The Luxembourg Gardens
A little Paris stroll
The beautiful and expansive Luxembourg Gardens were designed in the early 17th century by Marie de Medici, widow of Henry IV. Often, after absinthe in a cafe by the Odeon Theatre, Arthur and Paul Verlaine would happily stumble through the labyrinth of statues and flowers, carousels and puppet theaters. Tomorrow we will visit the home and small garden of the artist Delacroix.
How extraordinary. It's good for the soul to be reminded that there are such places of beauty in this world of turmoil. Thanks Patti. Safe travels and, when you get home, I hope the smoke is not too bad. It was High Risk in Toronto yesterday but only Moderate Risk today. It's astounding how quickly we accept a Moderate Risk to our lungs as a sign of relief. Human beings are something else.
I remember walking through the Luxembourg Gardens on a student trip to Europe when I was 17. The moon landing happened while we were in Paris. it was July 20,1969. My friends and I were walking on the Champs Elysse that night when we came upon a shop with large windows and a big bank of televisions. Our timing was so lucky, as people were gathered there waiting for the moon landing. Then it was happening!! The lunar module that two of the 3 astronauts piloted from the Apollo Spacecraft to the surface of the moon landed. We were all spellbound. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin emerged from the small ship and everyone went crazy, jumping up and down, hugging, cheering that they’d made it safely to the moon. It was just so magical and beautiful. Armstrong and Aldrin made their way to the spot where they planted the U.S. flag. Neil Armstrong said: “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”