Gardens In Paris: Tuileries & Luxembourg

You've probably heard about the two most famous gardens in Paris. Even if you get easily bored just hearing the word "flowers" (which I do!) these gardens are easy to enjoy, even if you're walking through them on your way to the next Metro station. This (rather short) post will compare the Tuileries and Luxembourg gardens, so if you're in Paris and have limited time, you can chose which one you want to go to.
TIP: I would highly not recommend giving yourself three or four hours just to see the gardens, because this isn't the kind of thing that you make a separate trip on the Metro for. I don't like it when these are listed as "attractions" because they're really just a part of the city and lifestyle. I'd recommend walking through one of the gardens on your way to a different attraction. Just naturally incorporate them into your day, instead of planning everything.

#1: The Tuileries Gardens

Location: Between the Louvre Palace and the Place de la Concorde, in the 1st Arrondissement.
Distance: 1km and about 15 minutes end-to-end if you don't stop or walk along any side paths.
Description: This garden provides a great contrast between forest-y and wide paths. The main walkway (Alée Centrale) runs straight through the middle of the garden, towards the big pond at the end. The gardens are very popular, but they're big enough that you can find your own place in its depths. Huge stone and bronze statues decorate the gardens, surrounded by colourful flowers. There are several snack stands on the main path, especially by the octagonal pool. Some are touristy and others are very nice. We liked the ice cream from Antonio's (the stand with the fat angel logo). You really need to be careful of pickpockets here, especially on the main path near the Louvre. I'd recommend staying on the other paths that are concealed deeper within the trees; there are less pickpockets.

Here's a map of the Tuileries Gardens in Paris:

#2: The Luxembourg Gardens
Location: Just south of Sorbonne University, in the 6th Arrondissement.
Distance: 750m and about 12 minutes if you walk quickly (from Rue Auguste Comte to Rue de Vaugirard).
Description: Where the Tuileries are rich and forested, these gardens are open and spread-out. When you see the Luxembourg Palace after going around (and hopefully not IN) the main pool, you'll be stunned. The Fontaine Médicis is also worth a look, and the many side paths winding around the gardens are great for exercise and very photogenic. You can find shade along the edges of this garden, and you can get to it quickly if you take the Metro to the Luxembourg station. These gardens can get crowded, but the wide paths and sprawling landscape make it easy to forget yourself and just spend a whole afternoon in the gardens. Unlike the Tuileries gardens, we had no trouble with pickpockets here. Another plus is that it's very difficult to get lost in these gardens: you don't need a map because the Luxembourg Palace and the octagonal pool can be used as reference points. Take your time in this garden, especially on sunny days when the flowers and trees are lush. There's a lot to see, and you need to slow down to really appreciate it.

Here's a map of the Luxembourg Gardens:

Well, I hope this guide has helped you to learn a little more about the two main gardens in Paris! (Even if you're not planning a vacation to Paris, check out some of the travel advice blog posts about the next time you go travelling.) Final tips about the gardens:

1) Never just go to a garden. Always incorporate it into the other attractions you are visiting.
Attractions near the Tuileries Garden include: The Louvre, Place de la Concorde, Place Vendome, Madeline, Champs-Elysees, Opera (some distance away), and Arc du Triomphe (some distance away)
Attractions near the Luxembourg Gardens include: The Pantheon, Sorbonne University,
Cluny Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saint-Chappelle, and Musee Rodin (some distance away)

The Tuileries Gardens in the summer.

2) Always visit these gardens in the summer or spring, if possible. They are much more interesting when everything is lush and green. Autumn can be interesting, and winter is just boring. If you visit the gardens in the summer, bring a hat and sunscreen.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post! If you are going to Paris, also read the
4 Walks In Central Paris post for ideas on where to walk and how to incorporate the gardens into your daily life in the city.

And don't feed the pigeons (they are already overweight).

TRAVEL ADVICE- Enjoying Flight Connections

This is my first Travel Advice post, all about how to enjoy flight connections...enjoy!

First Steps: (connections 2hrs+) These are the first things you should do after you land, in order. 

1) Find Food. When you're on the plane and the flight attendants are chucking the unappetizing flight meals at your tray table, you'll wish you had found food in the airport. 

Organize your boarding pass...if you can
find it... WHERE IS MY BOARDING PASS?

