lundi 23 septembre 2013

Public drinking fountains with carbonated water

This is a public drinking fountain with chilled carbonated water:


I knew these existed, but we weren't out looking for one.  We were just out for a stroll along la promenade plantée when we came across it.  La promenade plantée is a former metro viaduct, now converted to an elevated garden.  The original metro is now underground.  La promenade plantée is 4.5 km long, and it passed through several gardens along the way.  Gardens are one of the most attractive things about Paris.  There are the large famous ones of course, Jardin du Luxembourg and les Tuileries, but there are countless small charming public gardens, all well-frequented by Parisians.  It wasn't always like this.  In the 17th century there were apparently zero public gardens on the right bank.  So where did they come from?  Former palaces, every one.  Even les Tuileries was formerly a palace and its grounds - must have been a mighty big palace.  And at least part of today's le Jardin du Luxembourg was formerly the grounds of a palace belonging to the de Medicis.  But mostly they were smaller, only half a block size or so.  All of these palaces were destroyed by republicans (mostly burned) sometime during the revolution, or some time during the 19th century, which was a time of continual conflict between monarchists and republicans.  Some were of surpassing beauty it is said, and full of rare art.  But the gardens are better, if you're not aristocracy.  Actually, the central Paris of today is largely 19th century, a little is 18th century, and it is only the rare occasional building that is older.  Such as le cathédral Notre Dame de Paris.  Which is awesome in any case, and stupefying when you know it dates to 1163.

Don't believe me that Paris has fountains with sparkling water?  http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2013/09/11/sparking_water_fountains_italian_and_french_cities_have_them_can_we.html

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