Cough, cough

On a chilly, clear afternoon this week, I strolled along the cours Albert 1er, then crossed over toward the Seine. Rising up from under the pont de l'Alma was a billowing cloud of blue smoke. I wasn't the only pedestrian who was alarmed and scurried over to the edge of the bridge to see what was on fire.

No fire. Just the Bateaux-Mouches idling, then revving their engines before chugging upstream.

Time for a tune-up and an emissions-control check, captain?