In France, most places are closed on Sundays, and even the markets and grocery stores that open have very limited hours. Our first full day in France was a Sunday, and we were just as glad to have an excuse for a slow start.Our home base was on rue Gregoire de Tours, right around the corner from a grocery store and, better still, the public market on rue de Buci. We strolled the market, splitting up to acquire some bread and cheese and sausage, a dessert tart, and a box of luscious strawberries, chosen for their intense fragrance.
Since the weather was warm and sunny, we decided to walk to the nearby Luxembourg Gardens for our picnic.
The elegant building at the edge of the garden is now the upper house of parliament, but it was originally a palace, built for Marie de Medici. It was designed to resemble the Pitti Palace in her home town of Florence, Italy.But that was way back in the 1620's. Now the former private gardens are a very popular public park, like a dreamscape of every park stereotype you can imagine.
Flowers in lush full bloom? Check!
Miniature sailboats crusing across an urban pond? Check!
Kids on a caurousel, jousting for the brass ring? Check!
People lounging on blankets in the grass? Check!
Sculptures, both modest and colossal? Check!
All in all, it was a great place to sit back, people-watch, and get into the groove of being in Paris.
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