We may have been accepted. Not by Harvard, nor Oxford, nor McGill. That would be easier. We may have been accepted by Arsenal. We don’t yet know for sure.
Arsenal is the marina, the Port de Plaisance, in the heart of Paris. It sits at the foot of Place de la Bastille – the birthplace of the French Revolution.
It is a lovely spot. (Many more photos of Arsenal in Chapter 54.)
Below is Leander – slightly longer but otherwise identical to Aleau. Here’s hoping that we get the okay to spend Christmas in Paris. We, too, would put up some festive lights.
Being accepted is no small feat. The application form requires detailed information on the boat – including photos. We actually found one taken at Arsenal when Aleau’s previous owner had been given permission to enter. Maybe the flowers helped. We have been told we’ll get a definite answer in early 2022.
Once you have applied, you cross your fingers – and wait. We have a friend, a fellow Piper owner, who had to wait seven years before finally being allowed to moor at Arsenal.
We have asked for a mooring spot from October 1, 2022 through April 30, 2023. Why do I get the feeling that – if we’re accepted – we’ll have a lot of friends who will want to come visit? And I hope they do. Sharing Aleau and exploring Paris with them would be a joy.