After an overnight flight from Montreal, we have landed in Paris. We caught the train into town, switched to the metro for one stop and found our accommodation without too much hassle.
Our Air B&B is in the 4th arrondissement, also called Marais/Hotel de Ville. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen and some hanging out space.
After checking in with the lovely Sylvie we had our first French lunch then found the closest FranPrix grocery store to stock up on staples for this week’s breakfasts.
Eric and Dave will enjoy the pastries from the gluten free patisserie, Copains. Ryan and Kris’ came from the French Bastard Bakery.
We are all tired and jet-lagged, but we need to stay awake to adjust to the time change so we headed out again to explore our neighborhood.
The gorgeous ornate façade of the French Grocery Syndicate is just down the street. Founded in 1846, the grocers union was one of the most powerful unions of its time.
The syndicate moved out of the building in the 1980’s and the ground floor was converted into a theater.
The Centre Pompidou is undergoing a major renovation and has been partially closed since last fall. The building is bizarre from the outside.
The stairs on the rear of the façade are called caterpillars.
The whimsical Stravinsky fountain fits in nicely with the oddity of the Pompidou.
The 16 works of sculpture were inspired by the compositions of Igor Stravinsky.
Le Défenseur du Temps (‘The Defender of Time’) is a large mechanical work of art in the form of a clock created by the French artist Jacques Monestier.
The human figure moves every hour, fending off an attack from one the animals (bird, crab or dragon, symbolizing sky, land & sea)
The house of the world-famous philosopher and alleged alchemist, Nicolas Flamel, dates from 1407 and is said to be the oldest house in Paris. He never lived in the house, but built it to house the poor in exchange for their daily prayer.
In Middle French, the inscription carved into the façade says “we men and women, workers living in the porch of this house that was made in the year of grace one thousand four hundred and seven are, each of us, required by law to say every day one Our Father and one Hail Mary while praying to God that his grace brings forgiveness to the poor deceased sinners. Amen.”
The two door jambs feature Nicolas Flamel’s initials
The Tour Saint-Jacques is a Gothic tower on the grounds of a ruined church.
The Paris City Hall, or Hotel de Ville has housed the municipal institutions of Paris since 1357. After revolutions, fires and deterioration of previous buildings, the current edifice was rebuilt in the late 19th C.
The clock face is flanked by figures of Labour and Education as well as the reclining figures of the Seine and Marne Rivers.
Above the clock is the large seated figure symbolizing the City of Paris and the reclining figures of Prudence and Vigilance.
We had an early dinner at the cafe down the street and headed to bed.
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