


Yoko Kaise
Official French Government Guide
She has lived in France since 1998.
She has lived in Lyon and Bordeaux, and is currently working as an interpreter guide in Paris, guiding and explaining about the Louvre and the Palace of Versailles, as well as wine and gastronomy.
9.5.2022
DAYS/ Yoko Kaise Column
The greatest joy
I thought it was Paris, but it was the Jungle

Saturday, August 13.. 2022
It was hot that day.
Since the beginning of August, I have been walking lazily for going to the market.
It takes about 15minutes on foot, but i took more for looking for flowers to take pictures.
Due to the heat wave this year, the dryness is severe, my skin and the plants also seem to be painful.
There are drinking fountains everywhere along the way, it's difficult to use because there are quite a lot of people lined up.
It seems that there are fewer people jogging than usual, moreover, many people are passing me with painful breathing.
I don't think it's necessary to go that far, but i know how hard it's to restant once i stop.
I also thought about taking a bus on the way home.
Temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of 34℃ that day, also, this number is the shade temperature, the sunny side is hotter.
It's been like this for the past few days, so i've heard ambulance sirens frequently.
A fan is not very useful in this situation.
The other day, when i met my friend at the Pompidou Center, i was lucky when i was asked to stay inside the building without thinking too much about it, chairs available, so the work progressed when the air conditioning worked for about an hour.
I was saved.
According to some news, the temperature could rise to 50℃ by 2050.. You are kidding!
Even though the corona problem is not over yet, the next problem is already?
No, the story of rising temperatures hasn't just started.
Anyway, i can no longer imagine a world without problems today, everyone is squeezing out the wisdom that they have to do something about it.

I have noticed a few things about Paris.
It happened step by step rather than simultaneously and no one took the initiative other than the teddy bear(we will call “Kuma-chan”.
So, as for this bears, they are called <Gobelin kuma-chan>.
Gobelin is the name of an area in the 13th arrondissement of Paris.
The owner of the book store there found it hence the name.
At that time, due to the corona wreck, the local residents and the shops all, met at the most difficult time, so it to became a topic of discusson.
First, in order to create space between tables and chairs in cafes and restaurants, we devised ways to have jarge Kuma-chans sit down so that the opposite sides do not get close to each other.
Eventually, when restaurants were closed or restrictions were imposed on take-out only, several Kuma-chans were displayed in the restaurant to send a message to customer.
Certainly, at that time, people working
in the food and beverage, of course everyone can't go to restaurants = you can't enjoy eating with your friends or loved ones.
For example, we were deprived of an important routine of the day such as the morning cafe it was a time when i was in the depths of despair, so Kuma-chan's presence was huge.
However, there was something i didn't understand about the treatment that Kuma-chan received when the restaurant reopened.
Kuma-chan suddenly disappeared from Paris.
No, i think it's probably been put away somewhere, but thanks to Kuma-chan, we were saved mentally, i stopped seeing Kuma-chans with permisson to open a restaurant.
As if Kuma-chan is the root of all evil.



In stead, i began to see strange things in Parisian cafes and restaurants.
It's a Shaggy flower that has begun to decorate of the eaves of the buildings roof.
The first time i saw it was in a news article on the internet, but the information quickly spread, queues have formed in front of restaurant that have received particular attention.
A friend of mine who went to eat there was very impressed and told me a lot about it.
It seems the food was a typical cafe dish, but she was quite excited by the flowing flower decorations like a waterfall.
So, i went all the way there, to take pictures after all, there were many other people who liked leisure time, things like that, the inside of the restaurant was packed, and outside, there were a lot of young girls except me.
When i heard about it, i wondered what i would do if you entered such a place and got caught up in the infection among an intimate at the time many people were critical of especially for me, whether or not it suits my tastes, it's undeniable that the feeling of waiting to be excited was strong.
The Shaggy flower decorations spread out to restaurants, and some flower shops.
At first, i was happy to take pictures, but i gradually got bored.
Still, i started seeing them all over town.
Even so, who was the first to think of this?
I wonder if there was anything left behind, so i tooked into it.
It's possible.
And great harvest for me.
It's a flower shop near the Arc de Triomphe, rather, it led to the unexpected discovery of the existence of a flower artist.
The name of the artist is Luc Duchamp, <Fleuriste Duchamp>of Paris 17th arrondissement seems to be the inventor of what i call a Shaggy.
Luc Duchamp learned flower arrangement by himself.
In addition to being Shaggy, it's also a case for hat (la boîte à chapeau)、Straw(le Paillon)、Small bowl (petit pot)and also known as dried flowers.
This is irresistible for flower lovers.
Furthermore, recently, in stead of flowers, i have started to see green bushy grass here and there.
It's like Paris is a Jungle.
This is not an artificial product, it looks a little less beautiful than flattering when it dries up.
It seems to be the appeal of those who are not in favor of flowers made of cloth, this jungle style has been around for quite some time, with the idea of 21st century star architect Jean Nouvel,for example, in Paris, there is the Quai Branly Jacques Chirac Museum(Opened 2006) or Cartier Contemporary Art Foundation (Opened 1994)、where you can see.
Very recently, i'm relieved that Kuma-chans are returning to some cafes and restaurants.
For the 2024 Olympics, to transform Paris, a place where various institutions, including Mayor are desperate, these days, it's essential that cafes and restaurants get back on their feet and become even more exciting.
On the other hand, i think that i have support them, i was a bit worried about what would happen if something went wrong and lost the Parisianness.
5.5.2022
DAYS/ Yoko Kaise Column
The greatest joy
Do you know the Coulée Verte?

