Jardin des Plantes and the Menagerie

Trip Start Apr 05, 2006

Trip End Apr 27, 2006

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Where I stayed

Hotel Le Home Latin Paris

Flag of France Paris, Île-de-France, France
Monday, May 1, 2006

May Day in Paris - Labour Day. Celebrated by a holiday for most and with small bouquets of Lily of the Valley or Muguet in French. We set off for du Jardin des Plantes on foot despite the showery day, walking along St. Germain and the river. The garden displayed many annual flowers, including large violas of many colours in the main flower beds. We found a section planted out to lots of grasses, sedges, euphorbias and other plant groups, Unfortunately most of the grasses were not flowering but those that were kept Austin amused for some time. We later found a bed of enormous peony roses, some with blooms a hand span across. Around the gardens were buildings that once housed the great French botantists.

Adjacent to the gardens we found a small zoo (a menagerie) that specialised in South American fauna (including llama, vicuna, rhea, macaws, patagonian hares, agouti and capybara), owls, pheasants, cranes, vultures and ducjs, ibex, gaur, anoa, yak and watusi. Of course Austin had great fun with the camera while Joy had soon had enough of waiting for him. Nevertheless, we both enjoyed the experience, though we were foot sore by the time we walked home.

Out for tea at Subway and a short walk to the Town Hall with its fountains and back over the bridges to watch the final of the snooker championship. We swapped rooms toady for a bigger bathroom and bed but no longer have the view of the large chestnut tree with its pigeons.

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