of the children, seemed sinister somehow! Like characters from a dark tragedy!
a great find! thanks for sharing.
Thank you for coming along with me 🙂
These are so fun! Always good to look up! I have a silly question..are they shades or painted on the windows or all fake..I made it large but I still can’t tell.. Such talent!
I am almost sure they are all fake. All painted on, including shadow and reflective details!! Amazing work isn’t it?
It’s truly amazing and I kept looking!
It seems they are painted on a kind of thin screen to keep flies outside.
COOL !
Such a fun discovery Madhu! Such a neat building to boot. Margie
Always exciting to find new blog fodder Margie 🙂 Thank you for the visit and comment.
i agree, your posts are often so unexpected and always lovely 🙂
Oh thank you Kz! You have made my day 🙂
Now those windows were totally unexpected. Very good.
Glad you agree Ruth. Thank you 🙂
Great trompe-l’oeils! Thanks for popping round to my place – I’m off for a mosey around you blog now 🙂
Thank you for the visit and follow. Hope to see you around 🙂
How lovely and how very Parisian,
I have read there are many like these in Paris. Have you seen any Suzanne?
Fabulous! I love coming across things like this…. 🙂
So do I! Glad you enjoyed this Sue 🙂
the house owner knows: sometimes passengers on the street are curious on the life behind the windows…
So why not create a permanent frozen scene?
I received a lot of curious stares pointing my camera up Frizz. Few pedestrians noticed there was anything out of the ordinary! 🙂
Very cool, Madhu! I love surprises like these. 🙂
Me too Cathy. The rewards of slow strolls down backstreets 🙂
Madhu, just to let you know…. Those are not real, and are only paintings. Ahihihi 😀
You are too funny Rommel 😀
Did you manage to find a way to volunteer in the Philippines?
How cool! Nice take on, Madhu 🙂
Thank you Amy. Had been saving these images for just such a challenge 🙂
What a wonderful treat.
And unexpected at that! Thanks Judy 🙂
Well spotted, Madhu! They’re pretty dreary grey walls otherwise, aren’t they? A talented artist must have moved in just for the pleasure of working the transformation 🙂
I think so too Jo. And he seems to have done a masterful job of it 🙂
I used to enjoy walking around the streets of Brussels too. Very similar culture and building presentations. My daughter and her family lived there for a few years. Her husband ran one of the industries for a multinational.
I can imagine brussels must be as beautiful. Hope to go there someday Ian.
Excellent choice Madhu! And arent those windows just wonderful?! Well done.
Thank you Tina. They certainly were an unexpected find 🙂
Oh my! Truly unexpected. And so playful too!
Having more time to walk around this time, aided such unexpected encounters Maryann. A return trip is always so much more rewarding.
Lovely street art.
Thank you Cardinal.
I have always loved doors and windows! Those were most excellent.
Thank you Valentine.
This is such a beautiful, uplifting work. I wish we could see more of such street and house art around the world. I always get my camera out (or regret not having it by me) when I encounter artistic windows like this. Lovely work, Madhu!
Big hug
Dina
Thank you so much Dina. Hug back 🙂
Awesome photos!
Thank you Swati.
Madhu … Some time ago I asked if I could borrow the comment you posted on your awards page and you said ‘yes.’ I posted it today, paraphrasing it a bit. Thank you. Your wording was gracious, perfect.
Oh thank you Judy. Off to check it out 🙂
The streets of Europe are loaded with the unexpected!
They certainly are! And it is such fun seeking them out 🙂
Paris has full of wonder, magic, and yes bits of romance in every corner. I dream place to be. Wishing you and your family an amazing days ahead. Thanks.
Thank you. And you too IT.
Hi-bonjour from Toulouse, France THE Magnfique! 🙂 like here:
http://myvirtualplayground.wordpress.com/2013/11/26/parc-national-des-calanques-entre-le-ciel-et-la-terre-des-vallons-argentes/
* * *
I lived in Paris for several years… and in Houston, Texas, but I love Toulouse! 🙂
My very best and have a zen day! 🙂 Mélanie
I am a huge fan of France. We missed going to the Calanques when we did Provence and the Cote d azur a few years ago. Shall certainly return someday. Thank you for stopping by and for the comment Melanie.
Wonderful! You just reminded me of these wonderful entertaining windows all over France. I forgot to use mine in my post but it’s okay…. Glad to reconnect. 😉
Eliz
Thank you . Would love to see you windows Eliz.
These are wonderful, Madhu! And fun! 🙂
Thank you Ese. Glad you like them 🙂
that is something cool and different 🙂
Thanks Joshi 🙂
Now that is unexpected indeed Madhu. What a fun idea too! 😀 Great shots and entry. 😀 *hugs*
Thank you Sonel for your lovely comment. Hugs back 🙂
What a cool idea!
Isn’t it? 🙂 Thank you Nelson.
great windows, nicely taken
Thank you Omar. Welcome to my blog 🙂
Unexpected indeed! I couldn’t make out from the first picture… till I saw your closeups. What do you think is going on in the residents’ minds?
I think they are fake and purely decorative.
such fun, we just booked our Paris flights for 14th May 🙂
That is great Christine!! How wonderful to be able to return annually! 🙂
Wow something so unusual. Tahnk you Madhu.
You are most welcome Dilip. It really was so unexpected!
Oh, wow! How delightful to see these in the windows.
A pleasant surprise indeed Fergie 🙂 Hope all is well with you.
It would be so easy to miss them! I’m glad you caught them in your photos and shared them here. Now I want to paint something on my windows!
Happy you enjoyed this Hedwigia. Let me know if you do try your hand at painting your windows 🙂
Maybe I need to finish painting the frames first though? I did the undercoat in the summer, and then moved on to other things (like reading blogs.) 🙂
Wonderful photos – just fantastic! A great capture 🙂