Calm, clean, organised, handsome, glowingly beautiful Paris. The first thing we noticed was the calm. No screeching motor cycles, no horns, no jostling .... cars even stop at red lights and use their indicators when changing lanes; people say 'pardon' if they bump into you, young men help older people with their shopping bags on the Metro. So different to Italy.
It was warm and sunny with skidding dark clouds and a cool wind when we arrived.
We have been here ten days now, in the same apartment we had in 2015, across the road from the one we had in 2013 and around the corner from that of 2011. Les Halles, near the river in the 1st arrondissement is a great location and the huge, new Forum Les Halles, incorporating Paris' biggest rail hub, is right underneath us. It is impossible to be more central, or better connected in Paris.
That's our building. We are on the fourth floor with six windows on the curve, four shuttered and two open in this picture.
Here's the link if you are interested. 22 rue des Halles, Paris Our host is Rocco, a charming, generous and genuine young man who manages the apartment on behalf of his aunt, an Italian antique dealer. Bookings are from 2 or 3 nights to many, many weeks, like us.
One of the six new entrances to the Forum Les Halles, and below it the Metro and RER stations. It is now fully operational after four years of construction. All that remains is the double lift (at the rear), the paving and final landscaping.
The paving is underway. The road downwards leads to two carparks, one for the Forum, the other for the Novatel Hotel which you can see at the rear.
These steep escalators go from street level to the shopping Forum. The second set, equally steep go the Metro and RER stations.
There are device charging points all through the Forum. You can also plug in at any bus stop.
On a Metro train. The RER trains which take you to the airport, EuroDisney and the outer suburbs, are double decker.
Lat Sunday we went to a round of the Formula-e; electric open-wheelers racing around a street circuit at Invalides.
It was free access to the non viewing areas with a huge screen. Australian Mitch Evans was driving for Jaguar.
We revisited Saint-Germain-en-Laye (at the end of one of the RER lines) because I am reading a novel set in the court of Henri II.
Henri II was born here in 1519 and in 1552, rebuilt the original sections after a fatal fire and added new wings.
Henri II's wife, queen Catherine de Medicis and royal mistress, Diane de Poiters both danced in this splendid ballroom. And yes, at the same time but not with each other.
During the French Revolution, the castle was used as a detention prison; under Napoleon I, barracks and under Louise-Philippe a military prison.
In 1862, Napoleon III listed it an historical monument and extensively restored it for use as the National Museum of Archeology.
For over one hundred years it has accumulated a vast and rich archeological collection depicting the lives and inventions of mankind in France up to the 5th century AD.
In 1230 Louis IX (Saint Louis) had this chapel built. Miraculously it has survived fire and war for 800 years.
And in 1559, at the end of the extensive terraces facing the Seine, Henri II built this, the Chateau Neuf. It was originally quite extensive, terraced all the way to the Seine. Many years later in 1638, Louis XIV The Sun King was born here.
We followed the former chef of Pirouette to his new restaurant Tomy & Co on the left bank and walked home along the river quay. All traffic has been removed from the river verges - pedestrians, cyclists and skaters only.
Pont Alexandre III looking magnificent.
From the Passerelle Leopold-Sedar-Senghor with Musee d'Orsay on the right and one of the towers of the Louvre on the left.
Looking back at the pedestrian bridge and the Orsay, only to find the Eiffel tower all lit up and showing off.
It was the home of the Renault automotive industry for many years. The site has been entirely redeveloped for music and named the new Cité Musicale.
It is an immense musical space, with a surface area of 38,000 square meters both inside and out.
And it is powered by .... you guessed it .... the sun. A huge array of solar panels facing south, mounted on a track which moves with the sun from morning in the east until night in the west.
And like all new Paris buildings it has a green roof. In this case a very large area with a variety of plantings from ankle high to substantial trees. Plus bird boxes.
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