Canal Saint Martin

Canal Saint Martin

This young boy and man captured my attention 

as each seemed to be in deep thought.

The scene left me 

with more questions than answers

Quai de Jemmapes

Canal Saint-Martin

75010, Paris

Canal Saint Martin - le weekend

Quai de Jemmapes

Canal Saint Martin

May you dangle your legs over the edge
and enjoy wonderful weather in the company of your best friend


bon weekend

Quai de Jemmapes

75010, Paris

Hôtel du Nord - Qui est cet homme?

Hôtel du Nord

I took this photo three years ago, a photo of a photo.

It was perched on a ledge behind my table at Hôtel du Nord on Canal St. Martin.

Often, when I look through my Paris photos 

I run across this one and wonder just who this man might be.  

Is he a movie star, un chanteur, a friend of the restaurant, who?

I almost posted this in black and white, 

but could you do that to those aquamarine eyes?

really!

Qui est ce beau gosse?

Hôtel du Nord

102 Quai de Jemmapes

75010, Paris

Une petite fille

Not quite tall enough...

This petite fille is quite prepared to gain entrance to her home

using the chasse-roue as a step to reach the bell.

Must be a French girl

Canal St. Martin

Quai de Jemmapes

75010, Paris

Canal Saint Martin - en automne

Canal Saint Martin

The patches of blue sky were trumped by 

the electric shades of orange and yellow alongside the canal.

bon weekend

Check out James' Weekend Reflections

Canal Saint Martin

75010, Paris

Hôtel du Nord VIII

Hôtel du Nord

Ah, the week is over and it is time to unwind

This is one of my favorite places to chill in Paris 

with friends and no particular plans.

bon weekend

Hôtel du Nord

102 Quai de Jemmapes

75010, Paris

Hôpital Saint-Louis

Hôpital Saint-Louis

Just a stone's throw from Canal Saint-Martin is this 17th century hospital, 

built when the outbreak of plagues threatened the city, overwhelming the main hospital.  

"Contained within a square court and enclosed by a wall with four corner pavilions, the brick and stone cloister-like construction was intended to keep personnel in and to thus confine the contagion, isolating illness pavilion by pavilion." (Five Hundred Buildings of Paris, Kathy Borrus)

It functions today as part of the  

Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris hospital system.

Hôpital Saint-Louis

40, rue Bichat between rue de la Grange-aux-Belles, rue Juliette-Dodu,

rue Alibert, and avenue Claude Vellefaux

75010, Paris

Métro Goncourt

Port de l'Arsenal

Port de l'Arsenal

From the above ground platform on Line 1 of the Bastille station, 

you have this view of Port de l'Arsenal.  

For many years I imagined this view was a narrow stretch of the Seine.  

When you look at a map it is simple to identify.  

This basin connects Canal St. Martin to the Seine 

and is a  part of France's national Voies navigables de France 

(VNF, Navigable Waterways of France) system.

Did you know that from Line 5 the remains of the Bastille can be seen?

Port de l'Arsenal

from Bastille station, Line 1

75004, Paris (the border between 4ième and 12ième)

Métro Bastille (bien sûr!)

Canal Saint Martin - l'artiste

Sitting on the bank of the canal

A sunny spring day will find many Parisians 

sitting along the bank of Canal Saint Martin.  

Working with pen and ink, 

she scarcely noticed the passersby 

or the photographer.

Quai de Valmy

Canal Saint Martin

75010, Paris

Canal Saint-Martin - les passerelles piétonnes

Canal Saint-Martin

Along the canal you find many pedestrian walkways,

arched high over the canal to allow for passing boats. 

Although I have never taken the trip, many report that a leisurely excursion on Canal St. Martin gives a different view along the quais.  My friend Marie and I watched this boat pass through the locks on a bright Sunday afternoon.  On canal Saint-Martin alone there are seven bridges, the majority of which are passerelles piétonnes (footbridges).

