Not my usual Paris visit

[mossie]

This time I arranged my visit in order to attend the advertised "Meet and Mingle" event. I have to say I was very disappointed at the turnout, just 3 hardy souls plus me. However it was made up by meeting 'Whatagain' in the flesh, a very refreshing change from my previous conception arrived at from reading his posts. We all had a very entertaining afternoon and I was kept so busy joining in, and listening to, conversations that I had no chance to use the camera.

By Eurostar trip over had been enlivened by this 'hen party', the ringleader is seen here tipping back the first of severaL drinks.

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The bride sat opposite to her and in penance for taking their pictures I was forced to be photographed kissing her. No you can't see that because I haven't, and didn't want, a copy



Exiting the Gare du Nord one sees this crazy house being gradually swallowed up



Up the top of Bassin de la Villette was this symbol beside the hackneyed space invader tile, what is it oh knowledgeable ones?



The old canal building sported new decorations





The little pleasure cruisers were very busy



The Football World Cup is top of the shot everywhere, and these two youngsters were playing a fairground version



It was only when I saw the little girl's tee shirt that I realised how serious it was.



Of course a considerable amount of drinking takes place along the Bassin on a warm summer evening, so it has to go somewhere. Even I was surprised at how blatantly it could be dissipated in an officially provided receptacle



There was a big swimming event taking place along the canal under the Pont Levant on rue de Crimee, and round the Bassin, to finish in front of the venue for the 'meet and mingle' which was a couple of days away.



They were really putting in strong efforts.



I got chatting to a couple while waiting in the lounge to be called for the Eurostar, and they asked me for any advice on Paris as it was their first visit. I said they must do the tourist trip on the Seine, as the commentary gives them an insight into the City. Being lazy I took my own advice as it was several years since I had made that journey. So st off to Pont Neuf to catch a boat, and snapped this hoarding covering up the work being done to the old Samarataine store



That will let us all have a rest till tomorrow

[lagatta]

Lovely! The other women I can see look a generation older than the bride. Did she invite her mum and aunts along to a hen do?

I did the tourist thing on the Seine when a friend from Montréal visited me; I was doing some kind of temporary work or research grant in Paris. We had a great laugh. We did it in the evening to see the illuminations, and supped in a modest restaurant afterwards. The cruises with a meal are a rip-off.

[bixaorellana]

Mossie! I feel like such a Paris insider being able to recognize things I've seen with my own little-traveled eyes. And it's a double treat to see those things given the Mossie photographic treatment. Looking forward to more.

[mossie]

LaGatta, I took the crew of women to be a typical office set up, with the usual mother hen who clucks around protecting 'her' girls from all the predatory males lusting after them.

I had better get back on board the sightseeing boat on the Seine. Here is Ford's effort at shovelling cash into some ad mans pocket



And here is the Musee d'Orsay, once a mainline train station with a line to the south west which ran along the Left Bank all the way, must have made a fabulous train ride into the City.



Rounding the bend one sees the Eiffel Tower, here parting the columns at the end of Pont Alexander III in priapic symbolism



There is time to admire the statues on the bridge piers



It is soon time for the boat to turn round and return to the quai at the tip of the island at Pont Neuf, where the Vedettes de Pont Neuf operate from



On the way the silhouette of this open top bus reminded me of those pictures of the original omnibuses



This prehistoric monster looked very out of place perched on top of a boat



Here is our guide who kept up a splendid bilingual commentary



Inviting us to admire the Arms of Paris as we passed back under Pont Alexandre III. I was a bit confused as to which arms she referred.



I alway desire this apartment, but affording it is no doubt well beyond me



The boat passes back by Notre Dame where the Apostles are descending to spread the word of the Lord to the heathens inside



Passing the Quai St Bernard housing the Musee de Sculpture en plein air, I note the posse of armed police keeping watch on the river. Incidentally one sees these patrols of 4, either police or soldiers, at various points around the city. Very reassuring in these terrorist wary days.



These people have been very careless allowing their net curtains to blow about



But it is now time for the boat to turn round finally to conclude the tour, which is well worth the hour or so that it takes



That is tea time, so I'll spare you more pain now and wrap this up later.

[whatagain]

Seems you are not alone to think so Mossie. I am less of the suspected jerk in the flesh !
Maybe just maybe I could pay attention to how I write on the internet.

Maybe. When I get old and wide. If that ever happens.
Getting wise I mean as I am already getting old(Er).

