Today was my one business-free day in Paris. I went to bed very late after the Les Blogs party, and slept in very late (this will, at least, help with jetlag coming home). Having seen most of the big sites in Paris on previous trips, I gave over the afternoon to wandering around Paris. I took lots of photos. Most of the links in this entry point to them, or you can see them all here.
After an excellent lunch of coucous, I headed north through the Latin Quarter to one of the many campuses of the University of Paris. Frankly, it was bleak. It felt like an aging seventies super-project, with a vast warren of buildings (or maybe one super-building). I did find this great sign, though. I wonder, was there an “Install Party, Windows” somewhere on campus as well?
After I located an exit from the university (feeling a bit like I should be calling Tank), I wandered around Ile St. Louis, the less popular of the two islands in the Seine (that is what we are). I happened upon the small, charming Eglise St-Louis-en-I’Ile. I love that about France–you’re constantly finding empty, beautiful stone churches.
From there it was up into the Marais, which was my favourite neighbourhood. I did some shopping, stopped for une chocolate chaud, and then headed east to the Place de la Nation. From there, it was getting tres serieux about raining, so I hopped a couple of metros (where I spotted this chamber orchestra and took this blurry shot) and headed back to my hotel.
As a note to myself for future reference, I stayed at the Hotel Clos Medicis (scary Flashness ahead). It has a fantastic location, seemed to be (on the Paris scale) decent value and offers wifi (at an exorbitant price, which is apparently common here).
DarrenBarefoot.com 
love your travel photos. thx again d.
very jealous. 🙂
kk+
Ah save the blogging for when you come home. Hooked up to wifi and blogging away in your one day of vacation in Paris. I know you did did an impressive lot today but you should be still living the Paris experience in a nice bistro and away from l’ordinateur et l’Internet. Did the blogging conference discuss blogging addiction by any chance?
What is flaneur?
That orchestra is, I’m sure, the one I became enraptured with when I was in Paris once. When I went back for my three month sojourn I bought their CD. I play it regularly now.
As for wifi is Paris, you can often go to one of the mairie (city halls for each of the arrondisement or quarters) and get free wifi. I know they started with the 3rd (not too far from the Marais. But, they should probably be all installed by now. I went there often when I was there.
still so jealous. couldn’t you have packed me up in your suitcase?
Stephen: My postings no longer have time stamps, but if they are did, you’d see I posted this one in the wee jetlagged hours.
Norlinda: An aimless idler; a loafer.
ETYMOLOGY: French, from flâner, to idle about, stroll, of Germanic origin.
Col: In fact, I’ve got a backpack that I’m sure you could squeeze into. I’m not sure what we’d do regarding the sub-zero temperatures on the plane, but it’s a solvable problem.
The wee hours? — Face up to it Darren, you’re a blogging addict.
Read the attached piece on blogging addiction