On the day before we left Paris for points south, we took in the large flea market: Le marché aux puces de Saint-Ouen, which has been in existence since 1885. We took the metro to its northern-most stop, Port de Clignancourt. In those few minutes of a subway ride, we were transported to the other Paris - more working class, more diverse and definitely poorer. Most tourists never get to see the other Paris, preferring the elegant city of the bourgeois classes - it's pretty, well taken care of, manicured, etc. This neighborhood on the north side was scruffier with somewhat dirtier streets and very crowded with shoppers. Mike said he enjoyed seeing this side of Paris and bumping elbows "with real people for a change."
The flea market is divided into sections, each one dealing with different merchandise: one is clothing, mostly cheap clothing, and shoes and sneakers. Another displayed antiques and objets d'art of all sorts. Then there were marches, akin to an antique mart where merchants had concessions in booths inside a large building. Interspersed with all this activity were various food vendors selling crepes, sandwiches, roasted chestnuts and corn on the cob. It was a very colorful scene.
Metro scene at Cardinal Lemoine station (our station).
Shopping in Paris De Puces - the flea market. Inexpensive clothing in this section.
Crowds check out the flea market at Le march aux puces de Saint-Ouen, Paris' largest flea market and one of its oldest.
Mike or Monseigneur Mike? Which is the real "Mike"?
An old Citroen Ami 8 station wagon from the 60's.(What does this have to do with the flea market? Nothing...I just love Citroens!)
Beads at the flea market.
After a few hours at the flea market and a lunch at a nearby cafe, we got on the metro. We wanted to take a walk around the Tuilleries gardens and see the Louvre. It was Sunday and even though the museum would be half price, we demurred - it would be too crowded and we didn't have a lot of time - it was already late afternoon. But the building and grounds, themselves, were awesomely beautiful and we enjoyed strolling; that is, until the rain started to come down. We made a mad dash into one of the nearby porticos and waited it out. After a few minutes we made our way to the gardens and watched the kids sailing their toy boats. A Parisian moment!
The Louvre metro station, complete with art.
Outside the Louvre - shops lining Rue du Rivoli on the right.
One tiny part of the Louvre Palace - no wonder the masses rose up!
Stacey is sullen in front of Sully (the Pavillion Sully - Louvre).
The south wing of the Louvre and I.M. Pei's Pyramide.
Just Stacey.
Sailing boats at the pond in the Tuilleries.
Old fashioned toys can still be so much fun.
Set it out upon the water and then the wind carries it on its journey to far-away shores.
We took the metro home, weary once again. We rested a bit and set out to the St. Michel area of the Left Bank for dinner at a tiny bistro -- Chez Henri on Rue de Princess, another Frommer choice and a well-made recommendation. Afterwards, back to our hotel for an early start south the next day.
Mike and Lynn, waiting for our table at Chez Henri.
At Chez Henri on Rue de Princess - Left Bank.
2 comments:
your trip looks fabulous. glad you're having such a great time. and thanks for all the photos. I'm enjoying them. Missing you.
What a marvelous trip. Lynn feels very fortunate to have experienced it all with you. I enjoyed your pictures and commentary. Dave and I hope to meet you in person one day. Thank you.
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