Happy Easter! Happy Passover! Happy Ramadan! It’s like a trifecta this year.

Well, I couldn’t attend Mass and receive Holy Communion à la cathédrale Notre-Dame (since the grand lady is still undergoing repairs from the tragic fire 3 years ago TODAY), so I decided to spend the day outdoors at the local park in the sixième arrondissement.

Le Jardin Luxembourg is about 57 acres, and bien sûr there’s a palace. The flowers aren’t yet in bloom, but they’re thinking about it. The trees are lush and leafy and a gorgeous spring green color offering much shade, or you can opt for a seat in full sun by the fountain, which was popular today. There are more chairs and benches than I could ever count and almost every one of them was occupied today. It was an astoundingly beautiful day, weather-wise.

There are tennis courts, swings, basketball courts, and more picnic space than you can imagine. People just sit and chat. Or not. A lot of people come alone and read. I felt like I was walking amidst a live painting. The noisiest area was by the fountain, where children have long sticks and excitedly push their toy sailboats from the water’s edges. It’s quite magical!

Couples sit for lunch and coffee or share a bottle of wine. Local establishments sell goodies you can take into the park. I picked up a bun and some coffee myself at a nearby favorite restaurant.

There are also pony rides for the children, and lines for ice cream or cotton candy. I’m sure there’s more to be seen, and I’ll have to venture to other areas on another visit — or maybe a run. (Today was NOT a day to run in the park, as it was crowded for the holidays.)

(You can follow my Instagram for more photos.)

Right after I took that video of the ponies, my son and I « FaceTimed » as I left the park. He kinda’ walked me home – the way I often used to do with him when he lived in New York and then Boston. As we chatted, he was at the airport, walking down the exact corridor at PHL where I used to fly out of when I was a flight attendant. He was getting ready to board his flight taking him to Texas for the first part of his airline training school. It was a sweet chat, and one I’ll cherish forever. And now he’s an hour into the flight, and well on his way to begin this next exciting chapter of his life.

Easter Monday is un jour férié in France, and je pense qu’il fera encore beau. Not sure what’s open tomorrow for the holiday, but it’ll surely be nice walking weather.

À tout à l’heure!