The other weekend, we participated in Paris' car-free initiative by taking the boys out on their scooters (trottinettes) and watching them glide along the riverbanks of the Seine. Called "Paris Respire" (Paris Breathes), this project was introduced in 2007 as a way to limit the city's traffic and air pollution in specific areas, like sections along the Seine and Canal Saint-Martin - and really a lovely way to experience Paris sans traffic.
Under golden sunlight, alongside bikers, pedestrians and roller-bladers, this particular day felt like one collective restorative breath of fresh air...
* Paris Respire: Sundays and public holidays between 9am-5pm, all year round
What a wonderful idea, and a delightful way to spend a day in Paris! Love your photos...the scooter shot in particular.
ReplyDeletePerhaps more cities should take the hint and set up a similar day. it would be nice to see traffic-less streets in some larger cities, but possibly would never happen in say NYC or Los Angeles. and here where we are living, the streets are fairly empty on weekends anyway..small town living.
ReplyDeleteThat day sounds perfect!!! Your photos are very lovely too. :)
ReplyDeletehttp://pienilintu.blogspot.fi/
This looks lovely - and what a great idea! More cities should do this. Love the scooter shot especially :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely idea... and Paris is so beautiful in the spring
ReplyDeleteMollyxxx
And a breath of fresh air is what Paris needed after the cold nights and the warm days and its high levels of air pollution.
ReplyDeleteLove, love your photos? Spring in Paris!!
What gorgeous photos! Paris, kids, what could be better?
ReplyDeleteLovely, i think these sepia hues represent Paris so well during the spring time...ah so sweet!
ReplyDeletelove the idea of car free. and what a pretty place to not be in a car. beautiful photos as always.
ReplyDeletei love the last one! sounds surreal!!
ReplyDeleteLove all your photos, especially the first two pics :)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great initiative plus what a great way to see the city. Love it! And your photos... beautiful as usual. :-)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! Getting out for sun and exercise in a city to me is so invigorating! Love all the life happening!
ReplyDeleteThis is refreshing! Love those scooters. I would like to ride a bike through that tunnel. My first thought was -- they will get run over! How often does Paris have these car-free times? We are planning a trip in September (I can't wait!!!) and I'm collecting info and fun things to do :)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful Sharon! Paris Respire is held on Sundays and public holidays between 9am-5pm, all year round (will add this info into the post, thank you for asking ;). The link above goes to the official Paris website, where links on the left provide little maps of all the car-free zones in Paris on Sundays. For info on Velib, the city's bike-sharing program: http://en.velib.paris.fr. I'll be sharing more posts/resources about the city that I hope you'll find useful in planning your trip! :)
DeleteWhat a great way to view the city! Happy Thursday Catherine. xo
ReplyDeletesuch a wonderful way to spend the day. beautiful photos. Thank you for sharing your lovely blog at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop xo
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these city scenes :)
ReplyDeleteLove the boys on their scooter ~ great shots for 'Little' ~
ReplyDeleteartmusedog and carol
Oh my. That second photos brought tears to my eyes. We lived in Paris until my oldest was 12....this could be them! Such a gorgeous shot - I just sat here and drank in all the scenery...Paris me manque!! They didn't have this lovely activity when we lived there - so hard to imagine that road along the Seine, normally so full of speeding cars, full of bikers and strollers!! Boston does that from March - November on Memorial Drive...our version of the road along the Seine!! Thanks for these!!
ReplyDeleteHi Adrienne! So happy to be part of those wonderful memories of your stay in Paris with your boys (that makes me smile :)... maybe we can swap stories one day. Love that you have a car-free initiative in Boston too!
DeleteCatherine, Your boys look precious gliding along the Seine. The tunnel photo is wonderful! Our grands are on spring break and with us until next week - then, I'll need a break!
ReplyDeleteThank you ladies so so much for visiting and commenting :)
ReplyDeleteThe boys are right at home! What a joy that you are actually in your own backyard! Blessings to you and your family, Catherine :) xoxc
ReplyDeleteThank you dear Charmaine... warmest regards to you + your boys :) xo
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