The Last Knit

when you just can't stop...

Paris - Random Thoughts

I enjoy cities that are easy to navigate by foot or public transportation - Paris is certainly one. I hope to perhaps retire to a city where I don't need to have a car ...
New York City is first on my list - Is Paris too much a dream? Speaking of cars, I was intrigued by the Smart cars I saw all over Paris.

When I returned to work a friend said she had found just the car she wanted and guess what it was a Smart car! Do I put down a deposit for one when they're available in the U.S. next year? Hummmm.... I loved all the parks tucked away throughout Paris and seeing people enjoying them. Eating,napping,reading,studying,visiting,playing were all common park activities. I wish our green spaces were appreciated as much.




Finally, the key system at the hotel was energy conserving - I'll explain...The card key is attached to a heavy metal fob. After you open the door you slide the card into a slot just inside the door and your electricity is turned on. When you leave you remoe the card from the slot and the electricity is turned off. Smart huh? You then turn in the key to the front desk and pick it back up when you return. We plan to rent an apartment in Paris next year for a month .... it can easily be done and is less expensive than staying in a hotel. I'll also get to shop the markets and cook! Working the overtime now and saving up - Paris, France I'm coming back...

Paris - Pere Lachaise Cemetery

On our last full day in Paris, I decided to venture into the 20th arrondissement to explore Pere Lachaise cemetery. Many people probably know that Jim Morrison is buried there even though hundreds of other well known people make this tranquil area their eternal home including Gertrude Stein, Edith Piaf and Oscar Wilde. I particularly like the story of Victor Noir's bronze statue at his grave site - I'll look for that one when I go back. The cemetery is easily found close by several metro stations and a map is located just inside the main gates. The cobblestone walkways were wide enough for vehicles since it continues to be an active burial area. The tombstones were so close in most areas that grass could not grow between them. Most were large, ornate tombstones with many designed as small palaces or other grand structures. I found Jim Morrison's site with little trouble....I left a book near his site that seemed to be rather appropriate...

Throughout the area were small parks with benches where people were reading, eating lunch or just having contemplative time. I plan to go back another time packing a lunch and having plenty of time to wander and take pictures.

Paris - Le Marais and the Islands of the Seine

This walk began at the Place de la Bastille. We had a little trouble figuring out directions but soon enough found Rue St. Antoine and headed on our way. Place des Vosges is the oldest square in Paris and houses shops, art galleries and cafes around the perimeter under the arcades. We saw younger children playing together and adolescents lounging on the grass in small groups talking and smoking. I was amazed at the number of young people I saw smoking. Most of the teenagers wore blue denim jeans and black pullover snug fitted shirts - I didn't see any of the immensely oversized clothing that seems to be the style here in the States. Soon enough we found Rue des Francs Bourgeois to seek out Pelote - a yarn shop I had read about and was eager to visit. Pelote carried a wide variety of Anny Blatt yarns and I chose a varigated pink to knit up into another wrap.
Musee Picasso is in this area and I plan to visit it during my next trip to Paris. We didn't visit any art museums this trip - just felt like we didn't have enough time. I enjoyed exploring Rue des Rosiers which is the Jewish/Eastern European part of the Marais. I noted the many falafel shops in this area and planned to return another day.
The gardens of the Hotel de Sens were beautifully tended
and the fortress like buildings surrounding the gardens were built in 1475! We crossed the Seine via the 17th century Pont Marie to reach the Ile St Louis - a small island in the midst of busy Paris and in the shadow of the magnificent Notre Dame.
Hundreds of people were waiting in line to visit Notre Dame -
we'll save this exploration for another time...

AEP Run

This morning was a great time for one of the biggest 5k/10k in the valley - this run is held in association with the annual Festival in the Park. Festival in the Park is an art show and music festival that encompasses Elmwood Park and the Downtown Market area. I have attended the festival since I was in high school and have ran the race the last three years.Was my number a predictor of my speed today? Well, I ran the 5k at a slow 39 (ouch) minutes which is equivalent to a thirteen minute mile. At least my number wasn't 20! I'm OK with my time since I have just recovered from a left foot strain....will have a better time next year...

Paris - Montmartre

I walked around Montmartre alone on a Sunday. The weather was overcast and I did buy a cheap umbrella along the way. Like many other places I've been as soon as the first rain cloud appears the racks of umbrellas are rolled out front. To escape the Abbesses metro station you have the choice of either walking up 105 steps or taking the elevator - I count taking those steep steps as a good workout! The Place des Abbesses is a beautiful little park with a children's carousel. A flea market with merchants selling all sorts of mostly second hand goods was going on as well - I browsed a bit but didn't see anything I really wanted.
Close by I easily found Au Grain du Folie - a vegetarian restaurant I had on my "must do" list. The restaurant was tiny (4 tables) and rather untidy and cluttered. If I hadn't read about it I would have probably walked by - thank goodness I didn't! The chef/waiter/owner? was running the show alone and I asked her to just make me whatever vegan dish she liked. I poured a bottle of fizzy water and listened to what I swore sounded like a French version of Sunday NPR programming playing in the background. After a leisurely wait, I was served a wonderful vegan lunch. Rice, white beans, shredded carrots, green and purple cabbage, grainy bread with a earthy eggplant spread and a shepherd's pie filled with coarsely mashed cauliflower and topped with lightly sauteed squash and onions were casually arranged on a huge plate. The cabbage was lightly seasoned with oil and vinegar - moderate seasoning of cumin and wonderfully sweet sauteed onions was present throughout. Finishing the meal with a slice of vegan cheesecake I was ready to take a walk - and all for 21 euros!
I headed out to see the Sacre Coeur and the highest point in Paris. I was not disappointed! Most incredibly were the apartments hanging from the hillside affording the residents a spectacular view of the city - I can't imagine what the rents must be. Place du Tertre was a tourist trap but fun to browse around. I wouldn't buy anything there with the idea I had a uniquely made in France item. The vineyard on Rue des Saules was amazing with the vines terraced along the hillside. The streets in this part of the city were narrow and steep and would prove to be a challenge to navigate except for the reasonably physically fit. I ended this walk at the metro station on the Boulevard de Clinchy in the Pigalle District which looked like any other "adult" district I've seen. I took few pictures this day because the clouds kept spitting rain.

Back on the home front...

After work last night, I meet my husband for a night of camping along Craig' Creek ~
45 minutes northeast of Roanoke. Earlier this year, we purchased a pop up camper and this was the first time we had the opportunity to use it. Now I know that some people may wonder how a woman who just spend a week in Paris could possibly enjoy camping and all I can say is that I enjoy both for the chance to veer off my usual routines and experience life from a different perspective be it on the streets of Paris speaking high school French or relaxing along a creek listening to the tree frogs. The sound of the water was a soothing accompaniment to a restful night of sleep.
Driving back this morning, I spotted these stone structures that were furnaces used in iron manufacturing in the 18th century. These are now preserved for their historic value. Closer home, I snapped a picture of this delightful barber shop
- it looks as if it should be on the set of the Andy Griffith show. BTW, reruns of the Andy Griffith show have been running on one of the local TV stations for years - anytime there is talk of changing the schedule there is so much local protest it remains - I admit to being one of the loyal fans!