Category: France

This was a freezing week, most of this turned to ice and sublimated during the week.

Not so far from home, a classic metro access in the 7th arrondisment. Metro exits are frequently populated with individuals twiddling their thumbs, phones, books or whatever they have handy to kill time whilst waiting for friends to arrive.

The square in front of the Hôtel-de-Ville (Townhall) of Paris is full of life. There are a myriad of uses from greening Paris exhibitions where the whole place is covered in plants to ice-skating in winter.

Growing in the gardens of Musee Carnavalet a delicate Cosmos flower.

The courtyard of Victory owes its name to the lead statue created in 1807 by Simon Boizot (1743-1809) for the Châtelet fountain.  The statue represents a winged Victory with upraised arms holding laurel wreaths made of bronze.  The statue here is a copy of the original.

Hotel Carnavalet

The old central market and abattoirs of Paris were demolished in 1971 and moved to Rungis south of Paris. The hideous 70’s structure that replaced the market has aged badly and is in disrepair today. A renewal and improvement plan was formulated in 2004 and work on the project started in 2010.

The French have a special relationship with their dogs. Living in close quarters in Parisienne apartments, dogs rarely leave their person including visits to the bakers, grocers, restaurants and the office. Dogs are forbidden entry to butchers although a hook for leashes is provided outside. Occasionally a doggy trough can be found near to slake the thirst of a short legged friend in a busy street.