Built in the early 1600’s around the beautiful Luxembourg Palace, the Luxembourg Gardens cover 57 precisely manicured acres. It feels more like a park than gardens and it’s an amazing place. The day we were there it was very warm and very crowded. I think the mini-bus driver who took us out to Giverny explained it very well. He said that their homes are very expensive and therefore very small. Lots of the homes in those big, gorgeous buildings are only studios. So if people want to get together, they can’t have friends over, they have to go out. They go to bars, they go to restaurants, and they go to their beautiful parks. Paris has had a real cold and rainy spell lately and these days we’ve been in Paris, the weather has been beautiful. So everybody is taking advantage of the wonderful spring weather to be outside – – Parisians love their parks.
The beautiful Luxembourg Palace overlooks a circular basin and on down to the grand entrance. Gardens lie on either side.
The circular basin in front of the palace is where local children bring their model sailboats and visitors can rent them at a nearby kiosk. Children are given long sticks so when their boat gets too close the edge, they can push it off with their stick and it sails away again.
Parisians love their parks and gardens!
These tots taking pony rides through the gardens were adorable.
Perhaps a better flavor choice. Vanilla, maybe?
The palace is now owned and occupied by the Senate so of course there’s security. Actually there doesn’t appear to be a lot of visible security anywhere, especially considering the recent problems that Paris has had. But what little security we have seen looks just like this – – a lot more serious than our security at home. No holstered handguns here.
In one area we noticed several tables like this one with very serious chess players.
This little girl riding her scooter in the park was so cute.
This is one of those areas on the grounds that was literally wall to wall people. I have no idea why this particular area was so popular. (The sign says it’s okay to walk on the grass.)
Springtime in France 
Seems the people love to congregate outdoors. They all look so happy.
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