My Place

This is the street entrance to my place on the rue de Malte. 

This is the entire building - number 62.

You can't actually see the windows of my place from the street - you can probably see the railings right at the top - well two thirds of that railing belong to my balcony, and I have two dormer windows that open onto the balcony (it's about 1.5 metres wide).  Here's a photo where I'm standing in front of one of my windows looking at the second window - you can see a tiny bit of fake grass on the balcony.

If I turn right when I come out my front door I come to a cafe on the corner.

Very close, very French, very noisy at night when the drunks shout all sorts of things.  Urban life is noisy - no doubt about it - from the shouts to the sirens to the cleaners - there's always something.  And it's not always bad.  One day I heard a commotion during the day and rushed out to see what was happening- a procession! They are heading to the square.

Just across the street from the cafe, on the other corner, is a shop with an artisan boulanger patissier.  The bread is nice, but the pastries are divine!

On the opposite side of the street from my front door is a station for hire bikes - velib.

Once the weather gets better I'll give them a go.  If I turn right at my front door, take a right on the street between the cafe and the patisserie, I come to a small art shop

Not bad, eh?  Now here's a shot from my balcony, looking straight down onto the street.

When I go out my front door, turn right, then cross the road at the cafe and walk between the buildings opposite, I'm at the Republique metro station.  I can see the statue in the square as I walk down the steps to the station.  If I turn left at my front door, I walk less than a block and I'm at a nice local supermaket with a very good selection of cheap French wine - perfect!

My Constant Companion

I have to tell you that in Singapore I picked up a new companion for my trip - I was hesitant at first, but in the end I just went for it and I couldn't be happier. 

After a couple of days of being a tourist in Singapore I knew I would have to lighten up.  I rationalised everything I was jamming into my backpack, ditched the pack and bought a small bag to sling diagonally across my body, and I knew then that the camera I'd brought with me would not work.  See the difference?

My little red friend gets to come with me everywhere, easily slips into a pocket, and is always ready to roll.  I can't ask more than that....

Place des Fetes (April 28)

Another market, this time only a few metro stops away, beckoned this morning.  But first, an important detour to get these.

The metro stop, Place des Fetes, is one of the deepest in Paris at 22.45 metres below street level.  That's why I didn't look down going up the escalator.

You literally can't miss the market - it starts as soon as you step outside the metro, and stretches around the square and down the road.

CDs for 2.50 euro each?  Still wrapped?  I'll take 4!

It was more trash and treasure than anything - can't imagine why you would want these.

I would love to have somewhere to put one of these.

 Time for my daily pastry - crunchy icing sugar on top of a light, sweetish bun dough.  Mmmm.

An old adding machine.

 Bring back any memories?

I knew I wasn't too far from home, so I walked back - my feet were not as raw as they were in the morning.  By "not too far" I mean about 2.5km - it's a pretty straight line.  Part of my walk was back long the same route I'd taken the other day when I was looking for the canal.  You don't expect to see a real life organ grinder outside the supermarket (with a gorgeous dog instead of a monkey).

This line up was for rotisserie chickens as far as I can tell - no other similar shop had so many people waiting, so I guess they give you something quite special here.

 Clouds.

 "We must be wary of words".

No Parking - an interesting name for a coffee shop - in a boho/arty area (just below the sign in the previous picture).

 In the window of the same cafe - totally agree!!

"Invader" is a street artist who has been leaving his mark all over Paris since 1996.  He bases his tile art on images from the video game Space Invaders.  I've walked past here before, but didn't see anything then.  And that's part of what he's trying to say.  There are over 500 of these all across Paris - you can even get a book to show where they're located.

La Defense PS

Remember this?  I just found out that the entire building of Notre Dame can fit inside this structure!

La Defense (April 27)

Take line 1 of the metro as far west as you can go and you'll be at La Defense, a high rise and office tower district just beyond the arrondissements of central Paris.  We were serenaded for a couple of stations.

If you like public art work on a big scale, or architecture, or the built environment, this is the place to go.  I spent hours here.  The most imposing, impressive, and most famous structure of the area is the Grande Arche. It dominates the enormous piazza area.

It's at the western end of the grand axis formed by the Champs Elysee, the place de la Concorde, and the Arc de Triomphe.  This shot is taken with the Grande Arche behind me.

Buildings have interesting angles

 and reflections are everywhere.

This Miro piece is very well known.

You'll find intricate tiling

sculptures galore

and colour.

Places to sit are far from traditional

and even the usual street furniture is done with a twist

The gardens are beautiful, and the plantings extend to pinot noir and chardonnay grapes.

I took way too many photos to share here, but this is one of my favourite pieces, complete with the real life counterpart.

 The day was fuelled by a viennoise au chocolate for breakfast

 and a croque madame, wine and coffee for lunch in a bistro looking out onto the arch.