Around Paris

First some housekeeping. I subscribe to this blog by email & also check it out on the web. The email version has lots of white space & the comments aren't well integrated to the relevant photo. Also, the video doesn't work in the email version. Sorry about all of this, that's not how it looks in the Preview mode which is supposed to be wysiswyg.

This trip is different because were are not rushing about trying to see sights. Instead we're truly hanging out...doing alot of walking.

About every 10 years or so we head back to the Museum of Eroticism. This is not a City of Paris enterprise but commercial venture set among the numerous sex shops of the seedy Pigalle district, home to the Moulin Rouge.

I maintain this blog as PG rated at most/worst, however you look at it. Since the museum is explicit to the extreme (You need to check your hang-ups at the door.), there's not alot I can show here.

If you want to venture into the land of OMG!!! for a bit, here's their website:


Here's the entrance to the museum. Nothing controversial here.





















The title of this whimsical piece is "Unexpected Visit"




















Back in the day when bordellos were legal (pre-1948), madams had business cards.

I'm sure at least one enterprising madam used the slogan "It's a business to do pleasure with you."

There is an entire floor of vintage
bordello scene photos.

It has been said that the marketing of software is very similar to prostitution. You have it. You sell it. But you still have it.

Fortunately, that's the extent of my bordello jokes.


Edgar Degas did some of his work depicting life in bordellos. It is not known if he did it purely as an artist or was also a participant.

Here is one of his tamer pieces.
















That's all folks. I could've shot hundreds of pics & published some here but then our returning home reception committee would be well armed with rotten tomatoes.

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If you're interested in the ultimate in economical self propelled 4-wheel transportation, you can try this small golf cart with roof & windows called "Twizy".














It's a single seat affair with a small (read "child") jump seat behind.

Great for a widow in Sun City with one grandchild, but that's about it.













Here it is in a showroom. It retails for about US$9,000.






















There is some sort of function opening this week concerning the President. It's within easy walking distance so we'll probably have a peek.

Note the French flag as the backdrop.

















Susanne on a bridge with a Bateau Mouche tour boat passing below.
















Metro musicians come in two flavors. First & most common are the musicians who play in the Metro passages. Because the walls & floors are very hard surfaces, you can hear them from along way off as their music reverberates throughout. Back in the early days, it was just the musician or musicians (mostly all male) & their instrument(s). But in the electronic age, they have pre-recorded rhythm sections adding depth to the music.

The open instrument case serves as the money repository.











Then there's the "I come to you" flavor who boards the Metro car & starts playing, along with his rhythm section, battery & money box on the small cart.

Most Parisians consider them a pain as I did for years. They seemed to disappear & I found I actually missed them. Then they started to return (maybe it's the hard times) & I was delighted.

I appreciate them not only for the familiar music they play but for two related reasons.

1. Hey, it's honest work!

2. Yes, they want a hand out but at least they're trying to earn it.

Often when I toss a few small coins in the box I feel I'm getting "Don't encourage him!" stares from the Parisians. Au contraire, mes amis!! That's exactly what I'm trying to do!