2) Organize Your Bags. Your carry on bag probably got all jumbled up from you rummaging through it on the previous flight, so take some time to put everything in its proper pocket, and so on. This is also the time to charge your iDevice. As long as someone in your family is guarding your phone, you can charge it while you wait for the plane. It's surprisingly easy to forget to do this, actually, and if this is your only source of entertainment (which it shouldn't be) this is especially important. 

3a) If you're travelling East, you'll probably be pretty jet lagged by the time you reach your destination. This is a good time to think about the time difference at your destination and use it to your advantage. For instance, if you're waiting in Toronto for a flight to Paris, you'll know that Paris is 6 hours ahead of Toronto. So if it's 4pm in Toronto, you should be sleeping in France. Spend your time waiting for a connection getting used to the time difference.

Try to match your eating/sleeping
schedule to the one of the time
zone you are travelling to. 

3b) If you're travelling West, the day is going to keep going...and going... and going. You will just keep staying awake and you won't even be tired. Why? If (for example) you're travelling from Paris back to Toronto and your flight from Paris leaves at 1pm (Paris time), you'll arrive in Toronto at 8pm Paris time. But at this time, it's only 2pm in Toronto because of the time difference. So naturally, your brain is totally confused because it's still light outside when it should be night in Paris...(have I lost you yet?). Anyway, if you're not tired, you might as well have some fun with the airport games listed below. 

Airport Games: This is how to have fun in an airport if you have time to spare. 

 1) Find The Item: Each kid is assigned a travel item that you forgot to bring. Then, everyone has to run off and find their item in a store in the airport, buy it, and come back. The first person back gets the previously decided prize (candy for the plane, etc.) Set a time limit so your 8 year old doesn't go tearing across the airport and end up on the opposite side when you're plane's supposed to be boarding.

See if you can beat 12.7 seconds for the
100m escalator race.

2) Escalator/Moving WalkwayRaces: Choose an escalator or one of those high-speed moving walkways in the airport. At one end, race each other to the other side... but walk forwards while the escalator or walkway is moving backwards. My friend's siblings get really competitive with this (they even have timed heats.) Bonus points if you don't get caught by the airport security guards.

When You Get Tired: What to do when you can't afford the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge. 

1) Baggage Fort: Sit in a corner seat by your flight gate, and pile up your entire family's luggage on the side that isn't a wall. Grab an iPad/Pod and listen to music or watch a movie, and ignore the strange looks from other travellers. If your family travels really light, this won't work as well. 

This is a very successful luggage fort.
The person is inside.

2) Use The Hoodie: Unless I'm travelling to a hot climate, I always wear a hoodie. Hoodies are extremely versatile, and for those of us who can't afford the $30 neck pillows, I highly recommend stuffing the fuzzy fabric into the hood for a comfortable pillow. Tip: It's nearly impossible to sleep sideways in airports because the armrests are these giant metal things on each seat. Your best bet for sleeping is against a wall or sitting upright.

Short Connections: When you get off the plane and immediately have to get across the airport for a connection twenty minutes later, it's important not to be captivated by all the stores and food right by the place you entered the airport. Prioritize by:

On Air Canada flights, the back
of the Enroute Magazine has
maps of several major airports.

1) Getting off the plane and charging over to your gate first. A lot of airlines have magazines in the seat pockets with maps of the major airports; figure out where your connecting flight is and how to get there beforehand. Getting on the plane is more important than getting food right now.

2) Then, put your bags down and get something to eat. If you only have ten minutes before boarding, use common sense and don't eat at a gourmet restaurant. Just refill your water bottle and buy some candy or a granola bar. 

3) If you still have time after that, it's not a "short connection"...


Well, that concludes the first "Travel Advice" post! I hope you can have a more enjoyable flight connection next time you're travelling (or at least try and build an acceptable baggage fort) :)

New "Travel Advice" Blog Posts

Until now, I've used this blog for posting reviews and information about locations and attractions, mostly in France. However, I'd like to expand the purpose of this blog to not only specific places, but also general travel advice. This way, readers who might not be going to the places I have mentioned can still use the travel advice wherever they are going. Because of the variety in posts, I hope the blog will be open to a wider audience as well.
These will appear every few posts, and will also be shorter than normal posts. They will be based on personal experience rather than researched information. (I'm a trained professional in Getting Lost In Airports, Cities And Basically Everywhere.) The posts will cover preparation for travel, time in airports, flight connections, and everything in between. Some things might sound obvious, but you'd be surprised how difficult it can be to actually enjoy yourself in an airport.
I hope you enjoy reading the new Travel Advice posts! (The first one will be posted tomorrow.)