My afternoon exploring
McDonalds was packed with students and I enjoyed a relatively cheap lunch of burger and fries before setting off again to explore. Using the map that I had picked up at the hotel I decided to walk towards the Tour Montparnasse. Around the fence of the Luxembourg Gardens was an exhibit about space exploration. The large panels’ images had explanations in French and English.
After the gardens I came to the Luxembourg Palace, guarded by soldiers, and carried on walking down the Rue de Vaugiraud.
I turned right up Boulevard Raspail and found another street sign by Clet.
Further along the Boulevard in the entrance to an underground car park was this mural.
Two more signs by Clet down the Rue de Grenelle.
I continued walking back towards thje Palace.
The Palace.
Opposite the Palace.
I still had time to do some more exploring and I set off looking for another Banksy in the 5th. Walking down now the rue Saint-Jacques to get to the Boulevard Saint-Germain.
The Rue Maitre Albert was my target.
The one Banksy that I found
Walking down the Rue Maitre Albert this Banksy is just above the road on the right.
I walked down the street until I came again to the Quai de Montebello – I had been close to the Banksy earlier in the day!
I walked down Rue Frederic Sauton and spotted this figure. As I was kneeling to take a picture I was almost run over by a car reversing into the side street – competition for parking clearly is fierce.
On Rue Valette as I approached the side of the Pantheon.
I watched a small coach unload a gaggle of photographers and a model. She then started to pose.
As it was almost time to meet Valérie I headed back to the hotel to dump my camera bag.
The Pantheon was now bathed in the afternoon light.
Meeting Valérie Jardin
Outside the Hotel des Grands Hommes I joined the small group of folks also on the workshop while we waited for everyone to arrive.
Downstairs in the hotel we introduced ourselves to each other and had a great ‘warm-up’ presentation from Valérie for the workshop over the next two days.
Dinner at Perraudin
We joined Valérie at the Perraudin restaurant on Rue Saint-Jacques for a convivial dinner.
Best of all, for me, this restaurant was only 100 yards away from Hotel de Senlis!
I was back in my room at 10.30 packing for the next day…
… and hoping for a quieter night’s sleep.
Paris weekend workshop: First day on the streets with Valérie Jardin