Saturday, April 16, 2011

Les Bouquinistes - All Lined Up


I really need to spend more time here. I've found some great prints etc., but always get overwhelmed at the selection and don't take the time to really have a closer look. When reading this link, I found that there are over 240 bouquinistes that share 900 of the "green boxes", selling 300,000 books, magazines, prints, cards ( and some tacky souvenirs).  I love the fact that these stalls have been here, unchanged,  along the Seine for so long.  Isn't that what we love about Paris........

14 comments:

Julie said...

Hah! I am collecting shots of these 'booksellers' for a post on 'A Pied". I will leave posting until my return home. I do not have enough variety of shot as yet. They can be a smidge brusque if they see one taking their photograph. Forces me to stalk, and to loiter. Photography is 90% patience, as you know.

I went up Montmatre today, and made a basic boo-boo. There was a massive queue for the life out of Abbesses ... so I took the stairs. Big mistake, Julie!! Took me ages and I needed to catch my breath for ten minutes at the top.

TheChieftess said...

Love those stands!!!

Starman said...

They're selling the tacky souvenirs because they can't make a living any more from just selling books.

Petrea Burchard said...

Julie, that took me by surprise. I didn't realize they don't like to be photographed. You'd think they'd be used to it by now!

Love the photo, V. Love them all.

M said...

Love it in B&W.

Julie, we also went to Montmartre today -- Genie was patient, I ran up the stairs to meet Peter because we were a little late ( got carried away photographing St. Etienne du Mont) -- boy, was that a good work out!

Virginia said...

M, RAN??? WEll I"ve done it at Peter's insistence and maybe one or two times when the lift was not working but I'd prefer to ride up to save my strength for the climb up and down the streets of Montmartre. Hope you all had a wonderful day.

Julie,
Bless your heart. Oh and I"ve done another post about the "testy" booksellers. What's up with that ???

Starman, perhaps you're right but if you have the time to spend you can find so many treasures.

Pamela said...

This looks like a movie set! I would love to experience a book stall and of course in Paris!!!
I love love to read!!

Great black and white photo!

Alexa said...

Merci, V—j'adore les bouquinistes! And I confess, I bought my daughter Kate a tacky souvenir from one of them (she collects magnets). Note to M: easy to get carried away in St. Etienne du Mont, isn't it?

Virginia said...

Alexa,
Don't get me wrong, I have bought a zillion ET keychains, well 19 for my third graders one trip, but these stalls are so rich with wonderful old posters, prints, magazines..... I hope they stay! BTW, in my new apt. in the butler's pantry I've framed two great prints I bought here in 2008. They are parfait!!!

Shell Sherree said...

Those stats are mind boggling. How lovely it must be, looking at your prints when you open the butler's pantry and thinking of Paris every time.

M said...

Alexa, you are absolutely right ... That church is a treasure trove of beautiful discoveries

Virginia, yes, RAN! I couldn't have done that last year but yoga has made an amazing difference!

Cinthia said...

Great B/N!

Thirtytwo degrees said...

Love the photo, and wonder how long it will be before these are gone. Border's closed its doors, the bus driver told me that modern tech has made it possible to read an ebook instead...so for collectibles, it may be worth a stop to visit a stand like this, but frankly, I think it will disappear in time.

James said...

Black and white adds to the timeless feel. Great choice.