They all have names and I will have to search to put the proper name and location on this one.  It is very close to Hotel du Nord on Quai de Jemmapes. 

Passerelle piétonne, Canal Saint-Martin

Near Rue de la Grange

75010, Paris

La lessive

Is Monday "laundry day"?

Seen aux deuxième étage in a narrow street near Canal St. Martin,

this haphazard display of laundry was probably not arranged by the woman of the house.

I do love the rooftop chimneys of Paris.

75010, Paris

Métro Jacques Bonsergent

Hôtel du Nord - V

Hôtel du Nord

You can tell by the atmosphere why I am drawn back time and again.

I said a year ago that I could be a regular here, and now it appears to be true.

 

The ambiance and mood speak of Paris in times past

and absolutely begged for black and white.

Hôtel du Nord
102, quai de Jemmapes
75010, Paris
Métros Gare de l'Est, Colonel Fabien, et
Jacues Bensergent
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I would invite you to visit a new blog written by Jacqueline Bernhardt, a college student who came for the summer and now is hopelessly in love with Paris.  Please stop by Jacqueline's A Parisian Girl Trapped in an American Body and welcome her to the blog world.


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Hôtel du Nord - IV

Hôtel du Nord is one of my favorite restaurants

with a neighborhood setting along Canal St. Martin.

On our last night in Paris this April,

my husband and I enjoyed the company of dear friend Janeen

and our Paris friend Isabelle. 

Leaving Paris is bittersweet, but always holds the promise of trips to come.

 

Hôtel du Nord

102 Quai de Jemmapes

75010, Paris

Les deux fashionistas

Les deux fashionistas...

(not exactly French bien sûr)

just out for a Sunday afternoon stroll along Canal St. Martin

You can certainly understand how a sense of

style and fashion is passed down from mother to daughter

Canal St. Martin

75010, Paris



Quai de Jemmapes - la petite fille

I caught her running along Canal Saint-Martin, full of energy and light on her feet...

I am running with her spirit into a delightfully long holiday weekend!  Join me!

bon weekend!

Quai de Jemmapes
Canal Saint-Martin
75010, Paris

Samedi après-midi

Saturday afternoon, warm spring day, and great friends... Yes, Chez Prune is a perfect place to unwind at the end of a week.  The casual atmosphere here echoes the low stress seen at this table.


Lest you think there are no critics of Chez Prune, the following was found on a ratings site:
"Chez Prune, c'est sympa, mais c'est vrai que c'est devenu un peu trop bobo ..."


Chez Prune
36, rue Beaurepaire
75010, Paris

Canal Saint Martin

Although you may first think of the Seine, the banks of Canal Saint Martin provide a quiet spot to watch the boats and people.  You can watch the locks as boats pass through in this section of the canal, listen to the sounds of a guitar, enjoy a picnic in the shade of the trees, or visit an adjacent café or bistrot.  On Sundays the two streets running parallel to the canal (Quai de Jemmapes and Quai de Valmy) are reserved for pedestrians and cyclists. 


There are more than 81 miles of canals and underground waterways in Paris which means for me that there is much more to explore and photograph.


Bon weekend!

For more reflections, come to James' Weekend Reflections

Hotel du Nord - III

May you always see your glass as half-full,

and may it always be shared with good friends.

Bon weekend

Hotel du Nord
102 Quai de Jemmapes
75010 Paris

For more reflections come to James' Weekend Reflections

Hôtel du Nord - le dimanche

What an extraordinary spot for a Sunday afternoon with friends. Marie and I joined Janeen for a leisurely déjeuner in April after a busy morning in the markets. Hôtel du Nord is situated on the bank of Canal St. Martin and has a history to match the ambiance with its black and white tiled floors, zinc bar, and rich wood. With its welcoming service and reasonably-priced tasty French cuisine, I could be a regular here.

Hôtel du Nord
102 Quai de Jemmapes

(Be sure to click the link above above for the clever website)