Along the Seine with Angela
Angela – Quay Malaquais 7:32 AM – With Angela of Santiago (Chile), we ran early during this beautiful morning of May. At that time, streets are still quiet, with very few pedestrians, deserted quays and the tourist places still little frequented. We had the city only for us. The morning, Paris belongs to the runners! If you run the morning on the quays bordering the Seine, you will see surely large green boxes (as on the photo above). They are the boxes of secondhand booksellers, called the “bouquinistes” (here a video – in French). You will see them opening from 11 am.The “bouquinistes” of Paris sell old books, secondhand or contemporaries but also of the exhausted editions, prints and etchings. From the XVIth century, on the quays of Paris, we could meet small peddlers of books ; from 1620, twenty four approved secondhand booksellers. For a royalty, they are entitled to hold portable shops on the bridge and the neighboring quays. In 1859, the itinerant secondhand booksellers became concessionary of the city of Paris which enabled them to pose boxes at fixed place on the parapets. The Seine is the only river which runs between rows of books (more than 300 000)! Merci Angela! “Bouquinistes” during the day – Quay Malaquais The route of the tour :
Left bank, at the level of the ancient city with James
On the left bank – Notre-Dame – James 10:02 AM – With James, from Chicago, starting on the Island of Saint Louis, we ran on the centre of Paris finishing on the left bank of the river Seine, at the level of the ancient city… As us (James and the Paris Running Tour team), if you are interested by the Roman Lutecia (name of Paris at the Gaul and Roman periods), at the foot of Notre Dame, you must visit the Archaeologic Crypt (just under the square of Notre Dame). You will find the ruins of the Roman constructions and many information on how Paris evolved in time. Some information here (in French) and a brochure (in English) here. Go there! Merci James! The route of the tour: Display James’tour on a bigger map
Going fast all along the river and through “Les Halles”
Devon – Les Halles – Eglise Saint-Eustache 7:01 AM – With Devon, coming from New-York, we ran at a fast pace, without taking into account the little rain we had in Paris this Monday morning. We followed the river most of the time, to finish by the Halles and the street of Rivoli. Thank you, Devon! Les Halles was the traditional central market of Paris. The big iron and glass buildings, created by Victor Baltard in the 19th century (we said “Les Halles de Baltard”) were destroyed in 1971 to let the place to the “Forum des Halles” in 1977, a giant mall, partially underground. Forum des Halles The route of the tour: You can display Devon’s tour on a bigger map