Finally a ‘weekend’ for Francois! As Monday is a National Holiday, the school decided to hold classes Saturday and give everyone Sunday and Monday off.
We both really needed some us-together-time so enjoyed a pleasant happy hour at our place with more delicious appetizers and some good wine.
The rest of the evening was spent strolling around our neighbourhood and a bit beyond.
We crossed the Pont de l’Archevêché The bridge links the 4th Arrondissement, at the Île de la Cité, to the 5th Arrondissement, between the quai de Montebello and the quai de la Tournelle.
There is an international custom by which lovers affix padlocks to a fence or similar public fixture to symbolize their everlasting love. These love locks are most commonly placed on the railings of bridges. It is suggested that the custom of "locking a padlock and throwing away the key" probably originated in China.
In France love padlocks can be found attached to the Pont des Arts, Passerelle Léopold-Sédar-Senghor and the Pont de l'Archevêché bridges in Paris. In May 2010, Paris Town Hall expressed concern over the growing number of love-locks, stating: "they raise problems for the preservation of our architectural heritage". Lovelocks disappeared suddenly in 2010, but the Administration denied responsibility. The Pont de l'Archevêché saw the return of those love-locks immediately.
Wandered by the Arabic World Institute with the space-y looking exhibit and beautiful glass headquarters...
The window screens are designed like camera apertures by opening and closing depending on the amount of sun shining
Stopped for a beer on Isle Saint-Louis...Picked up some fresh flowers for Piglet`s last week.....
Then headed back home by way of Notre Dame..
By the time we reached our little corner of the world the tourists had crowded the streets and performers had come out to entertain.
Was difficult getting a clear picture of this juggler with a fish bowl on his head - he was a mass of gyrating kinetic energy.
Almost home we passed by a clown dressed in a bright pink and red suit entertaining a circle of tourists. The clown seizing (literally) the moment for `fresh meat`, grabbed (I mean he really grabbed hard) my sweater from me and ran off with it. My immediate reaction was `hey give that back` but them took it in the spirit it was intended but Francois didn`t see the humour in the situation AT ALL. Grabbed my sweater back from the clown and hurried me away with the clown yelling after us `heh, man it was only a joke`. Could it be my forever-protector is actually coulrophobic?
The next morning we were walking in the same area early when we saw a pink and red scarf lying on the ground flattened by the rain. Francois said: ‘hah! someone finally took care of that clown!’
Oh my funny funny man!
Oh my funny funny man!
