0 Animaux au Paris & Venice!

I seem to be relentlessly drawn to animals in Paris... Maybe animaux anywhere attract my attention... I saw this delightful tea-serving Panda working the Nestle stand at the Salon du chocolat in October... A crew of zebras was coralled into serving Nestle's new teas as well! Meanwhile over on rue Bonaparte, les chats were quite busy... Who could not have used the aid of a good cat server during their New Years Eve soiree? Cats readily assist lamps in Paris all the time evidently... On the other hand these roosters on rue Madame are just standing around looking elegant. I have yet to enter the very exclusive Oderantes fleurist shop - quelle dommage.

What's not to love about this hound in a hat?

A whimsical ostrich is not to be outdone sporting a cigarette holder to boot...

Jules Pansu boutique at 42 rue Bonaparte is the place to go if you must have amusante animaux coussins.

Over the long holiday I've been thinking about sending your animaux/pets off to Venice and making sketches and doodles...

I was chatting with Brit watercolorist, Ian Sidaway about pets in Venice, and he says you can only send CATS to Venice. I beg to differ!

Why your average hound would not enjoy a trip in a Gondola on the Grand Canal is beyond me!

Frankly, I think you can send BOTH cats and dogs to Venice. They will behave perfectly as long as you throw them the occasional bone or sardine non? I am taking myself off to Venice in March and I might meet up with Ian on a gondola or at the gelateria...

What do YOU think?

Would you like your pet painted in Venice/Venise?

Do Tell all.

BONJOUR Animaux au Paris & Venice!!

0 BEAR takes Eurostar to Paris

BEAR thought it might be fun to invite you along for the trip from London to Paris on the Eurostar (or 'The Chunnel' as we American heathens call it...)
After you book online, and as far in advance as possible for the best prices, you've got to high tail it over to St. Pancras Station.
Eeeek!
It's only 4:10 AM and our train is not until at 5:25 AM
Another eeek!
We were moaning to David at the Club about how early we had to get up to catch the 5:25 AM to Paris. But he reminded us that we did pay less, the train would be way less crowded (it was) And we'd be in Paris much, much sooner then if we took a later train.
St. Pancras is practicment vide/empty..
St. Pancras railroad station was designed by Gilbert Scott and built in 1868. Though it's been renovated for expanded service, it still retains many Victorian details like these gothic windows...
Really quite a thrilling space to have all to yourself...
AND there are at least 20+ shops to browse, almost all of them closed. Bear contemplates lovely catty socks - too purfect...sigh
Ah...a Bear hat!

And a FREE cuppa! Clever Pain Quotidien IS open for hungry travelers fortunately...

We take a look at the check-in board.

Check-in is approaching...

You smash your ticket agains the square window et voila!

You wait some more inside.

Other people are busy taking last pictures of London...

BEAR waits patiently...

BEAR gets impatient!

BEAR is first going up the flat escalators to the trains.

He has adopted New York pushy ways I'm afraid...

BEAR searches for coach #2, seat #72.

At last BEAR settles in and falls instantly to sleep.

zzzz...

BEAR wakes up to catch a glimse of French countryside.

Where did the time go?

Et voila!

Back in Paris at busy Gare du Nord Bear heads for the Metro.

Back on the streets comme d'habitude red red red...

More RED!

If you're wondering what BEAR is reading on his travels, he found Martha Gelhorn's (former wife of Hemingway) book, Travels with Myself and Another in London. The catchy subtitle grabbed him -

'5 Journeys from Hell'

Perfect reading everytime we wanted to moan about something like getting up insanely early to catch the Eurostar to Paris...ahem

BONJOUR EUROSTAR!