Dimanche 8 Mai Parisians at rest

Day 5 Sunday 8/5/11

Off to Jardin du Luxembourg to take in Parisians at rest, jardin full & we sat & watched a band play in rotunda, chatted to proud mere whose 15 year old son was playing the drums in the band, she had driven in from the northern suburbs of Paris, took 1 hour, very good english. She said she had to learn for her job as PA & then the 15yo came & chatted & his english also tres bon, slightly oldfashioned intonation. She gave us the name of a Impressionist museum, lots of Van Gogh etc in the north of Paris Château d'Auvers sur Oise, wasn't on the list but is now! PS bit late for the beautiful tulips which were out last trip, but apparently it has been very dry year so far.

Band in Jardin du Luxembourg

Managed to find Hotel Sully on Rue d'ecole where F & I stayed 2 years ago, had already had 2 attempts but it had proved elusive.  Also found our favourite boulangerie, of course had to check the wares were still of good quality

Hotel Sully St Germain on Rue d' Ecole, Rive Gauche

Headed over to Right Bank, via Ille St Louis, buskers on the pont again, ragtime, tiny piano & sax, M once again bought the CD! (she releases money a lot easier than I do) While I am typing this, M is sniffing perfume she purchased from the market & wondering if it really smells like Shalimar

Ragtime buskers on Pont St Louis

Opera buskers in Place des Vosges

 Wow, took hour or so to make our way down Rue St Louis, beaucoup de shops, all needed to be investigated, standing room only in the rue with tourists, but a couple of shops will need to be investigated further (not on a Sunday)



Reached Place des Vosges, the oldest square Paris, goes back to 1604 when King Henry IV ordered all 35 other buildings bordering the square to follow the same design, it was a favorite place for duels. Victor Hugo, author of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' lived on the 2nd floor of #6, there is supposedly a free museum in #6, but wasn't open, had a feeling of deja vu, think the same result 2 years ago. Reward was however the most wonderful opera buskers, one contralto & one soprano, really beautiful, tears in the eyes.

Parisians enjoying nice day in Place des Vosges

Off to Gare de Lyon, walked down Blvd Beaumarchais & hordes of rollerbladers came screaming down the street all heading for Pl de la Bastille, thousands, apparently this happens every  Sunday. Girl who gave us this info also mentioned that on Sunday Parisians are relaxed friendly greeting & lots of bonhomie, but monday to friday all is business-like & formal even amongst collegues in the work place.

Sunday rollerbladers heading for Place de la bastille

Today's Art Nouveau matro entrance - Bastille

As recommended on net, hopped on the #63 bus, as it goes from east to west across Paris past lots of stuff (metro good for getting around, not sightseeing!) Took return trip also, & managed to get off at near right stop to get home without too many wrong turns.