Une douzaine d’escargots

At the moment, my second cousin, Joe, his soon to be two, wife, Karen and their beautiful soon to be two, daughter, Amy, are on a flight back to Glasgow after having spent 4 days with us here in our apartment in Paris. Like us, they soon fell into step and became les flâneurs à Paris, the same way as they have done all over the world, including Australia. They have seen more of Australia than I have. 

We had a wonderful time, like going to a market that was not open on that day, my fault of course, so we took the scenic route from there, à pied, to la Tour Eiffel and what a highlight of my trip so far; and to share it with Joe, Karen and Amy and of course Geoffrey was also very special. 

Joe, Amy and Geoffrey walking towards la Tour Eiffel

On the way to la Tour Eiffel we had a rather delicious déjeuner traditionnel français  at Carmine Café on l'Avenue Suffren, shouted by my cousin Jack and Catherine, Joe’s Mum and Dad.

La Tour Eiffel with Amy

La Tour Eiffel with Amy

To stand exactly under la Tour Eiffel and look up through the centre of it, I felt stunned and remarkably lucky to be there and I can go back any time I want to for the next three months and yes, we have already been here for a month.

under La Tour Eiffel

Karen, Joe and Amy

We wandered along the right bank of the Seine à la Place de la Concorde with the 3,300 year old Luxor obelisk which arrived in the 19th century, along with the fountains and statues. Close by stood the guillotine where, during the Revolution,  1,119 people lost their heads, including Louis XVI  and Marie Antoinette. 

à Pont de la Concorde

We looked down l’Avenue des Champs-Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe.

Passed La Grande Roue de Paris, the giant Ferris wheel et au Jardin des Tuileries flanked on our left by le Musée de l’ Orangerie which houses  Monet's enormous Nymphéas (Waterlilies) and on our right, Galerie du Jeu de Paume (originally a real tennis court) which displays contemporary art exhibitions.

We then walked on to la rue de Rivoli.

We eventually got to the Marché Grenelle on the right day. Geoffrey and I have become quite comfortable being there and queing up the French way to be served. It is another highlight of my trip for me to go there and to ask for fresh produce and trying to ask in French.

In Melbourne and living a few minutes  de le Marché Queen Victoria de Melbourne , my favourite déjeuner is une douzaine des huîtres fraîchement décoquillées.

In Paris and living near so many community markets, my favourite déjeuner is une douzaine d’escargots cooked with secret herbs and spices by Geoffrey, a selection du fromage, including roquetfort de Papillon, which is about half the price that we pay at the le Marché Queen Victoria,  et peut être du fromage Morbier and finishing off with une tarte aux abricots ou un flan aux cerises. Ou peut être un éclair de vanille.

Joe is a bit of a pack horse, so I decided that to visit le Jardin de Luxembourg, we would use le Métro, which is only a few stations ride from where we live. We rushed to get on to a train that we soon realised, after 20 minutes, it was going nowhere because of electrical problems. Eventually....with Joe taking over the directions.... we reached le Jardin de Luxembourg and on the way visited l’ Église Saint-Sulpice.   

Parisiens

Au Jardin de Luxembourg, Amy, Joe and Karen 

went into the children’s play area and had a play and Geoffrey and I had a bit of a wander around le jardin and then sat with the other Parisiens in the sun on the metal chairs, which are strategically placed around the outside of the playground area. There were lots of children and parents in the play area and lots of parents sitting around the outside area. 

Le Jardin du Luxembourg

Karen had une crêpe de chocolat from a small stall in the gardens and I had a can of drink.

 

Le Jardin du Luxembourg

Palais du Luxembourg

We meandered home along the left bank of the Seine past the stalls of the 'les bouquinistes'. and crossed the river on Pont au Double to the chiming of the bells from la Cathédrale Notre Dame.

sur le Pont d'Arcole

In the background is Pont St-Louis and Pont Louis Philippe.


 













At la Place de l’Hôtel de Ville Joe and Amy had a ride on the Carrousel (a carrousel is a horse parade) and people were skating on the outdoor ice-skating rink.

Joe and Amy

This evening, we are again on our own. We are having a special bottle of French wine given to us by Joe and Karen and Amy  and notre entrée est d'escargots et des vol-eau-vents aux escargots, herbes et épices secrètes.

Bon Appétit et á bientôt

Footnote from Le Copilote

I think that this must be Paris at its least piqarest. Not a leaf!  So we are taking plenty of photos of parks and so on now, so that we can contrast them with photos in the Spring.  Elizabeth took this photo of a tree.  You can see what I mean.  The weather has been dull rather than bitter and has not yet stopped us getting out.  The rain we have had has been more like mist.  Sometimes we've had blue skies, and sometimes we've been able to see the sun (in the South!), but not often.  In some ways I prefer Paris weather.  At least here there is no need for both a sun hat and a rain coat like you need in Melbourne most of the time.  And as far as the temperature goes you can always put on another jumper but there is a limit to how many you can take off.

Elizabeth took this photo of some trees.  Not a leaf!

These boats are amazing. They seem to be very old and heavy and basic but they sail beautifully.  The kids with the sticks nudge them out into the wind and off they go, keeled over more or less, and never a capsize.  Who needs digital technology?  I'd like to return sometime and get some movies.

Kids sailing boats

After watching the boats for a while we wandered back home through some gardens where I took this photo of Elizabeth and a nymph.  The nymph is the one at the back.

Elizabeth went to a lot of trouble taking photos of me outside bookshops.  This is one of the better shops with both English and French language sections. Note the typical sky.

 

A number of people have asked how my foot is.  It is much better thank you.

Oarvware (Goodbye.)
Le Copilote.