From the Right Bank to the Left Bank, Paris

It’s brighter and warmer in Paris this morning, heading for a top temperature of 14C. It’s a good morning to stroll along the Right Bank of the Seine, to see what has changed since last Christmas. There are still more seagulls than people. The city has been busy – there is a new children’s’ playground near Pont d’Arcole, on the Right Bank of the Seine, with a nautical theme in keeping with the riverside setting. I’m not sure what the enclosed area is for, I can only assume that it is for toddler cage fights. Further along, exercise equipment has been installed, so you can do your cycling work-out whilst watching the riverboats cruise up and down.  Or watch an enormous barge called the Endurance cruise past if that’s your thing. 

Should we go left or right – decisions caused by the Ile-de-la-Cite…

Did you know that the Paris city workers lock each park at closing time, during the day during inclement weather (eg rain and storms), and re-open them in the morning? I happened to be walking past a small park when the city worker pictured arrived in his truck to unlock the gates to this park – 10 minutes late at 09:10 am on a Saturday!

Rue Jacob has some great boutiques that specialise in fabrics – Pierre Frey has two stores in close proximity, and Jim Thompson (another fabric retailer), has fantastic windows with elephants and some kind of bird of prey draped in material.

Further along Boulevard St Germain-du-Pres, Moncler is running a ski theme for it’s Christmas windows, and Ralph Lauren has large svelte bears modeling clothes. Around the corner from Ralph Lauren, Paul & Joe have also gone to a lot of effort with their windows.

After lunch with a friend at Chez Julien (my choice, and can’t recommend it), we drive to St Germain-en-Laye to visit the Chateau St Germain-en-Laye. The exterior of the Chateau is being cleaned, which looks like it will take several years, but otherwise is open for business.

The town of St Germain-en-Laye is quieter than usual, but getting busier as the Saturday afternoon turns into evening. The street lights and decorations are lovely and light up the narrow streets of the old town for the weekend shoppers.

My friend lives in a suburb called Colombes, which is also beautifully decorated with street lights. It is also surprisingly close to Paris – the ‘sprinter’ train has me at Gare St Lazare in less than 20 minutes, and after taking the Olympiades metro line train to Chatelet, I’m still home in my apartment in under an hour even with a 10-minute walk at the end.

This is my final day in Paris for this trip – a week has flown by, and I need to start plotting my return in 2018 as soon as I get home to Melbourne!