I admire your endurance as well as your powers of observation, my friend! A wonderful tour of a fascinating area, most of which I have only visited by bus.

Two questions: somehow I thought you lived in Chinatown near Place d'Italie, but here we find you a resident of the 18th or thereabouts. Have I been laboring under a misapprehension? Different Chinatown?

Why photobucket rather than anyport? I read the text but haven't looked at the pictures yet. Just nosy.

Thanks. So enticing!

Ackislander, different Chinatown, of which there are four in Paris: 13th arrondissement, Belleville, Arts-et-Métiers, Place de Torcy. Actually, since I moved to Paris, I have always lived in the north: 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th arrondissements.

There will be an Anyport version soon so people won't have to click to see the photos.

Making a report like this requires outstanding dedication besides the local knowledge. I don't know what to say except 'thank you' and 'bravo.'

I think people miss you a lot on TA too but at least we get the benefit here.

Good points analogue.

What a wonderful report that offers so much insight.

And, I'm so happy that I've found you and pariswat on these forums! I valued both of your insights on the very early planning of my trip to France next June, and was sad to see that neither of you are on TA anymore.

Looking forward to many more of your insights and advice.

kerouac, how inconsiderate of you to post this when I am not in Paris anymore

I have a confession: in my mind, when I thought of 'somebody from France' he/she was always well-dressed and white. This just shows my ignorance. The stereotype was nicely obliterated during my recent stay.

How wonderful! Many thanks!

You are a true treasure to those of us who frequent this board. Thanks so much for another truly stellar report. And what an amazing place!!

Anybody in Paris today should absolutely not miss the Ganesh festivities which will run from about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The epicenter of sensual overload will be metro La Chapelle on line 2. The streets will be closed to traffic, so don't try to take a bus there, although there will be service south of Gare du Nord.

Here is what you would have seen if you had been in the area for Ganesh yesterday. I just can't helping making a video when I see it every year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4BtBaYtJis

just found this Kerouac - perhaps it's what DH needs to revitalise his somewhat jaded view of Paris!

Thank you so much for taking the trouble to post and share this with us.

Tragedy struck yesterday right in the middle of the area I wrote about. A fire was started by an arsonist on rue Myrha and killed 8 people -- the biggest death toll in 10 years.

If only we had known.

This trip to Paris in early July, we just walked aimlessly for 4 days admiring the wonderful buildings.

With two of our traveling companions, we joke about one more trip to Paris, when he is 90.

Nine more years to wait.

Perhaps we can suggest going when he is 85 while we can still walk.

Such detail, just amazing!!

Very sad about the fire.

how awful, kerouac - I hope the culprit is caught.