A memory of Luxembourg Gardens: Mother's Day, 2020. I believe it was the day before the first lockdown ended. We had been stuck in our apartment in the 8th for several weeks (6 weeks? 8? It's hard to remember now) and I wanted to get out for Mother's Day. We drove to Luxembourg Gardens. Technically, it was sill the time when one was allowed to travel only one mile from one's apartment. The gardens were locked, as they would remain for some time, but we walked around the gates peeking in. My husband, son, and I were strolling when a police car skidded to a stop on the street in front of us. 4 police got out--in Paris the police drive these tiny cars, and they always sit four to a car--and swarmed us, yelling about our attestation papers and ID. Eventually I found my passport and handed it to one of the policemen. He seemed surprised, told his colleagues, and they let us off with a reminder to go home immediately. It was the first and only time in Paris that my diplomatic passport was helpful!
my partner richard and i spent 3 morning a week taking tai chi with charles a master from china. then, cafe de la mairie or la palette for coffee and rue de seine
My first trip to Paris was 1960. As a child, the high point of the day was getting out of our stuffy pension after eating a hard roll with chocolat chaud for a visit to gardens. Sometimes we would go to Les Tuileries, but I found them too formal, dusty, and austere. The best was always Luxembourg -- full of grass, trees, statues, and fountains, not to mention being overrun with other happy children my age. And the main thing I wanted to do was sit by the fountain and watch the other children sail their wooden boats, chasing them across the water with guiding sticks. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day, and so wanted to sail one myself, but never did. I now go back to Luxembourg on every trip to Paris and an immediately transported back to a happy childhood.
A memory of Luxembourg Gardens: Mother's Day, 2020. I believe it was the day before the first lockdown ended. We had been stuck in our apartment in the 8th for several weeks (6 weeks? 8? It's hard to remember now) and I wanted to get out for Mother's Day. We drove to Luxembourg Gardens. Technically, it was sill the time when one was allowed to travel only one mile from one's apartment. The gardens were locked, as they would remain for some time, but we walked around the gates peeking in. My husband, son, and I were strolling when a police car skidded to a stop on the street in front of us. 4 police got out--in Paris the police drive these tiny cars, and they always sit four to a car--and swarmed us, yelling about our attestation papers and ID. Eventually I found my passport and handed it to one of the policemen. He seemed surprised, told his colleagues, and they let us off with a reminder to go home immediately. It was the first and only time in Paris that my diplomatic passport was helpful!
my partner richard and i spent 3 morning a week taking tai chi with charles a master from china. then, cafe de la mairie or la palette for coffee and rue de seine
My first trip to Paris was 1960. As a child, the high point of the day was getting out of our stuffy pension after eating a hard roll with chocolat chaud for a visit to gardens. Sometimes we would go to Les Tuileries, but I found them too formal, dusty, and austere. The best was always Luxembourg -- full of grass, trees, statues, and fountains, not to mention being overrun with other happy children my age. And the main thing I wanted to do was sit by the fountain and watch the other children sail their wooden boats, chasing them across the water with guiding sticks. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day, and so wanted to sail one myself, but never did. I now go back to Luxembourg on every trip to Paris and an immediately transported back to a happy childhood.