Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Last sun bath before winter?


OK, maybe the summer is not totally gone yet... At lunch time a lot of people go to the closest garden, take a chair and sit in the sun as long as they can. Talking about chairs, I remember when I was a little boy, you had to pay for these chairs. There was a sort of "Chair Police" - namely a garden keeper - who would come and go all day long and ask for money (it was probably very affordable) to the people already seated. I kept asking my mother: "How do they know who just sat and who already paid?!" I don't remember what her answer was...

48 comments:

  1. When I lived in paris in the sixties, you had to pay for the chairs too. We were always trying to stay one step ahead of the chair lady. I t was kind of like playing a game of musical chairs.
    Lovely photo, Eric!

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  2. You had to pay for the chairs?! Are these private gardens? Or just private chairs? If it's a public park, I'd bring my own chair, and glare a the Chair Police. 6^)

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  3. "It's like Big Brother, he's watching you! "(was it her answer?!).
    Hot day today in Paris? In Switz it was quite hot. So bad to be back! ;)

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  4. Also, looks like gorgeous weather there—just like it is here, now that Hurricane Gustave has come and gone.

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  5. Maybe they chalked the chairs like they do tires. ;-)

    There are few things as nice as enjoying the sun on a beautiful day in Paris - unless it's enjoying the sun on a beautiful day in CA. :-)

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  6. BTW, "OK, maybe the summer is not totally gone yet"...aaah Eric, it's so nice to hear you saying that!! After all these "the summer is over, the summer is over"!! LOL

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  7. No, Eric, you can't be right. It CANNOT be the last sun bath... It's still summer, isn't it ?
    Don't tell me it's gone...

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  8. Guille, You're funny. LOL

    Eric, That is a beautiful photo. The leaves are still very green; it still looks like summer to me. Nice capture of the people in the distance. I like the depth -- 3D. Merci for sharing your talent and photographic eye with us.

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  9. This photo is FABULOUS!

    What a dreamy place to have an afternoon rest. Lucky woman.

    The parc looks beautiful. Luxembourg again?

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  10. Oh, I remember the chair dragons!! Yup, you had to pay for the chair, and you couldn't walk on the grass, either. Pelouse interdite!

    This is a GREAT shot you could put under the "traditional Paris" category because it is!

    As to how they kept track of you, Eric, it was a mystery to me, too, but one thing is for sure, you had better not cross the Lord of the Chairs watching you from above lest you want to face the chair dragon lady, ha!

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  11. I have been keeping my eye on the Paris temp. and saw that it was 80 degrees F.yesterday! Surprising for September.
    I am also surprised that the chairs don't get stolen, or is that just my American brain talking.
    Thib and Guille(and anyone else,like Corrine?): we are meeting Sept. 25th at 7pm Deux Magots. Look for the 2008 sunglasses on a table.

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  12. What a beautiful view...Eric, how do you do it? Everyday a little bite of Paris.

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  13. I admire how the French use their gardens and parks. Grab a chair and sit in the sun, watch the race of man go by. Our parks are in constant motion, no one sits and enjoys the day. Great photo Eric.

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  14. Eric, your words "the closest garden" grabbed me. That's one of the many wonderful things about Paris. There's always a public garden close by.

    A calendar is a thing made by man. Nature will do as she must, regardless of what man prints in his daybook.

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  15. I guess I would too, if we had winters. Looks like a wonderful place to just sit down and enjoy the break anyway.

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  16. Charming photo Eric and a charming memory, too, of sunny afternoons in the park. Its a really relaxing photo. Mmmm. Zen moment.

    I've been too busy to post for a little bit. Its nice to say hi everyone. Hope you all have a good day today, wherever in the world you are.

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  17. How very relaxing that looks!! I wish it was warm enough here to do that, but it has been much cooler here!! After the near 90's last week, now it is not even getting up to 70 anymore! Sigh. Maybe we'll get an "Indian summer" later on.

    Enjoy it while it lasts!!

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  18. Lovely scene Eric. My dream is when I return to Paris in Nov. to sit and enjoy a glass of wine in a garden chaise no matter the weather!

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  19. tomate..you still can't walk on the grass! LOL!!!

    What a lovely photo Eric! It is just what I need right now, some down time sitting in the afternoon sun, halfway between sleep and a dream state! Perfect!! Merci!

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  20. Oh, you are killing me. I spent the weekend on a ladder painting windows on my house. I did visit the Institute of Arts, however, where there is an exhibit of Daumier lithographs. They are caricatures, created as political cartoons and social commentaries. However, I would rather have been sitting in le Jardin de Luxembourg soaking up the sun.

    Or meeting at les Deux Magots. You KNOW I'll be there in spirit.

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  21. I'm putting les Deux Magots on my calendar, if only to think about you all.

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  22. Hey Jeff, I hear you. Sounds like a good time will be had by the LUCKY ones! Not only will I be visualizing myself at les Deux Magots avec les PDPrs (and probably a kicking band too to rub salt in the wounds),but I'm presently visualizing myself in that chair in this sanctuary, taking in the rays, and reading the book I'm presently engaged in...Huck Finn. Coincidentally, chapter 14 of Twain's masterpiece has a great argument over the French language between Huck and Jim. LOL!

