This was my full free day in Paris and I planned to visit the Henri Cartier-Bresson and Martin Parr exhibition before joining my colleagues for Valerie Jardin’s street photography workshop in the evening. The day before I had arrived at the Gare du Nord via Eurostar and explored again the Latin Quarter.
Day 2: Friday 27th January – Walk to the 3rd Arrondissement
I had an early alarm call to try and be awake in time for my breakfast. As I packed my camera bag I found another plug behind the TV. This would be convenient to charge my camera batteries.
At 7:20 am, I was the only person in the small dining room and I enjoyed a continental breakfast, including French breakfast tea! The room had fascinating images on all the walls. As I studied the pictures, I slowly recognised famous Parisian sites, but all of them were out of focus!
Taking my time I left just before 8 am well within the allotted 30 minutes!
As I left the hotel, I remembered that I had checked the location of the restaurant for the evening meal, but had yet to check where the workshop would begin on Saturday. I was not sure about to get there so my walk to the Rue des Archives had to be put on hold.
The Paris American Academy was on Rue St Jacques and as it turned out was very easy to find. As I walked back I recognised where the streets led back to the Pantheon.
On the left, I took a small diversion and I was outside the Hotel Senlis where I had stayed three years before. It was now all boarded up and set for construction or demolition according to the notices outside.
Turning back, I was now on the street where I had planned to walk down to navigate to the Rue des Archive
It was sad to see the homeless people lying on the pavement outside of the Sorbonne buildings. Most were just lying there half in and a half out of their sleeping bags despite the cold in January. One was a half dressed woman who was ‘asleep’ half out of her sleeping bag despite the 4°C temperature. Just like everyone else passing, I stepped around her. Not a very Good Samaritan.
Day 2 Friday 27th January – The 3rd Arrondissement
Once over the Ile de Cite, my walk took me past a large department store where there was a surprisingly large queue of Chinese tourists all waiting for opening time.
Then I turned onto the Rue des Archives.
At the end of the first block I spotted street art from Invaderswashere.
Further down a building site’s hoardings were decorated with street art.
The Henri Cartier-Bresson foundation didn’t open until 11 am so I had nearly 40 minutes to wait.
At the end of the street I went into the Café de la Marie for a sit down and a cup of café au lait. What a friendly place, not the sort of welcome tourists expect in Paris.
Opposite the 3rd Arrondisement’s town hall was a small park. A group of dignitaries and school children were recognising that today was Holocaust Day.
Pupils from local schools along with the dignitaries, including the Mayor, were giving speeches in the ceremony.
