Archive for July, 2015

A Brunch Cruise on the Ourcq Canal

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2015
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On the heels of the 4th of July boat cruise that we took with the Seine-Saint-Denis Tourist Office (our blog of July 5), we took another cruise last Saturday. This one was called Croisière brunch sur l’Ourcq avec les Marmites volantes, and it promised to be as fun as the first.

Our Cruise Boat - The Henri IV Photograph by sss.DiscoverParis.net

Our Cruise Boat – The Henri IV
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Monique and I showed up at the Bassin de la Villette, the rendezvous point, at 11:15 a.m. A short time later, the boat pulled up to the dock.

Thomas Guillot Prepares to Greet Guests Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Thomas Guillot Prepares to Greet Guests
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Thomas Guillot of the Seine-Saint-Denis Tourist Office greeted us as we climbed on board. We went to the upper deck to enjoy the view while the boat got ready to shove off!

Enjoying the View from the Top Deck Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Enjoying the View from the Top Deck while Waiting for the Boat to Shove Off
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Lift Bridge on Rue de Crimée Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Lift Bridge on Rue de Crimée
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Bridge Rising Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Bridge Rising
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

The boat left the dock and we approached the lift bridge on rue de Crimée. The bridge rose, we passed under, and we were on our way!

Settling In for Brunch

Settling In for Brunch
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Then came the signal that brunch was served, and we filed down to the dining room where the tables were already set.

What We Had for Brunch Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

What We Had for Brunch
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Surprise! It was a vegetarian brunch! Here’s what we had –
Row one from left to right: Watermelon juice; Fresh country bread from La Conquête du Pain
Row two from left to right: Salad of carrot, red cabbage, white cabbage, pumpkin seed, and herbs; Salad of bulgar, beet, feta cheese, apricot, and parsley
Row three from left to right: Spanish omelet (potato tortilla); Fruit salad with white cheese and granola
Row four: Brownie with hazelnuts; carrot cake
Not pictured: Tomato gaspacho

Coffee and tea were available for free; wine and fruit juice were available for purchase.

It was a delicious, filling, and healthy meal.

Madalena Guerra with Her Marmites

Madalena Guerra with Her Marmites
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Madalena Guerra - Lelio Lemoine

Madalena Guerra and Lelio Lemoine
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Congratulations to Madalena Guerra and Lelio Lemoine, co-managers of Les Marmites Volantes, a restaurant that delivers freshly-made vegetarian and omnivore lunches to office workers in northeastern Paris. Sit-down dining at the restaurant is also available.

Rotonde de la Villette Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Rotonde de la Villette
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Returning to the Bassin de la Villette at the end of the cruise, we were treated to a spectacular view of the Rotonde de la Villette, one of the four remaining tax offices built by architect Claude Nicolas Ledoux in the 18th century .

A good time was had by all!

Special note: The Seine-Saint-Denis Tourist Office has organized other brunch cruises for the summer. Check out their Web site: http://www.tourisme93.com/visites/2002-6846-croisiere-brunch-sur-l-ourcq.html

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The Magical World of the Musée des Arts Forains

Thursday, July 16th, 2015
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My wife and I recently accepted an invitation to join a group to take a tour of the Musée des Arts Forains, a museum of fairground arts located in the Bercy Pavilions in Paris.

Entrance to Bercy Pavilions

Entrance to Bercy Pavilions
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Because we have heard that the museum was a must-see place for anyone nostalgic for the merry-go-rounds of days gone by, we didn’t anticipate much more than a quick ride on a carrousel. We showed up on a Monday morning and were met by a guide, Joris, who told us to be prepared for the magic that would take place during the tour. I was somewhat skeptical about how much magic old-fashioned fairground equipment could evoke, but as the visit progressed I was drawn into the enchantment.

