Passages couverts et temps gelant

Another weekend came around, and Parisians born, bred and honorary (moi, merci) were to be found spitting many a gros mot in the direction of the umpteenth wave of Siberian weather and pain to hit the capital since 2013 began (putain, ça caille!

Long on my list to discover, the interlinking interweaving passages couverts of the 2nd were a way of navigating a quartier shielded from the elements whilst presumably also doing a bit of window-shopping, (or 'window-licking' as the french faire du lèche-vitrine literally and aptly translates).

Some now seem rather deserted and overlooked. Others arguably over-done or over-run (Passages des Panoramas - and yet still my favourite). All retain an overriding individual charisma and theme, despite the modern touch and tourism. This shot is from the Passage des Princes, an arcade of children's toy boutiques, wherein thanks must be included to the Lego store for helping us regain feeling in our frostbitten fingers...