Canal Saint Martin

OK so here I am (or rather we) in Paris. So what the hell happens on a daily basis well the same as anywhere else really, but Paris in Spring is great.

I think the place is very bike friendly compared to Sydney, I am enjoying going to school and getting around in the open air. The metro can be a bit smelly (it is very old and I think centuries of smells have accumulated in the place) as well as being hot and stuffy. Cycling rules.

The Mairie (council) of Paris is introducing a system where there will be bike stations around Paris and you can pick up a bike at one station and trundle along and drop it off at another station and I think they are planning to do it for free………

We live just near Canal Saint Martin, it was built during the time of Napolean . It was built to join the Seine and some other river. Every lunchtime and after work people hang on the banks of the canal to have a beer or eat their dinner or lunch. Now with all the blossoms and lots of sun it is great just to be there.

The canal itself is quite long it starts at Bastille (where the Seine is) right up to outside of the periphique. Near us is the Bassin de Villete which is like a King St Wharf some cafes, cinema , restaurants and from there tourist boats leave and go down the canal.
There a series of bridges and when a boat comes along all traffic stops and the bridge opens up to let the boat through very cool.

Along the canal are a series of tents though less these days. There has been a strong camapaign that has been spearheaded by Les Enfants de Quixote about the rights of homeless people here. Homelessness here is very visible and the homeless got organised and were given tents and they have been camping along the canal. You can see them all up and down the canal. There has been some success and some people have been housed.

Lots of things happen along the Canal , Sundays they block the road and it is open to pedestrians, roller bladders and bikes. People hang by the Canal and try to get a tan, though swimming is not recommended, though I did see someone do some fishing the other day (mmmmm tasty).

It is nice to be near water OK so it is not the beach, but it is liquid and gives a sense of space which is all important in a town like Paris where people are all over each other (literally and metaphorically).

It has taken us a while to get used to everything here. But slowly it is coming together. The one thing that I love is the fact that there is sunshine till really late, it really is beautiful. The sunset seems to go forever…………………. lush

A bientôt … Cazuela