Parc des Chanteraines

RER B: Gare de Gennevilliers
Address: 46, avenue Georges Pompidou, 92390 Villeneuve-la-Garenne
Hours, Map and Brochure:  Click Here
Cost: Free
Website: http://promenades.hauts-de-seine.net/parc-chanteraines

It's Spring!Well, it's not official but Nature does not lie. Flowers are blooming and the temperatures are rising.  And it seems like everyone had the same idea as me this week: heading out to the park. I love Paris but sometimes it feels like even parks are guarded like a museum. You always have a guard blowing his whistle at a kid who wants to play ball or bike. Most parks in Paris are very restricted as far as what you can do and when you're a kid in the park, the last thing you want to worry about is the manicured alleys and flower beds. To top it all, it's so crowded. And that is for this reason that I like Parc de Chanteraines just a few miles outside of Paris. Right off the RER station, it's only a few steps to the entrance.

It's a people's park. You will see mostly locals: families with small children, elderly couples on a walk, friends enjoying a picnic.  It's a huge park: 80 hectares. It took me 3 hours just to walk 2/3 of it. If you like playing soccer: there's plenty of space. It's also doted with playgrounds for the kids and a farm to amaze the younger ones- all free of cost. Or you can invest in a ticket for the circus or the puppet theater.

How about a train ride to get you to your gardening class? But if you prefer walking, there's plenty of hiking trails in the shade. For the more patient ones: you can fish in one of the many lakes. And for the champions: a poney club! The least you can say is that they have it covered. They have everything you can dream of for a nice day out in the park.  Did I mention the waterbase?

 All I can say is that it was a nice relaxing day in the park. I got my exercise, I even socialized with some friendly locals. I want to go back and make my way to the flower garden that I missed because I was too lazy to walk an additional hour to reach it. Anyway, I really liked it. It's more carefree and casual than parks in Paris (no worry, I still love the Paris green spaces too but they have no water shoot-did I not talk about that? so much to do there...to be continued...)

Porte Saint Denis

Métro: Strasbourg-Saint-Denis ( Line 4, 8 or 9)
Address: Porte Saint Denis, 75010 Paris
Location: Corner of Bd Saint Denis and Rue du Faubourg Saint Denis
Cost: Free

I have to say that I grew up in Paris and I had no clue this was there. I was walking around looking for a restaurant that I've read about when suddenly, out of nowhere, I saw this gigantic door. For a second, I forgot where I was and thought that I must have walked to Rome!

Porte Saint-Denis is a triumphal arch built in 1672 by the architect François Blondel to the glory of Louis XIV. It was inspired by the arch of Titus. It represents the king leading his troops to victory in the Rhine and the region of Franche-Comté.

Jardin du Luxembourg

Métro: Notre Dame Des Champs (line 12), Odéon ( Line 4 or 10)
RER B: Sénat, Luxembourg
Address: Jardin du Luxembourg, 75006 Paris
Access: Rue d'Assas, Rue Guynemer, Rue de Vaugirard , Rue Auguste Comte or Bd St Michel
Hours:  Click Here
Cost: Free
Website:www.senat.fr

I have the chance of working a street away from this garden so I have seen its many faces. Yet after 5 months of walking its alleys daily,  I am still discovering this garden. Everyday is different: the light, the weather, the landscape; everything brings life to this place. It is the Parisians very own backyard. I love seeing locals reading their journals or their books on the now famous green metal chairs. They stay indifferent to the hoards of tourists who cannot stop taking pictures of the ducks. Well, there is also the fitness addicts: joggers, tennis players or even Tai chi groups.

I have also crossed the path of a famous actress, a french singer even a movie set. Yep this is the place where no matter who you are, local or tourist, famous or anonymous, you still find yourself in love with this manicured paradise. Inside its gates, there is also a playground for kids, a puppet theater and during vacation or summer months: poney rides and little cars rentals. But most of the kids enjoy feeding the ducks and navigating their boats on the main fountain.

We owe this little beauty to Marie of Medecis. So why the name Luxembourg? I thought you'd never asked!

In the beginning of the 17th century, this area was mostly made up of convents, schools and a few hôtels particulier. One of which was the property of the Duke of Piney-Luxembourg. As a young boy, King Louis XIII spent time hunting. Later Marie de Medecis left the grand palace of the Louvre (that's another story) to establish herself there. But for a queen the place is not quite to her standard so ordered some remodeling and expansions including a gorgeous orchard and garden, and what we know now as the Senate.

The garden is filled with beautiful statues and sculptures totaling over a hundred pieces. Best free open air museum! There is even a small replica of the Statue of Liberty. My favorite are the Fontaine Médécis and the Hommage à Eugène Delacroix which are massive and magnificent at the same time.

Finally, to spend a nice afternoon among friends: a game of pétanque or delecting in a nice nutella crêpe with the girlfriends.

Or you can take a class at the Rucher-école and learn all about bees : www.la-sca.net
But no matter what, les Jardins du Luxembourg is a must-see stop to relax. I often think about what it would be like to have this place all for myself but feeling spoiled and lucky to be able to enjoy it daily. Maybe I'll see you there!?