Wednesday, July 13, 2011

With a view

My last flat in Paris had a view of the Bassin de l'Arsenal from a twelfth floor vantage point. And towards the end of my stay there were indeed the gardens on the eastern banks and the first boats were mooring in the new marina.

But prior to this laudable rejuventation the Bassin was still a working canal harbour where barges were unloaded. For most of my years in Boulevard de la Bastille the wharfage was mainly used by a wholesaler of sanitary fittings.

And so it was often a source of great amusement when visitors to my apartment gazed down on a vista which comprised thousands and thousands of porcelain wash-basins or toilet bowls.

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