La Nuit Blanche is coming...

Even though it is the first day of October and we are well into Autumn, the temperature remains high and it was over thirty degrees today.  Nonetheless we ventured forth on one of our favourite Paris outings.  We walked to the Place de Clichy and took the number 95 bus to the Palais Royal.  This short but magnificent bus ride takes one past the Opera Garnier and then onwards to the Palais Royal.

We walked eastwards along the rue de Rivoli for some while, did some shopping and then turned back to Place Colette.  This wonderful little square is situated between the Louvre and the Palais Royal and includes the  Comédie-Française. This is one of the few state theatres in France and is the only one with its own troupe of actors and a current repertoire of 3,000 works.

Comédie-Française

We had coffee at Cafe Nemours, one of Virginia's favourite watering holes and where Angelina Jolie appeared in the opening scenes of The Tourist.  Unfortunately, she wasn't there today!

Cafe Nemours

Even in the heat, walking along the rue de Rivoli is quite pleasant since much of it is colonnaded. Certainly the first part of our walk was through a less crowded area, but when we left the Cafe Nemours to continue our walk the pavements were very crowded.

Colonnades

 We walked westward stopping for a browse at the W. H. Smith bookstore.  Although not the actual founder of the company that bears his name, W. H. Smith is probably best known as "the ruler of the Queen's Navy." He was to enter politics in 1868 and to be made First Lord of the Admiralty in 1877 despite his total lack of Navy experience. Gilbert and Sullivan picked up on this and he was satirised in their H.M.S. Pinafore.  Not surprisingly he became known as Pinafore Smith.

At Concorde Metro we caught the number 12 back to Abbesses station.  From there we walked back to the apartment stopping nearby for a very pleasant lunch.  The restaurant is just off the square where the lovely Theatre de L'Atelier is located.

Theatre De L'Atelier

Now, in previous trips to Paris we have talked about the parking.  In fact we have included photographs showing how close to one another Parisians park.  Well, here is the challenge.  Tell us how in the world you would get your car out of this one.

Ouch!!!

After a bit of a rest in the afternoon we headed back up to the Sabot Rouge for our afternoon libations. From where we are staying this time, on the other side of the Butte de Montmartre, we go through an area with dozens of fabric shops where one can see hundreds of women picking over the various bits of cloth.

Buying Cloth

Tonight is La Nuit Blanche in Paris.  It is the tenth anniversary of the founding of this all-night festival of arts.  There will be much noise and excitement.  The good news from our point of view is that the windows to the flat are double-glazed.

La Nuit Blanche