Parc de Bercy and Le Baron Rouge

Friday afternoon we set out for a walk to Parc de Bercy. On the way we took in the view from the bridge over Port de l'Arsenal, the marina directly south of Place de la Bastille. That's the Colonne de Juillet in the distance.

On the edge of Parc de Bercy, near the stadium and the highway is a pretty incredible skate/bike/rollerblade/razor scooter park.

This fountain tumbles down from the Simone-de-Beauvoir pedestrian bridge that connects the park to the left bank. I think the little guy in the lower right had just accepted a dare, putting his head under the flowing water to impress the girls upstream.

If you are keeping up, you know that we made plans after our first visit in November to return to Parc de Bercy when the roses bloomed in spring. Check out the rose garden map below. Formidable! We were still a little too early for most of the roses. Alas, we will have to return.

The early bushes were in bloom, but not the hybrids or the vines on the bower.

a small vineyard in the park

wisteria

November/April

It's duckling season. On the left, a mother in her nest. On the right, a group of male mallards pacing in the waiting room.

mother and little one

The ponds contain other wildlife: turtles and very handsome carp.

After the park we stopped by Le Baron Rouge to relax with a pot of rosé. Le Baron Rouge has a lot going for it: a beautifully worn room, welcoming staff, a family-friendly neighborhood vibe, a great wine selection and a cheap food menu with just the essentials (oysters and charcuterie). Due to its many virtues, it is mentioned in many Paris guides. It attracts a good number of tourists but manages to handle them gracefully and still maintain a local feel. One of the best parts of Le Baron Rouge is its house cask wine selection, available in reusable liter bottles. Two reds, a white and a rosé, filled and capped on demand for about €3.50 plus €.50 bottle deposit. In the afternoon you can often find a group of budget-conscious neighborhood ladies waiting, bottles in hand, for the doors to open. If you are having a party, or are just more honest about your wine consumption, you can get a 5 or 10 liter plastic jug with built-in spigot. Below, a young lady monitors the preparation of supplies for her mother and a group of friends.