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| This is the life! |
Just one last posting on Paris before we set sail for the Atlantic Ocean!
This trip to Paris (what to us has always been the world’s most romantic city) was our third visit together. Always we love the street life - just wandering, buying our food from neighbourhood street markets, experiencing everyday life with the occasional tourist attraction thrown in. Just hanging out. This visit was no different.
Some of what we’ve done you know already, but we’ve also just wandered along the banks of the Seine watching huge barges sliding up and down the river, and sneaking looks into long house boats (water caravans! converted barges mostly) moored mainly on left bank. The riverbanks seem to have been given a facelift with lots of sculptures and pockets of pretty gardens since we were here last and it looks lovely. But we also explored a different side of Paris.
Getting lost in Paris is lots of fun, but the feet are not as accommodating as once they were. Nevertheless we still got lost trying to find some of Paris’s many hidden Passages. We stumbled on a few on our first visit and wanted to explore further.
Fast rewind to the end of the 18th century when a labyrinth of hidden passages sprung up across Paris. Over the decades many fell into disrepair or were demolished, but if you’re lucky (or know where to look) you can still find some of them whether they be beautifully restored and the height of chic or run-down and quirky. Some are grand and gorgeous like the Grand Cerf, others tiny passages between buildings such as Passage de Deux Pavilions. Others such as Passage de Petits-Peres where we happened on a community orchestra performing outside an old church, are like Melbourne’s laneways. All are intriguing and worth tracking down next time you visit. Go visit!
We’ll be out of communication for the next couple of weeks, but will catch up when we reach port next month ....
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| These are the only padlocks I saw in Paris but .... |
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| Tourists can hire these cute autos - so very French |
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| What would the banks of the Seine be without its many second hand 'stalls' |
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| Yes we found this advertisement for Australian aboriginal art |
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| Insect crackers - for human consumption! beats chips. |
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| The passage opened up onto Galerie Beaujolais |
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| And this! |
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