Une bataille de boules de neige

Snowball Fight!

Well, it was very good natured fun 

with lots of laughter and the squeals of children

They seemed totally oblivious to the photographer,

and she was glad not to have been pelted with a block of ice.

Square Armand-Trousseau

Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine

75012, Paris

Le Square Trousseau - zoom-zoom





 

Square Trousseau

 

 

 

Perfectly balanced on his bike without pedals,

he moved rapidly across the play area

only touching down to gain more speed

 

 

The photographer had best

step aside

 

 

zoom-zoom!

 

 

 

Le Square Trousseau

75012, Paris

Métro Ledru-Rollin



 



Square Armand-Trousseau

Square Armand-Trousseau

This beautiful wooded park sits quietly off Rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine.  On Sundays it is lively (as are all the parks of Paris) with children and families.  One can bring a picnic from the near-by Marché d'Aligre or the pâtisserie/boulangerie just outside the gates at Blé Sucré.  

This lovely park has a dark past with a cemetery in Medieval times for orphans;

in 1674 it was the site of a hospital; and later became an orphanage.

Square Armand-Trousseau

1, rue Antoine Vollon

75012, Paris

Square Trousseau - un kiosque à musique

Bandstand

Square Armand-Trousseau

This square is just a little park off the side of Rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine, but in many visits, we have seen Tai Chi excercises, an old men's club, ferocious snowball fights, very fast bikes and scooters (trottinettes), mamas and nanas, children of all ages, boules, and ping-pong games.

When you go, do not miss Le Square Trousseau, a café on the corner, 

and Blé Sucré, pâtisserie (Madeleine, financier, pain au chocolat, and more!)

Square Armand-Trousseau

Rues Antoine Vollon et Rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine

Métro Ledru Rollin

75012 Paris

Manteau rouge

Red Coat

This young girl watches over her little brother 

on the park playground

...must be a French girl!

Square Trousseau

75012, Paris

Métro Ledru Rolin

Un ombre

The grillwork of the entryway

makes long, ornate shadows in the foyer

3, rue Antoine Vollon
75012 Paris
Métro Ledru Rollin

Le Square Trousseau

I have seen this restaurant/café on three or four trips to Paris

but have never stopped for a coffee. 

Why, you ask?

 

I am always full from a stop at blé sucré or from the other direction,

the pâtisseries of Marché d'Aligre... 

Perhaps the next time

Restaurant Le Square Trousseau
1, rue Antoine Vollon
75012 Paris
Métro Ledru Rollin

Climbing

A rock wall climber in training

at Square Trousseau

Le Petit Garçon

While the other children ran through the park

or zipped around on scooters, 

this little boy played happily alone. 

Square Trousseau

Métro Ledru Rollin

75012 Paris

Les trois flâneurs

On a Sunday morning in Square Trousseau, these three gentlemen were seen strolling through the park.  My guess is that they are old friends who meet here regularly to talk about their families, their thoughts on politics, or current events in the neighborhood.  I will have three copies of this photo for my next trip on the chance that I see them again on a Sunday morning.


Square Trousseau
Métro Ledru Rollin
 

Zoom-Zoom VI

This petit garçon was at full throttle alternately pushing with his feet and coasting in perfect rhythm. I was glad to see he was wearing a helmet, color-coordinated with his balance bike, bien sûr!

Can you tell that he is a French boy? Why, certainly you can... he is wearing a chic scarf

... zoom-zoom!

My dear friend, Shell Sherree, whose artistic talent is well-known, has posted a watercolor inspired by one of my photographs. She improved on the original as only she can do with un petit chat hiding among the flowers. I am truly honored, ma chère amie!

Se Jetter des Boules de Neige

So, our story continues... Do you recognize our cute "jeune garçon" from yesterday? He is the one smiling above with the huge snowball, uh hunk of ice...

...and now he takes one in the back by the kid with the striped hat! Pow!

After a rousing battle with snowballs accompanied by the laughter of kids playing, it was time to leave the park.

And this was the "stash" of snowballs!

This kind of kid-fun translates to any language... may it always be so

Paris Portrait -- Jeune Garçon

During the very cold days in early December, I got a shot of this handsome young fellow with hands and cheeks red from the frigid air.

You might be interested to know that there is a story to this one and I will show you tomorrow. I am such a tease!

Square Trousseau
Métro Ledru Rollin


(Is there a better title than "jeune garçon"?)