The gorgeous weather seems to have left us for now and we’ve a couple of cool, rainy days that just want to make you stay indoors and do nothing.  George is in his atelier (studio or workshop) in our chambre de bonne (room for the maid) on the 7th floor.  We were lucky in that on the top floor of our building we have the room (6′ x 9′) which was intended for ‘your maid.’  Not all apartments have a chambre de bonne as many owners sold them off separately.  We are among the lucky ones.  Some people fix these up and rent them out to students or young people coming to Paris for work.  We didn’t want the hassle of trying to do anything like; our chambre de bonne is George’s man cave!

In the meantime, I’m down here at my computer taking care of some administrative chores and writing another blog.  We’ll head out for a walk soon before going to dinner at a friend’s.

Today,  we took the bus #70 — a favorite because it goes from where we live on the Left Bank to the 4th arrondissement (district) which is on the Right Bank.

We pass the site of the what was the famous and old hospital, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital. It underwent extensive renovations transforming it into expensive condos.  (impossible to see behind the wall) The original architecture was maintained.  In 1816, the stethescope was invented here by a young,French physician, René Laënnec.  (The Necker Children’s Hospital is now a couple of blocks away — a new and modern facility)

That orange building is La Rhumerie, on St. Germain Blvd.  You could easily pass by it and not notice it, but it is worth noting.  It is one of the most accessible and fun places to go for cocktails and light nibbles. In France, if you have a hankering for a cocktail of some sort you have to find a cocktail bar — in the upscale hotel or some place such as this one.  It is fun and doesn’t break the bank.  Restaurants don’t serve cocktails — except a kir or kir royale.

As the bus passed by I saw a crowd outside this pharmacy.  i have no idea why.  This was very unusual.

The #70 route takes us over the  Pont Neuf, over the Seine to the Right Bank. it turns right along the river, past Chatelet, to the Hotel de Ville.

As you can see in the bus, there is an illuminated sign that announces the stops.  Hotel de Ville is the next and last stop.  (Hotel de Ville means  City Hall.)  Every district has a city hall, but this one is the city hall for all of Paris.  Often, very interesting exhibits are held here which are free.

And below, is a photo of Paris’ Hotel de Ville,  In addition to exhibitions inside, there is often something of interest going on outside in square.  Last winter there was an ice skating rink set up here.

You may wonder why we’ve come here.  Simple — George’s favorite department store, BMV, is just across the street and he comes here at least once every trip.  Most men love this place — it has everything you could possibly want to fix, repair, build — almost anything.  Not only does it have the usual stuff — but unusual stuff too.  I don’t have any photos of the inside (except one) to show you, but take it from me, it is worth the trip.

As you can see, it says Marais, the name by which the 4th arrondissement is known.

We ate lunch in the cafeteria style restaurant on the top floor and then worked our way down.  Not very exciting, but this display caught my eye — Christmas has arrived.  In the appliance area we stopped to look at espresso machines, specifically at the Jura display.  The machines start at 550 euros and go up to over 2000 euros.  We talked to the salesman at length trying to learn why this machine cost so much.  Seems it is a highly computerized meticulously engineered Swiss-German appliance.   George had a sample coffee and we moved on.  On the way to catch the #70  we stopped into gadget shop.  We both had excellent neck and back massages delivered by these funny pillows.   Next — a chocolate at the Belgium chocolate shop, Jeff de Bruges…  Now time to head home.