A final, final trip....maybe

[mossie]

It is now Friday and I returned home on Monday from Paris and am still feeling the effects and considering that I should not have put myself through such torture. And yet......, already the seed of another trip is growing inside my thick head.

Some time ago I showed this print I had bought which my son had challenged me to reproduce with my camera



I should have looked at it before I actually tried, my attempt is only half the scene, so, must try harder.



Eurostar had dropped the train I normally travel on, so I was later arriving this time. After organising my room and a lie down to let my legs get straight, I set off to find a meal near by. The brasserie I normally use changed hands a year or so ago and, a quick look through the menu which helpfully all such places have to display outside, convinced me that the emphasis on burgers was not my cup of tea, so I wandered back down Av Laumiere and decided to try this one. I had dismissed it as an option on previous visits, having had a drink there one evening and finding it apparently aimed at the younger crowd



Inside an industrial look has been obtained by leaving the RSJs and bare brickwork exposed, giving an appearance of a building in course of construction. This appears to be a strange modern trend, as a lot of work must have been involved in stripping off the plaster and other facings, which I have seen in England. No accounting for taste is there?



All grumbles were forgotten as they produced an excellent meal, so much so that I paid it further visits during my stay



My hotel looks out onto the little place formed where rue Petit springs off from rue de Meaux, and both are immediately cut through by av Laumiere. Possibly an example of Baron Haussmans desire to produce a grand approach to parc des Buttes Chaumont.



Incidentally the next day I got back to the hotel just in time to beat a very heavy shower, which included some hefty hail. Note the brave lady shielding her hairdo with her bag.



I mentioned my favourite park, Buttes Chaumont, which the Petite Ceinture railway crosses, partly by this deep cutting, and partly by tunnel.



Parts of the park resemble the wildwood



But there are some marvellous tree specimens 



Also the notorious Suicides Bridge, which nowadays has high fences above the parapet to stop these desperate people



I am loosing track of the keyboard, but threaten to return tomorrow

[patricklondon]

Fascinating as ever. To get the full effect of the painting, you'd have needed to rush down to République in all that rain, but I can see why not!

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[bixaorellana]

The problem with trips is that they really are more fun than real life!

Anyway, I hope you keep giving in to your desire to visit Paris, Mossie, and will keep producing these lovely reports. Your new eatery sounds wonderful and the view from your hotel window could not be better. I'm knocked out by all that greenery in the heart of such a big city.

I think that industrial look came about because of having to bring old buildings up to modern code with wiring and plumbing, which probably knocked out a lot of plaster. And old, unmaintained plaster would keep a-crumbling, which is so contraindicated in a place serving food.

[lagatta]

Yes, but I've seen it in brand new buildings "peak hipster". The problem with the look is that it often means zero soundproofing. This is a problem for restaurant patrons of a certain age (which is not necessarily even a very advanced age).

I love the photos, of the park and railway line and the little place by night and by rainy day.

[mossie]

Av Laumiere is lined with paulownia trees which have coloured trumpet shaped flowers at this time of year, I have tried to time some trips to coincide with this display and never managed it. This time I didn't give it a thought and they were in full bloom, or rather well through the blooming period, as the pavements were littered with violet tinged trumpets. Anyway here is a flavour, looking across Av Laumiere to rue Petit, with the Ibis in the background



You may know I always have half an eye open for graffiti, or as I prefer to call it, street art. Here are a few examples





This an excellent almost 3D effect



This on one of the pillars over parc de Belleville







There was this one the window of l'Avenue cafe across the road which I guess they had paid for, they need the customers



I paid my usual visit to the flea market at Porte de Vanves and scored a brass greyhound which has run off to a friend before I could take his picture, but where this couple of stallholders were making their own entertainment



There is a marvellous assortment of goods on show, ranging from junque to proper antique



I generally stopped for a drink at a local bar,



On this occasion I had a seat right outside the door and was attracted to the serveuse, who kept coming to and fro and who had an excellent little figure. So much so I asked her if I could take a picture, not knowing that her colleague stood behind me and heard me. He jumped in and insisted on her posing beside me, so we all had a laugh



No comment



Normally my wandering is restricted to the Right Bank, but decided to revisit place de la Contrescarp. Here I encountered this mad lady with her placard advertising 'free hugs', and the photo cost me a hug



In my wanderings spotted these young rats playing cards



While their father contemplated suicide



These window baskets are getting as out of hand as my garden



and I spotted this old street sign which was most likely defaced after the Revolution



Another favourite eating place had this little gallery



with a cool waitress to go with it, what is this fashion for hats indoors. Oh well, I was in the Marais



My typing fingers are as exhausted as my legs

[mossie]

And I can see a duplicated picture, blast it. Here is what should have been there

[lagatta]

The hats are just a style thing. I've sometimes worn a woolly béret indoors when it was particularly frigid and I didn't feel like turning up the heat, but I had more clothing on at the time and certainly long sleeves.

Isn't her trilby too small?

Not too far from where you are staying, rue Petit, you'll see Chassidic men who wear black fedoras at all time, even in hot weather.

[kerouac2]

I was at République today, Mossie, and this is as close as I could get to reproducing your painting, even after having printed a copy to take with me.

imageshack.com/a/img922/6082/FLwsEP.jpg

[mossie]

Thanks Kerouac, I think you have got about as near as true to the original

[mossie]

Just one more, it is well known that French women talk with their hands. Is she saying "I am wide open to whatever you have in mind"

[patricklondon]

Or "Are you/they MAD?!"


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[tod2]

Terrific Mossie!!
What a lovely photo-essay and well worth your grumbling legs. Than you ever so much.

No, I disagree, she is smiling like the Mona Lisa. The woman who is thinking 'Are they/you mad' is the blonde woman in the background. Either that or she has nodded off but left a glazed stare at her partner.