Another Sunny Day in Paris

Candy vendor on Rue St. Germaine 

Back of Notre Dame

Leaving the little Island on the Seine

I think that the Parisians have 3 sports. The first is walking the streets, the second is window shopping - just gazing in all the store windows, and according to a very voluble couple that sat with us outside a cafe - demonstrating. We think it was a mother and son ( he was in his 20's works in banking trying to find money laundering in stocks - he found Wolf of Wallstreet funny) - he claimed his mother will demonstrate even if she doesn't agree with the cause. She engaged us and would only speak french and despite knowing that I did not know the language, would look imploringly at me and say another emphatic statement and wait for my response. That day she was protesting against paying for surrogate mothers. She has been to Vancouver and hates Canadian food. She was very impressed with Joop - loved his french - didn't get that he was not absorbing all that she said - gave him a slim novel that is supposed to be like the Little Prince. They were quite emphatic that we see Victor Hugo's home. We tried to. But the lineup was too long. I've decided that all Parisians read very slim novels - just pull up to a cafe, bring out the smokes, order the small cafe and start to read the very slim book. I don't even think we sell such slim books. Hardly anyone reads a kindle. The demonstrations meant that all the police were on red alert - nothing but police vans lined up along the Seine - just all full of police. I was worried that perhaps they were all reacting to a potential bomb threat. 

We decided to find this repurposed railway line that is in the Marais district across the Seine. Some delightful young Mechanical engineer Phd's told us at Starbucks that we must do the walk because the vistas are so lovely. After 2 hours of walking to get there - traversing both islands on the Seine - the vistas were not too impressive. I think they must have found the structures of the rooflines so great. We didn't do the full 4.5 kms because we were quite tuckered - so to give them their due - perhaps the vistas were at the end. 

Cherry blossoms Feb 2 Paris

On the green elevated walkway that used to be train tracks

The crowds of people that just walk the streets

We then tried to see Victor Hugo's home at the Place  des Vosges - walked forever around just to find it at the last corner of the square with a huge lineup. We ducked out and went to quite a lovely museum Musee Carnavalet. You just have to love those court yards. I was especially impressed by a gargantuan painting done in the 17th century when those Dutch did not have a sniff of the existence of women - the French painting was not so dark and had plenty of lovely women. At least the french were aware of women back then. When we left the museum just about to cross the Place des Vosges square I noticed 4 people that I thought looked exceptionally stylish. I was amazed to hear them speak english - they appeared to be Brits. We were so fatigued from walking for 4 hours that we decided to nip into a Chilean bar for a quick drink. Just before finishing our drinks the very stylish foursome that I had noticed before came and sat down across from us. As we tried to leave they called over and insisted that we join them because we looked so interesting to them and so healthy?? Then ensued a most chaotic and wild night. Two of them were brothers from London and their wives. They were amazingly delightful people - so fun. The one brother Jimmy is a famous DJ and tv editor as well as singer/songwriter whose songs still get airplay and hence royalties. He was most emphatic that we must get ourselves to Berlin. It is to him the most amazing city ever. I chimed in that my sister Miranda claims the same thing. So now Joop and I will touch down in London and stay with them  at their house that has an outdoor bar(?) while heading to Berlin "before it is too late".

Inner courtyard of Museum Carnavalet

Hordes of people on the streets 200 years ago

Joop in the tiniest elevator in the world.

Staircase in our hotel

One of the things that has amazed me is how the 5 toe Vibram has not touched down in Europe yet. You can imagine the number of people on the streets that stop and stare at my feet - even going so far as to take pictures. I am wearing my most discrete ones I think - the brown kangaroo leather - but even those are causing a sensation. I saw one guy on the upper railway tracks with a pair. He looked like a young Turkish guy - you should have seen the excitement on his face when I walked by and he saw my 5 toe wonders. He grabbed his friends and talked and pointed excitedly. I was too shy to stop and talk to my infinite regret. The sadness I felt about not stopping and talking to him when he was smiling at me so broadly - didn't leave for several hours. I berated myself for my shyness. There are way less significant things to bond over. I could have waxed on and on about how my 5 toes have made Paris for me - walking sometime 6 hours per day with not one ailment - doesn't get better. And even our hotel - as you can see - the elevator can barely fit even one person - it is a real close call if the doors will shut with Joop, me and my metro standing in the elevator. It means that we must traverse the 4 flights of stairs by foot. I know that I would be incapable without my 5 toes with the stair runner slippage and the tiny purchase for feet on the treads that turn - a death defying decent every time.