Jardin des Tuileries, Paris

Across from the Musee d'Orsay stretch the Jardin des Tuileries from the Place de la Concorde right up to the Louvre. These gardens would have been created for the pleasure of the Royal families, but now they're open to the public for all to enjoy.
We strolled past the animal statues in front of the Musee d'Orsay, around the roasted chestnut salesman, across the arched bridge and into the famous gardens.
Sculptures are surrounded by trees, grass, bushes and flowers, with wide gravel pathways dividing the gardens into a series of squares.
Rather than try to see the entire garden, we chose to get a seat at an outdoor cafe where we could nibble on a deconstructed bruschetta while we absorbed the peaceful tranquility. The afternoon was a perfect temperature for patio time, and the daffodils beside us were a good reminder that we were completing our Spring Tulip cruise.Read more