LAO TZU WROTE:
THE GOOD TEAVELER HAS NO FIXED PLANS AND IS NOT INTENT ON ARRIVING.
Square René Viviane is at Quai de Montebello, Rue Lagnange, and Rue de Saint-Julien le Pauvre. The bookstore Shakespeare and Company is on the other side of Rue Saint-Julien le Pauvre towards the west. This is a small, cozy park which is one of my favorite parks in Paris. There are lots of places to sit and relax in the shade of several trees. On the left side of this photo is an ancient Wall from a previous building that could have been part of the oldest hospital in Paris. On the other side of the Seine River was the ancient Hospital Dieu and an annex of that hospital was here. Or, possibly a portion of a mausoleum wall because there was also a cemetery here for a time. The oldest tree in Paris is here. It is a Locust tree. It was planted by Jean Robin (a botanist 1550-1620). 1601 is the year given when he planted the tree. There is also a strange fountain here. To look at it, one may think "What the heck is that?" It actually depicts a medieval legend about Saint-Julien the hospitalier. I do not know the story so I will google it and then I'll post the photo that I took of the fountain.
And here is that odd fountain that I mentioned. Saint Julien le Hospitalier lived around 350 CE. According to the legend. His family was a very wealthy, noble family. The father of Julien saw a coven of witches place a curse on his baby when he was born. After Julien was grown he often went hunting and one time while out, he had a vision that he would kill his parents but he dismissed it as nonsense. One time, after he was married, his parents visited his home and his wife brought them to their bedroom where they could sleep. While Julien was out hunting, a witch came to him and told him that his wife was with a man in their bedroom. Julien rushed back to the house and out of jealous anger, he immediately rushed into the bed room and killed his parents while they were sleeping. After this, on mourning and penitent attitude he vowed to live a life of good deeds and. He established several hospitals and homes for impoverished families. That is the legend this fountain depicts.
And also in Square René Viviane is the oldest tree in Paris that I mentioned above. It is a Robinia Pseudoacacia tree. Its genus name comes from Jean Robin who planted it. Its species name comes from the fact that these trees are very similar to Acacia trees. Jean Robin was a botanist, a doctor, and the official gardener at the royal estate. He was commissioned to create the Jardine des Plantes which is a botanical garden. The second oldest tree in Paris is also a Locust tree and it was planted by Jean Robins' son in Jardine des Plantes. The oldest tree is 50 feet tall and must be supported by a cement beam and metal beam. Care takers assure the public that the tree is healthy and will live many more years.
SUSAN SONTAG SAID:
"I haven't been everywhere but it is on my list."
This is a very lovely park on the grounds of the Palais Royal in Paris. This park is called the Palais Royal Gardens. .
There is a park. In Colorado Springs. A rather large park. Then there was us. And there was a mirror. To our left was a mirror. To our right was no mirror...I do not think this park has a name. I think it is part of the Pikes Peak Performance Center grounds. We just found this park as we went out to explore the area around the Antlers Hotel where we were staying.
This is a very small park but it is really beautiful and cozy. It is on Jane Street just a few streets from the Jane Hotel in Greenwich Village. It is at 8th Avenue and Jane Street. The plaque in the park has the name, Jane Street Garden. There are at least 3 benches in the park though so I think it IS just large enough to be called a park..
The opposite in size and atmosphere to Jane Street Garden is this park. This is Washington Square Park. It is also located in Greenwich Village but it is at the south end of 5th avenue. University students relax and study here quite often. Although you can not see it in this photo there are grassy areas and benches all around the park. There is also a statue of Giuseppi Garibaldi, the Italian nationalist hero here. It is in the area of the park called Garibaldi Plaza. On the other side of the arch are statues of George Washington, one with him as commander in chief and the other as president. Bohemian type people also like to relax here, sometimes entertaining people with music, juggling, or with other talents.
IN THE TOWER OF BASILICA DE LA VOTA NACIONAL, WE WERE ABLE TO RELAX AND SNACK A BIT. I DO NOT KNOW IF ALL THE TOWERS HAVE CAFES IN THEM. WE CLIMBED THE TOWER THAT IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE CHURCH. I DO NOT KNOW IF PEOPLE WERE CLIMBING THE TOWER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE BECAUSE WE DID NOT SEE ANYONE IN THAT TOWER. WE DID SEE PEOPLE CLIMBING THE THIRD TOWER WHICH IS NOT AS HIGH AS THE TWO FRONT SIDE TOWERS. WE ORDERED TWO HOT TEAS, A TEA WITH MILK, ONE HOT CHOCOLATE AND TWO HUMITAS. I CAN NOT GET ENOUGH OF THOSE HUMITAS.
