Gray skies and pastries.

I'm sorry it's been so long since the last update. With trying to solidify my class schedule and the perpetually gray sky, I've been a bit distracted and haven't had nearly the exciting things to photograph and share with you as I have in previous weeks. But today I think I finally figured out my final schedule and I had a wonderful quiche lorraine and nutella crepe for lunch, so I decided I'd photograph one of my favorite spots. 

This is the Palais du Luxembourg, which sits in a huge park in the middle of the Quartier Latin, the location of my school and my stomping grounds. I've been here several times in the past couple weeks and even with the dark skies and bare trees, it's still gorgeous. I could sit here and people watch all afternoon.

Shortly after I snapped this shot, the boy in red began sticking out his tongue and spitting at the ducks. A couple other little boys sat down in the chairs next to me and one pretended to interrogate the other. Another kept chasing this one pigeon around and yelling so loud his younger sister scolded him. They are so cute when they speak French in their high little voices.

This lady just made my day.

One of my favorite spots in the park is the bocce ball court. I looked very out of place today taking these pictures, walking behind the white-haired onlookers. For some the game is more serious than others, but they all seem to be having the greatest time playing.

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Note there is only one person in this shot who has no white hair or is not balding.

This coat rack hangs in the middle of the court. Only in France.

The men in the matching jackets saw me taking a picture, smiled and informed me that they were the champions :) I didn't pay enough attention to see if they were right, but you could tell they do this often. Every week. Maybe every day. They greet each other by name and chuckle in their lazy conversation in between turns. I wonder how long they've done this, how long they have lived in Paris. Why have they chosen this place to live out their golden years? Why not live in the country where you can play bocce ball next to the mountains? Something I don't quite understand. 

In any case, the park is a truly magical place for these gentlemen and I believe every other Parisian. And I don't think it's because of the green, which is significantly lacking now, or the quietness. I think it's because it's the one place they can come and smile without everything silently glaring at them and calling them a tourist. In the park they can be free.

As for me, I don't get to spend as much time in the park as I like, but I plan on changing that, especially when the weather gets sunnier. For now I'm still trying to find solid friends and figure out how best to spend my time. But, at least I have the comforts of French food to boost my spirits. I bought my first real French pastry last week: apple tart with the flakiest crust you've ever tasted. It was only two euros and absolutely scrumptious. I look forward to many more afternoon pastries and finding friends to indulge with me.