Paris Day 8: Shakespear and Co, Another Night Out

We found our way to the Famous Shakespeare and Company.

It opened in 1951, and it’s name was inspired by another book store in Paris that was open from 1919-1941. It closed due to the Nazi occupation. This location/ shop opened 10 years later under a different name, then on William Shakespeare’s 400th birthday, they renamed it in the combined honor. The original shop, was a place where Hemingway and other aspiring authors met and read and collaborated. The shop now is a reading room, and actually houses aspiring writers in exchange for help in the bookstore.

There were SO many books, I found myself in my comfort zone, the kids reading nook. And of course I found some amazing books.

Then upstairs to the reading room.

There are even a couple of beds and comfy chairs up there, for aspiring authors to sleep on.

A few interesting books to try and read.

Back on the street the book vendors had some amazing things.

We had a nice walk on the river.

We wanted to look around on the different islands, specifically the Ile Saint-Louis. We walked past this disturbing door:

We also found a couple of super cool shops with some amazing things for sale.

More amazing hotels, places with cool courtyards.

The window flower boxes in Paris this time of year all have red flowers in them.

There are some incredible art dealers.

Starting recognize things.

We passed the Hotel DeVill again. Such an incredible building.

Our plan was to go to the Christmas market.

It seems like a department store, but not like one in the US.

Atrium lamps.

We bought a few little things for mom and the kids. When we got out to the road, there were people all over the streets. Then we realized there were police in full riot gear waiting in the street. Karl wanted to stick around a look, then we heard load voices yelling and chanting, and I was OUT. We found some bikes and tried to get out of there. BUT we could only get one bike to WORK!!!! A wave of people flooded the street.

The police car after police car and vans full of police officers with semi automatic weapons and bats running down the road. WE had to get out of there. We got out of the area, and things were calmer in our neighborhood.