Linda Mathieu's experiences living as an American expat in France
On another walk (we are meeting twice a week) we went further down the Seine than before. I don’t know if we will be doing this next week as it is predicted that there will be rain. In any case, when the sun is shining, it’s a beautiful walk.
Here are, once again, photos of various things I saw around Paris this week. It’s been cold but not cold enough to stop getting out and exploring a bit.
Maurice loves walking the Camino, le Chemin, the Way. We did it together one time, he did it solo once, and this time Maurice did it with an American couple, mostly the man. They are friends of ours. I “met” the woman, Paulita, on the Internet through our blogs. We spent a week on the Camino staying at a different place each night-gites, B&B’s, hotels, farms-we stayed at all sorts of places. I have no desire to walk the Camino again. Once was enough. Climbing up hills then going down them is really hard for me even though I can walk flat areas fairly easily, so I drove carrying the luggage, exploring each area, meeting everyone each day at the end of their walk. I had a good time and didn’t end up losing the toenails of my big toes as before. I took a ton of photos. We were in three different areas, all really beautiful.
We started in Aumont-Aubrac in a converted farm. Dinner was served each night. This man is making a popular local dish called aligot made of mashed potatoes, local Tomme cheese, cream, butter and garlic. Not for the faint of heart, but yummy with the roast beef also served from the local cows seen everywhere in the region. Our friends shared a bathroom with us here. Not luxurious by any means.
The Guvaudan, a mythical beast, probably a wolf, that killed many people in the region, such as children guarding flocks. In fact, hundreds of thousands were killed by wolves in Europe through the centuries.
The beginning of the Camino where the two men set off. Paulita and I walked a little bit with them then did our own thing.
Friendly cows were everywhere. Maurice said they had “soft” faces. We didn’t see any sheep.
Fabulous views everywhere.
We met the guys for lunch one day and when I asked for Coke Zero was told they didn’t have any but they had a coke made in the region. I had to try it. It didn’t taste the same but was good. When I asked the waiter if they had wifi he said No, just look at the view. Which we did.
I wanted to do a different route for my morning walk the other day. It started out simply enough as I went from our building up rue Faubourg Saint Antoine to the column at Bastille. It was hot in the sun so I went to the other side of the street to be in the shade and somewhere along the way I was suddenly on another street. I thought I would end up back at Nation near our place but as I walked I decided I wouldn’t so got out my phone and looked at the map. It took me a while to make it back home. I saw some new to me things.
There is a famous on Instagram street full of colourful buildings not too far from Gare de Lyon. This street isn’t on Instagram as far as I know. These aren’t homes either, but mostly the back entrances into businesses. I don’t know who decided to paint the exteriors but I do like it.
The side of this building has been painted to look like botanical garden in a glass enclosure-a conservatory?. Isn’t it pretty?
The next day I was out early walking with my friend. We changed our route a bit and as we were getting set to cross a street, we heard the clip clop sound of horses on the street so stood and watched this battalion of mounted solders (Garde Républicaine) pass on their way to a military parade on the Champs Elysees I noticed that many of the horses had white “socks” near their hooves making me think many of them were related. The two solders in the front also have gold bands on their saddles-probably the generals? I imagine their saddles are made just for them.
This made me nervous-a cat on the window ledge across our courtyard three stories up. I know they usually don’t fall but it could happen.
One day I decided to walk all the way from our place to the Garnier Opera House. It took a lot longer than I thought it would and I was really tired when I arrived-over five miles. It’s a great way to explore Paris.
Near République I passed Bataclan, a theatre just recently reopened after the horrible terrorist attack in 2015.
I don’t know why I’m surprised to see pastel coloured cafe chairs in Paris but I was.
An old time furniture restoration shop which doesn’t seem to have restored their exterior in some time. There was someone inside working away.
I took this the next day elsewhere. I love this painting. The arch is a reflection of an arch behind me and not in the painting.
Happy to see these white flowers blooming against a black wall.
I walk with a friend two or three times a week very early, usually at 7 AM. It is still dark as the sun doesn’t rise until well after 8. I always have her text me when she is ready as one morning she overslept and I decided to head out on my own. The walk we always do is at the edge of a forest/park, around a lake and it isn’t very well lit which is fine when there are two of you but it was way too dark when I was by myself even though a jogger or two went by. I enjoy seeing shops still lit up in the area.
Here’s a look at the edge of the walk on a foggy morning.
An old time boulangerie, or bakery, still lit inside. This is actually a very well known place.
Kouglof for sale inside. It is a Christmas pastry which originated in Alsace.
A close up. I don’t think I have ever had one. I think it is sort of a fruit cake, although raisins are the only fruit.
A simple Christmas decoration in the window.