Boulevard Raspail - une femme et son vélo

A woman and her bicycle

It was more than just a light rain, 

but she was dressed for the ride.

Her basket contained a briefcase and a black pinwheel, 

and there was another wicker basket to the side of the back wheel.  

This was no pleasure ride,

 but a well-orchestrated, 

any-kind-of-weather daily commute.

Chic, stylish, adventurous...

must be a French Girl.

Boulevard Raspail et Rue de Sèvres

75006, Paris

 

Des Vélibs

Vélib bikes

Lined up and ready for riding...

It is an easy way to get around Paris and much faster than walking.  

However, you need to have a good knowledge of the streets,

 and I would not recommend taking photos while riding (bien sûr!)

Vélib station

Place André Malraux

75001, Paris

Rue du Trésor - le vélo

Rue du Trésor

the bicycle

This short pedestrian street 

has a border of green on both sides 

with a variety of cafés and bistrots.  

The flash of rain just prior to my photo 

gives an extra boost of green to the new spring growth.  

It is not too difficult to dodge the showers.

Rue du Trésor

75004, Paris

un petit garçon et son vélo

little boy and his bicycle

riding uphill on the uneven cobblestones of Rue Mouffetard...

This is a challenging venue for learning how to ride a two-wheeled bike.

On this Sunday afternoon, 

it was likely that they were headed to Luxembourg Garden 

with the soft chalky-dirt paths, 

perfect for a little one to practice the art of "balance."

Rue Mouffetard

75005, Paris

 

École de Filles

École de Filles

Beautiful architecture and a serene setting belies the sign indicating that between 1942 and 1944 there were 140 school age children from the 2ième arrondissement who were murdered at Auschwitz.  

"Never forget"

École de Filles

44, rue Dussoubs

75002, Paris

Palais Royal - un vélo très cher

Palais Royal

If you could read the mark on this bicycle 

you would have an idea of its price.  

Seen in the upscale shop at Palais Royal 

it was gleaming in beautiful reflective silver as if to taunt me.

...still pouting because Santa did not leave me a bike this year...

again!

I am joining in James' Weekend Reflections today.

Take a look at other reflections from around the world.

Marc Jacobs

Palais Royal

34, rue de Montpensier

75001, Paris

Une fille française?

French girl?

Retro bicycle..

pouring rain...

stylish lace-up boots...

black swing-coat...

wicker basket...

and, of course, a precisely wrapped scarf

Yes, she's a French girl...

 Boulevard Raspail (in front of Hôtel Lutetia)

75006, Paris

 

un vélo bleu - 'forever'

a bike

I have wanted one "forever" 

and hope that I will get a red one for Christmas...

with a bell, bien sûr.

Are you listening, Santa?

(Why should I have to go to Paris to ride a bike?)

In front of Shakespeare and Company

37, rue de la Bucherie

75005, Paris

Joyeux anniversaire, Cherie!

Pont Louis-Philippe - Île Saint-Louis

Pont Louis-Philippe

Yes, the rain was relentless, 

but Paris keeps moving without regard to the weather.

This stone arch-bridge connects the Quai de Bourbon 

on the Île Saint-Louis with the Saint-Gervais neighborhood on the right bank.  

It is decorated with stone laurel wreaths 

surrounding metallic rosettes which are best seen from the Seine.

Pont Louis-Philippe

Île Saint-Louis

75004, Paris

 

Le Marais - un tandem

Bicycle for two!

There are many bicycles on the streets of Paris and in the parks.  

Even the smallest of children are riding bicycles.

However, I do not think that I have seen a bicycle for two.

Hope that you have time

for a ride this weekend

Boulevard Beaumarchais

75003, Paris

Parc de Monceau - XXXIII

Parc de Monceau

Although you may not be able to tell the season from this photo, 

you can see Parisians enjoying the good weather 

and note that the lawn is "awake." 

There is no "pelouse interdite" sign nor my favorite, 

"pelouse au repose hivernal," 

which means that the lawn is hibernating 

(like a bear)

 

Parc de Monceau

Boulevard des Courcelles

(five entrances around the park)

75008, Paris

Métro Monceau

Le Tour de France 100

100 Years

Le Tour

Le Tour de France begins today and looks back to the first Tour in 1903.  Three grueling weeks of mountains and time trials, 2,000 miles, 23 stages, all culminating with a finish on the Champs-Elysées.

