Entre Les Murs

Coureur du Bois

I am still a long way from running out of unexplored routes in the Bois de Boulogne. There are so many roads and criss-crossing paths, I can take a turn on a whim and find myself somewhere I've never been before. The other day I discovered a route "sportif", a looping trail with some exercise equipment, like monkey bars or a wall, ever few hundred yards. I've been running by it for months without a clue it was there.

In the morning, when it's fresh and green and I'm tripping over fluffy little bunny rabbits, it's hard to imagine what can go on here at night. Earlier in the week I took another turn I hadn't before, and learned a little about that nighttime world, by its daytime spillover. Following a fairly busy road, I passed some women, loitering in that manner that suggests they're actually there for a reason and if you don't know what that reason is then it's none of your business. One striking individual in particular was tall, black, very sexy and possibly not a woman at all. My eyes open now, I noticed that there seemed to be a surprising number of plain white vans parked by the road, looking rather weathered and second hand - as did the women sitting in their front seats.

A little further on, I passed two policemen on motorcycles going up the path in the other direction.

posted 24.6.06