Day 21

20 October 2022

I awakened from a rough night in our new accommodation, but there was no maid in attendance to provide my morning coffee and usher me to breakfast. There was only my computer awaiting my working day.

I say “day” but in reality it is at most an hour to catch up with the day that has already past. A brief time to catch up with Kate and see what an awesome job she is doing.

Today I feel a little under the weather, and not because we had a big night last night. I have succumbed to a cold, very gluey in the throat and not feeling so great. A covid test is clear. It is raining early, so the gloom descends.

But wait, light appears as Kirsty rises and we plan our day. Today we are off to explore locally, the Viaduc des Arts. It is an elevated reclaimed rail line, similar to the High Line in New York, but older. It gives a very different perspective to see the buildings from up on high. It goes a for a few kilometres, and when you come down, you then retrace your steps at ground level and look at all the artisan shops that have been established in the arches of the railway line.

As we walk the day clears into a bright and very warm day. We have been so lucky with the weather. Back at Place Bastille, Kirsty takes advantage of the facilities. Alas, it is much better suited to men. We are only a short distance from our flat, so back we go the regroup.

We then head north from Place des Vosges, aiming for Marche des Enfants Rouge. This is a market with all kinds of eateries all on top of each other. It is very cool and hip, so we fit right in. We settle upon a Lebanese stall, and each have a kebab and a big beer. Delicious.

We then head south back towards the Seine, passing through the Jewish quarter, which is packed at lunchtime. Some places have huge lines of people waiting for what looked like kebabs…..Ummmm, people, we just had the best.

We finally make it to the river, the Seine, of course. We have great views back of Notre Dame under renovation. Even though it is all scaffolding, it is still great to see it. No less impressive, and it is just another page in it’s history.

We then make our way down the main square in front of the church, which offers views without scaffolding, but, of course, no towers/steeples. By now I am starting to fade, so it is the metro home where I have a little afternoon nap. Not sure if it is my cold or the large Lebanese beer, but I am soon zedding happily.

We have again elected to eat in tonight, with Kirsty doing a Thai beef salad (sans coriander or mint….Kirsty just cursed she had forgotten these), so it will be an early night and hopefully I am more with it tomorrow as we continue our exploration of parts of Paris that are off the tourist route (yes, I know, Notre Dame is on the tourist route !!).