Rue Saint Denis (April 30)

There was one last passage I wanted to see - it is the oldest one in the city - called passage du Caire (Cairo), dating from 1798.   On the way I found another one of these

and stopped to look at some books.  The prices are crazy!  5euro would buy an enormous coffee table book of American decorative arts, novels were 1.50euro.  My book collecting instincts were held in check though.  Remembering the great Purge of Books I've just been through, I didn't want to lug MORE home.  At the beginning of rue Saint Denis I saw this arch.

It was built in 1672, in the same spot as a medieval gate from the 14th century, part of the fortifications of the city. 
I probably did read somewhere that rue Saint Denis is the red light district, but the penny dropped only after seeing the second woman in teetering heels and impossibly low cleavage, loitering and shaking her keys.  It's like a regular street otherwise, so I was surprised.  One woman's clothing of leather top and skirt and leather fingerless gloves made it clear what she was willing to do.  The average age is 40, and it was a while since she'd seen that age.  Interesting.  The women apparently own their own apartments and pay taxes and were not happy about the proposed bill to outlaw prostitution.
The area is full of shops catering to the clothing trade, and the passage du Caire is full of shop fittings, mannequins, and clothing shops.  The whole area is like a wholesale garment district, but open to retail trade.  This sign  (and a few shops had similar ones)

I took to mean that visiting Americans would find something that fitted.  On the other hand, perhaps cross dressers or others shop here?  There were some clothes that were nice, but generally, the word "gaudy" came to mind.  Here are some shots of the passage itself - not overly Egyptian...

 but there's a bit here

 and here - under the eaves at one of the entrances.