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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 11:05:48 GMT
For part of the past three summers I stayed in a rented apartment in the Saint-Michel/Luxembourg area. I loved the little apartment which was on the (French) fifth floor. It overlooked rooftops and had a view down a narrow street. This summer I decided the apartment was too large and too expensive for me, plus it was already rented when I decided to book a trip. I went back to visit the area the other day and to spend some time in the Luxembourg Gardens, always a great place to people watch. My apartment was just off Place Sorbonne. From the apartment I could enjoy listening to the sound of water spraying out of these fountains, but they're not turned on today. To the left is a bookstore, and several cafe's are across the way. One restaurant proprietor, in the white shirt, always stands out in front to welcome patrons. Around the corner is the little Monop, which was convenient for small food purchases. One summer I enrolled in a French course on the other side of the Luxembourg Gardens. Early each morning, my favorite Paris time, I would set off across boulevard Saint-Michel, and up this street.
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 11:24:15 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 11:39:05 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 14:13:39 GMT
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Post by fgrsk8r1970 on Jun 28, 2013 14:24:13 GMT
What a lovely photo report htmb!!! Makes me yearn for Paris right now. May I ask what kind of course you took? Not that I would be able to do that during a one week vacation I am trying to find something here in Phoenix - maybe private tutor - I have never been to the Luxembourg Gardens and I am not sure if I'll have time to go this Christmas but I really want to come back in the spring next year if at all possible and then it'll be on my list. Thanks for posting, this made my Friday morning !!!
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Post by mossie on Jun 28, 2013 14:26:45 GMT
You had better send that tribe of gardeners to my place, they would be properly employed there.
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 14:42:50 GMT
I'm glad to make your morning. Are you down in the valley, or a bit higher up? Would it be unkind to tell you the temperature is about 60 degrees F here? I've taken little bits of French here and there over the last few years. I'm sure my friends would be surprised to hear that. I can get by okay and I can read a phrase book. The course I took was at Alliance Francaise. www.alliancefr.org/enProbably not for everybody, but for me at that particular time, it worked. PM me if you have questions about it. As for the park, I like it a lot, but there are plenty of other great parks in Paris. If you enter at the gate on the northeast corner of the Senate/Palace building, I believe you would have complete wheelchair accessibility to the center of the park. There are also areas where you can navigate to different levels, but I don't believe they are paved, so might be difficult.
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 14:44:14 GMT
You had better send that tribe of gardeners to my place, they would be properly employed there. Mossie, wouldn't that be nice!
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 14:46:58 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 15:58:48 GMT
A little Wiki history: The Jardin du Luxembourg, or the Luxembourg Gardens, is the second largest public park in Paris (still true?) located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, France. The park is the garden of the French Senate, which is itself housed in the Luxembourg Palace. The Medici Fountain (La fontaine Médicis) was built in 1630 by Marie de' Medici, the widow of King Henry IV of France and regent of King Louis XIII of France. It was designed by Tomasso Francini, a Florentine fountain maker and hydraulic engineer who was brought from Florence to France by King Henry IV. It was in the form of a grotto, a popular feature of the Italian Renaissance garden. It fell into ruins during the 18th century, but in 1811, at the command of Napoleon Bonaparte, the fountain was restored by Jean Chalgrin, the architect of the Arc de Triomphe. In 1864-66, the fountain was moved to its present location, centered on the east front of the Palais du Luxembourg. The long basin of water was built and flanked by plane trees, and the sculptures of the giant Polyphemus surprising the lovers Acis and Galatea, by French classical sculptor Auguste Ottin, were added to the grotto's rockwork. SourceUpon exiting the Jardin du Luxembourg I walked down and followed the river back towards my current place. Lots of folks were out along the river.
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Post by tod2 on Jun 28, 2013 16:03:48 GMT
Oh what lovely interesting photos htmb! Do give away you 'hidey-hole', ....us Paris obsessionists what to know it all ;D The first time I ever stayed in Paris was in Rue Madame , in a typical teeny weeny hotel with one of those birdcage lifts. The Luxembourg gardens became a daily excursion for us as we had a two year old at the time.........how time passes,: He is 35 and I'm 68!! Your photos are beautiful as ever
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 16:08:22 GMT
Thanks ever so much, Tod. I will send you a PM with the link to the old place. It's charming, but no elevator and 92 stairs. Wasn't a problem for me, but would not be helpful for others. It was nice and quiet, though since no one passed the door and there was nothing above me but a roof.
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 16:40:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2013 16:52:04 GMT
I think I may have seen some of those places in your photographs.
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 17:17:38 GMT
I can't imagine I could photograph any place in Paris you haven't seen, Kerouac. You are the Paris expert, there is no doubt about that. Your knowledge of the city, along with your willingness to assist others, is commendable. Hopefully some of the people in my photos are new to you.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2013 17:27:51 GMT
Nah... duck boy, chess player, Asian bride + weirdo, river beer buddies, hijab love lock women, long hair boater, and tennis man are there to pose for the tourists each and every day. ;D ;D
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 17:43:14 GMT
Tourists? There were tourists?
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Post by mossie on Jun 28, 2013 18:03:07 GMT
Those locks are beyond ridiculous.
Some nice photos otherwise
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 18:25:50 GMT
Now that I'm not renting the "old" apartment in the 5th, where in Paris do I want to be? I found a nice little place behind the Orsay for this summer, but I'm not sure it's the best fit. It's a little quiet over here. Being so close to the Orsay I can always go look at beautiful art, which is a good thing if you are me. And the views from the museum terrace are pretty nifty. I'm right down the street from Deyrolle if I want to get creeped out by stuffed animals. And there is a large Mono Prix across from Deyrolle if I still have an appetite afterwards.
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 19:22:23 GMT
It's no surprise to many that I love the water, so being this close to the river is really wonderful for me. I love watching the boats cruise past; especially the boats carrying commercial goods. I marvel at how they pilot their barges through such seemingly tight spaces. Watching the boats full of people is fun, too. There are people posing on bridges, climbing walls, and even writing on (chalk board) walls.
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Post by mich64 on Jun 28, 2013 19:37:39 GMT
Ahhh... just lovely htmb! I am going to miss not visiting Paris this fall. I am enjoying your journey though. The weather seems to be improving? A beautiful day in the Gardens.
The Orsay is one of my favorite places to be.
When we get into an elevator when visiting Toronto, we often chuckle and begin recalling the many birdcage type that we have encountered throughout Europe. They were always bigger here but now they are even larger in the newer Hotels.
Looking forward to more!
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 20:56:11 GMT
Awww! Thanks, Mich.
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 20:59:49 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 21:12:38 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jun 28, 2013 21:46:27 GMT
Most of all it's the water I find fascinating. But....could there be other parts of Paris where I'd also like to stay?
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Post by htmb on Jun 29, 2013 12:54:53 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jun 29, 2013 12:59:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2013 15:43:15 GMT
Well, that part of the 8th is not at all residential anyway. You would probably be hard pressed to find an apartment in that area even if you really wanted to -- that is, unless you can afford the 10,000€ a week range.
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Post by htmb on Jun 29, 2013 15:52:25 GMT
I wouldn't even want to stay there if someone else way footing the bill. Not my kind of area, but nice to walk through from time to time.
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Post by htmb on Jun 29, 2013 15:55:15 GMT
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