Our second day in Paris took us to the Paris American Academy, http://parisamericanacademy.fr/PAA/WELCOME.html where we met Professor Christophe Salade.  The school is located in a historic building next to the Val-de-Grace Church. Here, the students and instructors from Villa Maria College are pictured in the courtyard of the Academy.  Our workshop included a walking tour of the area surrounding the school on Rue Saint-Jacques with time for sketching. Professor Salade pointed out architectural details and shared the local history, providing a perspective to complement our tour. It was a beautiful Paris morning for sketching! After our warm up exercise, we continued our walking tour to the Luxembourg Gardens. Many fine statues were erected in the gardens during the 19th century. The park is a peaceful haven, enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.  We paused briefly to sketch at the fountains, and then continued our tour.  Here is our group, pictured with Professor Salade, fourth from right.  Here also is the Palais du Luxembourg.

 

 

 

We paused briefly to admire the Octagonal Lake, attributed to Jean-Francois Chalgrin.  It is surrounded by formal terraces where visitors to the gardens often sunbathe.  The duck house is a favorite feature that moves about the grounds. Clearly the ducks seem to like it!  A visit to the Luxembourg Gardens would not be complete without the Fontaine Medicis.  The 17th-century fountain is in the style of an Italian grotto and is thought to have been designed by Salomon de Brosse.  Our walking tour eventually led us back to the Academy, but not before Professor Salade pointed out St. Sulpice in the distance, made famous in the book and movie the Da Vinci Code, as well as a quaint building along our walk, familiar to some of our group from the Disney movie, Mary Poppins. During our stroll we marvelled at the beautiful apartments that surround the gardens, and the charm of the area, with its groves, paths and fountains.  Many a Parisian was enjoying the day, jogging, exercising or relaxing in the park.