A Walk in the Park: Jardin de Luxembourg (3)

On Sunday afternoon, I took a walk through the Luxembourg garden with Judy and Katherine.

The last time I was here in Paris, the hotel we stayed in was within walking distance to the Luxembourg garden, and as the aspiring Romantic that I was at 17, I sat in the in front of the Catherine de Medici fountain, "thought about the meaning of everything and ate a baguette and fell in love with life." I quote myself, two years and nine months ago to the day.

One of Katherine's favorite things is the French game Pétanque, which is very closely related to Bocce ball, for all you (semi)athletic Provonians. It was terribly entertaining to watch (okay, it held my attention a good seven minutes - that's impressive for me and sports, okay?). There are several Pétanque courts (fields? No idea) Jardin de Luxembourg, and apparently there's nearly always a game going on Saturdays and Sundays.

Katherine would really like to start the BYU Pétanque team. Anyone want to fund the 70 euros it costs for a set of balls? Excellent.

After leaving the Pétanque players, we wandered past the orangerie, which is basically a seasonal greenhouse. During the winter months, the protected plants flourish inside the orangerie, and are then planted out in the garden. This is really a quite confusing name, because the orangerie in the Tuileries is now a museum that holds paintings by Monet, Matisse, Cézanne, Picasso... The orangerie in the Luxembourg gardens is still a place for growing plants out of season.

Since it was a Sunday in the park, there was live music and people milling all around. I kicked my third pigeon and listed to the energetic African band playing at the bandstand. We then wandered away towards the "pelouse interdite" at the south entrance to the garden, and sat semi-illegally among the locals and their cigarette butts. It was an enchanting afternoon of wandering.

All in all, the Luxembourg gardens, affectionately called "Luco" by the locals, is a lovely place, and high up on my list of places to visit if you ever come to Paris.