Paris, Days 7 and 8

It is unbelievable, but we have been in the flat for a week now. Yesterday was a quiet day.  I worked on my U3A talks for next term (Leone, please note) and Virginia went out to buy some light reading at Shakespeare and Co.

Last week when Virginia went to the Alliance Francais to enrol they tested her and took her money but were unable to confirm a place in the course she wanted to do.  They told her to come back today so that is what we did.  Our timing turned out to be bad because we arrived at the end of the lunch break when there were perhaps thirty students waiting to be seen to.  We were instructed to return later.  We took the opportunity to meander up rue Raspail, a walk which took us through a small local street market.

Street Market

The market was spread over several blocks and offered everything anyone in the neighbourhood might want.  There were butchers, fish merchants, vegetable stalls and all of the delicacies which might entice one to buy.  Unfortunately we didn't need anything and the market, which ran through most of the morning, was already beginning to close down.

Our walk took us past the beautiful Hotel Lutetia where we stopped to watch the acrobatics of the men working on cleaning the face of the hotel.

Acrobatic Cleaners

Cleaning the front of the Hotel Lutetia

Then it was over to Le Bon Marche, a very swanky department store.  The grocery department rivals that of Harrods in London and at the check-out the young woman in front of us notched up a bill of 394 euro for high end delicacies which could be packed in two plastic bags.  We hoped her guests appreciated it.We, on the other hand, walked out with some cheese and a packet of beetroot chips!

Front of Le Bon Marche

Interior of Le Bon Marche - Perfume Department

After strolling and window gazing for an hour or so we returned to the Alliance Francais where Virginia was finally able to complete her enrolment.  All of this took place in the very posh sixth arrondissment.  One thing that struck us as we looked in windows at the very lovely clothing was that while price seemed to be related to quality, it was not related to style.  Many of the shops which displayed lower priced goods had men's and women's dress that was as chic as that at far more expensive locations.

Something else interesting is the way in which residents grow plants outside their apartments.  Here, for example, is a picture of some plants on the sixth floor of an apartment building.  No, you didn't misread that, the sixth floor.

Window Plants

The afternoon was quite warm and we headed straight back to the area near Sacre Coeur where we sat for a further hour or two with a drink watching the tourists and a marvellous street entertainer.

Street Entertainment at Place du Tertre