I don’t think there is a more stunning place to watch tennis than Roland Garros, home of the French Tennis Open even if the surface is no longer really red clay but crushed red bricks over white limestone. Maurice and I both like to watch tennis although neither of us play anymore and have been to Roland Garros quite a few times since moving here (and I’ve posted about it serveral times too). Seeing that red clay surface while sitting in the green stands is a great feeling when you have watched televised matches for years. I haven’t been to Wimbledon yet but would like to one of these years. The tennis got rained out the day before I went but there was sunshine for me, thank goodness.

You see this sculpture as you near one of the big stadiums. I am sure people living then would be really surprised if they could see what the women players are wearing now.

A view of some of the grounds as you look down from one of the stadiums. There is talk of moving the French Open elsewhere as the players are complaining that it is too small. I personally would hate to see that happen. Versailles or the area out by Disney Paris have been mentioned as possible places but I read that the Paris mayor hopes to get permission for the grounds to be enlarged. It is along side a very beautiful park and they don’t want to give up their land. Plus, what would they do with Roland Garros once the tennis open wasn’t there?

The view from my seat.

Some of the people working there wore the cutest outfits. I thought they looked like something out of the 20′s. I especially liked the shoes that the women wore.

Serena Williams serving. She won this match and is still in the Open but her sister, Venus, has been defeated. Venus was wearing a rather controversial outfit which she designed that looked sort of like a corset with a skirt and had lace. What had the photographers (male) interested was her fleshed toned tennis panties underneath which gave the illusion that nothing was there-which she said was her intent. I think there were more comments on what she was wearing than how she played.

Paris is always having displays of this and that around the city. Some of the largest ones are done on the Champs Elysees. They actually close the avenue and put up various exhibits. The best one I saw was ancient engines from trains. Last year I tried to see the Chinese New Year parade as it went down the Champs. It was a year of a China and France cultural exchange and that year the parade was to be full of people and objects from China. The only problem was that there were so many people that I couldn’t see a thing. It was so crowded that it felt dangerous-if you fell you would be squashed like a crepe. I finally left with not one photo. So this year the Champs was closed again this time with gardens and flowers. The temperature was in the 80′s at three in the afternoon by the time my friend and I got there and, once more, there were so many people that it was crazy. I saw some grass and that was about it. There may have been flowers but we decided to leave after a short time and take off down a side street to catch a bus back home. I’ve decided to skip this type of thing from now on. As my friend said, “Parisians really love their city and they love these types of events”. I think I will be happy just to come upon one accidentally in another area of Paris with just a few people milling around which has happened to me before.

Here’s the first display we came to. You can see the Arch de Triumph in the distance. It was to celebrate gardens and growing things I think. I wish I could have gotten there early in the morning.

There is a large Adidas store on the Champs Elysees and the French Tennis Open is going on now so they had these tennis balls “smashing” into the building. I liked it.

Monoprix also got into the act with a floral and greenery display.

On the way to the bus stop we passed this famous restaurant. Very high prices as you might expect. I think I enjoy meals at simpler places although I wouldn’t pass up an offer of a free meal here.

You never know what you will see up on Montmartre. There are always interesting people milling around and events going on.

This lady has been performing with her accordian there for years. I think she started when she was a little girl. As you can see, she has added not only a costume but some decorative background things as well. She has CDs that you can buy too.

There was a Perigord festival going on. I knew that area of France was known for it’s geese and foie gros but the walnut thing surprised me. These men must be part of a walnut society. I liked the little walnuts on their heads and shoulders.

There is a little cemetery next to the little St Pierre church that is only opened on November First. If you press you nose against the gate and look to the right you can see a small moulin (windmill) on top of one of the tombs there.

Inside St Pierre is this statue of Saint Vincent made of wood. He is the patron saint of those who plant vines and make wine. Montmartre was once covered in vineyards-windmills too.

Most people only see the front of Sacre Coeur but it is also very interesting from behind. I wandered around Montmatre with Lisa who lives in this area. We had a gorgeous day with blue skies and sunshine and even got a little hot.

Lovely white wysteria in a garden behind the basillica.

Sacre Coeur always looks so great against a blue sky.

Saint Georges slaying a dragon.

Artists wander around offering to do your portrait. This pretty girl took one of them up on it.

I’m back in Paris and was out and about yesterday and I have to say I even felt hot. There was sunshine and blue skies and the temperatures got up into the seventies. Hard to beat that. Here is a mix of a few photos I took yesterday.

That tunnel of trees that I love in Palais Royal.

That tunnel at the Louvre leading to the pyramid. My camera was set wrong and too much light is in the photo but I sort of like the result.

Up in Montmartre, an artist’s palette.

An artist at work.

And now I must start going through the apartment and start getting rid of things that I don’t want to move. Why is there so much of it? Read my blog post called Changes is you are wondering what I’m talking about. I am indeed moving to another apartment. Lots of work ahead.

One of the joys of spring in Provence is the arrival of the bright red poppies that grow wild everywhere. I have a few in my yard and was especially taken with the way the light came through the petals.

(Our online problem was finally solved. I’m sure the guy who could fix it was on vacation. May is filled with all sorts of holidays in France. We are on our way to Paris for a few weeks to get the apartment moving underway. I’m hoping my pots of flowers in my yard in Provence will survive. I’ve put those watering devices attached to plastic bottles in each pot-the water is slowly released by osmosis. Maurice is turning off all of the water while we gone so I can’t use an automatic watering system. That’s the problem with having a house-worrying about things left behind. We’ve had a strange leak as well and wonder what will await us when we open our front door once more.)