Paris at a Certain Age

Dog Worries

I've been worrying about my dog, Livvie, who had a big surgery today.

This reminded me that I've been worried about Orson, too. Most Paris regulars know Orson, the ruler of rue Buci, who lives at Café Le Conti and usually patrols the street. He seemed down and depressed. I didn't have time to stop and chat with him or his owner this trip. I wonder if Carol, another one of his fans over on Paris Breakfasts, might know if he's okay?

 

And I was really worried about this guy:

I guess it's true what they say about Parisians getting fat.

A Philosophical Question

I saw this piece of stencil street art and it made me think. I know panhandlers often use animals because people are sometimes more likely to be sympathetic to a poor pet than a poor person. Yet homeless people need companionship and protection, too, and the animals are not always part of a scam.

 

When I first saw this dog with a panhandler near le Bon Marché, I admit I wondered if it was stolen. Notice the fine quality of his halter. The owner wore threadbare and dirty clothes with his belongings in a shopping cart.

Then I felt guilty; maybe he spends any money he has on the dog. And Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, has written about how the homeless often take better care of their dogs than other people do. They don't overfeed them, they walk long distances with their dogs (thus giving them the adequate exercise so many of us don't provide our pets) and the dogs are very well-behaved, like the noble guy above.

What is your opinion about panhandling with pets? Esclave? Compagnon? Garde?

Metro-Boulot-Dodo-Toutou

This doggie got off the metro at the same stop as I did and I followed him onto the escalator (NO, I was not stalking him). He was definitely Monsieur Cool, no leash, no need to tell him where and when to go.

And when the people on the left above him cleared out of the way, he trotted up the left side like the busy commuters do when they need to quickly pass by those standing still on the right. He waited at the top of the escalator for his slower owner to catch up with him. He then moved through the network of connecting metro tunnels like a rat who knew his way through the maze to the cheese.

 

My rescue dog, Olivia, is scared of her kennel, scared of her new water bowl and scared of her own shadow while on a walk. No way she would ever make it as a big city dog. 

 

Did you notice that smart doggie above needs to be neutered?

Chineuse for-a-day

I went to the Marché aux Puces (the flea market) today to chiner a bit (go antiqueing).

Lots of eye candy.

and people-watching opportunities (like these two merchants playing chess between customers)

But I was more tempted by this guy on the couch

and these two shameless beggars at a bistro table....

Chineuse for-a-day

I went to the Marché aux Puces (the flea market) today to chiner a bit (go antiqueing).

Lots of eye candy.

and people-watching opportunities (like these two merchants playing chess between customers)

But I was more tempted by this guy on the couch

and these two shameless beggars at a bistro table....

Dog of the Day

Today's dog is not in Paris, but in Petaluma. This is Livvie, the rescue dog we adopted after our beloved Rita died last year. About this time when I'm away I start stalking stranger's dogs. Luckily for the dogs of Paris, our friend Jim took this photo of Livvie to keep me company. She has dirt on her nose, so she was undoubtably digging in something she shouldn't.

 

She's a good Skyper, too, and licks the phone when she hears me. I'll return, Livvie.

A patient dog

This sweet dog was waiting in the rain, tied to une bite (or bitte, I've seen different spellings) de trottoir.

next to une rôtisserie of aromatic roasted chickens and ducks:

in front of une boucherie

waiting for his owner. How's that for patience and good behavior in the face of temptation?! Will he get a reward?

The ruler of rue de Buci

He may be a small Toto-like dog, but he's a big (and familiar) presence at Café Le Conti where  his owner is the patron.

Orson the dog rules over rue de Buci with a benevolent paw. His café is at a busy intersection of five streets: rue St. André des Arts, rue Dauphine, rue Mazarine, rue de l'Ancienne Comédie, and rue de Buci with fast traffic, big buses and motorcycles zipping around. Yet the little pooch navigates it all safely. As a serveur said, "Il part et il revient" (he leaves and he comes back). He trots off down Buci with a busy look on his  face as he patrols his neighborhood.

 

And after he inspects his territory, Orson's back at his café, peacefully surveying the hubbub of cars and pedestrians.

 

 

 

 

Long Live the King!

Paris Dog of the Dog

This little guy is on duty at his  lunette (eyeglass) shop.

The Batobus Has Gone to the Dogs

The Batobus is a bus-boat in Paris. It's possible to hop on and hop off at any of 8 stops along the Seine.

You purchase a day pass at any stop which allows you to get off and visit say, the Eiffel Tower, and then hop back on and ride down the Seine until another sight strikes your fancy. Or, you can just sit back and enjoy the ride like this passenger:

 

The dog did manage to see a few sights along the way: