Muguet, Montorgueil, Monet, Modes, and Music – Sunday, 1 May

It’s a sunny and warm May Day in Paris, and everyone is out & about enjoying the fine weather (it has been drizzly and cool) and everything the city has to offer.

Monet must have loved rue Montorgueil and its crowds too – he painted it in 1878.

Here’s the view from my corner this afternoon.

As well as Labor Day (La Fête du Travail) May Day is also sometimes called La Fête du Muguet in France for the lily of the valley flowers that people sell all over town on May 1.  Here’s some background info I found: “King Charles IX of France was presented with lily of the valley flowers on May 1, 1561. He liked the gift and decided to present lily of the valley flowers to the ladies of his court each year on May 1. Around 1900, men started to present a bouquet of lily of the valley flowers to women to express their affection. The flowers are a more general token of appreciation between close friends and family members these days.” I know that these things grow like weeds, but they’re one of my favorite flowers so I bought a little basket of them for the apartment.  Hope mine are still blooming in Minneapolis when I return!

An octet was singing madrigals and motets across the street from my café table early this afternoon.

A group of acrobats and drummers performed for tips in front of crowded cafés at my corner later in the afternoon, just when I was having a nice Affligem and French fry break!

Unfortunately, I wasn’t quick enough to grab a shot of a new conveyance I saw today:  a large skateboard with a lime green border and a baby stroller attached to the front.  Sorry!  You’ll just have to try to imagine it.

And a chanteur in the apartment next door has been practicing his songs and accompanying himself on a guitar.  It could be irritating, but it’s actually charming – he’s good!

All in all, it was a lovely day in the neighborhood!  What was happenin' outside your front door?!?