we start at the market

Today we have decided to go by bus to the D'Aligre market near the Ledru Rolin metro stop. I have worked out that it will take us two buses so that means we have to look for the street Rue Bobillot where we get off the first bus; the 62 going east along rue D'Alesia and take another, the 67 going to Louvre -Rivoli, that goes north along rue Bobillot until it crosses the Seine. I have worked out that that will take us to the Bastille and we can walk from there. we had worked out that we needed to go right along Rue Fauberg Ste Antoine but the Place de Bastille is a huge star shaped intersection with lots and lots of roads all filled with lots and lots of traffic radiating from it. In the end I had to ask a lady and man how to find it. The conversation was quite comical but with lots of pleasantness and gestures we did fine. We found our road and walked and walked and finally I asked the newspaper seller in one of those little pavement kiosks as I was sure were were quite near. and he told me it was "deuxieme a le droit" and sure enough second on the right and we found it.

The market itself was a little bit of a disappointment as the guide books had described it as the 'Notre Dame of Markets' but there were a few lovely touches and take away pleasures. It was here that we bought some sausages for tea - absolutely delicious - and that is said by someone who gave up eating sausages years ago because neither my taste buds nor my digestive system could handle them any more. We also bought some thick slices of terrine for our lunch picnic - again which proved delicious - and strawberrries to die for!!

Before we became too disillusioned we walked back to the Bastille area and then went west of that to the Place de Vosges - Yes what a beautiful square surrounded by 17th century buildings (picture to be inserted here) and then went on and found the old Place du Ste Catherine in the Marais. John did not seem to think too much of Paris so far but I am glad that we are first seeing something of the ordinary cityness of Paris and not just the fancy bits so to speak. It helps me put the rest into perspective.

à Paris dans le eurostar

The great day has arrived and so have I - here in Paris. It is both exciting and rather ordinary. I must simply be becoming used to terminals and railway stations but it seemed much like being at Waterloo or at Victoria; somewhat known but sufficiently different to make it necessary to keep all my wits about me. I was very glad of the practice I had had speaking to the lovely little lady who owned the little french super marché in Craven rd in Bayswater.

As I have told some of you in my emails I took the plunge and went downstairs in the gare du Nord and lined up at the ticket office. When it finally got to my turn I put down my passport sized photo and said " Bonjour, je voudrais une carte orange s'il vous plait;- hebdomodaire". and she got out the folder and the coupon , stuck the photo on and handed me a pen to sign my name on it and asked me for my 16euros. Wow did I breathe a sigh of relief - first hurdle negotiated successfully. I then went outside to the taxi rank since I had decided to take a taxi to the flat this first time. It was pandemonium there but eventually it was my turn and I asked the man to take me to rue du Moulin Vert. "Quatorze arrondissement?" he said and I repled "Mais oui, merci." and he nodded and drove off down the hill. It was good to go that way because I got a feel for the layout of the city. There were plenty of opportunities to look around as we kept getting stuck in traffic jams.

Later Sue and John arrived also at the flat from Orly airport so now we are three in our little flat. I thought it was a bit primitive at first but it kind of grows on you and we are really very comfortable. I won't be able to add any pictures to this while I am in France as this computer in the flat is an old one and apparently does not have a USB port; so I will have to wait until I get to Sutton for that

Canterbury

I came back up to London yesterday and felt quite proud of myself that I negotiated both the train and the bus. I had got a day travelcard since that was the most economical for me. After depositing my case etc at Bayswater I went out once more and took the 436 bus from Paddington to George St - just past Marble Arch and went to visit the Wallace Collection in Hertford House . This is a quite stunning private collection which was bequeathed to the nation on the death of Sir Richard Wallace.







Now today Friday. Paul, Chloe and I are off to discover the small city of Canterbury. I was surprised to learn that it was one and a half hours by train from Waterloo - I did not think it was quite so far away. We knew it was popular but none of us were prepared for the hordes of schoolchildren who were visiting it that day. The noise was deafening and took something from the experience.


