Besides being the name of a huge department store here, "Printemps" also is the French word for Spring. And it is Spring....at least for the past few weeks! For however long it will last (and we do have memories of actual snowflakes and cold, rainy weather last April).....we are enjoying it!
Last Sunday was a beautiful sunny warm day, so after church we decided to go to Montmarte. Lyle, of course, wanted to walk the two-plus miles UPHILL, but I did not wear my hiking boots to church. So we compromised, walked part way and then found a metro. We arrived at the highest point overlooking Paris, climbed tons of steps to soak in the sun on the steps in front of Sacre Coeur, a Byzantine-looking church built in 1873. Mimes, guitar players, and singers entertain the tourists who take in the breath-taking view of the city below.
But Montmarte is not just the church.....it has quite a history filled with lively cabarets, music halls, theaters, and artists. About 300 of them meet here on the Place du Tertre to get exposure to their work. The Paris authorities give them that right to display and sell their work on the condition that the works are original and done on location.
(Notice the boots, tights and shorts......you see a LOT of this around Paris these days! It reminds me of the 70s? Lyle likes it....)We spent a relaxing Sunday afternoon there enjoying a glass of wine and a chocolate crepe, then
headed back "down the hill" to our quiet 7th arrondisment.
All this week we have had sunny weather and temperatures in the 50s and low 60s. When we get four sunny days in a row, it is worth mentioning. I spent Monday working at the "Bloom Where you are Planted" seminar our church puts on twice a year for ex-pats. And the past two days I have enjoyed taking advantage of seeing the trees starting to bud, the grass greening up, and the flowers starting to bloom....
Yesterday, after a bus ride to the American Hospital for a stress test for my wildly-beating heart, I met my friend Amy near the Trocadero and we walked by the Eiffel.....
Ahhh......printemps!
2 comments:
If a mime is arrested does he have the right to remain silent?
It looks beautiful. All those flowers, not at all like our drab grey Minnesota March. I went to the Como Conservatory yesterday and it was full of beautiful spring flowers. Thanks for sharing your beautiful spring photos.
Kathy K.
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