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Post by mossie on Sept 30, 2014 19:56:26 GMT
Old age has finally caught up with me and I have to take life easy so this latest Paris trip was very lazy, but I started by trying a few snaps out of the Eurostar as we entered Paris Including this odd double decked train, we don't have such an animal in UK The Samsung landmark block always tells me we are nearly there And it was soon time to stroll out of the Gare du Nord and sit down for a meal Then off up to Hotel le Laumiere, interested to see how the refurbishment had gone. I had a very nasty shock, it had been rebranded as an Ibis Styles hotel, the breakfast room had been destroyed and rebuilt in a peculiar modernistic fashion with appalling seating, one either sat on hard wooden boxes, plastic tubs or wirenetting chairs which I feared would leave a nasty pattern on my backside. Then they had the cheek to jack the rate up 25 Euros. So much for the big battalions. At least the beds were new and comfortable so next morning I set off on my usual stroll up Av Laumiere to the parc des Buttes Chaumont, pausing on the way to watch some type of gastronomic event outside the Mairie Then into the park to be immediately confronted by a lesson in Nordic walking, NO I did not take part The ladies set off a a very leisurely pace and soon got in a muddle, so I left them to it It was a lovely morning with the usual rush of joggers, but little dogs seem all the rage now. The weather has been unusually dry and the park keepers were running mist sprays over the grass, this area always gets heavily used by loungers and lovers A local schoolteacher was taking advantage of the fine weather to hold his class in the park, I had marvelled at the discipline the pupils had shown when they walked into the park ahead of me, the teacher was in complete charge with no assistants. In England there would have been mayhem, fighting and phoning The park attracts all age groups to this nursery class There is also a carousel for the juniors with this trainee pompier showing her paces Soon it was time to go and meet Tod2 and her better half, not forgetting Kerouac, for a lovely leisurely lunch along the Bassin at La Rotonde and do a little more strolling in the park More to come tomorrow
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2014 20:33:25 GMT
Wonderful report! It is always so nice to see certain things through the eyes of somebody else! The "Samsung" building (although of course the name on top changes every few years) is of particular importance to me since it is on my street. Naturally that makes it somewhat annoying that the train (neither the Eurostar nor the RER from the airport) never conveniently stops there to let me get off at my flat rather than having to backtrack.
I understand the annoyance of the Accor Hotels group taking over more and more hotels around the world, but aren't those mattresses spectacular? I fell in love with them about two years ago when they were proudly introduced in the ordinary Ibis hotels. But I'll be in an Ibis Styles myself in just two weeks.
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Post by htmb on Oct 1, 2014 0:10:09 GMT
Delightful start, Mossie. I love the way you've captured some of the everyday types of things in the park and your photos of fall colors are really nice. I'm looking forward to seeing much more!
What's up with the Nordic walking?
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Post by lagatta on Oct 1, 2014 2:48:13 GMT
Nordic walking seems odd in a city park. Isn't the main point for people (of all ages) to simply be walking, if they can?
I can't believe the gentlemen fishing will actually catch anything they would eat, but I suppose it is a way for people who aren't into stuff like yoga or pilates to be meditative. (I'm not into those either, but I draw and paint).
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Post by bjd on Oct 1, 2014 5:52:50 GMT
I'm always amused to see people walking with those poles on a flat area, but an osteopath told me that they were a good way of making you swing your arms and breathe better, rather than walking with your hands in your pockets (as I tend to do when it's cold), which is bad. I won't use those poles though. I guess saying "I'm doing Nordic walking" sounds better than saying, "I'm going for a walk". I think fishermen in parks or canals do it for the pleasure of fishing, not for the food. I'm glad you're enjoying your visit to Paris, mossie.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2014 11:59:24 GMT
Thanks for the lovely glimpse of your arrival, stroll and observations Mossie. I love the park pictures, the picture of the two gentlemen fishing most especially. Very relaxed and serene. I'm glad you had good weather. Pity about the hotel though.
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Post by mossie on Oct 1, 2014 18:50:33 GMT
What I hadn't known about was a cultural event which occupied the whole of one side of the Bassin de la Villette. All sorts of organisations had displays in dozens of cabins. Some had people out leafletting and generally publicising their particular organisation. Among them was this bright young lady, representing some type of alternative theatre. When she discovered I was English with the absolute minimum command of French, she turned up about 10 minutes later with her friend who was half English, really to point out to her that there was a real Englishman there. We had an amusing conversation, but, as I have commented elsewhere "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" There was also an emphasis on food and drink I limited myself to coffee from this stand There was also this remarkable vehicle, the menu almost looked English and this This fellow was gadding about on the tallest stilts I have ever seen, the quai is a bit rough in places, and quite busy but he had no trouble at all. This young lady however was certainly not entering into the spirit of the occasion and was no doubt wishing to be somewhere else entirely While this old gal looked mad as hell There was a family area to keep the kids amused Some stalls sold stuff But this lady was showing off her odd frock to her friends There was a sound stage where this chanteuse was going through her stuff, and she was very good too The normal recreational life of the Bassin went on as usual and I tried strtching my zoom to the limit to take in the Pont Levant on rue Crimee
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2014 19:22:35 GMT
Yes, that's the somewhat fascinating "culture market" that I made a report about a few years back. Half of its target is the general public to interest people to go to various theatres and cultural workshops and the other half is targeted at company cultural associations and various s towns or neighbourhoods that need to organise cultural activities throughout the year, so a lot of the performers are for hire.
I didn't visit it when it was open, but I skirted it last Sunday around 8 a.m. and looked a bit through the fences.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2014 19:55:46 GMT
There was also this remarkable vehicle, the menu almost looked English mossie, that's an airstream trailer, a great relic from the 50s/60s in North America. You still see them around, and they're very expensive. I can't imagine what it cost to ship that one.
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Post by fumobici on Oct 1, 2014 20:06:30 GMT
Without getting myself further in trouble by commenting on the young lady's demeanor, I didn't know that the word 'tombola'--which in Italian is a raffle drawing--was a French term as well.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2014 20:18:14 GMT
I've heard it used in England, as well.
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Post by mossie on Oct 2, 2014 18:20:03 GMT
I made my customary pilgrimage up to the Temple de Sybille for the view onto Sacre Coeur Apparently the new Icelandic volcano is doing a little bit to aid the sunset I also made an excursion to the left bank, mainly to purchase a calendar for next year, but paused on the bridge to admire the river and also the symmetry of some of the buildings Another favourite walk is along the boulevards where I saw these theatregoers I realise Paris is the world centre for sex, but to get a mannequin in the club must be a first But a standard when I visit our favourite city is to disturb the fleas at Vanves. But I hit the jackpot when I found the goose that lays the golden eggs. I suppose for 10 Euros I mustn't be too hopeful, but one never knows
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2014 23:25:16 GMT
That's rather cute, but I think you can stop waiting for the eggs.
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Post by lagatta on Oct 3, 2014 1:01:15 GMT
When it mates with his wee fox, who knows what will emerge?
I liked the pregnant mannequin; suppose she was modelling undies that would be comfy in her condition, as opposed to underwire bras.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 14:23:49 GMT
Without getting myself further in trouble by commenting on the young lady's demeanor, I didn't know that the word 'tombola'--which in Italian is a raffle drawing--was a French term as well. It seems that Mossie has a penchant for sad, forlorn, "dirty" blondes, (a term I've always abhorred btw) as evidenced in his Metro pic early on in the thread.
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Post by lugg on Oct 4, 2014 18:33:55 GMT
As is generally the case your report made me smile thx Mossie
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