Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench...La Guerche

 

Lovely spot in the grounds of the chateau here in La Guerche.

A trip to Tours as it prepares for Christmas.

Walking Paris, day 4...up to Montmartre and the La Mason Rose for lunch.

On day four of our Paris anniversary trip which was the 18th Oct, and 50 years since our marriage we decided to head up to Montmartre the part of the city that hold most memories for us from our many visits to this great city. We honeymooned here plus never fail to visit any time we make it back.

We didn't walk to here, we actually got the metro up to Pigalle as we knew we had a good uphill climb once we arrived.

When we got up to the Place de Abbesses, a favourite people watching place of ours, we stopped for a Café Crème at 'Le Saint Jean' and did just that.

We had decided to do a bit of tracing the path we took 50 years ago, even though we have since walked most of the tourist routes as well as some of the 'off the beaten track' routes many times since.

 We stopped to admire the now popular 'Monsieur Chat' in the Passage des Abbesses just opposite us, he certainly wasn't about 50 years ago.

Then we headed up Rue la Vieuville and walked passed the curious little dead end street.

Then it was up the first of the many sets of stairs on Rue Drevet...

onto Rue Gabrielle and towards the final stairs that take you up to the Sacre Coeur.

We didn't go into the basilica this time but headed over to Place de Tertre which was still full of tourists even in the middle of October.

Then we went down to Place Marcel-Aymé, at the bottom of Rue Norvins , where there is a statue 'Le Passe-Muraille' (the man who walks through walls) made by Jean Marais from the story by writer Marcel Aymé who lived near here.

Then it was a right turn onto Rue Girardon and around to Place Dalida where the lady herself resides with the effects of over-tourism is in evidence.

Then onto Rue de l'Abreuvoir where we posed for a reshoot of a past moment before continuing uphill to our lunch venue, La Maison Rose.

We had a good lunch but we were really there for the experience.

 This is a go-to for us every time we are in Paris normally just to sit on the sloping pavement and people watch although this may not be something we can do in future as because of 'Emily in Paris' and instagrammers there are now hoards of tourists who have been led here by their guides taking multiple photographs.

To think that when we first sat here 50 years ago it was considered a secret little place with few tourist coming over the hill from the Sacre Coeur.

Monday's walk at Etableau.

We had a lovely walk on Monday at Etableau where we were lucky enough to have a afternoon of fine weather for the time of year. It gave us some excellent views of the chateau there plus its neighbour at Le Grand-Pressigny, sometimes both at once.

Music and friends...

Another lovely evening on Saturday with our ever generous friends sharing their hospitality and French neighbours with us in an evening of good food, drink and music.

Soiree beaujolais nouveau...2025

Good fun last night at Bar/Restaurant 'Les Tilleuls' in Barrou for the 'beaujolais nouveau' soiree. Many thanks to Cally David and Dave 'I Don't Know' (with occational contributions from Polo) who had the Barrouviens asking for more!
 

Winter has arrived at La Guerche...

 

The first snow of winter...very light, here in La Guerche

Walking Paris, day 3 an evening stroll,dinner and surprises.

On the evening of our third day in Paris we joined the friends who had treated us to dinner on our first night to dine with them in a local, favourite, little restaurant. Before we did they were kind enough to give us a little tour of their area while adding a bit of historical input.

From Viaduc des Arts, hidden courtyards, to the vibrant Marché d’Aligre the area continues to celebrate its long, unbroken tradition of craftsmanship.

They took us along rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine which today  keeps its heritage and history close. Woodworkers still labour behind modest gates and the street remains an inviting mix of ateliers and contemporary shops. 

There are hidden courtyards like the one our friends took us to visit the 'Cour de l'industrie', which is apparently the last 19th-century industrial courtyard still standing in the heart of this district, off rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine...it was like stepping back in time

As evening fell it was amazing to see how the city takes on a new look with places we had passed earlier now illuminated by the night lighting.

The local knowledge shared by our friends,including the meal at 'Entre les Vignes' made for a lovely evening and a satisfying walk back to Bastille and our accommodation.