Partager the Day at Jardin du Luxembourg

Whenever I need a stroll, I find myself on Bus 82 , heading for the Jardin du Luxembourg.  I find it to be one of the most entertaining, restores my soul, and great photo ops - type of place.  Sunning, strolling, eating, and just plain day-dreaming is what you can enjoy here.  The fountain at the heart of the park is surrounded by those lovely green metal chairs, perfect for watching the clouds go by ... or catching the latest fashions saunter by ... lovers walking arm in arm.  The elegant formal gardens allow you to feel a bit like royalty during your stay.  
I highly recommend the canelle, citron, or chestnut spread crepes ... there are many stands and cafés that you will find on your walk through the garden, while witnessing the serious chess tournaments or bridge games, pony rides, tai-chi, ... just to to name a few activities that are always available for viewing ...    

The bandstand, on the east side of the park, near the large café, usually has music and dancing that I’m often tempted to join in the dancing or the singing ... if I only knew the words, the dancing I could make up ... oh , and I almost forgot ... 

Paris’ oldest museum, The Musee du Luxembourg, is hidden away in a corner of the park.  The museum where I fell deep in love with Lalique.

There is plenty to do for young and old alike, summer or winter, so here’s some of the highlights of the park, not to be missed!

The Medicis Fountain

The Orangerie which houses temporary exhibits

Pony rides and Puppet theaters

Tennis courts

Chess and bridge tournaments 

Location: Place Edmond Rostand, 6th arrondissement

Metro: Odeon or Cluny La Sorbonne (Lines 4, 10)RER: Luxembourg (Line B)Bus: Lines 27, 38, 82, 83, 85, 89

"Place tout ton bonheur dans l'instant"

André Gide

PPxx

Partager Paris Shopping ...

When Alex was here, we did our share of wandering around Paris, and always managing to find new shopping grounds.  If you are in need of some nice tennis shoes, very colorful, and more for fashion than sport, this is the place for you to visit, and maybe find the perfect color combination for you.  There are plenty to chose from!  

Take a look at the "Legion of Nao" ... 

Happy Shopping!

PPxx

"la vie, c'est ici et maintenant, et non pas là-bas, et plus tard" 

Lêche Vitrine

window licking in the 5th arrondissement

Much of my free time, I spend wandering around ... Léche vitrine, or licking windows ... as the french say  so appropriately.  The windows of the small stores in the 5th arrondissement are works of art, sculptures of merchandise, continually changing, vitrine in cours, visions of inspiration ... I could go on ... this vitrine had that special something that caught my eye ... how much is that kitty in the window?

While in Paris, remember to take some time to wander and appreciate the quiet surprises waiting for you.

PPxx
Aujourd'hui, un nouveau soleil se lève pour moi ; tout, semble-t-il, me parle de ma passion, tout m'invite à la chérir ...
Anne de Lenclos
(just for you Michael)

Partager 11-11-11!

Celebrating 11-11-11 on rue des Ecoles

also the best Viennoise pastry in Paris

Try it sometime on your way back from the Musée de la Histoire de la Medicine

PPxx

Partager La Canal de L'Ourcq

A day by the canal ... In Paris, you run into surprises all the time.  I think it should be called the city of Surprises, along  with the City of Lights...thank you Jim Morrison.

The day was to start with some fellow photogs; a tour alongside the canal to visit some photo expositions that had been organized by fellow photographers more industrious than me.  They were staggered alongside the canal of  La Villette, also known as the Canal de L'Ourcq.

Before we could make it to the first exposition, we were surrounded by music and lots of Pink ... yes, for a good cause, these lovely guys were playing their hearts out.  Pulling ourselves away from the tunes, we tromped en masse to the first of many expositions just off the canal, weaving ourselves around these little streets, following the leader's baton, passing by the old and new buildings, married side-by-side,  a 5-block, at least!, brocante/vide-greniers (Parisien style garage sales), then after enjoying, observing, listening to the inspiration leading to these expositions, we circled our way back to the canal.  

Now here is the surprise! Near the end of our tour, we found a festival of the regions of France celebrating their specialities.   The stands, end to end, with many tables, family-style, covered the whole end of the pavement, along with a huge smiling (and chewing happily) crowd.   Each of us rambled off to our favorite region, tasting several along the way ... guess which regions I visited?  Yes, the champagne and chocolate regions were first!! 

Take some time to visit the canal at La Villette when you are here; there is always something going on... Its another one of those secret places of Paris, that is definitely off the tourist paths.   A great place to spend the day with your camera.


There is a lovely large restaurant called La Rotonde de la Villette, old customs office, that could be a good place to end the day ... enjoy the view of the bassin de la Villette, or if you catch it just right, the perfect place to catch la coucher de soleil, sunset, with  a very chilled glass of champagne...

 Another  lovely end to a lovely day in Paris.
And thanks to all the motivated photographers of Paris who share their "vues" of this beautiful city.


PPxx