However there was certainly plenty to interest us. We visited the Eastbridge Hospital in the main street. This was one of the resting places for the pilgrims since early times. We loved the old buildings and the narrow lanes. At this old place we smiled to see the modern Nero coffee sign alongside the old date.(You can click on the picture itself to enlarge it)





We also had our own lunch in a very old pub by the side of the river before we 'girded our loins' once more and went to see all round the cathedral. The food was really good, though I suspect not quite the same as that taken by Chaucer's pilgrims.


The cathedral itself is quite spectacular both the lower level of the crypt which seems to be the area still used for church services and the upper levels. We also loved the quadrangle area and the vaulted cloisters. I found the painted carvings very interesting especially the pulpit in the main sanctuary. all in all it was a great day and despite the noise of the teenage children (several of the groups appeared to have come over from either France or Germany) we all felt it had been a really worthwhile day out.

Visiting Wisley

I have spent the weekend up in London with Paul and Chloe. It was lovely to see them and I was so grateful that Paul met me at London airport and helped me on the Heathrow express. I am really exhausted after the flight etc. and not at all well so I have suggested that since they are working all this week I will go to to Sutton and stay with Frances until Thursday.

Both Paul and Chloe have taken Friday off and since it is the May long weekend this will give us a full four days together. We are planning to go to Canterbury on the Friday. So here I am now in Sutton and today Frances and I have decided to go to the Royal Horticultural Society's gardens at Wisley.



This is the entrance area to the gardens. The house is in the tudor style and the gardens are quite extensive. It was interesting to find so many australian plants here but of course since UK have also been experiencing water shortages there is a widespread interest in waterwise plants. There are also fairly extensive plantings of Rhododendrons which are presently in flower - I liked the scarlet ones

Discovering Raffles

OK so now I ventured forth again ( only across to the next block and there came to the legendary Raffles Hotel. Although it takes up a whole city block it looks dwarfed by all the uglier modern buildings but still a resplendent anachronism that knows its worth.

I walked straight in and just sat in the foyer. so here I am now 8.40 in the morning and surrounded by white ornate plaster and carved dark wood where the brass fittings of the lights and grills glow golden and there is a sort of gentle hush as people begin to come and go. I walked over to the right and into the writers cafe where there are bookcases filled with works by RudyardKipling , Somerset Maughan and Maxine Kingston who all stayed here at some time. I think I too will just sit here and write in my journal.

I am watching people coming in here now and wonder if they are hotel residents or sightseeing temporaries like me. From the badges etc there does seem to be some kind of conference on here!

I have now walked round to the other side of the square where there are wonderful courtyards and arcades of very exclusive little shops and have come into Ah Tengs Bakery so that I can have breakfast at Raffles. I have ordered English breakfast tea and a bran muffin. Seems appropriate in this very colonial atmosphere.

I am sitting at a window table looking out at the horrific traffic and the wave after wave of people going along. It's funny to sit here in this little snippet of a past of privilege so quiet and slow moving as to be experienced as serene and only to be separated by an arched stone verandah from the frenetic modern city.

Outside again and walking around; the moist heat is getting to me so perhaps I will go back to the hotel for a swim and a cool rest. After our dry, dusty browned summer in Adelaide I feel quite intoxicated by the extent of the lush green and brilliant flowers here.

Making a start

Excelsior Hotel Coleman St Singapore.

It is 6.40am and day is breaking over Singapore. I can see the outlines of the tall buildings on the other side of the park area even although the windows here on the 13th floor of the excelsior tower are on the grubby side.

Two nights and one full day in Singapore. The day adventure was, for me, split into two halves.
Morning 7am saw me out and about. Leaving the Excelsior Hotel I turned right along Coleman St. to the next junction and went into the grounds of the anglican cathedral ( St Andrew's) a very white building with a tall slender spire that I could see from my bedroom window. Most of the square side windows of the cathedral were glassless and their wooden shutters were open giving a very tropical feel to it. Although already the air felt warm and sticky outside, inside here was cool and pleasant at this time of the morning and I was impressed to see several people there quietly reading and praying; both men and women. From their dress and their bags they seemed to be city workers taking time for quiet prayer on their way to their offices etc.

Behind the altar the sun was beginning to light up the long narrow stained glass windows set in the blue walls of the sanctuary.

After spending a short quiet time here myself I came back out and continued on my way to find the Raffles Hotel.