On a very hot day in Paris, one of the most relaxing walks you can take to escape the heat is along the Canal Saint Martin. Located near Place de la République, its construction was ordered by Napoléon at the beginning of the 19th century. Nowadays, the barges transporting food and other goods have been replaced by narrow boats travelling along the canal for the delight of tourists and Parisians alike. 

A fan of the beautiful "Hôtel du Nord" movie by Marcel Carné (1938) starring Arletty, I made Dan watch it during one of our cheese and wine nights. Since he enjoyed it so much, we decided that we'd pop by the hotel, which still exists the next time we visited Paris, and so we did. We usually wait for the end of the day to drink cocktails, but how could we resist the perfectly named "Atmosphere" cocktail? 

Full of independent shops, bars and restaurants, the streets along the canal are classic Paris, so make sure you visit the area next time you find yourself in the French capital. 

Nina

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