15.1.09

Mid-month theme - subways

Normally, I don’t post on Thursdays, but today is the 15th of the month which means that it’s time for the mid-month theme “subways”, which I share with bloggers form NYC, Stockholm and Budapest.

Like last month, when Virginia contributed, this month’s contribution is again by a guest star. This time the photo has been taken by Karen, who visited Paris recently. These are the quays of the Abbesses station in Montmartre with its recently renovated 1912 design – only the smiling five chairs seem to be to have been designed later.

This completes my previous reports on the Abbesses metro station, well-known for its Guimard entrance and for its stairs.

You can find today’s and some related posts by using the following links:

New York City Daily BlogStockholm by pixelsBudapest by Andrea GerakPeter’s Paris.

(You can also find some other related posts on my previous blog via this link: PHO.)

31 comments:

Michelle said...

Very intesting use of color with those seats. I haven't ever seen anything like it. We don't have subways here.

Anonymous said...

I think it is a charming photo of the subway. I wonder how the name is pronounced.

Karen said...

Ahhh, so you also noticed that the chairs were smiling. They reminded me of the yellow smiley faces when I saw them.
It was a nice Metro station and the happy chairs added to the charm.

Anonymous said...

Fond memories of that metro station! Wish I had taken the lift!!

stromsjo said...

1912... That station has been around for quite some time as compared to ours.

Happy subway day !

claude said...

Ce ne sont pas les sièges de mon époque. J'aimais bien la "vie" dans le métro !

alice said...

J'adore! On dirait des Smarties! Bravo Karen!

Cezar and Léia said...

I would like to see some painted stairs and those colourful cartoons...It`s beautiful! :-)
Léia

Kiwi said...

Like a bunch of small chickens on holiday.

Happy subway day!

Adam said...

The seats were designed very recently, and were based on the 'smiley'. Read more here at the RATP site.

They do add a splash of colour and fun into the Metro, but like the 'Motte' seats before them, they do have two other purposes. Firstly they prevent people from laying down and sleeping, and secondly they enable people to site next to each other without being too close!

Anonymous said...

A lovely metro stop. I think one of the deepest isn't it?

Thérèse said...

Thanks Karen!
It spices the station.

Virginia said...

Great shot. LOVE the yellow chairs! Have I been in this station? I have no clue.
V

Peter, you my friend, have a good thing going! LOL
I have one left that I've been saving and it will cost you big bucks! :)

marie6 said...

I really like underground photos, it's something we don't have in Malta, so we love using the underground when we go abroad!

Bettina said...

I know it's a cliché, but I can't see this Metro station without thinking of Amélie (I love that movie). And the station is so beautiful as is this photo Karen.

Ming the Merciless said...

Sorry I missed the subway theme day (again). ARGH! I'm getting old.

Happy Subway Day.

Andrea Gerák said...

Happy Subway Day Peter and All!

It's a very interesting photo, because the yellow chairs are so much in contrast with the old environment, yet they somehow fit.

I would love to go there and try them!

PeterParis said...

Michelle:
But you could still have some smiley seats!

Abraham:
As it's spelled! :-)

Karen:
The smiles come out so clearly on your photo!

PeterParis said...

Anonymous:
I have some kind of guess who you are! The stairs are so different and nice, so it's worth the effort to use them! Not the same stairs up and down, so one must make the two! :-)

Per:
... and this is one of the more recent ones!

Claude:
J'aime aussi bien la vie dans le métro, sauf peut-être à 18h sur la ligne 13!

PeterParis said...

Alice:
Smilies ou smarties! Smarties, c'est bien; ça se mange!

Cezar & Léia:
In the meantime you can find them on my blog! :-)

Peter F:

Smilies, smarties, chickens... Why not?

PeterParis said...

Adam:
Sincere thanks Adam! You are the best! I should have found this info before posting! :-)

Mo:
Yes, it's the deepest I think! That's why there is also a very big lift (but of course also the famous stairs)!

Thérèse:
Thanks on behalf of Karen!

PeterParis said...

Virginia:
Yes, you have been there (we were together on the way to Montmartre)!

You try to scare me? :-)

Marie6:
In a certain way it may be good that you don't have / need it; no big cities like here!

Bettina:
We all love Amélie, don't we? Yes, this was her station!

PeterParis said...

Ming:
I'm older! :-))

Andrea:
Now you know where to find them! Tell me before you arrive!

Virginia said...

Peter,
Pardon! How could I forget a Metro station. So many interesting things happened in them while we were there. At least I didn't get arrested for taking photos! Hope you are saving your Euros for that picture. It's a good one too. :)

Maybe I know Anonymous as well, oui?

Cergie said...

En effet, car maintenant la problèmatique essentielle pour le design des sièges : empêcher les sommes intempestifs.

Anonymous said...

I'm almost crazy about Paris métro. It's great, it's phantastic, all those different stations, the art there and even the advertisement is interesting.

Anne said...

There's a great temporary exhibit of drawings of Paris subway stations (rather the platforms) at the Musee Carnavalet, all done by a Japanese artist. The museum is free and open every day except Monday.

PeterParis said...

Virginia:
I can understand if you got a bit confused, so many impressions in such short time!:-)

Cergie:
... oui, il ne faut pas dormir dans les stations de métro!!

April:
I guess you are right...: some stations are nicer than the others, but they are now working on making most stations as they were from the start, taking away all additional decoration features from the 60's, the 70's.

PeterParis said...

Anne:
Welcome here - and welcome back - and thanks for this tip! I will try to go!

Rob said...

I do miss the Metro system in Paris. such an efficient and simple way to get around the city.

PeterParis said...

Dusty Lens:
Yes, combined with a bit of walking! :-)