Paris 2 - Marche d'Aligre (Local Market)

We all piled over to Rover 1 for breakfast - croissants, fruit, cereals, coffee, you name it, the table overflowed!!!
The room opened out onto the balcony, which had a stupendous view of Paris.  The low lying cloud did not allow us to see the Tour d'Eiffel but I didn't mind.
We could see a fantastic market down in the square, open everyday except Monday!!!
After breakfast we went down into the square and had a wander round.  The others went off  to one of the Bars but Rover 1a came round the Market with me.  We had a quick walk among the stalls and then I found a book stall so she left me to my own devices!

 I wandered up and down the stall, amazed at the number of English language books lying there .....
...... I chose a large, very large, Dictionary and a Science book.

Then I found a diary, Chinese with every page having a fancy coloured border.  How I managed to carry them home I do not know but I did!!

Here they are on my desk.

The science book has lessons and exercises, showing scientific equipment layouts and experiments.  I bought this for sending out in swaps and also for Steampunk ATCs.
The Diary, just beautiful to look at, I may or may not use ... it is just so old and beautiful.
The Dictionary is begging to be used!  There are so many pages!
Old and aged pages.
Lots of them!
I haven't managed to decipher a date yet but look at these pages.  Each title page for the alphabet has a decorated picture and there is a decorative bar at the end of the previous letter.

There are several pieces of ephemera among the pages, old pages from other books ......


.... pieces of old postcards.  All used as bookmarks I presume.


After I had bought the books, I decided enough was enough for one day so I looked around to see if any of the Rovers were about.
I saw PJ wandering around so caught up with him, he had come to look for me so that we could join the others.  As we walked to the edge of the market we found a 'hurdy gurdy' man and his machine ....

 ..... I dropped a few coins into his hat and asked to take his photo ..... he smiled and nodded ... probably laughing inside at my poorly spoken French!!!

The box underneath the machine contains all the music cards and he was fitting a new card - tune.

So many people milling about, all sorts of languages being spoken - mainly French I agree - sitting outside the bars, much laughter and noise.
Onto the Baron Rouge for a well deserved coffee!!!