Perfect weather this weekend: 10°C with abundant sunshine, and even though I’m finalizing the formatting of my book (you have to do everything yourself these days; the author is also the layout artist, designer, proofreader, promoter and lots of other things), I will take time out, later in the day, to walk at least a portion of the High Line.

It’s not really called the Paris High Line, it’s called la Promenade plantée or la Coulée verte, but New York City’s High Line project was inspired by the Parisian Promenade plantée (tree-lined walkway), completed in 1993.

Contrary to the NYC promenade which is 1.45 miles long (2.33 km), the Paris promenade is 3 miles long (4.8-kilometer). The diversity of plants as well as architectural styles, mostly dwellings, that you pass by is interesting. A slice of Paris.  The photo below is a bamboo grove.

(This post was written a few years ago) – I can’t tell you how relaxing and enjoyable it was to stroll along at your own pace, feeling the sun on your face and hearing the birds chirping.No cars, no noisy scooters…just joggers, pedestrians, space and nature. Because I went fairly early this morning, there weren’t many people. But I hear it gets quite crowded on Sunday afternoons. Too bad I live on the other side of the city, otherwise I’d be here all the time.

Picknicking Parisians and below that, a happy walker (me, a few years ago.)

When you reach the end, you turn right at some point and come out onto the avenue Daumesnil. Here’s the original “Viaduc de Bastille” constructed in 1859 and which carried the railways of the Paris-Bastille-Vincennes train line. Now they are design shops and artist workshops. The promenade runs along the top of the viaduc.