le Jardin de Luxembourg

One of my favorite places! I walked it through it with my book club friends, explored it with my parents, and returned there today with the kids.

My poor mom was freezing the whole time she was here! (It was often cloudy, windy, drizzling, or raining, and she is usually cold even when I'm hot...) So she was shrouded in her pashmina nearly the whole week, which did keep her a little warmer, but also covered up all of her cute outfits... (Why oh why didn't I call to warn her that the weather had taken a chill turn??)

These chairs are scattered throughout the gardens, inviting people to sit, chat, eat their lunch, read, people-watch...

the cutest beehives ever

There is a little grotto tucked away in a shady corner by the Senate building. I just love the ivy swags -- I found they were very hard to truly capture in a photo...

I promised the kids we would go back just for the playground in-between grandparent visits. As we approached the playground, we noticed it was very empty. Hooray!, we thought, a nice cool day and no crowds to boot! Then we noticed it was entirely empty. It turns out the playground is closed all week so that they can prune all of the surrounding trees...

In an attempt to salvage the visit, we went to the pond to rent sailboats. The man who rents the boats was nowhere to be found. It just was not our lucky day. Fortunately, the kids all had fun watching and feeding the ducks. Eva even tried to share her binkie with them! Thank heavens for big brother Max who reached way out, and nearly fell in himself, to rescue it. We all had to talk her out of sharing her sipper of apple juice with the ducks...

Lucas was worried that Eva would try to get in the water. This so reminds me of when my younger siblings were small -- I always felt so protective of them and concerned for their safety.

We saw an installation that is yet another example of modern art contrasted with classical sculpture. This woman has been trapped in a spiderweb!

This woman is clothed in a gown of swirling leaves.

This woman seems to be pondering her fate.

and this one is surrounded by embellished poles. (don't ask me what this means!)

There always seems to be someone practicing a martial art of some kind in the park, but I'd never seen one this picturesque before!

When we left the park, we went to the wonderful gelaterie nearby, just to seal the deal of having a good day despite the mishaps. I promised the kids we will return to the playground at least once a week until we leave Paris!

This day illustrated for me probably the best thing about Paris: even though everything is more of an effort, and you often encounter unexpected closures, strikes, and other various and sundry inconveniences, you are always rewarded with a plethora of interesting and beautiful things to see! And I just have to admire a city and a people that puts such a high priority on beauty.