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July 27th, 2009
Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine, 7km West of Paris)
Coat of arms:
First house I lived in. In my street, there used to be a baker's, a convenience shop, a cobbler's, a café-restaurant with an open garden, another café, and a butcher's. Very unsual though for a residential area of that kind.
The butcher's, converted into a house. Most of the interesting architectural details have unfortunately been removed.
There used to be a railroad crossing our street with an old iron bridge and a small station house (above). Now converted into a leafy walkway (the rails stayed for a while until the path was covered in asphalt).
The small newsagent's shop on the other end of the street. Still there!
The primary school (reads 'school for girls' as boys and girls used to be split into different buildings until the 60's)
Some beautiful houses:
Enamel plate (reading the knickname of the house)
Other view of the previous house
Various interesting buildings:
A movie theatre converted into a supermarket (like most of them in the region)
My local tobacconist's (also a café), used to be called 'Le Balto'. If you click to enlarge the picture, you'll notice the 'Carotte', a typical advertising sign for tobacconists. It's meant to be the shape of a carrot but looks more like two traffic cones stuck together.
Ironmonger's: the best around. The owner ran that business all of his life with his brother (I think). They wore dark blue coats like in the good old times and the wife looked after the till locked in a small 'cage' in the back of the shop. Famously known for having absolutely 'everything' (possibly even condoms!), a first-class retailer.
A magnificent building (1930's?) with a huge square yard and the same building again behind.
I used to gaze at that building when I was visiting my grand-mother. Despite the stately outlook, these are council flats.
Below, a detail on the facade:
All pics from Google maps street view
I can't believe I forgot Snow-White house! Here it is:
The little granny who lived there had a whole set of Snow-White and her 7 dwarves in display. I was amazed!