I’m consistently awestruck every time we visit our ‘Jardin.’  We’re so lucky to have le Jardin du Luxumbourg as our backyard.   Even after more than a decade and a half of coming to this lovely city each year, I have always found this park and its gardens magical.  Lately, I’ve found myself reading more about the planning of the space.

The Project for Public Spaces, a major urban planning think tank, considers the Luxembourg Gardens to be one of the most successful parks in the world, partly because it is so well integrated into the fabric of the city around it, which makes it easily accessible. There are also many things to do there, evidenced by the wide range of people who use it: children, older people, Sorbonne students, people cutting through on a lunch break, etc. People come to stroll, play chess, to sit and read, people watch, to sit at one of the cafes or to bring their children or grandchildren to one of the many attractions.  During the past decade, it has also become ground zero for French runners and athletes, who run/walk laps around the perimeter roads in the Park.  In addition, an organic fruit garden has sprung up in the southern section of the park, with pears, lemons, and oranges in full harvest.  Organized activities at the park include tennis, pony rides, puppet theatres, and toy sailboat rental (children float them in the large central fountain). We have used them all.  I just realized that visitors can also stop inside the Palais and attend a hearing of the French Senate, which is open to the public.

The Gardens also host innovative exhibits, such as one of aerial photographs from around the world.  Twice or thrice a year,  the exhibits are mounted on its perimeter gates facing Rue de Vaugirard and Blvd. St Michel.  In addition, it has an intimate Musée where we have seen some of the most memorable expositions, like the exquisite and rare Modigliani show we saw a couple of years ago.

I can imagine why Marie de Medici, bereaved after the death of her husband, could no longer live in the Louvre, and wanted to have this palace and the gardens built to remind of her childhood home, Palazzo Pitti in Florence.  We all want to be ‘home.’  My husband and I walk through the Jardin daily, and talk about whether indeed, this can or cannot be ‘a moveable feast.’

This article is worth a look if you’ve already “done it all” and are looking for new ways to see parts of Paris you feel you’re missing.   

You’ve posed for a picture in front of the Eiffel Tower, checked out the Mona Lisa at the Louvre and walked to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. If you think you’ve done it all in Paris, don’t worry, there are plenty of off-the-beaten-path adventures for your return.

Away from landmarks, tourist crowds and flashing cameras, a few guides will take you on unusual tours behind the scenes, literally, in a movie tour, or to discover artists’ havens in Belleville, fountains of famous gardens and eco-friendly initiatives around town. Alongside curious locals, you’ll get a glimpse of a different Paris.

[From Peek into the hidden corners of Paris - USATODAY.com]

One of the many luxuries of spending lots of time in Paris every year is freedom from the tyranny of “must-do” lists. Some days we don’t leave the apartment at all, bathing in the Buddhistic calm that comes with knowing that it’s all outside the door if were just to open that door.

At the same time, we also like to visit small Paris museums since they are as varied and plentiful as snowflakes, and usually provide a new perspective on French culture and art. Here are five museums (including one X-rated) that we haven’t been to, but will add to our “maybe today” list when we inevitably have to leave the apartment for coffee and orange juice at some point. And they often give us added incentive to get out of our neighborhood to see something different. Only one of these little attractions is in the 6th, just down the way on the rue Monsieur le Prince.

1. Musée d’Histoire de la Médecine.

Address : 12 rue de l’école de Médecine, 75005
Opening Times : 14:00 – 17:30 Monday to Saturday.
Price: € 3.50
Website: http://www.bium.univ-paris5.fr/musee/
2. Musée des Arts Forains

Fairground equipment from the 19th century. It’s used mostly as a backdrop to corporate events, but if you can organize 15 people, you can make a group visit.

Address : 53 Avenue des Terroirs de France, 75012
Opening Times : On appointment
Price: On appointment
Website: http://www.pavillons-de-bercy.com/EN/museum-fairground-art.html

3. Musée de la Préfecture de Police

Famous crimes and criminals in this hard-to-find museum inside a police station. You may have to ask a flat foot how to find it.

Address : 4, rue de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève 75005
Opening Times : 09:00 – 17:00 Monday to Friday, Saturday: 10:00 – 17:00; Closed on Sundays
Price: Free
Website: http://www.prefecture-police-paris.interieur.gouv.fr/connaitre/musee/musee.htm

4. Musée de l’Erotisme

Tasteful and informative, this museum is limited to adults over 18.

