Nothing to see in Paris
 

I shouldn't even be posting this, because on the last day of winter I visited a part of the city that has been in decline for the last 105 years, and now it is just a mass of abandoned ruins. That's sort of hard to believe in the most beautiful and most visited city in the world, yet you can find it if you look really, really hard.

I guess that's why I called my report "The abandoned garden of desolation." Those of you who have been to Paris many times and really think that you have <b>seen it all</b>, might find it worth a brief look: http://tinyurl.com/6t6p224

Amazing. And I loved seeing the old photographs, too.

This is incredible!. You never cease to amaze me. So interesting to see this and all the other "finds" you show us in Paris!

Merci, Kerouac!

Fascinating....thank you!

You could also call this report "How I found a place 10 minutes from FMT's house that he should have reported on". Or perhaps "If you want to find a place with no people just visit anywhere near FMT".

Tatiana - What makes you think kerouac drinks cheap wine?

Another gem of a photo essay, Kerouac. Many thanks, you always come thru with the most amazing information.

Bravo, Christo. I hope others gazing at this misty beauty will not forget your opening words, which remind that nostalgia for the days of "gloire" should not cast a filmy sheen over the iniquities of imperial strife.

Terrific, as usual, K.

The sad detritus of Empire.

Wow. Your photos are haunting not only because of the park's abandoned beauty but also because of the memories that they evoke of French colonialism.

Kerouac, you really need to publish a book on "your" Paris, which is much more real, and beautiful, than the Paris that we tourists think we know.

Wow - wonderful pictures. Thanks for sharing...

Just stunning. I would buy a copy of your book(s). I deeply admire your commitment to exploring the city in such great depth.

Thanks all, but I feel that I have barely scratched the surface so far.

fabulous pictorial! thank you

Damn! We are scarcely home from Paris, and now we have to plan another visit. This is a place we would like.

Fantastic! And thanks for digging up those old photos for comparison.

I can't even imagine being employed at those environmental offices. Talk about feeling isolated!

Thanks, kerouac.

incroyable! Will go next time - spent years camping at Joinville-le-Pont and jogged I though all around the Bois - thanks for posting!

To Kerouac- Why do you torture me like this?

kerouac - do you know about the row of gingerbread houses - old stone houses in weird turn-of-the-century fashion lining the north bank of Marne just opposite this part of the Bois -Vincennes - they are really remarkable - not far from one of the old popular dancing places that once lined the Marne. there are no streets and you walk along the Marne just opposite the TCC Joinville camping site and Le Tremblay park.

Thanks for posting this. It looks and sounds fascinating.

I did a little googling and found a source that recommended taking the metro to Chateau de Vincennes and walking from there. Or would it be better to take the RER?

It would be a very long walk from Château de Vincennes. I looked into it, including the possibility of taking bus 112 or 114. And I quickly chose to take the RER.

PalenQ, there are so many weird old stone gingerbread houses in the area that I may or may not have seen them (bot probably not). If FMT checks in, he will almost certainly have more knowledge about such things in that area, since he lives there.