Paris Day 3 ~ Part 3

We had such a surprise when we crossed the Seine and started heading back for the walk home. We didn't know, but there was an exhibition at the Institut du Monde Arabe, with the restored engine and carriages from the Orient Express. There was quite a queue to get into it (since, by the very nature of the carriages, not a lot of people can be admitted at a time), and C's feet were starting to feel a little weary - but not so weary that we didn't enjoy looking from the outside.

Here's a link to an article with a little information about the Institut du Monde Arabe; the whole of the south-facing wall, shown here, is made up of panels which open and close (like the aperture in a camera) to regulate the light entering the building. We didn't go inside - but another time I'd certainly like to.

We stopped at a market at the end of Boulevard St. Germain on the way back, and got some tasty treats for our lunch; not just these, but some good bread too.

The building we were staying in was at the end of an L-shaped pedestrian road, with gates across each end. This shot, since it's wide-angle, looks rather odd but helps show how, even with no garden space, they still add some greenery in to the street.

And goodness - we must have walked A LOT on Saturday. Since it's still only lunchtime at this point,  and we went out again in the afternoon, Day 3 is going to run to Part 4, rather than crowd more into this post.

Paris Day 3 ~ Part 2

Surprisingly, the Place des Vosges was somewhere we'd never been before - and a warm sunny day was perfect for taking it in.

This little piece of art was on a wall along Rue de Birague,
after leaving the Place des Vosges

This old clock dates back to 1640, but has been incorporated into the facade of a modern apartment block.

Next along the street is the doorway of an old house, Hôtel  Raoul, which was built in 1810 and demolished in 1961. All that remains is the old doorway - behind it is another modern apartment block.

We passed a shop specialising in mirrors (possibly even bathroom mirrors) - which made for some wonderful reflections, of which these are just a couple.

Then we crossed the Seine over the Pont de Sully - views from there. We don't often end up looking up towards the back of Notre-Dame, I liked that aspect.

Pont de la Tournelle

And since that is more than enough photos for one post, it looks as if Day 3 also is going to run to a Part 3!

Paris Day 3 ~ part 1

On Saturday morning we started off with a visit to a cookware shop I'd never been to before - an amazing treasure-trove of almost everything you could think of for the kitchen, and in all sizes from tiny to enormous.
From there, we walked to the Place des Vosges, but I can't remember all the street names where the photos were taken.
I'm fairly sure that the gargoyle was at St. Eustache, and the statue is Blaise Pascale, underneath the Tour St. Jacques.

Paris Day 2 ~ Part 2

After we left the environs of the Eiffel Tower, we walked along the Seine as far as the southern end of Boulevard St Germain, then up the Boulevard St. Germain, Boulevard Raspail and back to the apartment.
There was a Spring market just after the Eiffel Tower - the roast peanuts were there. I'm sure the stand with Russian dolls and beautiful little glass animals was the same as the one we once saw at a Christmas market down at St Germain des Près.
Since our last visit, a considerable stretch of the river bank along the Rive Gauche has been pedestrianised and made into a public space. It was still too early in the season for all the eating places to be open - but we enjoyed going onto the pontoons which have been planted like little islands. In the greenhouse on one of them are some information booklets describing the different birds and fish that can be seen.

musée de quai Branly

Right bank

Pontoons

Seine barge

pont de la Concorde

Louvre