Vive le France!

The elections were just days away when we went to Charles de Gaul airport to collect the boyo.  He had a backup plan with his dad for a meeting place in case his cell phone sim didn't work for some reason.  But first, we went to our American Hospital in Paris to get some blood work done for the hubs.  And to eat another amazing piece of quiche in the cafe.  It was truly amazing food.  At the hospital cafe.  Really.

We wandered into a park nearby after realizing we were on a very big holiday in France.  It was a Monday and the lab was closed down at the hospital.  We met a very nice American man in the cafe who was visiting an ill sister who had relocated to France decades ago as a model.  He was the only person we saw besides the cafe server and security.  As always, I noticed the very "French" older women.  I tried to see how many I could snap photos of.  Always coiffed, always with rouge, and lipstick.

As it turned out everything on May 1 was closed.  All stores, all markets, all services except very little public transport.  It is known as International Laborers Day.  And it falls on May 1, Mayday.  Historically another pagan holiday taken by a government and re-branded.  As it turns out, the Louvre is only closed two days a year, as we had our annual passes and thought, "maybe a museum"?  No, Christmas and May 1.  It's closed!

A nice vendor was set up near a subway and explained it is a flower giving day and tradition in France.  Lily of the Valley.  You must give one to your friends on this day.  That explained all the pastries, paper goods and flowers we had seen in the shop windows.  Here's more information if you like:)

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/france/labor-day