Address : 72 Boulevard de Clichy 75017
Opening Times : 7 days a week, 10am to 2am!
Price: 8 Euros (3 Euro reduction from website)
Website: http://www.musee-erotisme.com/fichiers/home.php?lang=en

5. Maison d’Auguste Comte

Apartment of the founder of Positivism and modern Sociology. Good view on how middle class lived in the 19th century and good counterpoint to the Jacquemart-André house/museum.

Address : 10, rue Monsieur le Prince 7500
Opening Times : Wednesday 2pm – 5pm
Price: Free
Website: http://www.augustecomte.org/site/index.php?id=34

For more description, see 5 Unusual Museums in Paris

And picking models that reinforce the identity of the hotel.

Le Meurice, the renowned hotel that occupies an 1835 palace across from the Tuileries, unveiled five retro-style bikes in the blue-green shade of the oxidized copper rooftops of the city, with matching helmets and front baskets emblazoned with the hotel’s gold logo. American and British guests in their 30s tend to be the most enthusiastic customers, according to the hotel; Le Meurice’s sister hotel, the Plaza Athénée, opted for zippy red bikes with panniers.

If you’ve ever looked for a house or apartment to buy, you know their are two huge obstacles (well, more, but that’s a longer story) to finding the right place. First, there are no centralized listings, so you have to go door-to-door, meeting 10-20 agents to get an idea of what is available. Each may only have one or two places to show. Beyond that, there are no open house visits, so each tour has to be organized and scheduled separately. And, we won’t even start to complain that none of this happens on Sunday, but as you can imagine, it’s all terribly civilized and personal, and completely frustrating to the “let’s get to it” American buyer.

Century 21, the American real estate agents, are changing at least one part of that. They can centralize listsings, but they do do open houses. Here are ones happening in Central Paris this weekend.

Boulet-Orquéra Immobilier
49 Quai des Grands Augustins
75006 PARIS
Tel : 01 44 07 13 13Fax : 01 43 25 21 20
Email : c21grandsaugustins@century21france.fr

Sur place Samedi 4 avril de 16h30 à 18h30
Studio – Quartier Buci – 213 000 *
Investissement de qualité, situé près des commerces,transports et écoles.
Immeuble ravalé, kitchenette équipée. Calme.
18, rue Grégoire de Tours 75006 Paris

Sur place Vendredi 3 avril de 16h00 à 18h00
2 pièces – Quartier Pont Neuf – 340 000 *
Immeuble bien entretenu, étage élevé.
Charmant appartement,grande cuisine, séjour et chambre avec balcon filant ouvrant sur les toits de Paris.
5, rue de Nesle 75006 Paris

Sur place Vendredi 3 avril de 14h00à 16h00 et Samedi 4 avril de 9h30à 11h00
2 pièces –Quartier des Bouquinistes –410 000 *
Dans bel immeuble sécurisé avec ascenseur, pied-à-terreidéal pour cet appartement au calme sur cour.
49, Quai des Grands Augustins 75006 Paris

Sur place Samedi 4 avril de 11h00 à 13h00
2/3 pièces – Quartier Pont Neuf – 563 000 *
Dans un immeuble chargé d’histoire.
Beau potentiel pour cet appartement, salon 30 m2 avec cheminée, cuisine entièrement équipée et chambre avec salle de bains en suite.
13, Rue de Nesle 75006 Paris

Sur place Samedi 4 avril de 14h00 à 16h00
3/4 pièces – Quartier Bon Marché – 748 000 *
Sur grande cour arborée, dans belle copropriété, au 4ème étage avec ascenseur. Double séjour, 2 chambres et cuisine équipée. Parking possible
129, Rue de Sèvres 75006 Paris

Paris Greeter was set up just so locals can share the Parisian experience. Local guides take you on tours of 2-3 hours and welcome children.

You are coming to Paris and want to live an unusual and exciting experience?
A Paris Greeter will make sure you discover the true Paris, the way Parisians live it and love it!
Paris Greeters are volunteers willing to share their knowledge of Paris in general and a specific neighbourhood in particular. They will take you to unusual and often hidden places, will tell you their history (and story!) and will give you tips on good places to go.

All our volunteers are Paris lovers who like to share the art, tradition and culture of this fascinating city. At the end of the walk, we really want you to have the feeling that you have not only discovered the city but also had an insight into what we call the “Parisian way of life.”

[From ParisianGreeter.org]

This sounds like a wonderful idea since who knows a neighborhood better than someone who lives there. We’ll definitely try it out on our next trip to Paris.