The Tour de France has visited every region of Metropolitan France except Corsica, but the opening stages this year begin on Corsica as part of the celebrations for the 100th edition of the race.

If you have no interest in the sport, you would surely love the countryside, the little villages, the chateaus, the mountain ridges, the coastlines.  Take a look at the towns and villages of the 2013 Tour.  There is much to be seen... and, it lasts for three weeks!

Le Tour de France

2013, June 29 - July 21

Corsica and France

Les Vélibs

Try it!

Well, Holly has a big smile because we were having so much fun riding around Paris on the Vélibs.  The cost can be a little as $2.20 to ride for the day.  If you return your bike to one of the 1,800 stations within 30 minutes, there is no additional charge.  We rode for two days all over Paris, mixing it up with the traffic.  On my recent trip, I spent one day riding alone, crossing the Seine bridges and riding as far as Jardin des Plantes from the 2ème.

There are 20,000 bikes ready to ride, waiting on you.  Check out the site here.

If you are hesitant, start away from congested traffic areas (Place Charles de Gaule for sure!) 

On our first 30-minute ride we bumped across the cobblestones of Champs Elysées, passed between Grand Palais and Petit Palais, and then crossed Pont Alexandre III.  What a rush!  

(Learn the words - It will make you feel so cool - 

do not forget to ring the little bell as you sing, too)

Je m' baladais sur l' avenue
Le coeur ouvert à l' inconnu
J' avais envie de dire bonjour
A n' importe qui

N' importe qui et ce fut toi
Je t' ai dit n' importe quoi
Il suffisait de te parler
Pour t' apprivoiser

Aux Champs-Elysées
Aux Champs-Elysées
Au soleil, sous la pluie
A midi ou à minuit
Il y a tout c' que vous voulez
Aux Champs-Elysées!

Les rues du 15ième

75015, Paris

L'homme et le Vélib

zoom-zoom

The streets of Paris are full of bicycle commuters, 

and one sees many of the rental bikes (Vélibs) utilized.  

They come equipped with a lock, an ample basket, 

easily adjustable seat, three gears, hand brakes, and... 

a bell.

With a Navigo pass, a simple swipe of the card and you are good to go.  

For a tourist, there are a few more steps, 

but still easy and inexpensive when you understand how it is charged.

How do I know?

brrrring, brrrrring! 

Vélib on Rue de Vaugirard

75006, Paris

Métropolitain, la fenêtre, et le Vélib

Rouge times two

Safety in the streets of Paris suggests that one ring the little bell 

and then pull over to the curb.  

One can take photos while riding a Vélib, 

but coming to a complete stop is best.

...and I did

There is more to this story, bien sûr

brrring, brrring!

112, boulevard Raspail

75006, Paris

Métro Notre-Dame des Champs

Le Beaujolais nouveau arrive!

Just look at this lovely ink and watercolor
by dear friend Shell Sherree here!

Le cycliste

Ready to ride

She came whizzing by,

 and it was all I could do to get my camera up for a shot.

Plaid must be quite the style now.  

My friend Bibi at A Yankee-in-Belgrade 

spotted a fellow clad in plaid from head to toe.  

Rue du Cardinal Lemoine
75005, Paris
Métro Cardinal Lemoine

Le Petit Châtelet et le velo

Le Petit Châtelet

et le velo

Although I have never stopped here,

it is conveniently located just adjacent to Shakespeare & Co. 

Have a browse through the famous bookstore,

meet friends afterwards on the terrace at Le Petit Château...

sounds like a full agenda to me.

Le Petit Châtelet
39, rue de la Bûcherie
75005, Paris
Métros Saint-Michel ou Maubert-Mutualité

Le chat et le vélo

Look what I found...

an "Oreo" cat

on two bikes

Rue des Thermopyles

75014, Paris

Deux vélos

In the elegant halls of Galerie Vivienne, this pair of bikes parked just around the corner of the old librarie (bookstore) founded in 1826.  The large flat baskets on the front of each of these bikes appear to be the perfect transport for stacks of books.

I would love to think that I could sport around Paris on one of these, but the challenge of taking photos and riding would likely be a bad combination.  

Would you ride a bike in Paris?

bon weekend!

Galerie Vivienne

Rue des Petits-Champs

75002 Paris

 

Le coiffeur et le vélo

A narrow street in the 2ième arrondissement boasts this perfect blue door, offset by the single vélo.

Please disregard the graffiti.

7, rue Tiquetonne