There are various weather forecasts in France, it hits or doesn't hit.
In addition, because the country is large, it's undeniable that there are differences.
Under such circumstances, i will spend most of this summer in Paris.
Whether it's comfortable or not.
I used to go out and swim mostly in summer, but i havn't been far from Paris area for three years now.
Especially, around August, how to live happily in Paris, which is still empty.
Not to mention the utilizatiom of Bercy Park, which often called “my gardan”, i have to come this year and go i have to utilize Coulée Verte.
“What is Coulée Verte?”
I'm prepared to be asked the question one after another.
Not surprisingly known,to put it simply, it is also known as Promenade Plante in the olden days, it developed a railroad track from Bastille to Porte de Vincennes.
The shops, restaurants and Art Gallery was put in the removed part, so the named is called Viaduc des Arts. What's interesting is that most of the shops are showrooms for craftsman on Furniture or Music instruments, you have to wait for them to ring the doorbell or make a reservation.
Even so, there are several stores, such as clothings, accessories stores. that can deal with sudden visits, after taking a walk on the Coulée Verte, it's really fun to eat in this Viaduc des Arts or going around the shops.
Well, where do you start? I'm always in the Avenue Daumesnil from the station, go down the slope in the direction of Bastille, turn right at the first one and at the end, then turn left at the end, proceed a little to the merry-go-round, cross the bridge and go straight.
There are many others ways to get there, Gare de Lyon is close by and there are elevators here and there,
however, this is often unusable, so it may not be very reliable.
Of course, you can also enter from the Bastille side, but this is difficult to understand.
Well, let's start from the place where you crossed the bridge.
A hat is must because you walk a little closer to the sky. Don't forget also the water!
The scenery is nice and comfortable.
Flowers and a small pond.
The irises were beautiful im May.
How many kinds of plants are there mainly roses?
In addition to flowers, there are also bamboo and willow, which create a cool atmosphere.
There are benches everywhere, so if you get tired, just sit down and rest.
However, it may not be suitable for
people who are eating bento boxes.
The problem with French parks is that they have a picnic and litter the trash around there.
In fact, the problem of rat is endless
Sometimes i see staff who take care of flowers and trees, you have to understand that they are not working for garbage.
Well, after walking for about 15 minutes, if you look carefully on the leftside, yot can see the strange things.

Those who can say “What is that?”
are passable for the moment.
What were you passed?
It's just mini test agree by me, as an art lover, the rest is no use.
I want to shake hands with those who answered that the Louvre Museum.
Even so, if you told me that there should have been one, i wonder if he would already be crowned.
Yes, that Michelangelo sculpture the other one is a slave of rebeillon and about 15 works displayed in the building you are looking at are dye slaves.
“Why are they in such a place?”
This building is a police station.
I forge why, but i also had a theft report, or i had only been inside once, at that time, the atmosphere was not so friendly that i could not ask the policemen standing outside.
I guess it was the idea of the original owner of this building.
It's a mystery so far.
Now, if you go further, there are three unique benches on your right.

This is an installation that won a competition previously hosted by the 12th arrondissement of Paris.
It's really well done and you can actually sit down.
Not long ago, the couple was sitting down.


Furthermore, people who like architecture may like it, for example the house on the left is an haussmannien style mansion (classic -style like a castle aristocrats live)are lined up, an british-style mansion is on the right, there are places where you can take a walk while watching this at the same time.
In addition, there are places where housing estates are accidentally built side by side whthout any relation.
From such a place, the smell of spicy fried food comes at noon.
“It's acras?”
Acras is a Caribbean dish and is fried cod. An item that makes it goes very well with beer in the hot summer, when you can feel the seasoning of herbs and spices
Actually, the manager of my appartment lives in first floor, he always eat fried food at meal time, i'm getting used to this smell day by day.
I think acras is a popular dish in France. Actually, i hadn't liked it in the past, but now, i especially love it as a snack for beer.
While thinking about it, and taking a pictures depending on the condition of the sun, for example, even in the same scenery, it's possible to enjoy two completely different scenery by making good use of the back light.
And at the end of circuit, street art will welcome you, so you can see it right away.
If you go down the stairs and walk a little, yot will reach Bastille, or you can turn back and it may be called shopping, or you may just see it, at Viaduc des Arts.
If it's just lunch time, there are several cafes and restaurants nearby, or i'll recommend some nice restaurants that you can't find in Champs- Elysées or Opéra. because you came to the outskirts of Paris,
Le Train Blue, located in the Gare de Lyon station, is famous, so if you want to experience traditional French cuisine, also, the interior is wonderful, so you go even if the price is a little expensive. Also, although the type is completely different. i also recommend a japanese style bento shop.
The chef is Japanese, it's delicious like japanese food without ordering authentic ingredients from Japan, so it's good for local Japanese and French people as well.
<Le Train Bleu>
Place Louis- Armand 75012
Paris, Gare de Lyon
tél +33(0)143430906
Open daily
<KOTO-KOTO>
128.Rue de Charenton 75012
tél+33(0)143444729
lunch only
Close Saturday & Sunday Holidays
If yot like, just for reference.
Well, this time (it's up to you whether it's useful like this), i tryed to pack a lot of information, in particular, Coulée Verte is definitely recommended, also you can go jogging other than taking a walk.
So if you come to Paris, try and enjoy,

