Behind the Scenes at Stuart Ng Books: Huggable Koi in France 2016 -- Angouleme, Bordeaux, Paris UPDATED

Huggable Koi are handmade plush art by Bonnie Robinson Stewart. They are one-of-a-kind quilted creations in amazing colors. These are plush art with a festive spirit, based on the Japanese tradition of fish kites for the annual "boys day" celebrations. Huggable Koi also go on adventures.. as seen on their Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/huggablekoi/

For 2016, Huggable Koi #10 took a tour of France...

His journey began in the little village of Angouleme.. about 2 hours from Paris..

He was checking out the local scenery...

and was in town for the annual Comics festival...

The Angouleme town center has a large bust of comics artist Herge...

The village also has a farmers market that is only open in the mornings...

The comics festival is held inside large tents... here are some of the official festival souveniers..

and a glimpse of the crods...

Next stop.. Bordeaux!

Bordeaux is a gem of a city... full of period architecture and monuments...

and Comics stores!! Here Koi #10 visits with popular Japanese character "chi"

watch your step!

Fun displays!

Scenes from the town center..

The grand hotel... (in this case, a tourist hotel).http://www.ghbordeaux.com/uk/index.php#presentation-grand-hotel.php

Inside the Bordeaux Opera building..

Just one of the many outdoor monuments.. a giant fountain

with a big fish!

Back on the train .. for some time in Paris!

Near Notre Dame

famous Shakespeare and Co. bookstore..with its new cafe!https://shakespeareandcompany.com/

Outside Sainte Chapelle..

Inside!

Cafe life!

Souvenirs...

The Seine...

Even in winter.. flower shops are full of blooms!

Getting around is easy.. thanks to the Metro...

Paris has world famous museums!
This "steampunk" esque metro station

is near the Musee des arts et metiers..http://www.arts-et-metiers.net/musee/visitor-information

The building dates from the 1700s... and is full of all sorts of machines...

... as well as early scientific instruments...

Wow! Ceramic fish!

Exhibits on the history of textiles...

Fun hands-on exhibits for kids...

Even an explanation (all in French) for the rental bikes all around Paris...

For nature lovers.. there are many galleries to explore at the Natural History Museum...

Each building along this grassy mall houses a nature-themed collection...

The tropical green house on the grounds is a great escape on a wintry day..

It's not winter inside here!

Koi cousins enjoying life in Paris...

This plaque lets you touch all sorts of tropical trees....

Koi #10 also enjoyed seeing this portrait, based on the first Giraffe specimen .. the painting isn't very accurate, since it was based only the hide of the Giraffe.