Playful Paris

The rehearsal for Sunday's "skype-in" to King Hall went well. The church now has a new laptop computer which will help us a lot. I look forward to seeing and hearing many of you after the worship service tomorrow!
In anticipation of arrival of Kel, Steve, Aidan and Kayla we have been scouting the city for kid-friendly places. As it turns out, this is not a problem. Paris has enormous green spaces filled with pony, hot-air balloon, and mechanical rides at reasonable prices! Pictured (left) is the Luxembourg Palace and gardens... home of kings in the past and the French Senate these days, along with pony rides, tennis courts, and a HUGE playground. Just beautiful.
Also, along the Seine River from mid-July to mid-August there is the Paris Plage (Paris Beach)... tons of sand, palm trees and chairs placed all along the river in central Paris to create a beach atmosphere!
Today we walked a lot ... including past the old towers where Marie Antionette was held prisoner prior to her execution (pictured right) along the Seine River. We jumped on the Metro for a ride out to the Jardin d'Acclimation and its live anmials, exotic birds, lush greenery, and wonderful rides all aimed for kids 3-10 years old; Aidan and Kayla will be ecstatic! (So will Poppy.)
Our biggest surprise has been the weather: We were expecting really hot and wet; au contraire, it has been lovely (mid-70s-80) and dry. So much for the tourist guides.
Parisian culture makes great room for children and animals in its everyday culture (both are welcome almost everywhere). The generations are not nearly as fragmented as they are in the U.S. There is much to ponder.
Onward!