Marais area of Paris

We were introduced to the Marais arrondissements last year by the wonderful travel agent Grania when we had no idea where to stay in Paris on our first trip to Europe.  

  

Where we stayed

View from balcony

In Paris, we had a one bed apartment ( 2 single beds unfortunately) plus a sofa for 2 in the lounge/ kitchen area. Jonathan didn't cope well with 2 single beds pushed together - as the beds kept on coming apart - poor old Jonathan.

It was a good set up with the bedroom on the left the bathroom and toilet separate rooms straight ahead and everything else on the door on the right.  Off the 'everything else'room, there was also a balcony overlooking the Richard Lenoir tree lined street.

We had such a lovely time not only with Emma and Michael but also, at various times, with Emma's boyfriend Stuart, E&M's friend, Ruth ( teaching in Germany) and also a visit from E&S's friend, Carla who lives in Paris.

Emma, J&J and Michael

Stuart, Emma, Michael and Ruth.

Ruth gave us such a lovely note and present when she left to return to Germany.  E, M and Ruth went to Disneyland Paris on Ruth's birthday ( Stuart gave it a miss - he's got class!). (I can confirm the "never(?) grumpy" socks were for the Other J. )

In the street where we lived - Richard Lenoir

The markets - every Sunday and Thursday to the right of Citadines and continues down to Bastille monument. 

I loved the colourful characters and wares. Whole stalls of just mushrooms, or cheeses or olives or flowers.  The elderly lady in the photo above had a bright blouse to match her bright hat, many people had their 'shopping carts' piled with fresh food and on top a colourful bunch of flowers.  I wish I had a photo of the two 50 something women walking hand in hand with one puffing on a huge pipe ( I've never seen such a huge one other than in film.  I refer to it as a Sherlock Holmes pipe.)  

Bastille Monument

This is at the end of the markets on Richard Lenoir Street.  There are three metros in this street alone a few minutes walk from the apartment/ hotel.  At the Bastille station, when you are on one particular Metro line ( yellow line) you get a wonderful view of the Seine -providing the glass behind you has not been defaced.  

We bought our Metro tickets 10 at a time - Euro 10.60 (I think) and have become masters of the Metro. Mind you, if you are fit enough to jump the gate and skinny enough to squeeze through the barrier, even in plain sight of someone working at the Metro, no one will stop you or say you should have paid for a ticket.

In Paris they have these warning signs on the train - warning of squashed rabbit I call them.

Wonderful things in Marais - besides us!

Not in order of merit.

This will be an introduction:

1 Place des Vosges in the 3rd Arroundissement/ district.

Now, I'm sorry but if you don't like this, you are cuckoo- or you are on a different planet to me.  Subtle aren't I?  However, I think it is best to introduce this delightful place by firstly going to the street near Saint Paul's Metro where the Cathedral is.  (Got you!  You thought I'd given up on Cathedrals, didn't you? Remember, I have an additional cause now - hope and pray our travel insurance claim is approved in full).  So, suffer all you heathens ( with Jonathan) and think of the dwindling bank balance.

This is the Cathedral of "our mob" in the best spot in the Marais district:

Then, after the Metro, Cathedral, you meander along to Hotel Sully

In the gardens you find some unusual folk

Some better looking than others - I mean the ones below!

Then, you exit via the side and you enter what seems to be a long deserted passageway 

Then, suddenly, you look beyond the arches and you see the most beautiful area and you realise you are in Place des Vosges and you say "Wow, wacky do, how did I get to be here? Is this real?"

And you are there with your lovely family and you feel as though you have won Lotto 10 times over.  

Yes, I am very grateful for all I have and especially the lovely 'Thon ( Jonathan).  It must be all those prayers and visits to Cathedrals are paying off - but I'd still like to win Lotto!

2  Where Victor Hugo lived

This is the man who wrote, amongst other things Les Miserables that I have read more times than I can remember and seen, as play or film, countless times.  The 'Thon noted we should go to to see where he lived at 6 Place des Vosges and it was free (!) to go in. It was a wonderful yet at the same time an unbelievably experience.  How could I be seeing this?  Incredible!  It reminded me of my beautiful Mother dear as we would often talk in wonderment of the new things I was doing ie going to Uni, being an accountant, then an executive.  We would sit and chat and Mum would voice what I thought ( these things being quite  unusual/outrageous in my time) "Not bad for a little girl from Bayne Street (where I was brought up) and we would shake our heads in amazement and smile and be happy for the good things in life.  I miss her and Dad so much but they live through and with me every day.  I am so very, very fortunate - but, dear Lord, I'd still like my travel insurance claim to be paid in full.   I know Mum (pre dementia) and Dad wanted us all to 'do our best' and care for others in the process.  That was their life.  Not to acquire great wealth but rather to be generous in spirit and realise that "but for the Grace of God go I".

Back to old Victor!  I don't think he was "poor".  Kath, you too will be a multi millionaire with your writings so prepare the K&P home for the adoring fans to wander through.

Dear old Vic had a few trinkets or two as he worked from his apartment (poor soul) overlooking the beautiful Place dec Vosges..

I like these little characters!

Another mischievous little soul that seems to be enjoying himself.

3 Musee Carnavalet

History of Paris  - entry free

Such a beautiful wonderful place - with the dear old Cathedral in the background.  You could spend hours here - particularly if you lose children + Ruth along the way!

J and J also went to the temporary exhibition on here - liberation of Paris which caused one to reflect on the dreadful things that come about with a war.  There are no winners.

 

Perhaps the most moving part for me was a film clip of a female resistance fighter disarming a gunman and then another still photo showed the same female nursing an injured enemy soldier.  No one really knows the emotional scars of war on people and the untold horrors and heroics that ordinary people faced each day. 

4 Picasso Museum - reopened (after was it 4 ( ?) years ) the day after our arrival.

At the outset, I should stress I'm not sure why I have this fascination with Picasso but ever since I saw the Picasso Museum at Barcelona last year with Emma I was entranced by the vivid colours in his rather odd paintings/ works. Then to actually get a ticket on line to the Paris Picasso required a major, major effort.  I have never, ever encountered such a poorly designed web site/ form and so I had to get emails to "someone" so we could acquire tickets.  Such drama.

Picasso's chair and pallets

This is called Woman's Head.  Mum would call it " the nose she was born with"

 This "mother and child" and next to the painting were a "mother and child"

This was called something like " man lying down playing guitar" and next to him was the Happy Birthday person of the day - the other J.

All this in a beautiful building.

5 lots of other things too

Unfortunately, no more time to spend in the Marais area other than go to,our favourite restaurant  to celebrate J's birthday  at the Acrobatic Cow or Le Vache Acrobatique

6 Other places - to see in Marais

So much to see.....so little time....so wonderful in any case.  Then there's Paris beyond the Marais district.

I love all of this.