Cherry Blossoms in Paris

I love Paris in the springtime
I love Paris in the fall
I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles
I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles

I love Paris every moment
Every moment of the year
I love Paris, why oh why do I love Paris?
Because my love is here 

(I Love Paris - Cole Porter)

Well, look what I found in Paris in the springtime!

Notre Dame and Cherry Blossoms

I loved to have a natural frame for such an imposing and wonderful building like the Cathedral of Notre Dame. 

It reminded me of the impermanence of the blossoms and the longevity of stones. 

Sometimes completely different things compensate each other.

Angel Soldier - Illusion vs Reality

After staring for a while at these blossoming flowers

 

you will realize there are soldiers creeping in the background...

                       quite an impressive illusory experience created by Korean media artist Lee Yong Baek

(Korea Pavilion at the 54th Venice Biennale)

Aware: East is Calling

This year the concept of hanami (花見)  seems to have found its place in the speech of the non Japanese speaking masses too.

I don't mean to say it's negative: the reason is so much rooted in the bad news of the past month to be completely happy about it, but generally I am glad when something concerning beauty and nature becomes more accessible to everybody.

Originally the term refers to the cherry blossom viewing (and the cherry blossom being a symbol for a beauty that has to end which better metaphor for Japan?), but hanami literally means "flower viewing".

And I had my share, too.

Yesterday I was at the "Cherry Blossom Festival" in Marzahn, at the Gardens of the World. Marzahn is still part of the city of Berlin, but from our place is sort of an eternity away - more than an hour by public transportation.

Needless to say, it was totally worth the long train ride!I decided not to take pictures of cherry trees, though.

Not only flowers...