La vie quotidienne

Paris - well, there just isn't anywhere else like it. It really is a stunningly beautiful city where anything is possible and you can't but help feel your spirits lift. (That is unless you are my cousin Pete who still hasn't forgiven the voleur Parisien who stole the last of his cash at the end of his holiday!)

However, I am not troubled by such bad memories so this time I was determined just to take everything slowly and get a feel for daily life, so that WHEN I relocate here, I'll be well and truly ready! And despite the plethora of foreign tourists in town (and I include my humble self amongst them), I did manage to find a slice of daily life in a few little corners of this magical city.

I went for a walk on Sunday morning, and found very little happening until I got close to Rue Montorguiel in the 2e arrondissement, where I found the locals shopping and heading back to their families and friends with provisions for lunchtime.


Le dimananche matin

I just paddled and picked up a box of my favourites,


Les framboises!

and retired to the jardin in the courtyard of the Palais Royal, where I spent a couple of hours sitting in the shade, with an elderly couple who found me a comfortable chair and insisted that I join them. We shared my bounty and watched the world go by.


Jardin du Palais Royal

There are beautiful gardens dotted all around Paris, and many of them belong to the royal palaces of pre-republic times. The fabulous thing is that these spectacular places now belong to the public and play a big part in the lives of Parisiens - a place to sit and read, eat lunch or meet friends, take the dog/children for some outdoor time. And a seat will always become free at some point for the weary traveller!


Fountain at dusk

In the summertime in the Jardin des Tuileries, which separates the Place de la Concorde from the Louvre - and provides a stunning view up the Champs Elysée to the Arc de Triomphe - there is a fairground for the kids, which is very quaint indeed and full of happy voices.


La fête

But there's plenty to do no matter how old you are ...


Serious times

Or if you have had enough of all those little treats, you can play some boules by the river.


Petanque on the Seine

... or just sneak a look at everyone's favourite structure ...


La Tour Eiffel