Today has been full. Out to the end of line 4 today, Pont de Sèrves where I thought Id start my islands of Paris discovery tour!
First, île Seguin which only recently has started to be developed as the Renault car factory closed in 1992. It had pretty much been a deserted (hah) until the concert hall was opened in 2017. Its a huge ball of hexagonal mirrored windows sitting on one end of the island over looking the Seine. The rest of the island is pretty much a construction site where they've planned a centre for culture. (its what islands do best ;))
I walked to the other shore and it was so untouched, old medieval looking pubs and houses almost crumbling down a sight you don’t really see, its a peak into the past but there are already many signs up advertising the new multi dwells that will take over this beautiful area in the next decade or two. Im heading to my next island île Saint-Germain. I cant believe my eyes beautiful homes right on the river’s edge but not huge and grandiose in style more homely and small separated homes with gardens, I have not seen homes like this since I left Australia, Half the island is housing and the other half is a beautiful park with hills and meadows I also came across a pony club with miniature chestnut horses asleep while standing up! Theres a huge sculpture by Jean Dubuffet, Tour aux figures which has been freshly repainted. It has that reoccurring theme of natural vs manmade. Its cement made to look like a natural formation then decorated to enhance the rocks natural features. I like it. Theres many that don’t and complained about the money going towards the re-paint. There are also many joggers, people doing tai chi and a couple in green jackets doing bounding jump squats which makes me smile as the look like frogs and im in Paris!!. This was a lovely adventure out of the hustle and bustle, Im going to research more on this area. The next stop takes me right back down to the Eiffel Tower.
Île aux Cygnes is a man made island almost directly opposite the tower. It is really narrow and basically just a long tree lined path, All the parks in Paris are such an escape but this has many park benches painted green and I sat and found it hard to leave. A replica of the statue of liberty given to the u.s. from France is here and it really does seem more suited to the Seine.
I was planning on having a good hunt around the next two islands that Ive crossed a dozed times but not explored enough but Ill leave that for another day its 4.30 and the day has gone by so quickly.
After all this adventuring whats going through my head on my return home? The man that gave me his seat on the train was the carriage was full and he was getting off at the next stop so had motioned to jump in quick! The man in a navy tracksuit doing speed walking at the park I walked through before getting to Cygnes who had just stared at me, like a death stare, to the point where Id imagined I must have had big stripes of texta all over my face. And the woman who let me know my backpack was undone on the train. Interactions with people are far and few between so when it happens spontaneously it is excessively magnified and examined. So after today I have two best friends and an enemy for life hahah… Its like my obsession for buying bread at the same bakery ( just to let you know I actually have a bit of a wheat problem so it makes the story even more foolish) Every day I have gone and bought my baguette traditionale and they’ve given me an acknowledging smile. I hang for this nightly ritual, its more then just human connection, its a craving for the familiar.