Postcards from St Maurice: Another rainy day in Paris

Dear Mother,

Today was spent packing (Janice), a bit more shopping, working on photos, and closing shop here. I looked through yesterday's photos from my walk downtown, a few are interesting. I started along the Champs Elysée, then went down around the Left Bank area near St Michel. It rained off and on, so I ducked into several book stores, but none had the book I wanted to bring home.

This man was getting his three-wheeler ready to haul the next two customers around Champs Elysée. They would be relatively protected from rain, once it returns, as return it most certainly will.

I like the uniformity of structures shared by these apartment buildings (condos, more likely).

Many men and women get around Paris by scooters, bicycles and motorcycles, rain or shine. They are parked all over the place.

Judging by the stack of papers this lady was carrying, I had to wonder if she was a teacher, prof, lawyer, secretary, or what. She hugged the buildings but seemed to leave her papers uncovered.

I thought that this lady looked so peaceful with her lovely smile.

Brass knockers are usually highly polished, often daily, as a matter of pride.

This professional beggar was well-organized, with quiet (drugged?) dogs. I saw him put a few of his own coins into the plastic cup and then put the cup back out.

Even I could figure out that rain was on its way.

A closeup lets you see some of the tourists who climbed up the tower at Notre Dame.

This is one of the more crowded streets fanning off the St Michel plaza just across the River Seine, leading into the depths of the Left Bank or Latin Quarter, where the universities and monasteries used to be located and where Latin was the working language.

They couldn't resist . . . neither could I. After all, I had to do something while waiting for the light to change.

This is obviously a football fan supporting Germany.

Tourists abound, but the buses are used mostly by locals. The bus lines eventually make sense, but only if you already understand the city, the métro routes and one-way streets.

The water is still quite high in the Seine. Tourist boats are still unable to get under the many low bridges, which is hurting that line of business just when the city is flooded with tourists.

This next sequence of photos was fun. I quickly sensed that this couple was very much in love, and loving being in Paris, a city for lovers. His back was against the sturdy stone railing on the bridge over the Seine, so I just watched and enjoyed. I wish them much happiness, and was relieved she didn't push him into the river below.