May Day!
A big holiday in Paris, especially for union members, workers of all sorts and young people, May Day also sees a fair amount of protests. More of that later.
For us it was a day of relaxing over a leisurely breakfast and meeting up with our old friend Marie for lunch and a stroll through Père-Lachaise Cemetery.
A little before 1:00 pm we set out from the apartment making our way to the Metro line 2 at place Nation. Although the train was packed it was a short three stops before we got off at Philippe Auguste, a stones throw from Père-Lachaise.
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| getting on line 2 |
We spied Marie sitting on one of the bollards flanking the drive into the cemetery. After a round of kisses and hugs we walked a block or so to the cafe Apéronome where we had a delicious lunch of chicken brochettes and a local beer.
After spending the better part of an hour or so catching up and enjoying a wonderful meal amidst the growing crowds out celebrating the 1st of May we made our way back to the cemetery and headed inside.
While I was especially keen on paying respects to Sophie Blanchard and Jane Avril and photographing the monuments ringing the first line around division 12 (don't ask), it was a wonderful time to just walk, talk and enjoy being in this gorgeous green space.
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| Jane Avril in D19 |
And we weren't the only ones with such ideas on this day.
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| Guët in D19 |
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| Intrigued by the intricate carving here |
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| Group gathering at Edith Piaf's grave |
From Edith Piaf we moved downhill and toward D76 and the Mur des Fédérés, known as the Communard Wall. It was on this spot on 28 May, 1871 that 141 Communards were stood against the wall and summarily shot, their bodies flung into a mass grave at the base of the wall. Ever since various left-wing groups, socialists and other progressive-minded people meet at the wall on various special occasions, such as May Day. In fact, according to Marie several large groups met at the Wall this morning and later marched down to place Nation -- more of that later.
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| Marie and Susie |
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| in D76 |
The three of us made our way back toward the main entrance, taking our time, enjoying the flowers, the green and the history along the way, with Marie providing fascinating stories of individuals we passed.
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| view uphill toward D19 |
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| near the grave of Auguste Comte in D17 |
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| The Triumph of the Republic by Dalou |
We passed out of the cemetery by the side entrance on rue du Repos and made our way to a cafe at the corner of the street facing the wall of Père-Lachaise. We sat, ordered a drink and continued our conversation, which as always, proved enlightening and entertaining, the hallmark of a wonderful time together.
Eventually the three of us made our way to line 2 Metro stop but we were going one direction and Marie the other. We hugged, kissed and said goodbye, or rather au revoir, hoping to meet up again next year.
Our Metro ride was a short one but when we exited the train we smelled smoke everywhere inside the station and upon leaving the station found ourselves smack in the middle of a peaceful albeit vocal demonstration. The source of the smoke was extremely loud cannon fire heard every now and then.
The place was ringed by police creating barriers across all the roads coming onto the place but we persuaded an officer to let several of us pass so we could get to our homes. It didn't seem odd at all but still unsettling somehow. The French tell us this is de rigueur on May day and they're very used to it.
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| demonstrators climbed onto the statue in the center of the place |
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| the police had cordoned off every street ringing the place |
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| just part of a long, long line of police vans waiting for detainees |
Once through the police barricades and passed the seemingly endless line of police vans and trucks we made our way to the apartment and home for the day.
Next: Our last day in Paris with friends old and new and those French painters who have touched us.