    Alexa...I'm more than delighted to hand over the GF crown to one whose head knows it well. ;-)

    Guille...love the new photo. Party on! Sante!

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  23. Ah what a lovely photo Eric. I especially love the decorative metal bars framing the grass -- so Parisian. I will continue to stare at this photo for the next 11 days until I'm actually sitting in this chair, in this park, smelling the Paris air!

    And Guille and Thib don't worry, summer's not quite over in Paris yet! You'll have some possible rain over the next week or so, and temps will drop some, but then I'll bring indian summer with me from CA on the 20th so be ready for clear, crisp days with plenty of sun. PHX thanks for putting together the Deux Magots party! I know I won't be able to miss you in those 2008 glasses.

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  24. I like the weather, so calming.. so peaceful. Whenever I have time, I wanted to have a very affordable relaxation like that in the picture..

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  25. PHX, OK, c'est noté ! I'll be there ;-)

    Jeff, Coltrane, Petrea, you'll be there also, dans nos pensées !

    Katie, thanks for the nice weather forecast ! I'm wearing my sunglasses today in Paris ;-)

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  26. "Pay for the chairs" ?!!! Well, I don't remember that and never heard about it… Mmmmh, I guess I grew up in a much less bourgeois area of Paris than you, Eric ! LOL

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  27. Bonjour Eric,

    I'm looking at your photo's for years now!
    Since the IGoogle I'm looking at them daily and I'm loving them every day.

    Paris is THE most beautiful city in the world and I'm visiting about 3-4 times a year.
    I miss it when I'm not there and your photo's make it a little less hard.

    I was always holding back to write a comment, but this photo... it says a lot!
    The parcs in Paris are one of my faorite things and I can see the weather is great.
    A few years ago we went to Paris for 2 weeks in October and had about 25 Celcius! So, hopefully a bit more summer to come.

    Lot's more to tell, but this will be it for now.

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  28. Meeting at the 2 Magots? You people must be fabulously wealthy!

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  29. Awww, what a cute story Eric! I personally don't mind the season change around here. Summer is wonderful, but fall has a sweet charm to it. Everyone pulls out their favorite cute sweaters, the leaves turn into a rainbow of warm colors, the crisp air is invigorating to the lungs, and kids are excitedly trying to figure out what they want to be for Halloween.

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  30. awww...nice story...
    n again a great pic!!
    PDP is Amazin!!

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  31. soosha: My sentiments exactly. Beautifully worded and very poetic...

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  32. Merci Thib. Remember to take pictures for us.

    Katie--11 days!

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  33. What is the French opinion of Sarkozy spying on citizens? Seems like it's happening all over the world! Scary.
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4703054.ece

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  34. I'll be at the Deux Magots as well—vicariously, via my photo that's on phx-cdg's cell phone. You'll have so much fun, I'm sure (and will need a big table for all the PDPers who are there with you in spirit!

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  35. What a beautiful garden. I wish I was there right now. We've had dreary, rainy weather today and more rain tomorrow.
    Funny how they charged for chairs!

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  36. Oh, Katie! I'm jealous and excited for you at the same time -- you'll be there so soon!!

    Sign me up, too, to share a glass with you all in spirit at les Deux Magots.

    Mmmm. Kir Royale moment! ;)

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  37. Thib, Katie, PHX, Guille, and (I assume) Michael and Eric: think of us! I think you should call or e-mail Michel also. He'd love the party, and he's only a short walk away.

    That evening (seven hours later), I have the option of cocktails with the French American Chamber of Commerce or going to see a 1947 musical at a renovated movie theater, with a jazz singer before the film.

    Or, I may be stuck at a special public meeting at city hall. Pray for me...

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  38. And have I mentioned that the Minneapolis Institute of Arts has this lovely painting of le Jardin du Luxembourg?

    http://www.artsmia.org/viewer/detail.php?v=12&id=77

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  39. Jeff...beautiful painting. Love Sargent and le jardin du Lux. Merci.

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  40. Hi !!!

    Very nice shot !!! It fascinates your blog.

    Congratulation !!!


    Saludos!!

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  41. Hi Phx, I've just discovered your message! Thanks for asking! I'd be very happy to meet Katie and of course to see you again and Thib, and Guille!
    Yes, I'll try to make it at Les deux magots, on 9/25. That would be very nice :)
    Take care.

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  42. Ah, what a delightful picture! And I never knew about the chair police!

    How I wish I could show up for the rendez-vous at Les Deux Maggots ...

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  43. Just want to comment on the picture. That picture makes a good colors composition.

    Just looking at that picture already makes my eyes relaxed. It must be even better if I can see it directly. I should put Paris to my must-visit list!

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  44. I think that this photo is one of the best you have made.
    It is wonderful. It is like a picture that you can find at D´Orsay Museum.
    Congratulations.

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  45. They have at least one garden like that in London, as well. I asked a similar question...and don't remember the answer I received, either!

    Also, I think she's enjoying the autumn weather, not clinging to summer. I could be wrong, because I've only ever been to Paris in the fall and winter, so I'm not sure what your summers are like. But here, if you wanted to sit in the sun like that in July, you'd fry. It wouldn't be warming and relaxing. Fall sunshine, however...a totally different story. I envy her. What a glorious way to spend a few moments of the day.

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