Paris

We flew from Milan over the Alps,

and let down into Paris over French farmlands.

The van from the airport took us to the Latin Quarter, Rue St. Severin.

This large block, bounded by Boulevard St. Michel, Rue St. Jacque, Boulevard Saint Germain, and the Seine, is a warren of small streets and 400 year old buildings. Currently most of the ground floor occupants are restaurants.

It is quiet now, but on the weekends it is wall-to-wall tourists.

The blue door leads to our apartment. The sign outside Le Marathon advertises the 10 euro "formula" prix fixe. We ate there the first night (3 steps from our door!) and I had the onion soup, beef burgandy over noodles, and an apple tarte for dessert. All for $12.50. With no tax, and no need to tip, this is quite the bargain!

Note: In France, all drinks are 3,50. Water: 3,50. Fanta: 3,50. Beer: 3,50. Wine: 3,50. Vin rouge, si vous plait!

This is Place St. Michel, and this is the statue of, well I don't remember who. The important thing is that the Latin Quarter is home to several universities, including the Sorbonne. And when Parisians hold a demonstration, or build the barracades, this is the place they do it. (After 1968 the cobblestones in this square was replaced by pavement.)

And this is the Seine. We were just opposite Ile Le Cite, the bigger of the two islands in the Seine, with Notre Dame, Sainte Chappelle and the Palais de Justice.

These are the beams that make up the ceilings and the walls of a 400 year old building. This is in the Hotel Les Argonautes we stayed in the last night but our apartment was similar.

http://www.paristudios.com/apt_details.php?apt_id=32

One central beam in our apartment was 800 years old. Recyling old school style!

It is a two block walk to Notre Dame, so this is a wonderful place for an evening stroll.

There are roller skaters with amazing tricks on the bridge, and street performers in front of Notre Dame.

In the evenings, the party is by the Seine. Everyone brings a blanket, a bottle of wine, and a friend. Some bring a whole picnic, and lots of friends!

Needless to say, there is no finer place for an evening stroll. This is looking downstream from a bridge on the right side of the Seine. That is Ile St. Louis, the smaller of the two islands, on the left, with the spire of Notre Dame, just visible on the left a half mile away.

So that was our immediate environs. I will have more to say about Paris.