Chapter 1159: 1065

Chapter 1159: Chapter 1065

Today is the opening day of the zoo, and also the public holiday “Game Day,” so tens of thousands of Parisians gathered here.

However, tickets are limited, and a third of the people didn’t get tickets, leaving them anxiously waiting outside—fortunately, the zoo management said earlier that there might be additional tickets sold at 4 p.m.

Dressed in casual clothes, Joseph and Alexandra struggled to squeeze to the front gate, where Kesode handed a bunch of tickets to the check-in staff. The group entered through the gate under envious eyes from countless citizens who couldn’t get tickets.

The Russian Princess, who had always adhered to rules since childhood, was pulled by Joseph through the bustling crowd and felt a sense of unprecedented freedom.

This is also why Joseph didn’t come here as the Crown Prince, as otherwise it wouldn’t be any different from viewing animals in the Versailles Palace Garden. Moreover, the Imperial Guard would certainly cause chaos among the tourists.

After some distance, Joseph bought two large whirlwind potato towers from a roadside stall and handed one to Alexandra.

The little girl looked at the surrounding crowd, hesitated, and asked, “Are you saying we eat here? It doesn’t seem very proper…”

Joseph blew on the freshly fried potato tower and took a big bite as an example for her.

The Crown Princess smiled knowingly, took a bite, and nodded with a muffled sound, “Hmm, it’s delicious!”

The two walked past the cage of squealing long-tailed monkeys, and Alexandra looked back confusedly, “Your Highness, why are there only small animals? I mean, where are the cages for lions and leopards?”

Joseph pointed to the hills ahead, “Over there, but they’re not confined in cages.”

“Ah?” The little girl was surprised, “Are beast tamers showcasing them along the road?”

Joseph shook his head mysteriously, “No beast tamers either.”

Alexandra’s eyes suddenly lit up, “That’s wonderful! It’s thrilling…wait, shouldn’t I grab a handgun?”

Outside Sasha Zoo’s gates.

Mrs. Naselli hugged her crying little son and turned to complain to her husband, “We should’ve gone to watch the game today. Although there’s no suspense in the match between the Sword Team and Saint Anthony Team.”

Mrs. Naselli, holding her daughter’s hand, looked at the endless queue in front of the ticket window and sighed, “Looks like it’s unlikely we’ll get the additional tickets this afternoon either…”

The little boy in the father’s arms cried even harder upon hearing this.

A boy around fourteen or fifteen squeezed in and winked at Mr. Naselli, whispering, “Sir, do you need tickets?”

If Joseph were here, he would definitely find the boy familiar—it was the same boy who begged in the alley behind Paris Angel Exclusive Store years ago.

Naselli was ecstatic, “Of course! I need two adult tickets and two children’s tickets.”

The boy retrieved 4 tickets from his pocket and handed them over, “5 francs 2 sous in total, sir.”

“So expensive!” Mrs. Naselli exclaimed, “Adult tickets are 6 sous, children’s tickets just 2…”

“Madam, you see, I queued at two in the morning and finally managed to buy a few tickets. I haven’t slept all night, just so I can buy some bread for my sister. Could you be kind?”

Mrs. Naselli shook her head, but her husband squeezed the banknotes in his pocket, clenched his teeth, “4 francs, I’ll take them.”

“4 francs 5 sous, the lowest price.”

“Alright.” Naselli gritted his teeth and handed over the money.

He’s not a wealthy man, just an ordinary mover at Antoine Copper Factory. Two years ago, he wouldn’t have spent so much just for a family outing.

But over the past few years, with the factory’s good earnings, the workers’ wages have increased twice, and he now earns 32 francs a month.

Additionally, his wife occasionally helps people wash clothes, bringing the family’s monthly income to over 45 francs.

Since the end of last year, each Paris district began having preparatory physicians offering free medical services, significantly reducing their family expenses.

Over two years, they’ve saved more than 60 francs.

The children had been looking forward to playing at the zoo for half a month now, and he didn’t want to disappoint them.

4 francs 5 sous, he could afford it.

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There’s still a bit undone; please refresh in half an hour for more. Apologies.

Saint Michel Square (La place Saint-Michel) is the heart of Paris. From its riverbank, you can see the beautiful silhouette of Notre Dame de Paris. Across it is the Palais de Justice, and to the east is the Louvre.

The famous fountain at Saint Michel is at the center of the square, always bustling with people. Apart from curious tourists, it attracts various meet-ups—Saint Michel Fountain has become Paris’s most famous dating spot.

To the west of the square, behind a kiosk, there is a small street called Ihondale Street.

The Mint, built in 1771, has a magnificent exterior spanning 120 meters. Before 1973, it was a factory for producing coins and medals; today, it’s a museum.

Continue along the Conti River Embankment (le quai de Conti), enjoying a distant view of the Louvre’s exterior along the Seine River, and without realizing it, you’ll see the famous French Academy.

The French Academy is France’s academic authority and a major component of the French Academy. It consists of 40 lifetime academicians; only when one passes away can a new one be elected.

The French Academy concentrates the highest authority in France’s academic circles and holds high prestige among the French public.

Continuing along the river embankment, turn left into Bona Barte Street (rue Bonaparte), where many interesting shops can be found.

Walk along the exterior of the giant building ahead, and soon you’ll reach the famous National Academy of Fine Arts (L’école nationale des Beaux-Arts).

The French existentialist philosopher and author of “Being and Nothingness” (L’être et le néant), Sartre, lived at 42 Bona Barte Street from 1947 to the 1960s.

5: National Academy of Fine Arts

The National Academy of Fine Arts is one of the most renowned art schools in France, nurturing numerous outstanding artists.

You can freely tour the school, and many sculptures in its small courtyard are artworks worth appreciating. The school’s architecture is magnificent, covering a two-hectare site.

Continuing down Bona Barte Street, past four intersections, before turning onto the famous Saint-Germain Avenue (boulevard Saint-Germain), you should first visit the ancient Saint-Germain-des-Prés Church (église Saint-Germain-des-Prés).

Saint-Germain Avenue and its adjacent alleys gather numerous world-famous fashion and shoe stores (like Armani, Kenzo, Maxmara, LV). Though the storefronts are small, the merchandise is quite expensive.

Saint-Germain Avenue houses several historic and distinctive cafes, such as Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots.

Flore Cafe has always been favored by literati. Especially after World War II, writers frequenting the cafe with a trend of writing on-site became fashionable, and each celebrity has their fixed seat.