Thinking of Paris in the Spring

Thinking about Paris in the spring. The French Foodie Fete stirred memories.  And Lois is there now, posting photos of her view of the Louvre. Lucky Kaarina is heading there in May.

Oh, to be in Paris in the springtime!  I would want to revisit the green spaces to breathe in the fresh air.  Relax in the grotto at the Luxenbourg Gardens. Picnic in Versailles, and hang out at Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon. Contemplate in the gardens at Notre Dame, stroll through the sculpture garden at the Rodin Museum. The Sunday flower market on Île de la Cité would be spectacular!  I never did make it out to Giverny, that must be lovely if you can time it right to avoid the crowds.

Petit Trianon - rent a golf cart or bike to cover more territory

Or maybe just a reverie in L'Orangerie Les Nympheas, to enjoy Monet's canvas gardens. What a wonderful space. The gallery incorporates natural light, and if you sit long enough you can see the colours change as clouds pass overhead.

I would visit Sainte-Chapelle on a sunny day, to watch the stained glass colours dance on  granite walls.

City of Light.

Go to gaze at Chagall's ceiling at the Opera Garnier, and afterward grab lunch at one of the great restaurants nearby where the Parisians eat.

Food ! A breakfast of crepes with strong cider. A visit to Rue Mouffetard, to see if the rotisserie chicken was really as good as I remember.  Pick up the ingredients to cook a simple meal at the Bastille Market, or anywhere that sells local produce, because the vegetables last fall were bursting with flavour. Maybe there is some rhubarb and dandelion greens in the stalls, just add fresh cheese for a tasty spring salad, grill the catch of the day, and serve with fresh baguette for a light dinner.

A day pass on the batobus, hopping on & off to visit the galleries and then staying for the light show at night. What a view of the city, the bridges, Notre Dame, the Eiffel. Revelrie along the Seine, with couples dancing at the Jardin des Plantes, and street entertainment on the bridges. Bring your own wine, claim a space on a bench or sidewalk, and enjoy the show!