Canal St. Martin connects waterways on
the far north side of Paris to the Seine.
Though some of it is tunneled, the
north part provides a beautiful waterway in the up and coming 10th
arrondissement.
Plenty of up and coming chefs have
located along the canal, drawn by much lower rents in the still somewhat
working class, not that long ago rough and tumble district.
Walkways along the water are often
narrow, devoid of curb ramps and brutally bumpy.
The streets are narrow, so sidewalks
along the building (vs. water) side of the canal side roads are a good option
for people with disabilities who use assistive mobility devices.
The Hotel du Nord, once a small hotel
and forever famous as the setting for the 1938 classic Marcel Carne drama.
The Hotel du Nord building still
stands, but people no longer visit for a place to sleep.
Now it is a bar, restaurant and brunch
spot – with plenty of those little tables with side-by-side chairs pointed at
the canal for maximum people watching.
There is a fascinating 2-plus hour
boat tour twice a day, one heading from Bastille north and the other from Basin
de la Villette south.
Though the boat has a water closet on
the main deck, boarding for a wheelchair user involves being carried down/up a
few steps.
And while the Villette Basin area is
easily walkable, the docks in Bastille are down a very long, bumpy cobblestoned
ramp.
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