Jardin du Luxembourg

A Walk In The Park

 Beautiful building design on the the way to Luxembourg Gardens.

 We just imagine what this block looks like when this manicured trees are leaved out in Summer

You see it all over Paris — young boys (and girls) playing ball and enjoying outside activities. Yesterday (while we baked in the wood-fired oven in Montreuil) we watched a dozen kids for nearly four hours — until sunset! That doesn't mean they aren't "connected," they just aren't stuck behind a desk for hours at a time (like kids in the US).

 The French Senate is located at the north end of Luxembourg Park.

 In the Summer this big pool in the park is filled with tiny battery-operated boats.

 The park's famous "green chairs" are all ready for Spring and Summer visitors.

 "Checking in"..... wireless service is plentiful and cheap in Paris --- that is if you're French, and have mobile service. "Free" wi-fi is free to French customers, but it not open to visitors. Arrange an international data package if you want service here like you have in the US.

 The shape of these rows of trees has been developed over many years of careful pruning.

 So classic...

 Pigeons everywhere!

 Spring flowers in a bed near the side of the Senate.

 Empty tables in a small park restaurant, coffeehouse.

 Merry-go-round ride operator holds out "rings" for riders to snag as they ride round and round, seen at many parks around Paris.

Flowers at a stand just outside the park — on the way home.

A Sunday In Paris

Sunday In Paris

There's no easier way to get around Paris than by Metro....and while it ain't cheap, it sure is amazing. Once you've learned a few French words — and how this elaborate system works — you can get almost anywhere in this city within an hour. Since we're taking a few side trips, we scoped out train stations Sunday and this metro station was Gare de l'Est.

Hungry for take-out? At Sunday's Organic Raspail market you had lots of choices including pork, sausages, potatoes and sauerkraut (choucroute garnie) or seafood paella...either one sold from gigantic steaming pans.

Of course there was plenty of bread (by the pound) and flowers by the bouquet. Its a while before Easter and although it's a bit warmer her than at home, the flower selection is still more Winter than Spring. Even so, it's easy to find greenery for a Parisian apartment.... flower stores and booths and market stalls are as easy to find as are bakeries.

Strawberries, limes, and berries and plums, artichokes,  and (below) zucchini, cabbage and eggplants.

Thanks to (former San Francisco now Parisian) blogger and author David Lebovitz we learned about Holybelly....a great not-so-usual Paris restaurant and coffee hangout. We've been there twice (and likely will return) for their friendliness and their fare.

Just down Rue Lucien Simpaix  a bit (from HolyBelly) is  Liberté, a great new boulangerie with an interesting take on bread and pastries. Their sandwiches hit the spot. Alas we visited the area the wrong day to check out their next-door neighbor The Sunken Chip... it was closed.

Big loaves — cut to order. For some varieties, we've consider this and may try it this year. Customers...what do you think?

Liberté makes an amazing chocolate bread — very similar to one we'll be featuring regularly this year at the Bayview Farmers Market.

We wonder what this city looks like in Spring, Summer and Fall when empty trees, bushes and vines are leaved out. We love our Winter visits, but would love to see this marvelous city in all its splendor.

Train stations are amazingly busy, bustling centers of activity and when a train says it leaves at 12:55, you'd better be on board because it pulls out the exact moment the clock changes from 12:54:59.

Lots of market cheese and new to the French markets is kale, while a staple in the PNW, it something new here and still very rarely seen.

Wines, ciders, and roses add beauty and color to everyday life.

Fresh eggs sold by the "ones" or half dozen....(or dozen)

Elaborate displays of vegetables (and fruits) and jams and jellies, the "sweet/tart" cherry is to die for!

Hungry for something to eat...how about a crepe....or a big loaf of bread to munch on?

On Rue du Cherche-Midi you'll find chocolate shops, the beautiful wheat-stalk door handle at the famous Poilane Boulangerie, interesting jewelry and exquisite clothing.

Glance up and you see an amazing variety of architectural styles and colors

Brioche with sucre and pizza squares piled high with wonderful toppings.

Fancy individual cakes come in rounds and rectangle shapes.

Sunday along the Seine....murky water (from runoff) and tourist busses near Notre Dame

Looking for a pet? Plenty of the colored feathered kinds for sale each week.

Bikers whiz by and pedestrians stroll along by the Seine. And at Les Halles, checking out progress of the new redevelopment of the area. And finally, back near our apartment we love the artwork on this Raspail Boulevard building.