It seems that 90 percent of Paris has shut down, and the rest is under construction. All my usual cafés and coffee shops have closed for August. There is a man yelling, “Alice, your mommy and daddy are here!” in an American accent outside my window. And, I think I’ve heard more Spanish, English, Italian, and German today, than French.
Nevertheless, the parks remain open! Yesterday, I laid in the grass in the Bois de Vincennes, which looks and feels like a flat version of the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. However, there are more birds (at least of the non-pigeon variety), horses, and boats to rent at the Bois. I hear if you come at certain times, you might also find ladies of the night.
That is, if you’re into that sort of thing.
© Sarah Milstein 2013
