Bay City, Michigan
May 26, 2022
A surprising amount of photographic opportunities in the small hamlet of Paris, Michigan. Certainly more than I expected.
It's fun that there is a replica of the Eiffel Tower here (see below). At 20 feet tall, it ranks behind the Eiffel Towers in Las Vegas; Paris, Texas; and Paris, Tennessee and might be larger than the one in Atlanta. Pretty sure it is taller than the one in Paris, Kentucky and the one in Sonoma County, California and certainly taller than the one in Salt Lake City. I'm creating this list from recall -- chances are I am leaving one out.
Is there a category of hotel below one star? This place looked dangerous.
Glad you don't have to belong to use the laundromat -- but I did not check it out anyhow.
The liquor, beer, grocery and convenience store of Paris.
I was surprised that this well-done replica of the Eiffel Tower is back in the woods of the Paris Park. I would have thought it would have had a more prominent place in town.
The old Ice House in town had a wonderful display of the history of Paris. I did my best to get a decent photo of each exhibit.
I couldn't pass up camping in Paris -- although it wasn't the bargain I thought it would be -- $39 for a site with electric (which I don't need but they did not have "primitive" sites). I had a wonderful conversation with the fellow who checked me in -- we talked for at least twenty minutes. He was not an "old timer" but he has been through a lot; lost his father two years ago and his wife to cancer last year. He buried her in northern Michigan where he hopes to move soon so that he will always be close to her. He had a Willie Nelson pony tail, missing most of his teeth and said that he's put on weight since he lost his wife. Works at the park because it needs some TLC and it keeps him busy. He told me all about the park and the history of the town. Told me about hunting bear and deer. Said he had been to Richmond -- or somewhere outside there a few years ago. Liked Virginia. I laughed and smiled as we talked, thinking how wonderful it was that this guy didn't judge me in my Vineyard Vines quarter zip and madras shirt -- I certainly wasn't judging him by his appearance. I told him that I was visiting all the Paris' in the United States and that his was #53; I was surprised but glad he really had no reaction.
One of the greatest gifts of this wanderabout has been conversations like that. Just two people talking. No pretense, no expectations. I hope he felt my empathy for his losses; I could tell they weigh heavy on him. Our conversation made a deposit into my soul; it felt good.
I splurged and got a sausage and pineapple pizza. It was tasty!
