My trip to Paris was like a fairytale book had been opened and I was in the midst of it, romping through forests and walking down the Champs-Elysees in 3 inch heels, listening to my very French friend with his charming accent, driving around the Arc de Triomphe absolutely believing I was going to die because there are 10 lanes of NO lanes and oh, did I mention the parks?

The parks in and outside of Paris are adventures, experiences, a place where young, old, single professionals, family, young people meet to play, relax, walk, kiss (and other things...), photograph, listen, talk, meditate, roll down hills doing somersaults.

Parc de Sceaux

I had the pleasure of staying in a commune (village) outside of Paris called Sceaux. It is one of those beautiful, picturesque places of enchantment that you think of when you picture a small French village outside of Paris. When my friend was at work, often I would spend a portion of the afternoon exploring and journaling in this park. The first day I found this amazing park, I spent a few hours walking, sitting, gazing and taking in this architectural wonder and taking pictures. I had never seen a park more glorious and I've toured the United States and have seen some amazing parks!

Journal in hand, I walked along the cobblestone pathway with symmetrically designed trees, shrubs, flower gardens, fountains, and stood in front of the Chateau de Sceaux. It took my breath away to gaze at this beautiful rebuilt, Louis Xlll designed chateau from the Second Empire. Originally there had been a chateau built for Jean-Baptise Colbert who was the minister of finance for Louis XIV. That chateau was destroyed during the French Revolution. Currently, it is now the museum of local history, Ile de France.

When I turned away from the chateau, I saw only the blue sky, trees to the side and a huge, endless expanse of green with fountains, and round pools and various people enjoying the quiet pleasure of this place of heaven nestled in the countryside south of Paris. I saw a group of young local teens playing soccer. There were no loud boomboxes or wires attached to their ears. There was laughter and fun, some were simply laid back and watching, talking.

I also took immense delight in watching a young couple with their three year old child. They, as I, were sitting on a small hill. I watched the father try to get the child to roll down the hill and after seeing her hesitance, he rolled down the hill himself, all of them laughing. Then she rolled down the hill, giggling and screaming with delight. The couple looked over my way and smiled and I smiled back feeling special to have been enjoying this space with such lovely people. The world is truly a small place when we recognize and feel this thread of humanity.

Walking through this magical place, one can't help but notice the attention to detail of every pathway, every garden, every tree which was a part of the designed landscape. Nothing was left undone. The people go there because it is beautiful, a place to dream and forget, a place to love and play, a place to remember that life is worth fighting for and a place to breathe the wide open expanse of heaven and earth. If planning a trip to Paris, you must put this Parc de Sceaux on your must see list. It is a perfect day trip!