Monday, May 28, 2012

Bassin de la Villette - IV



A Sunday afternoon on the quai of Bassin de la Villette...
 out for a spin, a game of Pétanque with friends, a picnic, or just soaking up the Paris sun

There is quite a drop into the water without a rail,
and I worried a bit for this fellow and other little ones so close to the edge.


Bassin de la Villette
Quai de la Loire
75019, Paris


26 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Yes, I would have worried, too! But what a cutie he is!! Hope your weekend is going well, Genie! Enjoy!

Hugs
Sylvia

Rob-bear said...

Photo avec du charme, comme d'habitude.

I suspect the lad has been around the place often enough to be careful. But then, even adults slip up, sometimes.

Blessings and Bear hugs.

French Girl in Seattle said...

He looks like a "pro" to me, this little guy! Have you ever done the Canal cruise that starts at La Bastille and ends near la Villette, Genie? It's a lot of fun, and the atmosphere is quite different from a Seine river tour, more intimate, and more old fashioned, with the manually operated locks, etc. Bonne fin de weekend! Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

martinealison said...

J'ai pensé la même chose samedi dernier... Des jeunes filles discutaient assises sur le muret d'un pont traversant la Saône...

Merci pour cette belle photo ensoleillée.
Gros bisous

brattcat said...

i wonder how often someone takes a spill.

Janey and Co. said...

I'm with you..being a cautious Mom.
Looks like a beautiful day!

Birdman said...

This one brings back some memories.

Jane and Lance Hattatt said...

Hello Genie:
Health and Safety is of little regard here in Hungary, so we barely noticed the lack of a rail!!!

The Bassin de la Villette looks to have a wonderfully relaxed ambiance and somewhere which attracts old and young alike. Yes, a perfect spot for a Sunday afternoon we should think.

My name is Riet said...

THat would have worried me too, very scary. Wouldn'ttrust little kids around there.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

It definitely would have worried me also Genie, it looks like Mum here is standing between this handsome little fella and the edge..
btw I cannot resist the power of suggestion, your mention of caprese salad has me longing for one!!

Anonymous said...

Great moment! I would also be worried...I worried about my children and other kids getting to close to railing that were placed along areas to keep you from falling from great heights and I would definitely be worried about this little guy getting to close to the edge of the water. It's enough to make my heart palpitate!

Rob Siemann said...

Every time we go to Paris, wee try to stay at the same hotel on avenue Jean Jaures, 2 mn away. Our favorite arrondissement in Paris, the 19th!

Virginia said...

As we've said many times, in Paris , safety issues are not always high on the list!
V

La Brocanteuse said...

Lovely to see the sun there..
and yes, specially riding on cobles is not the safest!
Love to you
Colette x

TheChieftess said...

I'm betting that it's not as big an issue as we Americans may think...mom's walking between him and the water...he's probably been taught never to go by the water...

This is Belgium said...

this is always an issue here in my family ... the difference between the american and european way of looking at safety situations
hope you are enjoying memorial day weekend!
anni

Angelsdoor * Penny said...

Hi Genie
Great photo! Yes, it worries me just looking at it.. I want to grab his little hand and quide him away from the edge.. Atleast mom is on the correct side of him.
Thank you so much for your kind comment on my sketch of Audrey Hepburn.. It was my first attempt at trying to capture her... I realize there is room for improvement and may try again one day, but for now I am satisfied.
Enjoy your day.
Bisous! Penny

Starman said...

I cannot begin to tell you how much it pleases me that he is NOT wearing the stupid bike helmet.

Amanda Summer said...

that's what maman is for - she takes the place of a rail!

Pat said...

I've often wondered why more people of any age don't fall in the river!

Jean said...

Would never get away with that in our town--18 and younger wear helmets or get tickets. I am also surprised that there is no barrier to keep people from falling, especially since they walkl and text on their iphones and don't watchwhere they are going. I do love the picture.

PJ said...

We used to live on the water and our son never once had an accident. You just look out for them - and they know. Love the training wheels.

Jack said...

When people live this close to the water, I think they learn to be careful about edges very early in their lives.

Randy said...

It's Easy Rider!

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

I was less concerned about this fellow with maman standing guard than I was with the two guys and a baby only inches from the edge.

This is a great place to people-watch (and photograph) on a sunny day. There were all ages and many activities. I thought it looked a bit like a Richard Scary book (google it if you do not know).

We have more lawyers than they have guard-rails. Also, that is not exactly a protective helmet whether he is wearing it or not.

Paula, there is much to your comment. Kids are more careful and have been trained to be observant in this park. Also, on busy Sundays, they couldn't drive into the bassin anyway without running over someone sitting on the edge. They are lined up elbow to elbow, quilt to quilt.

Bises,
Genie

Alexa said...

So cute, Genie. I think French kids avoid the local dangers (think of all those guard-less windows!) the same way Venetian kids never wind up in a canal.