A simple rainy day

Poster of Bridgette Bardot

As we passed by a bookstore window that displays a vintage poster featuring the actress, singer, and animal rights activist Bridgette Bardot, who was born in the 15th arrondissement, in the same neighborhood where we live in the summertime.

She was born in an early 20th century apartment building, at 5 Place Violet, across from the fire station which is housed in a former chateau.  Her father, Louis Bardot, was an engineer who owned factories, and her mother's maiden name was Anne-Marie Mucel.

Until several years ago when it was spruced up, Place Violet looked a little tattered.  But it is pretty nice now.  When Bridgette was born in 1934, the building at number 5 would have been fairly new.  While Bridgette was still small, the Bardot family moved to a 2-room apartment the Avenue de la Bourdonnais in the 7th arrondissment.  During wartime Paris, the family managed to find and move into a 9-room apartment in the classy 16th arrondissement.  Bridgette's father's factories must have done well during the war.

For her good works, at one point Bridgette was to be inducted in the French Legion of Honor -- but she refused.

Bridgette is 84 years old now, and has retired to her home in Saint Tropez, where she lives remarkably simply.

We dined remarkably simply at home last night, and then went out for a walk over to the boulevard Saint Germain.  It had rained for hours in the afternoon, so the air and the city were fresh and clean.

Here are a few photos from the walk:

Place Jacques Bainville, off the boulevard Saint Germain (above),
and Les Invalides (below).