Venturing through Paris

My traveling companion of many years, Joan Anderson, and I had to smile when we saw the cover of the August 2018 issue. The woman on the cover was standing in front of the HomeExchange.com apartment we had just left! As a matter of fact, I had sketched that lock/bridge several times from our second-floor window.

The bridge doesn't have a name, but it connects Rue Dieu to Rue Albert. The street along the Canal Saint-Martin, in that area, is called Quai de Valmy.

The cover photo was taken by Birute Skurdenis, who wrote the Feature Article "Venturing Around the Arrondissements of Paris" (Aug. '18, pg. 6), and I agree with her 100%: DO venture away from the main core of Paris and be pleasantly surprised!

Visit the modern La Défense business district outside of the arrondissements; explore Parc de Bercy in the 12th arrondissement (12ème); climb the hills of Parc des Buttes Chaumont in the 19ème; be amazed by Parc André Citroën in the 15ème, and enjoy the Jardin des plantes in the 5ème.

Even if you're in the main core of Paris, you can look for "hidden treasures," like the Medici Fountain or the children's carousel in the Jardin du Luxembourg. Just turn the corner and you may be surprised at what you'll discover. There are more than 40 museums in Paris, so explore, explore, explore!

Our stay along the Canal Saint-Martin was for three weeks, July 9-30, 2018. We discovered the area in 2009. Today it's one of the "hip" places for the younger crowd. Needless to say, we do "venture" around Paris, discovering wonderful hidden treasures.

TOM KILROY

San Diego, CA