Wandering through the tiny streets of La Marais, we encountered this marvelous bit of history, it’s plaza a brief respite from the long walk.
Henry IV developed this marshy land on the right bank opposite the lle Saint Louis. In 1612, it was officially inaugurated for the wedding of Louis XIII and Anne of Austria.
Covered by a steep roof pierced by dormer windows, the center of the southern facade stood the King’s House facing and the Queen’s on the northern side.
A number of other popular faces lived on Place des Vosges, notably Richelieu and Victor Hugo.
It seemed to be an innocent intersection with a couple of folks from Scotland visiting the museum at the same time I was. Certainly, I gave a double-take to this handsome Scotsman in his beautiful kilt.
And clicked several photos of him discreetly (although I caught the gate guard laughing at my admiration of the kilted gentleman).
And quietly mused over the different cultures who collide on the streets of Paris.
And then I wandered on down to the Place des Voges, unsuspecting what delightful things were in store for us with the visiting Scotsmen!
Paris in August is reported to be deserted, as Parisians typically vacation during this hot month. However, we found that not to be the case. In fact, it was almost like Spring, with lovely cool nights and gardens still in bloom.
This busy Parisian bee is at the Musée Carnavalet, an acidental discovery of ours. It’s dedicated to the history of Paris, and its landscaped courtyard garden in the heart of the Marais is a beautiful place to escape from the crowds on rue des Francs-Bourgeois.
More about Musée Carnavalet in the next post when I catch my first glimpse of a kilted Scot.
