Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Tai Chi at Paris Plage


Paris Plage was not a big success this year because of the unusually bad summer here in Paris this year, but I managed to capture these people doing Tai Chi on one of the rare sunny days we had. I've never tried it, but it seems that those who practice Tai Chi really take it seriously. Along Paris Plage, it was quite something to see...more the people watching than the people doing! Now Paris Plage is closed and soon cars are going to replace the sand and the passersby...

Note to my regular viewers: I am currently in Port Charlotte after 4 days in Miami. Tomorrow I'll be heading Sarasota. I'm having a great time ;).

22 comments:

  1. first commenter of the day, if I post this quickly!
    we saw many tai chi practitioners when we were in Paris in the spring. Often they seemed to be meeting a teacher who would take them through their various poses, generally in small groups of three to six. Saw them in the Jardins du Luxembourg and also in that lovely park on the Rive Droite across from the Bibliotheque Nationale -- you get to cross that stunningly beautiful new bridge to get there, but I've forgotten all the names at the moment, sorry. I never saw the Tai Chi folks in such numbers though -- must have been impressive!

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  2. Not sure i have the patience for it - isn't it very slow? Makes for an impressive photo though!

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  3. OK, now THAT'S COOL!!!

    You are quite correct, the folks who practice Tai Chi take it very seriously! When I first started working in San Francisco, I had to take a bus through Chinatown to get to work and that's where I first noticed people practicing Tai-Chi, bright and early, outside in the parks, at a street corner, anywhyere, really. These people seemed to be in complete harmony and completely at peace when they do that. To tell you the truth, I always kind of envied them when I saw them. Anyway, I think it's great that people are doing that in Paris these days.

    Great catch, thank you!

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  4. Glad you're having a great time, Eric. But, for me--I'd rather be in Paris!!

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  5. Who would have thunk it? Tai Chi in Paris. I might expect Kim Chi or Chai tea or Hoochy-coo-Chi but Tai Chi...Zuts alor! :-) Glad you're enjoying the land of the "hurricanes"...and I'm not just talking weather either. Nudge, nudge!

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  6. So good to know you're having fun, enjoy your vacation, it goes by so fast. Oh but then again you probably still have 5 more weeks off this year...!

    The more I read about the bad weather in Paris these days the luckier I feel because the weather in Paris was amazing while I was there.
    I think I brought the sun along with me because since I got back home it's been sunny all the time!

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  7. Hoochy-coo Chi. Coltrane, that's as bad (good) as they get.

    About the weather: Monica, it's interesting you said that. On previous visits, early May was rainy and cold, but got better. This year, I visited Paris in late April and the weather was perfect. You never know what will happen.

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  8. Jeff, seems pretty unpredictable. Last year in May it was the same, bad weather first 2 days, got better later (we probably were there at the same time last year!).

    This year everything was just perfect!

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  9. I thought they were either being chased by something, or they were all waving to someone famous.

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  10. You are right that those who practice Tai Chi are serious about it. When we were in San Francisco in 2005, we saw people of all ages and nationalities practicing it in parks all over the city. . .I've never seen anyone doing Tai Chi in parks in Nashville, though.

    Eric, enjoy Sarasota! Our son lives in Ft. Myers. . .not too far away. It's such a lovely area.

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  11. Eric, I haven't commented in ages but still follow your blog through the widget on my desktop. When I saw you were in Port Charlotte, just had to say that's where my mom lives now (we used to live in Boca Raton). I'm sure you're having a GREAT time. Enjoy sunny south Florida!

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  12. Eric, haven't commented in a long time but follow your blog through the widget. When I saw you were in Port Charlotte, I had to say that's where my mom lives now (we used to live in Boca Raton). Hope you're having a GREAT time in sunny south Florida.

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  13. I blew this pic up, and you know what? Isn't it funny how the space between our nose and upper lip changes as we get older?

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  14. I miss the Paris plage. With temps over 40 here in Mississippi, I sort of miss the bad weather of Paris too!!

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  15. hey, we have Tai Chi in Bryant Park too (midtown Manhattan). It's on Thursday mornings, 7am - a bit too early. On Thursday nights, we have yoga classes. See here.

    Oh Sarasota: there's a very nice art museum and the Ringling House. There's also the Dali museum on your way there (not sure where it is but it's just a day trip). Have fun!

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  16. Hey, with Marie (Nantes) we tried Taî chi in Paris plage last week it was fun but quite complicated!
    Perhaps you have seen us... I have looked carefully your shot but we're not on this one !
    bye

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  17. I live in San Francisco and as Tomato Farcie said, they practice it all over the place. A number of years ago i took a course in it and loved it. It's gentle exercise and great for balance (important when you get on in years). I haven't kept it up for lack of space to practice. I can't get myself up early enough to practice with the groups in the park. Thanks for the photo. Hope you are enjoying Florida.

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  18. Hi Eric, I am glad you are having a great time in the states. I hope the rest of your trip is wonderful also. Thanks for keeping up with the PDP even while vacationing!!

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  19. Reminds me of the little old ladies and gentlemen who do daily morning tai chi in the parks in San Francisco. They make it look so easy, but it's not!

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  20. Glad to hear you are having a good time in FL.

    Mari-Nanci

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  21. Hope you are having a wondeful time.

    There are plenty of tai chi practitioners (and wu shu - the one with the swords) in the Luxembourg gardens any Sunday morning!
    Sydney Daily Photo

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  22. Cool they brought Tai Chi to Paris Plage. Tai Chi has been going in certain parks in Paris for a looooong time, especialy Buttes Chaumont, Vincennes etc.

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