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Does anyone know what the boards with holes are for? |
Today, I decided to visit Le Parc Montsouris which is nearby. Baron Haussman, an administrator of the Second Empire, was responsible for demolishing much of Paris and rebuilding the city with distinctive apartments, boulevards and parks. He planned a major green space for each of the four corners of Paris.
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The gardens were designed to give the citizens of Paris an opportunity to experience nature. |
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The RER B line still crosses the park. |
The wide Haussmanian Boulevard leading to the Park is being used as a public walkway
with benches, planter boxes of herbs, and informational signs. There is one lane of traffic in either direction. Paris is creating so many outdoor opportunities for its apartment dwellers. Most of the walkers were retirees or mothers pushing small children.
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There are fish, turtles, ducks and swans in the lake. |
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Some busy squirrel? |
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The pavilion was built for an exposition in 1889. |
Today's experience was quite different. When I arrived at the restaurant, there was only one nicely dressed older man at a table. When the host asked if I had a reservation, I wondered. After I was seated, the tables filled with men and women in dark business suits. This is definitely not a tourist pavilion. I was thankful to be wearing my Eileen Fisher tunic and my pearls. I know that sounds silly but....
I had a delicious lunch of roasted sea bass in shiitake sauce with basilic polenta. The Vittel water and a glass of Chablis were refreshing. Needless to say, I did not take a picture.
I really enjoyed my visit to the Parc Montsouris. I did an oral presentation on Haussman when I studied at the Sorbonne. Ooh! la! la! That just made a personal connection for me. M, my French professor, loaned me this book. Her husband took the photographs. I was not able to buy the book at the time but perhaps I'll try when I get home.
If you're looking for something a little lighter, try The House I Loved by Tatiana de Rosnay. It's a fiction work about the rebuilding of Paris.
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This was a fascinating book if you're interested in Paris, history or urban planning. |
Time to go! It's 6:30 and I must go out for my evening stroll and glass of wine (with a small dish of popcorn!!!)
That meal sounded lovely as did your visit to the Parc Montsouris -- I suspect the boards with the holes are intended to encourage insects to nest, beneficial insects, presumably. . .
ReplyDeleteI figured that they must have something to do with pollinators. Paris added 19 bee-hives this year. The meal was spectacular. I usually don't have such meals when I'm alone.
DeleteI'm enjoying reading about your explorations of parts of Paris I've never visited. I read The House I Loved a few years ago and thought it so interesting.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many areas of Paris to visit in good weather. I've been looking at lists of parks. I might visit Anne Frank Park in the Marais today.
DeleteI really enjoyed Tatiana De Rosnay's book, I read it a few years ago. I am currently reading The City of Light by Eleanor Brown...its an interesting story, I think you would like it too.
DeleteYour wandering posts are inspiring and your bistro dinner sounds sumptuous...you are wise to make the most of your holiday by getting out and about and exploring the arrondissments....just what a modern day flaneuse should do!
There is so much to see that I could visit every year and walk every day not be tired of Paris! I'm going to reserve that book!
DeleteIt is wonderful that you are visiting a place that is so special to you!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many places that I have read about that I have had an opportunity to visit.
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