[mossie]

Returning over Pont Neuf from the boat trip I see the lock idiots don't give up, these are attached to one of the ornaments on the bridge



The disease has also spread to the Canal St Martin



On a visit to Republique I caught a 'manifestation', possibly in support of immigrants, but note the fellow who was vigorously waving the Palestinian flag



later I noticed they had decorated this lion on the base of the statue with stickers



For once the metro was not too crowded and produced a nice display of legs



Having seen this striking building from the bus I discover that it is the HQ of the Communist party who did not stint themselves when it came to housing. The poster display on the fence amused me, with the fist opposed by the finger in the left hand one



The newsstand across the footpath showed this Charlie Hebdo poster referencing both Putin and the World Cup footy



Then another little hop on the bus took me to Jules Ferry to have a look at the Canal St Martin



which is a great place for arty photography



and this which almost worked for the reflections category, note that this bridge is a simple swing bridge when boats need passage



Sorely in need of coffee I spotted this place on the side of the Canal, the cafe is in a back room while the front is given over to arty crafty clothes and knick knacks. At least he produced a reasonable coffee



Wandering on my eye was caught by this little swan, which intrigued me as it kept perfectly still. It was only when I zoomed the camera in onto it that I realised what it was



Another sight which fooled me was this, at first I had assumed it was a model of a woman with a long white dress hanging on the wall



I chanced to have dinner on Sunday in the local cafe across from the hotel, which I am pleased to say is the one that has been done up and now produces good food. They also showed the football, very sensibly without the sound so I was able to watch England scramble through their first game.



The place also benefitted from a very cheery and obliging blonde serveuse



Being close to midsummer there is still bags of light quite late



I cannot go to Paris without a visit to parc des Buttes Chaumont



passing the Mairie along the way. Outside were about 40 chalets all pushing stuff for seniors and handicapped, right up to the gross funeral plans. I was surprised at the range of stuff on offer, with local clubs where they could get lessons in painting, crafts and all sorts of stuff



M Macron still doesn't seem too popular round here, this advert for a demo was meant to stay



Anther favourite haunt is the Bassin de la Villette where some joggers



are more energetic than others. This poor girl looks as if she has definitely had enough



Incidentally during the 'meet and mingle' we were able to witness the operation of the Pont Levant, here is a Canauxarama boat going through



Here he is released up the canal and heading for the bridge where the Petite Ceinture crosses over



Incidentally if you find yourself short of anything at all this shop should be able to provide it



This nearby tin building is a pretty colour



But this local bar is supporting every country they can find a flag for



And that's your lot, I hope you've managed to stay with me.

[lagatta]

Those flags are sold in strips every World Cup. Plenty of them where I live. Pubs and cafés with supporters of a particular side also fly larger flags for them. But Italy is not playing so Petite-Italie here is stymied. Many were supporting Argentina, but they also seem on their way out.

The Charlie poster also spoke of "L'archipel du gag" (The gag archipelago). No, not Stalin's Great Purges, but humourists have to be careful. The gun pointed at the goaltender reminds me of the hockey side's tragic story in "The Death of Stalin". Joe's useless, pompous and drunken son Vasili ordered the Soviet Air Force hockey team to take off in the middle of a blizzard. Everyone died, of course, so the entitled little shit was trying to reconstitute a side. And neither families nor fans could mourn their hockey heroes, as all was secret.

On a lighter note, what does that café you like serve? I love modest places like that if they have decent food.

Thanks for all your photo reports!

[mossie]

LaGatta, that cafe serves what I would call French bistro fare of fair quality, fairly priced. I had a decent steak and another time a magret de canard. It stands on the junction of Av Jean Juares and Av Laumiere, it used be called le Gymnase, being right opposite the gymnasium in Jean Juares. It has now been rebranded as Bistro Lumiere, which, when I first saw it, took it to be Bistro Laumiere, which no doubt would have had Eddie Zuaori at the restaurant Le Laumiere hopping. It is still a busy little local bar as it always has been.

Now trust me to forget to upload some photos, but I was playing with my camera on the Eurostar trip home. Not easy to get sensible shots from a train travelling at up to 180 mph. Anyway I wanted to show a friend how it races vehicles on the Autoroute in France



and within seconds of emerging from the Channel Tunnel on the English side it passes this little round hill. This is Summerhouse Hill on the Beachborough Estate and the village where I spent my first 16 years lies about 4 miles behind in a valley through the North Downs.

[kerouac2]

It is all just a prelude to your next trip.

It was great seeing you again at the meetup, and I'm sure there will be other times.  Just don't forget that whatagain's day in Paris is almost always Tuesday.    However, sometimes we go to a pub quiz on Wednesday night at Châtelet.  So far we have only won the bottle of champagne once, but if you were to join us, I'm sure we would have no trouble winning another one.

[whatagain]

Good memory the champagne bottle.
And the waiter is great guy. Probably because he was born in 66 and has a beautiful and charming wife. Both things I share with him.

[Bubba10]

Thanks for sharing your photos, I enjoyed the trip too!