Boats in the Luxembourg

Paris is rather short on outdoor activities for children but lazily pushing a wooden boat around the octagonal Grand Bassin in the Jardin du Luxembourg is a wonderful way to pass half an hour or so. The princely sum for this entertainment is 2 euros for 30 mins or 3 euros for an hour. There are 14 boats for rent.  Each child is given a long stick to push their boat from the side of the pond. Unfortunately the only way to lauch the boat is for an adult to get down on their knees and lean over the edge. Mama was not happy that her clean dark jeans were scuffed with Luxembourg gravel.

We were there on a Wednesday morning and while all boats were sailing it was still quiet. Saturday and Sunday afternoons are to be avoided.  There are too many people crowded around the edge to watch the boats and it is very easy to lose sight of your child as they are racing around the perimeter of the lake/pond/pool. The only danger with this sport are the small children weilding long sticks while watching their boats. 

Note the man painting the sculpture in the middle. I wondered how he got to the middle and looked around for a little boat.  He was wearing waders.