So I finally fixed the flat tire I have or had on my bike, who remains nameless. I don't know I haven't been able to name her, it is a she at least i know that. So yesterday I roamed around on my newly repaired steed, and she brought me further than I had adventured before. I went all the way to the end of the Jardin du Luxembourg , which is absolutely mindblowingly gorgeous. Olmstead definitely had to be inspired in some part by this palatial garden. After walking around outer court of the Medici Fountain with statuary of all of the french queens I walked up toward the observatory which is a short walk from the farthest north east end of the jardin. And who doesn't love square trees?!
You can actually see the Sacre Coeur in the distance as the Jardin du Luxembourg is built on the top of a tall hill.
So, while traipsing through the gardens I discovered a new (but old) sport called Longue Paume, and wandered upon the Parisian championships. It is the oldest longest running atheletic sport with a continuously awarded championship (since 1740) and is now so unknown that while I was watching this bizarre precursor to Tennis being played there were folks googling what the heck it was. An American won in the 1900 Parisian Olympics, but then there was some dispute about the medal, (hmm nothing changes, get used to it Lance). There is something with poles marking lines on the court similarly moved to downs, whilst the court is of an undetermined length and the ball is a super fuzzy white tennis ball that kind of flies similarly to a wiffle ball. Anyhow, I saw two matches which I think are scored similarly to tennis, and there is a refreshing calm while they are playing, with no shouting or arguing (I mean it was the Parisian championship!) even by the team called Biaches.
The Biaches are in the green jerseys .
Also being played by quite serious fellows and ladies was Petanque; there was even a team wearing yellow jerseys. The french love yellow jerseys ( think bike racing folks!) Anyhoo, they had a coat rack to hang their jackets which was imbedded in the ground, so elegantly! I love it, an official coat check, that one must receive points for all the hangers facing the right way or something.
Coat racks just to the left of that tree.
Well after watching those two quite athletic events I continued to wander through. There are ponds, fruit gardens, tons of statues to French politcos, royals, and of animals. There are beehives, which are incredibly. The bees have what amounts to a co-op city of sorts, there have to be millions of them there.
Above you can see the orchard/garden with their paper shields on all of the fruit, the beehives, a pasture that reminded me for a glancing second of Central Park, more sculptured lawn, and it looks like the NYPL lion was active in his past; here he caught an ostrich. The gardens continue even further. There is a long alleyway which contains table tennis courts, more square trees and more fountains!
Look at Sacre Coeur in the distance just to the top above the trees on the right in the far distance.
After the Jardin I continued on my bike just around the fifth. Um, where has the fifth been hiding? It is AWESOME! I should have moved here. Not are there tons of cute little cafes there are tons of little streets, hidden churches, schools, and it is on a hill, so the views are spectacular. As the building are so close here things that wouldn't seems as it were able to be hidden are. Example: Val de Grace.
Oh what is that down the road?
This simple (cough) church was originally created by Anne d'Autriche in 1611 for the birth of her son for which she brought in some Benedictine monks. Following that the current edifice was started in 1645 by Louis XIV, yes that Louis of the chateau Versailles fame, and at age 7 laid the cornerstone of the building. The dome is the oldest in Paris, being completed in 1655, um, what?
Above you can see the wall sundial, which was correct, inside the ginormous gates, gilt of course. Look at the fantastic wrought iron connection to the gate's pediment stones.
So after discovering this simple church I continued down and biked, slowly downhill, towards home, but not whilst forgetting to discover more.
Tiny road behind the Church behind Parthenon.
Rue de Nevers. Hope you're not clausterphobic. The buildings kind of lean over it.
And lastly this super charming bicycle stop light. There are streets which have bicycle lanes designed to go in reverse, but the bicyclists are still to respect the traffic lights, hence proper traffic lights and markings on the road for just such a reason! Ahh, NY you need this.