THIS VIDEO IS A RATHER LONG WALKING TOUR AROUND THE AREA OF THE HOTEL WHERE WE WERE STAYING. I WAS LOOKING FOR THE BAKERY WHERE I HAVE SHOPPED A COUPLE OF TIMES ALREADY AND FOR A DESSERT PLACE CALLED GELATO MIX. I FOUND THEM AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF OTHER INTERESTING PLACES. WE CAN SEE HAPPY PANDA CHINESE RESTAURANT FROM OUR HOTEL WINDOW.
THE BAKERY IS NEXT TO THE HOTEL; PANIFICADORA AMBATO. GELATO MIX IS LOCATED ONE CITY BLOCK FURTHER DOWN AVE. 12 DE OCTUBRE. CAFÉ QUITO IS AT THE SWISSÔTEL QUITO WHICH IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR HOTEL. THERE IS ALSO AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT CALLED LA BRICIOLA AT THE CORNER OF AV. ISABELLS CATÓLICA AND FRANCISCO SALAZAR. SAN HONORÉ AND MUSA RESTAURANTE ARE ALSO GOOD SOUNDING PLACES IN THEIS AREA.
OH, AND WHILE AT CAROLINA PARK, WE TRIED THE ESPUMILLA. WE DID NOT REALLY LIKE IT. THE TOP PART WAS RATHER FUNKY. THE TEXTURE IS ODD AND THE FLAVORS DID NOT STAND OUT ENOUGH TO MAKE UP FOR THE STRANGE TEXTURE. WE DID LIKE THE BOTTOM PART THAT CONSISTS OF SEVERAL TYPES OF FRUIT PIECES SOAKING IN A DELICIOUS RED SAUCE. ESPUMILLA IS A TRADITIONAL ECUADORIAN DESSERT. IT IS A FOAM, NOT AN ICE CREAM, WHICH IS WHY IT IS NOT MELTING AS VENDORS SELL IT IN THE STREETS. IT IS MERINGUE WITH EGG WHITES, SUGAR, AND PUREED FRUIT. THE FRUIT IS SOAKING IN A RED BERRY SYRUP. THAT LAST PART IS GOOD.
WE SPENT SUNDAY IN SHOPPING CENTERS AND PARKS. WE FIRST WENT TO PLAZA OF THE AMERICAS. IT IS REALLY SMALL WITH FEW SHOPPING OPTIONS. IT DOES HAVE A FEW NICE CAFES AND A LARGE CINEMA. THE PLAZA OF THE AMERICAS IS SMALL BUT COZY. IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE A SQUARE PARK WITH SHOPS, CAFES, AND CINEMARK SURROUNDING IT. AFTER WE LEFT PLAZA DE LAS AMERICAS, WE WALKED DOWN TO PARQUE CAROLINA. WE STOPPED TO TAKE A PHOTO AT A FUNKY STATUE. I COULD NOT FIND A NAME FOR THIS STATUE OF FOUR CHILDREN SITTING ON A BENCH TALKING TO EACH OTHER. IT IS IN A TINY PARK AND MAY BE CALLED DESCANSO. WE THEN CONTINUED WALKING UNTIL WE REACHED THE VERY LARGE PARK. IT HAS A VIVARIUM HERE. IT IS A SMALL SAMPLE OF REPTILE SPECIMENS INDIGIONOUS TO ECUADOR. THERE IS A SUPERMAXI SHOPPING CENTER ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SOUTHERN END OF CAROLINA PARK SO WE WENT THERE TO BUY COLD MEDICINE FOR RENO WHO MAY HAVE GOTTEN A HEAD COLD. WE RELAXED AT A SPECIAL PLACE CALLED REPUBLIC DE CAFÉ. THERE IS A VIDEO HERE ABOUT JUST THAT. IMMEDIATLY ON THE SOUTHERN END OF PARQUE CAROLINA IS A METRO STATION. ONCE I SAW THE STATION ENTRANCE, I DECIDED WE SHOULD TRY IT OUT. IT IS GREAT. IT IS STILL NEW AND MADE TO BE EASILY USED BY THE MOST UNITIATED PERSONS IN METRO USE. IT ALSO COSTS ONLY .45 CENTS FOR ADULTS. I AM HAPPY TO HAVE USED IT. I TOOK A VIDEO OF IT WITH MY CELL PHONE SO I MAY UPLOAD IT HERE ALTHOUGH VIDEOS FROM MY CELL PHONE COME UP SMALLER HERE. WE GOT OUT AT PARQUE EJIDO METRO STATION. AFTER TAKING A COUPLE OF PHOTOS OF WRITERS (THERE ARE MANY STATUES OF POETS AND NOVELISTS HERE), WE WAKED THE REST OF THE WAY TO THE HOTEL.