Ordinary Sundays In Paris In Extraordinary Places

At the end of this year, it will be almost 20 years of having the privilege of spending ordinary Sundays in this beautiful place!  Paris is a place I never could forget and a place I can never get enough of either.

Each day I like to reflect upon my blessings and gratitudes, and being here is something I have never taken for granted! As Hemingway said “Paris is a movable feast”.

So feasting away I will continue to do, not just on Sundays of course, but any day of the week.  Paris offers distractions cum laude that momentarily deflect  the shadows of grief that are a part of my everyday reality.

Perhaps, even more incredible is that the vast majority of the things I look forward to doing here are free!  Each season, I can count on certain festivities open to all without a cent, as well as others worth paying for.

The stunning vistas along he Seine are always there to take in at any time of the day or night. When evening falls the lights shimmering on the water coursing along is nothing short of magnificent!

One of my favourite walks is to walk around Ile Saint Louis and  Ile de la Cité.

Ile de la Cité is where this fabulous city began with the Parisii tribe of fishermen and then the Romans BC, who spread first south, where the Roman baths of Cluny are still visible.

A recent freezing cold drizzly day I caught some ducks perched alongside the Seine in the garden next to Notre Dame, but the usual  flocks of sea birds were not within sight.

They of course looked oblivious to the site of Notre Dame, nor  of the Seine, where they can be seen bobbing along with the current.

Usually I stop to admire the view in back of the cathedral and the street performers on Pont Saint Louis that connects the two islands, but only a lone Christmas tree and a few tourists could be seen.

The funny bald-headed clown with a big red nose is usually there in good weather riding around on his mini bike, mesmerizing crowds with his extraordinary silly routine that still captures my attention, even though I have seen it a dozen times.

Silliness is good to see, and I wish I could sometimes be more spontaneously silly than my generally serious and contemplative nature.

Beginning around the Marche aux Fleurs, I am always guaranteed of  taking in not only the gorgeous flowers for sale, but on Sundays  hanging around to admire all the colourful birds chirping up a storm when the Marché Aux Oiseaux takes over the show.

One of the most memorable moments had me been standing on Pont Saint Michel seeing the city draped in shrouds of gray fog at dusk with only a few dimmed golden light peaking through the surrounding mists.

Cold drizzly Sundays are part and parcel of the Parisian winter landscape that comes with the season.  Even though it might take an extra push to get me out, but there is always something that entices to do so.

There are Sunday concerts in the great cathedrals, free museum Sundays, the bird market, and even street festivals, too numerous to mention all.

I have lost count how many times I have gratefully been able to go to the Louvre on free Sundays, but I can still find loads of new paintings that I either missed or did not pay attention to.  Even the ceilings are enchanting!

Sunday concerts at Saint Merri are wonderful, then topped off with  Tour Saint Jacques aglow against an early winter evening.  The medieval buckled looking houses on nearby Rue Quincampoix, are another reminder of the old city.  The funny sounding name of this street, is better that its former name, Rue des Mauvaises-Paroles(bad words).

Saint Sulpice is likewise a lovely sight coming home from concerts at the Hungarian Institute on Rue Bonaparte.

I like to hang around the open air patinoires(ice skating rinks), envious of those that skate around with such ease. Even the bare trees branches have a certain beauty against the silky grey skies of winter.

I recently walked around the small garden, Square René Viviani,  across the Seine from Notre Dame, where during my student days I would often take my lunch.   It was mostly me and the pigeons braving the windy cold rain.

The ancient well is still there and the oldest tree in Paris, now propped us for support miraculously sends out new shoots each spring, next to one of the oldest churches, Saint Julien Le Pauvre.   Life continues.

The landmark Shakespeare book shop has expanded to include even a small cafe, a successful traditional pit stop for Anglo expats and tourists alike in any season.

Late February I faithfully attend the Salon de Agriculture to take in the largest farm in Paris, with farm animals of all sorts are trucked in and parked on hay for the city slickers to admire in droves.

I come away with seeds, loads of brochures and enjoy sampling the many delicious regional specialties that make up the glories of French foods and wines.

March is the smaller spring wine salon that I frequent trying not to buy much except some wines for the summer.  With spring, and that could be beyond April, the serious cafe society begins anew with any sunny afternoon.

Pale skin Parisians, except those sportive ones somewhat bronzed on ski slopes, flood in taking up chairs in the sun passing the day away.  Tourists prefer to congregate and be seen at the Deux Magots.

Summer the many beautiful parks fill with those aching to lounge on green grass, taking sun baths or listen to the many Sunday afternoon concerts .

A favourite of mine is the annual Chopin in Park series put on by the Polish Institute at close by Parc Montsouris.

Luxembourg has concerts too, and the crisscrossing of colourful miniature sailboats are fun to watch at least for a while.

I prefer to find a chair near the Fountain de Medici on a hot day and meditate looking into the reflecting pool.  There is something for everybody there.

The cafe overlooking the pool inside Le Petit Palais is beautiful too.  I love the fantastic array of art there is free at anytime as well!

August 15th there are 2 processions to honour the blessed Virgin Mary, one fluvial and the other that winds through the streets of Cité and Ile Saint Louis, that I try to faithfully attend each year.

Paris Plage is great along the Seine and sipping some wine at one of the cute barges parked near Pont Mairie. Summer is the best time to walk up or down Canal Saint Martin to see the several dams open and close to let in the tour boats. 

In Autumn, I look forward each year to Les Jours de Patrimoine, where some gardens and gorgeous historical buildings , usually closed to the public open their doors for a peak into their glories.

In October, there is the annual Salon du Chocolate, where you will find me hanging out to take notes from famous pastry chefs demonstrating their delicious creations that they generously pass out to the audience.

November I start taking stock of what is left in my small wine cave and undertake serious study of which wines I want to buy at the absolutely huge Salon Des Vins Des Vignerons Indepéndant.

Salon Saveur in early December highlights  all sorts of culinary delights you could imagine from France and Italy.

Christmas lights and decorations are tremendously beautiful to see everywhere in the city and be amused in front of the department store windows along with the throng of kiddies.

They are still always on till the end of January, that brighten the early dark winter skies. The golden glowing lights of Paris serves to magnify why the city is called the city of lights year round.

January 4th is the annual procession to commemorate the beloved patron saint of Paris, Saint Geneviève, whose memory still commands  a crowd to celebrate her life.

Last Sunday I went back to the Thermal Spa salon at the  Carrousel du Louvre and again marveled contemplating the ancient walls of the Louvre palais exposed with illuminated philosophic writings on them.

I hope sharing with you some of my ordinary Sundays in extraordinary places will inspire you to search out your own, whatever corner of the earth you might live.

You have beautiful vistas too, some you may have taken for granted.  A part of successful living is searching for beauty and joy available to you .

Life is meant for discovery and I hope each one of you strives to see the beauty that surrounds you.