By running in the parks of Paris with Scott and Kelly

Kelly and Scott - Luxembourg gardens

8:59 AM - Kelly and Scott live in New York (USA) and usually run in the magnificent park of Central Park. Today, we discovered some of the superb parks of the center of Paris, the Luxembourg gardens, Tuileries gardens and the Palais Royal gardens.

The name of "Luxembourg" for the gardens and the Palace (the current Senate) comes from the Duke of Luxembourg, François de Piney who possessed a hotel in this place, in the 16th century. Marie of Medici, the Regent of France, acquired the hotel and built the current Palace in 1615.
Did you notice in the background of the above photo, a small dome far off? It is the Paris Observatory, the oldest observatory of the world still in function. It was created in 1667 by king Louis XIV.

The Paris Observatory in the continuation of the Luxembourg gardens

With the American "Center for Astrophysics", it is the most important research center in astrophysics and in astronomy of the world.
Very soon, the Observatory will open again its doors to the Public, from Thursday, 11 till Sunday, October 14th, 2012 on the occasion of the "fête de la Science".

Of the three parks, which is the most beautiful one? The Garden of the Luxembourg, the discreet Garden of the Palais Royal, or the Garden of the Tuileries, placed on the historic axis of Paris?
Impossible to say, they are splendid all three! 

Let us find the Garden of the Tuileries, a good place to run:

Scott and Kelly - the Tuileries gardens

and the small garden of the "Palais Royal", well isolated by the "Palais Royal" palace and the adjacent Galleries:

Scott and Kelly - Garden of the Palais Royal

On our road, when we discovered a part of Philippe Auguste's outer wall, a nice runner proposed to take a picture of us:

Paris Running Tour, Scott, Kelly - Philippe Auguste's outer wall (13th century)

Thanks to him. A good souvenir!

Good runs in Central Park then!
Merci Kelly ! Merci Scott !

The route of the tour :

A touristic half-marathon with Eva and Christian

Christian and Eva - Bridge of Sully

10:04 AM - Eva and Christian are fast marathon runners who live near Copenhagen (Denmark). They are also triathletes who have already participated in Iron Man Triathlons (swimming 3.8 km, bike 180 km, Running 42.195 kilometers or 26.2 miles).

On this Friday morning, without any performance objectives, we chose to quietly visit Paris while running, however on a good distance to be able to admire as much places as possible. 
We finally ran 21 km, the distance of a half-marathon.

Do you remember Lady Geneviève, the protector of Paris, whom we evoked recently during our Paris visit with Jennifer. You can see her to the left of the photo above, she looks to the east of Paris, the east where from came Attila and his Huns at the 5th century and Geneviève did not let them get into the City.

Of the bridge of Sully, we went place of the Trocadéro, to join the Palais de Chaillot, palace built on the hill of the same name for the 1937 World fair. It is one of the best points of view on the Eiffel Tower. 
"To deserve the view", we took a "small ascent" which leads to the (no so high) top of the hill... However with a small break to have a little bit different souvenir of the big tower:

Eva and Christian - Avenue of the President Wilson

Back to the east, in full Latin Quarter, here is the Sorbonne, the famous and very old university of which the history begins in the 13th century. The chapel of the Sorbonne which we see on the photo below was created during the 17th century.

Christian and Eva - Sorbonne Chapel

Along the way, following the river, we wondered if it was possible to swim in the Seine. Yes! Of course! On the occasion of the Triathlon of Paris! Look at these videos:

Your next triathlon in Paris, Eva and Christian?
Next edition: July 2013...

Merci Eva ! Merci Christian !

The route of the tour :