Hot, Busy and Boisterous Saturday in Paris
Bonjour,
Saturdays are incredibly busy in Paris especially in our area of the Marais. It’s a working class neighborhood which means that shopping and other chores are done on that day. The streets are already flooded with residents and then you add tourists on top of that and you’ve got pretty much a madhouse. We were warned by our neighbor and friend who lives in our building about the Pride parade. It was being held on rue de Rivoli which is the other name for St. Antoine at the St. Paul subway station. That’s the point of name change.
Our day began with those wonderful pancakes again at PomPom Cozy. We walked right past it as I’m telling Bernie over and over again that we’ve gone too far while he’s insisting that we continue. He finally admitted later when we retraced our steps and found it that I was right. Should I repeat that? He actually admitted that I was right.
I wanted to look for a few things, hopefully on sale, since the semi-annual SOLDES are underway. It used to be a huge big deal in Paris, maybe not quite so much anymore. Everything is reduced by 20-30% at the beginning and much greater reductions as time goes on but with much less selection. We rode Line One to the BHV, the big department store in our area which can be accessed down under by the subway exit.
I did find some bargains if such can be had in Paris and then we wanted a refreshment on the top floor. However, everything has changed and the “new”top floor gives you access to the roof. What a view and one we had never seen before. At first, we thought they had done away with the huge cafeteria and coffee shop only to realize that we had gone one floor too high.
To our delight and surprise, we had a roof-top view of the massive PRIDE parade as well as the top of L’Hotel de Ville from the back side. It was hot as hell but we stood on the rooftop for some photos. Then we fought the crowd and made our way back on the subway. Most of the folks were outside so the Metro was doable.
Our problem this year is that there is never a time or place to allow our bodies to cool down. The minute we hit the door we start stripping down trying to get cooler. This can’t be good for our bodies but there’s really no remedy. An apartment with air conditioning is in our future if we return.
We had dinner reservations at Le Temps des Cerises nearby and as always the food is like an art painting. I did also get inspiration for a new theme idea, rooftops which are just fabulous as the light changes.
My new cooler outfit which is probably much too “young” for me but I don’t care. The shirt was only 25 euros!
So I think we’re all miserable together from the extreme heat!! Let’s pray for a break soon.
L & B
June 29, 2025 @ 9:25 am
The pride parade looks like it was huge! What fun, and how nice to have a rooftop view without being in the midst of all the people.n We are in Rome now, with temps projected to reach 100 today! So we are arranging for indoor activities and late dinners after the sun goes down. Finding those soldes is a fun thing, isn’t it!
June 29, 2025 @ 11:51 am
Not too young at all, and I love the green! The rooftops are a great idea.
June 29, 2025 @ 12:09 pm
Yes indeed we do have hot, miserable weather in common. We can attest to that. Our entire trip to and from Michigan over the last 2+ weeks and we have had very hot and humid weather everywhere we have been. It’s miserable in Huntsville right night, and thunderstorms and rain are making our Sparky scared every day. BUT we do have air conditioning! I like your roof top photos ideas. Hope you all get some cooler weather.
Cindi
June 29, 2025 @ 1:03 pm
James and I agree that your new outfit is fetch. 💃 Absolutely nothing “too young” about it at all, and Lord knows you were probably more comfortable!
June 29, 2025 @ 1:09 pm
Nice to hear from you! So bring me into this century and tell me what “fetch” means. Ha!
June 29, 2025 @ 2:41 pm
Hi Linda
You look wonderful. Glad you found something cooler at a good price.
Keep enjoying and thank you for sharing.
June 29, 2025 @ 3:04 pm
You rock that t-shirt and shorts and look great!
June 29, 2025 @ 6:31 pm
As the others have said, you look great in your cool, summer outfit. Does” fetch” mean fetching? If so, you are.
June 30, 2025 @ 1:56 am
Your new look is wonderful snd with your figure is certainly age appropriate!! Love your daily adventures…thanks for taking me along😍!!
June 30, 2025 @ 12:43 pm
Haha! It is short for “fetching”! It really is a great look, so go for it!!! ❤️