Iconic Paris
Allen captured this moment as we walked a dog this morning. A man sits with his back to the Eiffel Tower, reading a book. The weather was perfect, as you can see.
This is what we think of when we think of Paris (or of Washington or other major cities): people living in the shadow of overwhelming national symbols.
My humble neighborhood
It’s easy to take your surroundings for granted, but every once in a while a beautiful day or an unusual event makes you look up and take it in again. This was one of those days. Walking home from yoga, I felt alert and alive, and I looked up to see my street and the river and the bridge and the perfect line of trees.
But really, as we’ve seen from the sunset pictures, walking home is always one of the best parts of my day.
Paris in the Springtime!
So far my little Gallery Schmanz has avoided pictures of the Eiffel Tower, but I have a few this week. I’ve been in close range of the Eiffel Tower more times in the last week than in my entire visit here. I don’t mind. It’s flowering around there now.
Menagerie-go-round
I saw this merry-go-round at the Jardin des Plantes and appreciated the stylistic animals twirling around, particularly these giraffes.
I did feel a little creepy hanging around a merry-go-round with a camera though!
Jardin alpin
The Jardin des Plantes in Paris has an alpine garden that you access through a tunnel. This gives it the feeling of being tucked away from the world (even if several other visitors have found it too).
I love the old stones. I know the garden is quite old (17th century), and I wonder how long these stones have been in place.
Springtime in Paris
Thank goodness for friends who take stunning pictures. My friend Sarah took this picture at the park behind Notre Dame de Paris.
Sarah, thanks for permission to post it here!