Le Théâtre de Verdure Musee des Arts Forains

Le Théâtre de Verdure
Photograph courtesy of Pavillons de Bercy

Pink Panther Playing Bugle

Pink Panther Playing Bugle
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Our first stop was in the outdoor Théâtre de Verdure, a large space between rows of pavilions. The space was overgrown with trees and climbing vines, and if we looked carefully through the foliage, we could see a rabbit scampering down the trunk of a tree carrying a carrot and the Pink Panther marching across a branch playing a bugle. Something strange was going on here.

Hot Air Balloon Photograph courtesy of Pavillons de Bercy

Hot Air Balloon
Photograph courtesy of Pavillons de Bercy

We entered the first pavilion, Le Théâtre du Merveilleux. There, we saw things that were truly marvelous: a hot-air balloon lifting an elephant, Josephine Baker’s garter belt sporting three spangled bananas, several sculptures of wild beasts formed naturally from weathered tree trunks, and more!

Horse Race

Horse Race
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

We played an arcade game where participants tried to make their horse outdistance the others by launching a wooden ball along a track with numbered holes. If the ball fell down the highest-numbered hole, the horse moved forward quickly. It was fun! My horse came in second to last.

Gondola Carrousel Photograph by Sebastien Siraudeau

Gondola Carrousel
Photograph by Sebastien Siraudeau

In the Salons Vénitiens we sat in gondolas mounted on a slow-moving carrousel and then watched a fantastic sound-and-light show. In an adjacent room, mechanical puppets (automatons) dressed in Venetian costume gave an opera performance in balconies high above.

Velocipede Carrousel Photograph courtesy of Pavillons de Bercy

Velocipede Carrousel
Photograph courtesy of Pavillons de Bercy

And in the Musée des Arts Forains some of the visitors mounted velocipedes to propel themselves in a tight circle on a high-speed carrousel. I was satisfied to ride a stationary horse on one of the staid merry-go-rounds in another room.

The event ended with hors-d’œuvres and champagne and everyone left with smiles on their faces. The Musée des Arts Forains had worked its magic!

Pouring Champagne

Pouring Champagne
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

This summer, the museum will be open at 11:00 a.m. every Monday and Thursday during July and August for guided visits in English. Reservations are required. Click here for on-line booking.

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4th of July Celebration on the Ourcq Canal

Sunday, July 5th, 2015
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Tom Reeves and Monique Y. Wells

Tom Reeves and Monique Y. Wells
Photographs by www.DiscoverParis.net

Yesterday evening we got aboard a boat to take a 4th of July cruise along the Ourcq Canal. Organized by the Seine-Saint-Denis Office of Tourism, the tour featured jazz entertainment by the Kalini Trio, Chicago-style hot dogs by Little Kitchen, and craft beer by Deck & Donohue, an artisanal brewery.

Kalani Trio - Caroline Wyatt - Arthur Links - Gabriel Midon

Kalani Trio with American Caroline Wyatt on vocals and French Arthur Links and Gabriel Midon on guitar and bass
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

American Mike Donohue and French Thomas Deck, founders of Deck & Donohue Brewery

American Mike Donohue and French Thomas Deck, Founders of Deck & Donohue
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Darin and Sandriene Bieck, Founders of Little Kitchen

American and French Husband and Wife Team Darin and Sandriene Bieck, Founders of Little Kitchen
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Inside the Boat

Inside the Boat
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Marianne of Tom's River New Jersey

Marianne of Tom’s River, New Jersey
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

A number of Americans were on board, including Marianne from Tom’s River, New Jersey. She is currently studying natural medicine in Hamburg, Germany and came to Paris for a brief stay.

Mike Donohue Pours a Cold Beer

Mike Donohue Pours a Cold Beer
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

Chicago Hot Dogs and Chocolate Fondant

Chicago-style Hot Dogs and Chocolate Fondant by Little Kitchen
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

All the ingredients were there for a great 4th of July celebration: good music, cold beer, and generous hot dogs. A good time was had by all!

Celebrating the 4th of July

Celebrating the 4th of July
Photograph by www.DiscoverParis.net

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