Hello from the Port d’Arsenal in Paris
Submitted by on Mon, 21/08/2023 - 21:10
The Commodore says hello from Port d’Arsenal the major marina for the Paris Basin. It has 250 moorings and is situated in between the Place de la Bastille with it’s Metro and at the other end the Seine with great views of the restoration work being done on the spire of Notre Dame.
It is a short 2-3hr motor with 3 locks from our annual mooring at the sister marina Fayolle Plaisance in Nogent sur Marne. A requirement to obtain an annual mooring is to be out of your home port for a minimum of 21 days. This was instituted by Mayor Chirac when the commercial port was converted to residential.
A short walk along the Rive Droite are three barges providing hospitality to the thirsty and hungry revellers fleeing from the Rive Gauche. One of these barges “Les Maquereaux" is owned by the same organisation that has taken over the running of Le Matelot now called “La Guinguette des Maquereaux” next to the Capitainerie at Nogent sur Marne. The accordionist is on holiday but by the look of it they are making a great success and furthermore I can get half a litre of Grolsch on draft!
August may not be the best time for Parisians to be in Paris but the weather and free parking are a big bonus for sightseers! Soon the rugby World Cup finals and then the Olympics will be here. On the river in Nogent sur Marne the oarsmen and women are practicing hard.
