Lost in Paris …. four decades ago

It is a simple rule which in the past I seldom adhered to.

Busy streets, 1981

And that is …. always record where you were when you took a picture.

At the window, 1981

All of which means that these images of Paris could be anywhere in that city.

The best I can say is that we stayed somewhere in Montmartre in one of those “bijou” little hotels, high on charm, often a tad shabby and relatively cheap.

I was there with one of my sisters and because it was the summer and we were both at a loose end we decided on an adventure in that "City of Lights”.

Neither of us had been there and it all seemed exciting which it was.

In my case a train from Manchester to London, staying in the family home in Eltham.

Then the two of us travelled down to the coast, whizzed across on the Hovercraft, and picked up another train for the Gare du Nord.

And the rest is a long weekend in Paris in August.

Somewhere, 1981

It was hot, we were hot, all of which was confirmed the decision of those Partisans who can quit the city was a sound idea.

As I recalled we did the tourist bits and along the way took in lots that were off the tourist trail.

What is now remarkable but wasn’t then was that it was all done by an old-fashioned travel agent.  He did the lot, booked the various tickets, reserved the hotel which was all done from the office next to Chorlton Post Office.

Anyone who remembers Simpson’s travel agent will remember a place full of posters advertising excursions by train, mystery tours by coach, and those all in one packaged holidays to places hot.

Passing the time, 1981

Location; Paris

Pictures; unknown and unremembered places in Paris, 1981 from the collection of Andrew Simpson